Yay! Chapter 6!
Disclaimer: I don't own gundam seed or any other materials I may have used... I'm to tired to come up with something cute n' funny right now...
Cagalli
Crying is a sign
Of weakness
Don't you agree?
Then why do you cry
And why do I feel for you?
Why do I feel for you?
When Athrun awoke, it was still early, the sun had yet to rise. He got out of bed and went to the water source to wash up. When he returned, a few rays of sunlight could be seen, but Cagalli was still sleeping. Though he couldn't really say he was surprised. Not quite sure why, he felt an odd urge to look at her. Just look at her. Not in a perverted way, he just wanted to look at her, to watch her one could say. Unlike the previous night, he felt in on way intimidated in approaching her. Perhaps it was because she was asleep, and therfore, harmless. Or perhaps his pride had died down suddenly. Or perhaps he regretted the fact he practiclly ignored her the only time he had ever seen his brave princess crying. Scratch that last thought, he told himself, scratch it out of your mind for good. Perhaps it was just perverted attraction that made him want to look at her after all.
Onogoro, despite the fact it was a capitol, was a quiet place at night, at least when Uzumi visited the city it was. Today was different. Very early in the morning, a ship had arrived carrying a small group of ZAFT soldiers. The citizens of Onogoro all knew why they were here, and weather it was out of love for the princess or out of love for the lord, they let the men pass. The soldiers too, knew of thier special conditions and decided they would take adavantage of it. They marched through the streets as if they had won some great victory (they did not even know the contents of the message they carried), playing thier drums and cheering as load as they could. Well, cheering isn't exactly the right word, jeering fits the bill better, insulting too.
« Wake up naturals! Wake up and come face your demise! » they screamed. « Come out of your hiding places you cowardly fools! Come out, or we'll come and find you! »
Most of the city's residents stayed calm and ignored thier taunts. Of course, there would always be the irrational few who's pride would get in the way of thier common sense… This caused a rucus, shall we say, a large ennough rucus too. For Kira, who ways taking his morning walk (unlike his sister, he was an early riser) could hear from behind the imposing palace walls. He figured it was his duty to go see what was going on. What he found was the local blacksmith and his apprentencises locked in a vicious fist fight with two ZAFT soldiers. Auround them, people watched enthusiasticly, cheering on thier choosen heros. Kira sighed.
« Stop! » he cried « This is no battlefield! Stop your fighting! »
With the help of a few townsmen, he mannaged to seperate the blacksmith and his bunch from the pair of soldiers. A man of ZAFT, the one who seemed to be thier leader, was calming down the angered twosme. Once everyone had returned to minding thier own buisness, Kira turned to the group's obvious leader.
« Thank you, » was all he managed to muster, suddenly, something caught his eye. « That letter must be the one concerning my sister, » he said.
« And you must be Prince Kira, » said the leader. « You're f ighting on the wrong side boy. You're a coordinator! Not a damn natural! Fight FOR your people, not against them! » The last statement was somewhat shocking. Kira knew of coordinators and naturals, and he had known for some time now that he was a so-called 'chosen one.' But nobody had ever told him he had to fight with coordinators just because he was one, though it wasn't as if his father's councilmembers were going to let go of such a great commander just because he wasn't a natural. « They're using you boy, they're using to fight for a cause that isn't yours! »
« That's ennough! » cried Kira, « do not lecture on what I should be fighting for! » a nervous silence followed. « Thank you for delevering this message to me, now please return to where you came from and don't try and provoke any fights along the way. »
« Whatever you say my prince, I listen to your every command, » said the leader cockily, « At least I will when you fight for the right cause. »
Her hands were tied behind the pole so that she couldn't escape. Her knees were positionned close to her chest in a protective mannor. Her head and all it's golden locks lay upon them. Her eyes were closed. Her face was stainned. Stainned from the tears she had cried that night. Athrun was tired of looking at her. He had memorized her by now. She wasn't that different since he had last seen her. A bit taller, perhaps, and of course, her hair was shorter (though Lacus had trimmed it the day before). Yet, somehow, Athrun had expected, no wanted, her to look different. Different. He wasn't sure why, but her looking the same way she always had, the way she had two years ago, the way she had then, bothered him. But it also pleased him. An odd sound broke his chain of thought. The sound of someone moving.
« Cagalli? » he asked unsure.
« Um… » she mumbled, it made Athrun jump.
« Cagalli, are you awake? » he said softly.
« Kira…? » she mumbled grogily.
