Cari: There is a reason why I wrote Cagalli like that in the first chapter. You will know after reading this chapter. Hehehehe… thank you for the review!
Tsubame: I am too lazy sometimes to correct my works and check my tenses. -kicks self- silly Tsubame... XD
I want to thank ZGMF X-19A Infinite Justice, Mini-MoonStar, Cari, Sunflower Seeds,Kitty-Kat90013820, Feminist1991, animemistress419, ANONYMOUS-gsd, MiyuCagalli, cottongreentea and asucags... for reviewing my last chapter:)
I still want to thank Garowyn too! She played a big part in this fic. Help me thank her:)
Summary: It is not easy to be so far away from the people you love. This is Athrun's reason why he and Cagalli couldn't be together...at least yet. Will he wait or will Cagalli have to make the first move? Asucaga
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Seed or Destiny…all the characters are not my property. The only thing originally mine is the story. Enjoy. :)
"His side and her side of the story"
By Tsubame Ongaku
Beta-read and edited: Garowyn
Part 2: Cagalli Yula Attha…her side
"Are you all right, your Highness?"
"Huh?" Cagalli looked up from her dinner plate to the light brown–haired man in front of her with his eyes covered by his orange tinted glasses. She knew that look that he was giving her and had seen it before only with another person. His eyes said that he was worried. For a moment, she thought she saw them turn green, but only for barely a moment.
"I was just asking if you are all right?"
She smiled her usual smile and nodded. "Of course I am, Sai!" She forced a laugh. "What makes you think otherwise?"
Sai Argyle shrugged. He wasn't convinced that she was all right. She had been quiet throughoutthe whole evening. Sai was the new electronic warfare specialist for the new battleship project she was creating. It was only for emergency purposes in case another war broke out. She was holding a party for the crew members for a job well done.
She liked Sai, as a friend and nothing more. She already had a lot of gossip circulating about herself. She didn't need another between her employee, too. She didn't need any more complications, thank you very much.
"Sai?" He looked serious. She couldn't understand why.
"It's just that…ever since you returned from Paris, you haven't been the same," he finally said. "Even Kira is getting worried about you. You don't say anything." Kira and Sai were now good friends. They were even working together in various projects for Orb.
Cagalli stretched her legs in front of her and yawned. "I'm just tired. That is all." She was dressed in comfortable cargo pants and her favorite red shirt. She was finally taking a break from the limelight. Sometimes being a lady was a pain. She hated dresses, makeup and stylists. Especially stylists…they were just not good for your health.
"Why do you endure it, then?" Kira asked that morning. They were on the plane, leaving Paris and going home. Lacus had fallen asleep on her seat. She had her head on Kira's shoulder and was slumbering quietly with a soft smile. "Why do you wear dresses, makeup and spend so many hours on the stylist's chair?"
"Because I refuse to look like a fool. Not when the memory of my father is on the line," she replied. She shrugged like it was not a big deal. "My father is a great man. What will people think if they found out that he raised a tomboyish brat like me?"
Kira's eyes grew sad. "Your father would be proud of you no matter what you chose to do. You are his daughter."
"Kira, I will not tarnish his name."
"You don't have to pretend to make your parents proud," he told her. "All parents ever want from their children is to find happiness in what they do." Lacus stirred a bit and buried her face closer to him and making Kira smile. She didn't wake up. He was glad. She had to be tired considering all the travel they had done. Now that he thought of it, his sister should be tired, too.
"I envy Lacus," she muttered. "Sometimes…"
Kira faced her. He saw that her eyes look at the sleeping Lacus. It was a look of respect and sadness. "Why?" he asked.
"Her parents must have been proud," she continued, "Like you said, I am only pretending. Lacus is the real thing." She looked out the window. The clouds reminded her of cotton candy. She smiled, remembering when she was young and her father used to buy her a lot of cotton candy. "Don't get me wrong. My father didn't raise me to be a bad person. I love being me. The question is, is the world ready for it?
"You're being too hard on yourself, Cagalli." Kira hardly ever scolded his sister. "You are a beautiful person! Why don't you show the world that?" He touched Lacus's hair softly. "Yes, Lacus is beautiful. One of the most beautiful people I've ever met." He took the cup of tea he was served with earlier. "But there are different types of beauty."
"Kira, I don't need you to lecture," Cagalli snarled. "I'm not a beautiful person."
Kira smiled. "Right, you're so ugly that you're selfish enough to let Athrun leave." He leaned back on his chair. "Believing that it was the only way to make him happy."
"Get out of my personal life, Kira. It is none of your business."
"Does pretending make you happy, Cagalli?" he demanded. He sounded calm yet so very angry. He always respected what his sister wanted to do, but right now, all he felt was disappointment. "Is being what all those morons want you to be make you the least bit happy?"
