Hey everyone! Sorry for the long update, quite a few things were going on last weekend, and let's not forget writer's block and easter...anyways, you didn't come here to read about my boring life, so let's get on with it.
Disclaimer: The day I own Gundam Seed is the day people start trusting Bush again...
Athrun
They say parting is
Such sad sorrow
Or something like that
It seems that was your case
When we parted
Now you know how it feels
And I know more about guiltTassil. Tassil. The one word that had any power at the moment was that. It was the name of a town, a town under ZAFT occupation, but that rebelled against it. Yet, no matter how hard they tried, they still had to sumbisse to thier enemy. Tassil, the word had some power, but not as much as Cagalli needed, at least, it didn't appear that way.
Morgenrate. Gunpowder. Guns. That was what Fllay had told Kira, well, that was what stuck. New deadly weapons that would revolutionize war, that was what ZAFT wanted in exchange for the safe return of his sister. Weapons that would revolutinize war. Revolutinize war. That was never good, people on both sides were going to die for his sister. His selfish, tomboyish, still in love with the enemy sister. In the back of his mind, he had always known that to get her back, people would have to die. But now, with the information he had recieved, it was being shoved in his face. He would love to say that he didn't know those men and it wouldn't be a loss, that he just cared about hjis sister and no one else mattered, but he couldn't, Kira just wasn't like that. Damn! He thought, why does life have to end? He couldn't help himself, he began to cry. It's all my fault.
Kira wasn't the only one bothered by the news, Uzumi was too. Not only would these new weapons make war an even deadlier affair, but his ministers and councilmen had been creating them behind his back. It was as if his position meant nothing to them, as if he wasn't really king, as if he was weak. Perhaps I should of given Patrick the throne…
Cagalli hadn't expected Tassil to be so far away, in fact, she had been expected to there by now. And of course, she wasn't, she didn't even have an idea of where she was going. How could I be so stupid? She asked herself, stupid! stupid! stupid!
« Hey Miss! » said a voice, breaking her chain of thought, « do you need a lift? » Cagalli turned to see a young man, or boy really, he was hardly a man, with brown hair and tanned skin. He was ridding in a small horse drawn cart.
« That depends, where are you going? » she asked.
« Tassil, » he responded smartly, Cagalli mounted without a word. The boy smiled.
Meanwhile, at the emcampment, things weren't going so well. By now, everyone knew the princess had escaped. And everyone important knew it was all Athrun's fault. And they weren't taking it lightly. Yzak and Dearka had ganged up on him and tried to beat him to a pulp. Nicol had stopped them, but even he seemed a little disapointed with Athrun. Only Le Creuset did not seem upset.
« She is but a pawn, » he said, « and the loss of a pawn is never great. »
« But she would of been very useful… » said Yzak.
« And she still is, » said Rau, « After all, she may have escaped, but her dear father Lord Uzumi dosn't know that. »
As much as she loved to run, Cagalli was greatful to have a place to sit.
« So what's your name? » she asked the boy as they neared the town.
« Afhmed, you? »
« Cagalli. »
Finally, Cagalli could see Tassil in the distance. As they approached, she noticed a crowd of people comming near them.
« Don't worry, » said Afhmed, « Standard procedure, what with ZAFT so close and all that. »
« Close? » asked Cagalli sarcasticly. Afhmed laughed. Their conversation was cut off by the approaching mob.
« Afhmed, who is this? » asked one person.
« Who's she with? » asked another.
« Do you know it's okay to bring her, do you know if she's not from ZAFT? » More various questions around those lines were shot at them, but Cagalli didn't hear them all.
« Everybody calm down, » said Afhmed, « this is Cagalli. »
« Cagalli who? » cried one person angrily.
« Uuh…. » mumbled Afhmed nervously.
« Afhmed you idiot! » yelled a man, he seemed to be the leader, « remeber what happened last time you brought back a stray girl? »
« Hey, it wasn't my idea! » scowled Afhmed, « at least, not that time! »
« It turned out she was the daughter of Siegal Cylne! » said the leader paying no attention whatsoever to Afhmed's comments.
« You mean Lacus? » asked Cagalli rashly.
« See! » said one man, « She knows her! She must be from ZAFT too! »
« Afhmed you fool! » people cried.
« Could sombody please explain what's going on? » asked Cagalli. No one listenned, they were all to busy insulting Afhmed to notice. Suddenly, she noticed a man approach the leader, the man looked odly familier. The rebelious princess didn't know weather to fell relived or frightened.