« No,no, it's not Kira, Little Princess, it's just me, Zala. »
She was still sleeping, Athrun felt disapointed. He was bored, he had hoped he could talk to her, even if they were to fight. It was better than just staring at her. If they fought, he wouldn't have to think about the past, and it's questionable mistakes. He got up and moved away from her, maybe that would help. Suddenly, Athrun did something very un-Athrunish, he tripped. And that woke Cagalli up. The blue-haired boy groanned, fate could be annoying.
« What's your problem disrubting my peace like that Zala? » sceamed Cagalli, she had taken the whole scene in.
« Accident, » mumbled Athrun who was still recovering from his fall.
« Liar! » she hissed.
« I wasn't lying little princees, » said Athrun said, standing on his two feet again, « I never lie. »
« You still woke me up! »
And now they were fighting. What was the old saying, be careful what you wish for? Athrun approached her and lossened the ropes.
« Lets go for a walk, » he said. Cagalli looked up at him curiously. « Or you can stay here and pout all day, » Cagalli was up in a flash.
It was still early, very early, and Cagalli, who was not a morning person, was still to grogy to try to escape. But, just incase, Athrun held her hand so as to have a grip on her. As she began to become more aware though, she became aware of this and tried to break free. This made Athrun hold on to her more tightly.
« Let go of my hand! You pig! » she screammed, trying to break away from him.
« I'm afraid I can't do that princess, » he said, « else you may try to get away, and we need you, » he tightened his grip.
« Fine, but why must you hold my hand? » she demanded, stuggling to break loose.
« Well, I could hold your hand and we could walk freely, safe for that small mesure, » said Athrun playfully, « Or, you could have your hands tied behind your back, an escort of at least four guards, and me to deal with, » Cagalli stopped stuggling.
« Fine…. » she muttered. Athrun noticed she was feeling his hand. Both of them were silent for a time.
« Cagalli, » said Athrun suddenly, « tell me, why were you crying last night? »
« Shut-up, » she muttered, « I already told you. »
« You weren't crying for Lacus, or your brother, you're not that kind a person. »
« And what do you mean by that? » she demanded furious.
« You're the daughter of a heartless dictator! You can't be any better than him! »
« Don't say that about my father! You have no right to judge him! He took you in after your mother died! He treated you as a seccond son! How dare you insult him! »
« Your father only took me in because it was in his best interests! I was nothing but a pawn to him! »
Cagalli stared at him in shock.
Meanwhile, Kira had returned to the palace. He was confused about what the ZAFT leader had said. You're f ighting on the wrong side boy. You're a coordinator! Not a damn natural! Fight FOR your people, not against them! They're using you boy, they're using to fight for a cause that isn't yours! Up untill then, Kira had never questionned himself on what he was fighting for. Up untill that encounter, everything had been simple. He went to war because his father told him too. He fought in war because he wanted to protect his loved ones. He didn't fight with the coordinators, because he knew what the effects of switching sides were. Kira was so caught up in his own thoughts, he had completly forgotton about the ransom note. It was only when Uzumi spoke to him that he remebered. He completly forgot about his thoughts and hurried to hand the letter over to his father. Uzumi read it quickly.
« What is the meaning of this? » he demanded.
It was noon. Athrun was enjoying the company of his lovely fiance. And the presence of his lovley captured princess was making it less enjoyable. For him, anyways. Lacus didn't seem to mind Cagalli at all. And that was annnoying. They had been talking about various subjects, when Cagalli brought up one of her tales about sneaking into the army, again. It must of been one of the more recent, because Athrun had never heared it before. They had reached the usual climax now, the part where Cagalli was found out. What had happened was that the disguised princess had run off to wash-up while she was supposed to be doing rounds. Her commanding officer, Mwu La Flaga, noticed and, thinking her character, Private Galliac, was running off to avoid chores, ran after her. When the commander found the princess changing instead, well, we'll say it was a shock for both of them. Lacus laughed in her polite manner, even Athrun couldn't help but grin. He couldn't help but asking a few questions either.
« How did you mannage to get past La Flaga, he would've reconized you in an instant! »
« I singed up while he was saying his goodbyes to his sweetheart, Lady Murrue, »
« So they've finally atmitted thier feelings for each other, have they? »
« Actually, they got married, about a year ago…. » she trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid. Still the look she gave him seemed to say it all. You wouldn't know these things Zala, you weren't there to see them.
« Cagalli, I'm curious, » said Lacus breaking the silence, « why do you always follow your brother to war? » Cagalli glared at her.
« Are you saying I can't fight for what I believe because I'm a girl? » she asked testily.