The tears were gathering in her eyes but she refused to let them fall. She would not show weakness. "No…but…I will not be made a fool! I will not!" She crushed the napkin in her hands. "My father's memory will come first. I made a mistake. Yuna Roma Seiran was a mistake. I just want to correct it." The half-hearted chuckle she gave almost scared him. "I let them control me. I let them use me. That was a disgrace."
"Did you know that if Athrun ever saw you like this---"
"Don't!" she screamed.
This time Lacus opened her eyes. "Wha---" She began rubbing her eyes. "Have we arrived at Orb?"
Kira shook his head nervously. "Not yet. Why don't you go back to sleep?"
She was now very wide-awake, though. "Why were you and Cagalli shouting?" she asked. Her eyes were looking pleadingly at Kira. "Did something happen?"
"No." Kira assured her. "It is nothing."
"Are you sure?" she persisted.
"Yes." He looked at his watch. "It is almost brunch. Why don't you help the stewardess with our tea? Nobody makes tea like you do, Lacus," he told her sincerely.
She smiled and nodded. She was not stupid. She knew that the two wanted to talk about something alone for a while. "Tea will be ready in twenty minutes."
"Take all the time you need."
When she was gone, Cagalli rolled her eyes. "What are you going to do now? Lecture me some more?"
"No," he said. "But I will give you this."
He handed her a piece of paper. She unfolded it slowly not understanding what the piece of paper was for. "What is this?" Finally opened. The paper contained a number. A telephone number and unless she was mistaken, it was from the PLANTS.
"It is Athrun's number." Her brother shrugged. "I don't really care what you do with it. It depends on you now."
She stared at it. "Athrun?" she whispered.
He nodded. "He's the chairman of the PLANTS now, you know."
"I'm not stupid! Of course I know! I do read the news." She shot back. She didn't need a reminder that people are saying that he could be a possible threat to their peace.
Kira knew that he just had to say one thing: "He's waiting for you…"
Cagalli really believed that she and Athrun and would never start a war between them. Not when he hated war as much as she did. Athrun knew how ugly war was and would never bring the people of Orb or the PLANTS through that pain again.
Sai really was worried about her. She should feel grateful, but all she could think about was that piece of paper tucked in her pocket. "Should I call him?" she thought. "Or not?"
"Princess?" Sai now took her hand in his. "Is there something wrong?" She didn't reply. Instead she looked away. "Kira told me about you over-working."
"I'm fine." She took a big gulp of her soda. She didn't need this right now. She already felt stress from all the other things happening in her life, Sai's lecture was the least of her priorities right now. Sai meant well, but she didn't need to be reminded of how busy she was and how much she needed to do.
"It is not healthy for you to over-work. A princess should stay healthy."
"I'm not a princess anymore, okay!" she screamed at him. Her voice was so loud that it could be heard over the blasting music. "I'm not!" She retrieved her backpack from a nearby table. It contained her princess 'disguise.' "I'm sorry, Sai. I have to go."
Kira who was enjoying a conversation with Kuzzey turned to her. He kept himself from groaning. She was making a scene again.
"Kira, I'm taking the convertible. Have Jack take you home later," she told him before disappearing out the door. Kira didn't run after her. He understood the mood she was in; it would be unwise to follow her.
"It isn't your fault, Sai," he assured his friend. "She's just stressed. She'll calm down eventually."
Sai nodded, but still felt guilty.
She drove the convertible like a maniac down the highway, going ninety miles per hour. The road was thankfully clear of all other cars. She was alone. She didn't have any clear idea of where she was going. All she wanted was to get away from everything.
She remembered how Athrun always encouraged her to be herself. She never listened. "My father's memory is at stake," she said. She loved being herself. She didn't really wish to be like Lacus. Actually, she couldn't understand what she was feeling. Athrun…where was he now? Where did his promise of taking care of each other go?
Suddenly, her phone rang. She groaned inwardly. It could be anybody. The American President, an ambassador of somewhere. On the third ring, she picked it up.
"Hello?" she said. She was used to being on the phone while driving like a maniac yes… it seems like the important phone calls for her usually came when she was driving. She made herself grow used to it.
She thought she heard somebody gasp on the other line, but the person didn't say anything. "Hello? Representative Athha here." She didn't need this too right now. Was this one of those prank calls? She didn't need another "Ms. Athha, marry me" line.
She looked at the phone screen. There was no number. "Hello?" This was really getting on her nerves. A lot! "Heeeellloooo?"
There was still no reply. Was this some kind of psychopathic maniac stalking her this very minute? She shivered. That was a scary thought. Maybe she was watching too many suspense movies. It was affecting her thinking. "If you don't speak up, I'm going to hang up, you moron!" she screamed. If this was some kind of psychopath she might as well give him something to remember.