« Let her pass! » cried the leader, « she's not trouble! »
Reluctantly, everyone left and both youths stuck in the cart could descend. Once the situation had calmed down and both of them had had some time to rest, the leader came and found Cagalli.
« Come with me, » he said gruffly, « we need to talk. »
Knowing that her situation was procairious, Cagalli followed him without a word.
« Where are we going? » she asked.
« Somewhere a bit quieter than here, where we can discuss the difficulty of your situation, Princess, » said the leader. So it was him, thought Cagalli. They entered a small house, away from all the commotion.
« Kisaka! » cried the young girl, not sure weather to feel angry or glad, « what are you doing here? »
« Keeping an eye on you, » he responded, « as always. » Cagalli stuck out her tounge.
« Princess, be greatful, » said the leader, « if it weren't for Ledonil here, you would probably be scouering the streets of Banadiya by now! » Cagalli stared at him blankly, « Banadiya isn't a very friendly place for ennemies of ZAFT. »
« Well Tassil isn't very friendly to ennemies of Orb, is it? » she answered.
« And that means you're safe Princess, » said Kisaka, « for now at least, » he continued, hoping to change the subject.
« Ah, yes! » said the leader, « there is much we need to discuss. First of all, you need to know that Tassil is not just a rebelious town, but also the headquarters of the Desert Dawn, a group that's been rebelling against ZAFT since before this bloody war, I am one of it's founding members Sahib Ashman. »
« Very well, » said Cagalli, « but before we talk about anything, I have a few questions for Kisaka. »
Her bodyguard sighed.
Things weren't going nearly as smoothly for Athrun, who was now being interegatted on how the captive had gotten away. After all, she had been under his watch and he had promised that she wouldn't get away. It was the first promise he had ever broken, and he couldn't even claim that it wasn't his fault. It was his fault. He had let her get away. And why? Because the rebelious princess had decided to look cute and call him Athrun. Athrun. Even when he thought back to it, Cagalli saying his name, his given name, Athrun, was still magical to him. It was as if she had regained her trust in him. But she had simply used him, just like her manipulative father would.
The fact that he was under interogation wasn't his only worry, after all, he had not been the only accomplice in Cagalli's getaway. He knew for a fact that Lacus had helped too. In her own kind, cautious, yet devious way, she had helped. Firstly, she had let valuble information about the camp's surroundings slip out, Athrun should've reported her for that. He had let it slide, thinking it had been a simple accident. But when they searched 'thier tent,' he and the others had found a small switch-blade, the one Siegal had always forced upon is daughter, just in case. Of course, Siegal hadn't meant commiting treason freeing a hostage, an important one, none the less, and betraying valuble information, when he said just in case. And that was why he didn't want to turn her in.
Once Athrun had officially joinned ZAFT, he had been taken in by Siegal Cylne. Not only that, but he had also been given his beautiful daughter as his future wife. Athrun remebered the day clearly. It had been mid-afternoon and the two youths had been drinking some tea, when Siegal announced it. « Oh, this is wonderful, isn't it Athrun? » Lacus had said. « Yeah, » he had replied, « it's great. » Both thier tones had been somewhat melencholic. But now, Athrun didn't want to report Lacus, even if she had let Cagalli escape. It would put her in danger, it would put her father in danger, it would put him in danger. At least, it would put all the stabillity and control in his life in danger. That had happened once before, he didn't want to see it happen again. His last thought made him feel guilty, was he just being selfish? Nah, I'm doing this for Lacus…he told himself, and…anyways saying nothing is just going to get me into more shit, nah, I'm not being selfish.
Kira's cheeks were stained from crying. His nose was still running. He was still confused, and upset, and sad. There was a knock on his door.
« Come on in Fllay, » he said, through habbit.
« I'm afraid Miss Allster is preoccupied at the momment, » said a deep voice, his father, the last person he wanted to see.
« First Cagalli, now you, soon everyone's going to be charging in here pretending to be Fllay! » he groaned.
« I'm sorry, but I feel we need to talk, » said Uzumi.
« This is new, you haven't been really keen on talking to me for the past little while, » snapped Kira.
« I'm sorry, » sighed Uzumi, « it's just that, well, between Cagalli running off like she did, and ZAFT's outrageous demands, I've been rather preoccupied. »
« ZAFT's outrageous demands! » cried Kira, « Father, YOUR the one who's been creating those killing machines! »
« Kira, I had no clue such things were in creation, » said Uzumi, « it's just that… »
« Well that's no excuse, is it? Your King around here, you should make it your duty to know! » cried his son, furious, « Father, because of these weapons, people are going to die! Because of Cagalli, they will be put into use against us! Because of me, Cagalli allowed herself to get caught! And because of all that, innocent people are going to die before thier time! » Kira could feel the tears welling up in his eyes, he hated this, he had cried more in one day than Cagalli probalby had in her entire life!