« No, not at all, » replied Lacus calmly, « what I really want to know is, well as you put it, what you believe in, why do you fight? »
« To protect those who need protecting, » replied Cagalli. Athrun smiled, same old reasons…
« Is that the only reason you fight? Or are there others, one's that might be more self-centered? » questionned Lacus, as sweet as ever. The rebelious princess stared down at the ground.
« Well…I sotra like to get away from the palace… » she answered honestly, « and I like being there to protect all my loved caught up in battle, » she bit her lip and began to stare longily at her foot. Her captor had a good idea why, five years ago, he nearly died, but she saved him. Only to have him betray her. No, he didn't betray her, from the start, it was Uzumi who had betrayed him, no, them.
« Those are perfectly human reasons, » said Lacus. She smiled at Athrun, it was an odd expression, cheerful, but stern and pushy. It was almost as if she had been questionning him through Cagalli. The thought made him gulp.
For hours now, Uzumi had been screaming at his councilmembers, and Kira still wasn't sure why. All he knew for sure was that it was about Cagalli's ransom letter. Damn! He thought, he had to find that letter.
« Kira what's the matter? » asked someone from behind him. It was Fllay.
« Nothing… » he answered.
« You're lying Kira, I know you are, » said Fllay.
« I'm just confused, I don't really understand what's happening around here, » he answered, staying away from the point.
« You want ot know what's written on that letter, don't you? » said Fllay somewhat sympatheticly. Kira nodded. « I can always aks my daddy for you, » Kira smiled to demonstrate his eager acceptance. He loved how she could figure him out so easily and understand him. He loved how she always tried to help him. He loved her. She loved him back. Suddenly, a thought crept up in his head.
« Hey Fllay, what do you think of coordinators? » he asked nervously.
« I think they're a disgrace to nature and society, changing themselves so they can do things they aren't supposed to be able to. » she answered coldly.
« And what…and would you think if I was one? » asked Kira in a scared manner.
« You aren't » said Fllay.
Cagalli was enjoying her time with Lacus, everyone could see that. Everyone was also relived that she had Lacus to focus her attention on. They were all enjoying thier break from the rather tempermental captive. As for Cagalli, well, she was just happy to have a friend to help her survive this ordeal.
« Cagalli, I was just curious, but what's your opinion on us coordinators? » asked Lacus poleitly.
« Co-or-dinators? »
« Oh, I see, » said the pink princess, « so you really have no idea why this war is going do you? »
« Of corse I do! » said the rebellious one, « it's because ZAFT is still angry at my father for not joining the Earth kingdom during the war between them and PLANTS! »
« Well, that's parshly it, but there's more too it than that. After all, my father was opposed to joining thier war too, and yet, he and Lord Uzumi are fighting against each other. »
« True, so what's it really about? »
«Well, the way people like to say it is that there are two types of humans, naturals, and coordinators. Coordinators are the select few who have thier genes altered at birth, this allows them to push further than the avarage human would. Naturals are the others who don't, and therefore don't nesseairly use thier full potential. That dosen't mean a natural is infeirior to a coordinator, it just means that we 'chosen ones' have more chances of reaching our full potentiol. »
« And what does this have to do with the war? » asked Cagalli.
« Everything, » said Athrun who had been sitting there silently up untill then, « some naturals believe that playing around with our genes is against what nature intended, others are simply jealous of our enhanced skills. For years, no, centuries, pressure has been building up between both races, this war is the result of that. »
« Athrun, » scolded Lacus, « coordinators aren't a different specis. And naturals aren't the only ones to blame for this war, coordinators did thier share of the work. Over the centuries, many coordinator thought themselves supirior to naturals and mistreated them. And coordinators had the power you see, so many naturals suffered greatly because of them. They left behind wounds time has yet to heal. »
« Oh, I get it now, » said Cagalli.
« So what's your opinion on us then? » asked Lacus.
« Is it allright not to have an opinion? I mean, if you want to go out and change your genes go ahead, it's your choice. »
« Well, not really… » began Lacus, « to be a coordinator, your genes must be altered at birth and… »
« It was we Zala's that decided who was a 'chosen one' and who wasn't. » finnished Athrun.
« Ah, I see, you Zala's only let your rich and powerful friends become enhanced humans and left the rest of the population, with thier less evolved brains and bodies, to suffer in your shadows. »
Athrun was confused. Le Creuset had told him that the Zala's choose those with a certain type of gene to become coordinators, but from what Lacus had just, money and power seemed to be a part of it too. But he doubted it, if that was the case, war would've broken out sooner. Something wasn't right in this picture…
Suddenly a voice came from outside the tent :
« Yo! Athrun, could you come and gice us a hand? » said Dearka, « Don't worry, it'll only take a second, then you can get back to your dry tent and playing around with your pretty princesses! » All three looked outside, they had been so caught up in thier conversation, they hadn't noticed it had started to rain.