No reply came. She threw the phone out the window. It slammed in the pavement. She smirked in satisfaction. Then she realized Kira was going to have to buy her a new phone…again. It would be worth it, though, if she did some damage to the guy's eardrums.
It took her a while to notice that it was getting late and that she was passing a familiar deserted beach. The sunset looked beautiful on the horizon.
The first thought that came to her mind was: "Athrun."
It was a beach they went to a long time ago when they were still together. She remembered a little boy named Jake, a camera, picture and Athrun…so close to her.
Her heart suddenly felt like crying. She didn't cry when she and Athrun had parted. She didn't cry when she lost herself for her father's memory. She didn't cry when she remembered her times with Athrun, but she now felt like crying her long suppressed tears.
She wanted to call him. It didn't matter that they haven't seen each other for two years. It was now was or never. She picked up her car phone and with shaky fingers, unfolded Kira's paper. She always liked Kira's handwriting. It had always been more legible than hers had been. Slowly, very slowly, she dialed the number on the paper.
It rang. She felt disappointed when nobody picked up. The automatic answering machine picked up, though. "Hello? Ummm…Athrun?" she said. She could feel her own fear in her voice. She didn't want to be afraid. She shouldn't be afraid. This was Athrun. "It's been a long time, right?
She had a hard time going on. What was she supposed to say? Except for when she saw him on television, she never saw him at all. She didn't even know if he was still the same person she knew. She liked to believe he was. She read about him in interviews and Internet profiles, but half the time she wondered if it was true or if it was a career booster. You never really knew with the Internet because it was so easy to lie.
All she had of him were her memories and the ring that never left her neck. She couldn't wear the ring on her finger where she knew he'd see it and come running. He deserved better than what she could give him. She was too busy to make him happy.
"I'm happy when you're happy," he had once said.
But he really deserved better. She just wanted to see him again.
She chuckled nervously. "This is kind of awkward, but…Athrun? Athrun, this is…"
She hesitated. Maybe he didn't want to see her anymore. If he wanted to see her, wouldn't he have least tried to contact her over the years? She never received a letter from him or even a phone call.
She took a deep breath. She came this far. There was no use backing out now. She continued, "Athrun, this is…Cagalli…"
There, she said it. She might as well finish what she had started. "Athrun, please…I…I… really want to see you again." Her voice was trembling. She knew it would. "Please…can I meet you tomorrow afternoon?"
"Of course you can't," she thought, "He has to be busy with something. He is the Chairman of the PLANTS."
She turned towards to setting sun instead because the thought of Athrun rejecting her hurt. "If you can please meet me…on the beach." She hung up instantly. That was stupid. She didn't tell him what beach. There are about a million beaches on earth so it could be anywhere.
"Oh, well…he'll call if he comes…"
He didn't call…
He must be a very busy man. She waited for his call all morning. Now it was afternoon and still nothing. Her heart broke into tiny pieces; she felt like killing Athrun. She felt like her pride had shattered, leaving her with nothing.
Without telling Kira, she left the house again. She didn't know why. She knew he wasn't coming, but something was telling her to go. She was going a hundred miles per hour now. Dangerous, she knew. Also, for the first time in long while, she let the tears stinging in her eyes fall. She now couldn't see the road very well.
"Athrun, you idiot!" she screamed. "You idiot! I hate you!"
She stopped, stepping on the brakes, immediately arriving at the beach. She ran to the shoreline, ignoring the fact that she was wearing high-heeled shoes. She never bothered to take them off, not caring that her shoes cost $3000 and that her whole outfit cost a fortune. She began kicking at the waves and cursing Athrun.
She kept saying that she hated him. An idiot like him wasn't worth crying over. "Athrun, you stupid, egotistical, lying moron!" She released her anger in a way that she hadn't done in a long time. Ladies didn't shout or scream so she had always hidden her anger from everyone.
She sighed as she fell silent and concentrated as the waves rocked her in a soothing way. She never knew that it would feel this good to finally let it all out.
"Well, Cagalli. Is this your idea of a welcome?"
She gasped. That voice! She knew that voice. "Athrun?"
The blue-haired coordinator was grinning at her. She hadn't seen that grin in a long time. She missed it. She missed it so very much. Was this real? Was she dreaming? If she touched him, would this dream disappear?
"Athrun?" she said again, the disbelief evident.
The dream walked towards her, but not before dropping a very heavy-looking suitcase on the sand. His expensive-looking clothes and shoes also getting wet. "I'm real, Cagalli," he told her, caressing her soft cheek. "I'm sorry I'm late."
She froze, trapped between disbelief and daze. "You should be!" She closed her eyes and let herself feel his touch. She took his hand in hers and entwined her. "You should be sorry, you moron!"