« Kira, Kira, it's okay, » said Uzumi, « You are a kind person, while I am a foolish one. You care only for peace, while I have been dragging this war on for eight long years now. You have done nothing wrong, while I am completely at fault, » The father patted his son's back protectivly, « more than you know, » he mumbled gently.
« What? » asked Kira, he had heared the last comment.
« These weapons, the new ones, the guns, they will kill more innocent people. But, war has already done that, » said his father, changing the subject, « people die Kira, some before thier time, some after thier time, but the reality is that death will always be with us, just as love, hope and compassion will follow us wherever we wish to go. Those four things, or to be more precise, those two things, death and love, are constants in mortal life, no matter what life one chooses. They come in many forms, but in the end, the're alwas there. »
« So, what you're saying is that we humans, all of us, can depend on two things, love and death, and that both are constant. »
« Exactly, » said Uzumi, « and that war speeds them up. »
Just then, someone entered the room asking for Uzumi, saying that it was important.
« But, Father… » said Kira, « there are things I want to know… »
« I am aware of that Kira, but I am afraid you shall have to wait before I can explain it all, » said the older man, « the story is long and sad. I don't feel like explaining it twice. After all, when your sister returns, she is bound to have at least a few questions for me. »
Kira could almost see a smile at the corners of his lips.
It turnned out that, after figuring out where Athrun had taken Cagalli, Kisaka had been ordered by Uzumi to go to Banadiya and wait there in case she escaped. If she did not make it out within a certain time limit, her body-guard would of infultrated the camp and rescued her. Being a founding memeber of the Desert Dawn himself, Kisaka had told Uzumi of Tassil and had been reasinged there. Now that this was clear, the three began to discuss her situation.
« Am I to wait here or shall you escort me back to Onongoro? » asked Cagalli.
« Uzumi would rather that Sahib and I, along with a few other mebers escort you back, seeing as the mail can be easily trafiqued, but right now, that would be impossible… » he trailed off.
« Why? » demended the princess.
« We are caught up in a camapaign against our repression, I'm afraid, » said Sahib, « none of us can leave in such a number for fear of a surprise attack. » There was a pause, « that is why we were so hostile to you and your friend Miss Clyne. »
Cagalli nodded and thought about it for a few minutes.
« Very well, send a mesengar to my father, tell him that I am safe and that he need not worry, or pay the ransom… » she said trailing off.
« And what about you? » asked Sahib.
« I will stay here and join the camapign, » she declared, making the leader laugh and her bodyguard shake his head in despair.
Fllay's arms were wrapped tightly auround Sai Argyle, his auround her. They knew it was wrong, Kira would kill them instantly if he saw, but that only made it feel right. At least, that was how Fllay felt. It was a different story for Sai. Much as he was captivated and fascinated by the flamboyant redhead, he knew this wasn't right. Kira had claimed her after all, though it wasn't as if Fllay responded to restrictions. She seemed to be lost in her odd little reality world. One where she was the victim of a creul prince and Sai was her knight in shining armour. But that was far from the truth. If anyone was creul here, it was her. The only reason she courted Kira was for future political standing and power. The only reason she courted him was for the thrill of it.
Thump. Thump. Footsteps. Sai broke apart instantly, if anyone were to find out, that meant Kira would find out. If Kira were to find out… Sai didn't want to think about it. Ever since they were little, he had been part of the prince's group of friends (the princess was a completly different case…), but unlike th rest of them, he had always had this feeling of uneasiness auround him. It was as if a mad monster was waiting to come rampaging out of his skin as soon as he could get out. That could be at any given time.
All of The Desert Dawn was taken by surprise by Her Royal Highness Princess Cagalli Yula Attha. The idea of her joining the cause was shocking ennough, but when she voluntered, no demanded, to fight on the front line, well, let's just say the somewhat conservative and very naive population of Tassil began to doubt Kisaka's credability. « I told you she was special, » he said to Sahib.
Another letter had arrived, another one about Cagalli. This time, Uzumi let Kira look at the letter without a seccond thought. He handed it to him in a rather cheerful mood, it reminded the young prince of the man he had known eight years ago. He opened the letter :
Father, Kira,
I am fine. I was not harmed during my stay with Zala (though I must say, it was not at all enjoyable). I'm going to stay help out here in the desert, but you need not worry. Kisaka is with me, as well as a number of other kind and courageous people and everyone is trying thier best to protect and take care of me. Actually, it's gotten to the point where it's kind of sufforcating. I will return in due time, and please, do not pay the ransom for nothing.