« Dearka, be nice! » said Nicol kindly, Athrun wasn't sure if he was reffuring to him or Cagalli. He looked at her hatefully.
« I wouldn't dare abuse my friendship with Lacus for my own gain. » she said.
There it was, the rift between them.
It was late. Cagalli and Lacus were still talking away. Athrun was still guarding them.
« So, Lacus, how did you end up here anyways? »
« Well you see, my father and I were travalling to Gibralter, and we went through a rebellious town, under ZAFT control, not far from here. I think it's called Tassil, anyways, we were seperated and if it weren't for my bodyguard, Dacosta, getting me out of there and bringing me to Banadiya as fast as he did, I would be in very different situation right now. »
« Lacus! » said Athrun.
« Is there a problem? » she asked.
« Nothing, » he mumbled.
Eventually, Cagalli and Athrun returned to what had been dubbed 'thier tent.' After tying her up for the night, Athrun told her he needed to have a private talk with Lacus. Cagalli felt something sink inside of her. All day, she had felt that someone was staring at her, that he was staring at her. Her. But, all day, she had overlooked the fact that she was in the same space as his beautiful fiance. His beautiful fiance who was, well, beautiful, much prettier than her anyways. She was also kind, considerate, knowlegable and feminine. Everything Cagalli wasn't. The rebelious princess just stared at the ground. She hated herself for being so unattractive. She hated Athrun for not wanting her. And she hated her father fir ever giving them the chance to know each other. Why couldn't he of just gone off and broken someone else's heart, she asked herself.
Meanwhile, Athrun wasn't as pleased with Lacus as Cagalli expected him to be.
« You really must watch what you say around her Lacus. I understand you two are friends but she is still a hostage and ther is still a war going on, we need her to end it. »
« No you need her to cause more bloodshed. »
« That is how you see it, but in the long run, she will help put an end to all of it. »
« You speak of Cagalli as though she were an object. »
Athrun sighed.
« Just promise me you'll watch what you say around her from now on. »
« Allright, I promise. »
Athun smiled and gave her a small pec on the forhead.
« By the way, » he asked, « whatever happened to Dacosta? »
« Once your friend Mr.Elfman found me, he went off to find my father, » she replied, « they should come for me soon. »
Lacus wasn't wrong in her prediction, Siegal Clyne arrived to reclaim his daughter late the following morning. Before she left, the Pink Princess insisted she say her goodbyes to Cagalli, despite the fact she was still asleep. She insited she had something she wanted to return to her and that she wanted to do it in person. So under the watchful eyes of her fiance, Lacus gingerly shook Cagalli, who reacted slightly.
« Here, » she said, « when you were changing you forgot this, » she handed over Cagalli's necklace, and something else. « Untill next time! » she cheerfully before joining Athrun and diverting his attention to her with a story of one of her many haro cannaries. I've given you all the help I can Cagalli, thought Lacus, now use it, use it and go protect your brother.
It was only after they were out of sight did Cagalli realize what that something else was: a switch-blade. She smiled. Tonight, freedom would be hers.
« Come » she said. She pointed out the window to the maiden with the blue eyes, « There is your witch! » she excliamed. Athrun at the witch (real one) then to the girl. There was something familiar about her…
« Cagalli? »
« You suck, » she replied. Suddenly, Athrun felt something come up behind him.
« Goodbye » said the witch, still looking so innocent.
Athrun awoke in a cold sweat. He had had the dream again. It took him a few minutes to realize where he was, but when he did, he realized something was missing. The princess was missing. He was out of bed in a flash. When stepped outside his tent, he notticed a figure running away from the camp. He ran after her.
« Now where do you think you're going little princess? » he asked, grabbing her arm.
« Let go of me Zala! » she demanded. Athrun tightenned his grip.
« Let go of me! Please! » she asked. Cagalli was begging? What was happening? Subconciously, he loosened his grip, but not ennough for her to breack free.
« Please Athrun, let go of me. » she pleaded. Athrun. She had called him Athrun. Not Zala, Athrun. This was the first time she had spoken his name out load for two years. Athrun was sure of it. He was so surprized, he couldn't help but let her go. He watched her run off and didn't do anything about it either.
Athrun
You think I am ignorant?
Take a look at yourself.
There are so many things
You do not know
We do not know
But I know one thing
You cannot keep things caged up.
Well, that's it! Review please, and if you do , I will adress you on a first name basis, hehehe...