"I'm sorry." He hugged her with the smell of ocean and sand around them. He remembered the time they had first met. It had also taken place by the ocean. "I'm back…"
It was getting cold and it was uncomfortable to wear those wet things for very long. Athrun changed to a pair of comfortable beach shorts and a green shirt. Cagalli was glad to be out of that infernal suit. Kisaka had made her wear it. She now donned loose khaki pants and a green shirt, as well.
"You bought this for me?" she asked, meaning the clothes she was wearing. "How did you know my size?"
He shrugged. "I doubted you'd grown that big with all the things that you keep on doing. I knew you needed a rest from the dresses and suits that you keep wearing." He ruffled her hair. "You've been a very busy girl, Representative."
"Speak for yourself, Chairman." She giggled and swatted his hand to stop.
"I was afraid, you know?" he confessed quietly. "You've always seemed so happy without me. All those smiles… I didn't think that…"
"…that I've been thinking about you everyday since you left?" she finished for him. He gave a look of surprise. "I have, Athrun. I never forgot you…though I tried to." She changed the subject suddenly. "Did you get my call? How did you know I meant here?"
He nodded as he chuckled. "…You have no idea how much trouble it's cost to get here."
"I forgot my car keys…" Athrun grumbled. "I think I'm going to be a bit late…" He walked back towards his office. Inside, he heard somebody leaving a message on his answering machine. He opened the door in time to hear a female voice say. "If you can please meet me…on the beach." He recognized the voice instantly. "That's Cagalli's voice!" he thought. He rushed to pick up the phone before she'd hang up. He was too late. She hung up. Automatically, he played back her whole message. The beach… there could be only one beach she could mean. She returned to Orb from Paris that morning. It could only mean that beach.
"Ms. Hawke, are you there?" he called in the intercom, but there was no reply. He forgot. He gave her the rest of the day off. He dialed Lunamaria's number. She should be at her office now.
"Lunamaria?" he asked as soon as somebody answered.
"Yes?" It was Lunamaria. It was odd for Chairman Zala to call and from the sounds of it he was in a hurry.
"Ms. Hawke, I need you to do me a favor."
"Yes? What can I do for you?"
"Tell your sister, my secretary, to cancel everything in my planner for the next few days and while she's at it, send a letter of apology to the Board. I can't make it to the meeting, now," he told her. "I'm going on a trip."
"A trip?" She sounded surprised. The Chairman normally never took trips. He worked and worked and works… maybe this had something to do with business.
"Yes."
"Are you going to be gone long?'
He smiled. "We'll see." He shrugged, then said goodbye. He was in a hurry and he had a shuttle to catch. He tried to call Cagalli's number again. It wasn't working. Knowing her, she probably broke it somehow."
He called the spaceport and booked for the fastest shuttle to earth.
"I'm sorry, sir, but all the shuttles are booked," the man on the line said. "May I reschedule you?"
"No." Athrun frowned. He didn't have time for this. "I want it now! This is Chairman Zala and I need a shuttle to earth. Understand?"
"Ch---ch----ch---airman Z---Z----Z---Zala?" the man stammered. "The Ch----chairman Z---zala?"
"Yes, so book me a flight…now." He gave an order. He didn't know what was wrong with him. It was unsual for him to use his power to give an order.
"Yes, sir! Right away, sir!" the frantic man replied.
"That is how I got here." He laughed. "Also, why I didn't call you right away? You forgot to give me your number."
She blushed. "Sorry."
"Also…the phone number I know doesn't work…" he thought. It wouldn't be wise to tell her that he was the caller that wouldn't say anything. He had a feeling that it would cause pain, most likely his pain.
"I'm glad you are finally here!" She threw her arms around him. He wrapped his arms around her, too. "You're such an idiot!"
Athrun held her close to him then noticed a chain around her neck. Without her noticing, he pulled it then saw the ring that he gave her. "You did keep it." He smiled.
"Did you say something, Athrun?" she asked.
He shook his head. "No…nothing."
"Welcome home…" She leaned her head towards him.
He kissed her forehead, which was still salty from their little bath. "It is good to be home…"
She looked up at him to stare at his clear blue-green eyes and touched his face with her fingers tracing its shape. "I can't believe that you're real."
"I'm real," he said, lowering his head, kissing her again for the first time in the last two years. If he had anything to do with it, it wouldn't be the last time that he would kiss her…
The end…
Tsubame: I can't write a thing without music… Wahh! It is so mushy! Sugar, honey and cream is coming out of my screen. Well, at least it is not as bad as "Take Valentines." Constructive criticisms please. It will be much appreciated.:) Garowyn did such a great job... Whheeeeee...
Listening to: All Rie Tanaka's songs from GS, GSD and Chobits… + "Let me be with you" by Round Table
Mood: Happy! Happy! Happy! I finally finished a fic! Now I only have five six more fics to go!
Working on: Chapter 8 of "Green is the color of my eyes" and Chapter 5 of "Summer School."