Cagalli
P.S. : The next time Miss Clyne visits us, we will have to give her the best care we can, especially you Kira.
The supposed young twin smiled as he read the letter, he knew for a fact that she had not been forced to write this or that someone else had faked it. First of all, it was her brash handwritting, and seccondly,the words used showed simply to much of her stubborn personality. Kira kept on smiling. It was as he read the last words that the letter began to confuse him, The next time Miss Cylne…Miss Clyne? Did she mean Lacus? Kira remebered an inocent and pretty young girl, what was she doing in all of this? Especially you Kira…What did that mean?
Meanwhile Uzumi's good mood had vanished. He sat in his study, brooding over a small note enclosed with the original one. Upon it's envolope were the words : Lord Uzumi Nara Attha. He had imagined it was just a small certification from Kisaka, but he was dismuly surprised, (A/N: that may be an oxymoron, but as always, just work with me, OK? ).
Lord Uzumi Nara Attha, read the letter
Perhaps it was foolish not to include these questions within my original note, but I do not want to worry Kira over anything, seeing as he must be rather confused at the moment. First of all, you might as well know the details of this whole situation, unless Kisaka has told you all. Seeing Kira's distress over fighting Zala, I took it upon my duty as his older sister to do something about it. So I went to the front line and commanded his batallion for him. After a number of rather complicated events, I found myself in a position where I was forced to give myself up to him (please do not take that the wrong way). We made a bargan, if he retreated and surrendured, I would go with him as a hostage. I did not go back on my word. At the ZAFT base, I learnt many things, things you probably wouldn't want me knowing. For example : do you know what coordinator is? I do, though I only learnt it recently from a friend. Also, I have many questions for you. I have decide to stay here in Tassil parshly because I want you to come up with real anwsers and explinations before I ask them. And do not try to lie to me, I'll find out one way or another, you know that, Father. Yes, I have many questions for you, and as a young woman, I expect to hear valuable answers. I hope you won't baby me, especially when I ask you about Patrick Zala.
Sincerly
Princess Cagalli Yula Attha.
Uzumi shook his head in despair. Patrick Zala. So even his stubborn daughter knew of him. His curse would never leave him.
« Say Princess… » said a voice, it was Ahfmed.
« Don't call me princess! » snapped Cagalli.
« Sorry, » he said blushing, « anyways…why do you want to fight on the front line? Why does someone of your status wish to fight on the front line with poor soldiers like me? »
« Your not a real soldier… » said Cagalli, trying to change the subject.
« That's besides the point, why is there a princess in the ranks? »
« Ahfmed, why do you want to know? »
« I'm just curious, that's all. »
Cagalli squirmed a bit. She had no idea why, but Afhmed asking her this made her feel uncomftorble. Yet, almost five years ago, she had easily explained her reasons to Athrun, no Zala, ZALA! « You know very well what you did wrong!You know how much I hate the palace! You know how I feel so much more accepted here then there! »And only a few days ago had she explained them to Lacus, « To protect those who need protectinl…and I sotra like to get away from the palace… and I like being there to protect all my loved caught up in battle, » both times without hesitation. Yet now she sat infront of this kind-hearted eighteen year old kid and she couldn't even string two words toghether.
« It's complicated, » she finaly answered.
« So I see, » said Ahfmed amused, « forget I even asked… » he said. « So… anyways, have you ever been in love Cagalli? »
« No! Of course not! I absouloutly despise men! » she yelled.
« And what about me? » asked the young resister playfully.
« You're a boy, that's a different story, » she answered in the same tone.
« Hey! »
They continued like this for a good five minutes.
« I've been in love, » said Afhmed suddenly.
« What? »
« I've been in love with this girl, I've been crazy about her ever since I met her. She's different, shall we say, and brave, very brave, braver than I will ever be. She's also beautiful Cagalli, one of the most, no, the most beautiful thing I have ever seen… Cagalli…she's…. » he trailed off.
« Ahfmed! Cagalli! ZAFT's assulting the town! Get over here quick! » shouted Sahib suddenly.
They both ran off after him.
Cagalli
Where are you now?
Are you ok?
Why do I care?
Why did you leave?
You messed me up
I'll get you back
I'll get you back.
Ok, that's over, Review please!