Author's Note: zzzzzzzzzzzz. This will suck. Don't read. Amazing how caffeine makes me all crazy.
Disclaimer: Gundam Seed Destiny is not mine.
His body fell, lifeless, to the ground. Cagalli let tears flow freely down her cheeks. She felt as though she was the cause of his death. He was gone.
Athrun felt a pang of pain in his heart on seeing Cagalli heartbroken. He began to doubt her feelings for him…
Athrun, meanwhile, heard Aaron's silent whimpering from a distance, and swiftly made his way over with Cagalli serving as a distraction to Yunna.
" Aaron…Natalie…Don't worry…Daddy's here now." Athrun hushed them gently, stroking their cheeks gently.
Natalie struggled against Athrun's firm yet loving embrace, obviously not used to his presence around her.
Yunna's words replayed in Athrun's mind.
How touching, your twins calling him DADDY.
His heart shattered on recalling those very words.
His twins. His children. His life.
And they called someone else those words meant for him.
He snapped out of his train of thoughts. He had to get the twins out of here.
He felt something nudge him, or rather, someone.
" Kira?"
" Shh. Lacus's here too. Athrun, let Lacus take care of the twins."
" Lacus, wait for us in the car."
Lacus nodded in agreement, took the twins and left briskly.
" How did you know we were here?" Athrun questioned.
" Kisaka called. I'll settle the score with you later on." Kira answered bluntly, trying to see how Cagalli was doing.
" We need to get Cagalli away from Yunna. She's in a very vulnerable position right now…What's Meyrin doing here?" Kira furrowed his eyebrows.
" Long story. Let's concentrate on helping them right now. Kira, you get Meyrin, and I'll get Cagalli."
Kira snorted. What a bitch Meyrin is. I'd rather take Shinn back.
" Don't even think about it." Athrun warned, as though reading Kira's mind.
Kira nodded reluctantly, mentally cursing himself for agreeing.
Back with Cagalli and the Purple-Haired Gorilla and I-Am-A-Bitch-For-Screaming-Out-Loud, Meyrin…
" YUNNA! IF YOU HURT ME, THAT'S FINE. WHY DID YOU HAVE TO HURT SHINN! HE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT!" Cagalli screamed, devastated at the loss of her best friend.
" Cagalli, Cagalli. Grow up, will you? You are the one I want, and I'll get you, through any means possible. I will eliminate those who pose a threat to me, and I will kill whoever refuses to comply. In this case, this moronic idiot decided to sacrifice himself, pledging his oh-so-true love to you, Cagalli. He refused to give up, no matter what I said." Yunna said tauntingly.
" You disgust me, Yunna. How could you…" Cagalli said in between sobs.
" You won't find me all that disgusting when you become my woman." Yunna laughed maniacally.
Unknown to the dense animal, Kira sneaked behind him expertly, undetected, reaching out a hand to Meyrin, who looked stunned. Realising she hadn't much time, she placed her hand in Kira's, and slowly moved away.
Remind me to sterilize my hand later on. Kira rolled his eyes disgustedly at her.
Meyrin, trying hard not to make even a squeak, which would attract Yunna's unwanted attention, gulped on seeing Kira's deathly pale face. He looked as though he wanted to kill her right there, right now.
True enough, she didn't make a squeak.
She ruined the whole plan when she stepped on a piece of glass. Kira flinched, muttered several profanities and pulled Meyrin's hand roughly, dragging her to safety.
He had a sudden urge to just leave her there to die alone, but his conscience advised him against it. He imagined Lacus giving him a long lecture on how 'every life is important, Kira.' and flashing her ever-sweet smile. It was more than enough to melt his heart.
Yunna spun around angrily and very uncermoniously grabbed Meyrin's shirt and flung her to the ground, pulling Kira along with her.
Athrun, meanwhile, swiftly moved over to Cagalli, leading her away from her very dangerous spot.
" No no no…" Yunna shook his head. " You Coordinators prove yourself unworthy of the breed." He said arrogantly.
Athrun frowned and his eyes turned dark green. He went into SEED-mode, ready to finish Yunna off in a heartbeat if necessary. He lost Cagalli and his children once, and he wasn't about to make the same mistake again.
" Athrun…" Cagalli whispered, gripping tightly onto Athrun's shirt, clearly afraid of what Yunna might do.
Athrun spread his arms out before Cagalli, ready to fight back any attack directed at them.
She's trembling…
A sinister laugh filled the air.
" I can't believe you… How long are you planning on staying ignorant, Athrun? Cagalli doesn't love you anymore. She loves this man, the man who stole her away from you." Yunna said, pointing at Shinn.
" If you want Cagalli, you'll have to come through me first." Athrun hissed menacingly.
" SHINN WAS MY FRIEND, YOU GIT!" Cagalli screamed, tears rolling down her cheeks.
" Look. She's already defending him. Has she ever done that for YOU? You were just a person whom she knew would be there for her when she needed you. It was never a mutual relationship. She was LYING to you the whole time. She was making use of you. Even your kids are already calling him daddy…and they've been staying under the same roof for quite a while…I even heard her telling him she loved him once…" Yunna pressed on, bent on making Athrun leave Cagalli once again.
" Athrun, no. I swear to you, I love you… I didn't know the twins were calling him daddy… I never once lied to you about my love for you, and I would never make use of you! You should know that well enough, Athrun…He stayed at my place to look after the kids for me, there was nothing more between us! Yunna's trying to manipulate you! Please don't listen to him…please…don't leave me again." Cagalli sobbed, clinging on to Athrun's shirt.
Athrun just reflected on what Yunna had said. His heart broke, shattering into irreplaceable glass shards. Athrun felt as though his heart was being wrenched out when he recalled the previous incident where Natalie struggled free, not wanting to be held by him. Him, a mere stranger to his children, his flesh and blood. It was never meant to be. He reminisced the good times he spent with Cagalli…and it hurt so badly.
Turning around to face Cagalli, he smiled weakly.
" I loved you, Cagalli. Never once did I think you would do this to me…" Athrun turned away.
Cagalli's hand instinctively let go of her tight grip on Athrun's shirt. Her hands were shaking. Her husband chose to believe his rival, instead of her. He tore her paper heart.
" Athrun…I love you…why won't you believe me?" Cagalli sniffed, looking incredibly fragile.
Kira frowned from a distance. He wondered what Athrun was up to. He led Meyrin to safety, then rushed back to get Cagalli.
" Cagalli! Let's go now! Hurry!" Kira stretched his hand and whispered to Cagalli, while Yunna had his attention on Athrun.
" He doesn't love me anymore…Athrun doesn't love me anymore, Kira…" she said dazedly, tear by tear descending her cheeks.
Yunna smirked at his victory.
Pulling up the gun to arm's level, he aimed it at Cagalli.
" If I can't have you, no one will." He muttered, and fired a shot.
Kira instinctively stood in front of Cagalli, ready to brave the shot for her.
Another gunshot.
Cagalli spun around quickly, praying hard it wasn't what she thought it was.
Athrun stood facing her, tears flowing freely from his emerald orbs.
" At least I managed to save you…Cagalli." Athrun whispered weakly and fell to the ground.
Kira ran over to the smirking Yunna and delivered the most vicious punch he could give, sending the fairly oblivious purple-haired ape flying and smashing the glass windows he crashed into. That wasn't enough. Kira was pissed. Yunna hurt his best friend, and his sister. He wasn't going to get away so easily, not this time. He cornered Yunna, still on the ground, kicked up the gun on the floor expertly onto his hand, and locked it on to Yunna.
" You were just a pawn to my victory, Kira Yamato. You are NOTHING but a useless experiment, created by US, Naturals." Yunna refused to give up and admit defeat, even in the face of death.
" Too bad, Yunna, cause you'll die in the 'useless and flithy' hands of me, the stinking coordinator produced by you stinking Naturals." Kira hissed, and fired a shot, sending the bullet right through his head.
With that, he rushed over to Athrun, who was bleeding profusely, and a sobbing Cagalli.
Athrun was in Cagalli's arms, his breathing becoming erratic. Mustering whatever strength he had left, he spoke softly, just loud enough for Cagalli to hear.
His hand caressed her cheek, stroking it gently.
" Cagalli…I'm sorry I…hurt you… When I said…those words back there…it was to…divert Yunna's attention…Sorry if my words…hurt you… Cagalli… I love…you…Promise me…something?" Athrun murmured.
Cagalli nodded, tears streaming freely down her rosy red cheeks.
" If…if I don't make it…promise me to find someone better…"
" Don't say that, Athrun! You can't leave me! You promised me you wouldn't leave me again! You'll pull through, Athrun. Don't give up!" Cagalli held his hand tightly in hers.
" Find someone…someone who loves you as much as I do…someone who'll love…love the kids…"
" Stop it, Athrun! Please… I won't… I won't! Cause you'll be the only man I'll ever love!" Cagalli broke down in tears, crying like she never did.
Athrun smiled gently, leaning in and planting a loving kiss on her lips.
" I'm sorry…I can't make it…I love you…and the kids…Cagalli…" Athrun muttered, before his eyelids slowly closed.
" I love you, Athrun…PLEASE DON'T LEAVE ME!"
Three days later
Cagalli sat, motionless, staring at her blue-haired husband lying on the hospital bed.
She reminisced the past, her past with him. His devotion, his love, his strength, both physically and mentally, his never-ending patience and perseverance he displayed. She missed him, his horny self, his corny jokes, his loving and warm embraces and his passionate kisses. She just wanted him back.
Lacus had been taking care of the twins for the past few days that Cagalli stayed vigil beside Athrun's bedside. Cagalli was in no mood to do anything – her love was not with her. Her heart always somehow drifted off to Athrun, no matter what she was doing.
For the past three days, Cagalli had been folding paper cranes and placing them in a heart-shaped jar, waiting for Athrun to wake up and admire her work. She once recalled him laughing at her for not being able to do origami. He loved paper cranes, which his mother used to make for him when he was feeling sad. She felt so useless when she wasn't able to make cranes for him when he was feeling sad. Being the usual caring self, he always assured her that he was fine, but she knew that it was all just a pretence. He was trained to be serious in the military trainings, but she was one of those people who could see through his seemingly stern demeanor. Paper cranes were Athrun' favourite, and Cagalli was determined to complete a jar of paper cranes, just for Athrun. She took out an origami book, following each step slowly. She wasn't even halfway through the whole jar, but she was determined to complete it. Paper cuts bruised her fingers, and her fingers bled each time, but she ignored it completely. Just one look at Athrun, and she was ready to do another crane for him, to make him happy. She wanted him to know how much she loved him, and how much she was willing to sacrifice for him. She had a phobia of blood other than water, and she ignored it. The only thing that was on her mind was to finish that jar.
Night time.
Cagalli was lying face down on the book. She had dozed off after the 239th paper crane. Her fingers were aching so badly, all red and bruised, thanks to the paper cuts.
She stirred when she felt something stroke her hair.
Athrun.
She bolted upright and looked expectantly at Athrun.
No. He was still lying on the bed in the same position.
Something different. A smile, wait, SMIRK, was placed upon his charming features.
Cagalli smiled. Maybe he sensed her presence. But then, why a smirk? She shrugged it off, telling herself it was probably her imagination. Yawning and stretching, she laid her head on the book once again, closing her eyes to rest.
Again. Something touched her hair again.
She jolted awake and saw Athrun staring at her amusedly.
" YOU DOLT! DON'T YOU KNOW HOW WORRIED I WAS ABOUT YOU!" Cagalli pounced on him, screaming into his eardrums.
" Thank you, princess…"
" Don't princess me, Athrun." She pouted, she said, pointing her index finger at him.
" What happened to your fingers!" Athrun stared, shocked and worried.
Cagalli blushed a deep shade of red, and yanked her fingers out of Athrun's grasp. Reaching out for a jar full or cranes, she brought it up to Athrun's lap.
" I…I…made this for you…I remembered how you used to tell me how much you loved the paper cranes your mother made for you when you were feeling down…but this stupid book didn't state how to make the heads!" She pouted childishly while Athrun smiled warmly at her childish demeanor. "I really didn't kn---" She was cut off when a warm pair of lips pressed against hers, and she blushed an even deeper shade of red.
" Thank you…Cagalli…I really appreciate it…but there's no need to torture yourself just because of the cranes. What matters more to me, is that you're always here with me." Athrun held her tightly in his arms.
" Quit..Quit being so mushy, Zala!"
Athrun ignored her and snuggled his head into her intoxicating scent coming from her hair, closing his eyes, letting the scent take over his senses.
" Mmmm. You might want to try and get that blush off your face before I see it and make it worse, Cagalli." Athrun stated plainly, his eyes still closed.
This guy knows me too well. Cagalli smiled.
Athrun broke the hug and kissed Cagalli sloppishly before leaning back onto his bed, taking up jar of cranes.
So THAT'S what she meant by the 'stupid book didn't state how to make the heads'. He said after inspecting the jar closely.
All the cranes were missing a head.
" Come on, Cagalli. I'll teach you how to make proper cranes, with heads." He smiled.
That earned him a jab in the ribs.
Without any distractions, the loving couple hugged and spent the night folding paper cranes together in the hospital ward.
Thankfully, the cranes had heads.
Author's Note: (
Yes, I'll try and write stories with the 'humor' incorporated in them. It's been a while since I felt happy enough to write something humorous.
Hope you thoroughly enjoyed it.
-asucags
