Yuki: Thank you to all my dear reviewers! I love your reviews! And I promise not to disappoint you all no more!
And now on to the story!
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Chapter 2
Zaft Empire
"Sir!" a soldier saluted "Should we send another attack towards Orb?" she asked
"No need Stellar," a middle aged man smiled slyly "Let them have their peace, because it would be their last time for happiness"
"As you wish, Emperor Dullindal" the blonde captain bowed, eyes emotionless as she left
"Yes Yamato," Dullindal laughed to himself, "Your dear country would be reduced to nothing but ashes once more!"
"Once my plan is put into action, your dear sister would fall into my hands and so will you and your country"
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Athrun walked towards Cagalli's chambers, he sighed wondering what had happened to her. But he knew that whatever it was, he would try his best to comfort her.
As a knight's duty, as a friend to her… or even more…
He reached his destination, holding up his knuckle, he knocked softly and called her name. "Cagalli?"
He heard her mumble incoherent word before she reached for the knob and opened it, only a slight crack but the blue haired knight could see her eyes, red and blemished. She looked like she had cried.
"It's me, my lady" Athrun whispered, a soft smile lay on his lips
Cagalli opened the door wider but she avoided his worried gaze, "Please let me enter, if you don't mind" Athrun spoke with sincerity in his voice, placing his hand on the brown oak door, gently pushing it a little wider.
Cagalli nodded numbly, letting Athrun enter as he closed the door behind him with a soft click.
He walked towards her, his hands resting on her shoulders, the worry glint in his eyes still didn't banish.
They just stood in that position for a while, "Were you crying princess?" Athrun asked, breaking the silence between them. Noticing that Cagalli was trembling, he cupped her chin only to find pearly tears streaming down her porcelain cheeks.
Athrun frowned, his thumb nearing her right eye, wiping the flowing tears away. "Why with the sullen face my princess?" he asked but she didn't answer or as she tried but just ending up choking on her tears, ashamed, she faced the floor once again.
She didn't like it when people see her cry, she didn't want people thinking that she was weak and she specially didn't want Athrun in her pathetic state right now.
"Don't cry" Athrun coaxed, pulling her against him. He felt her bury her face on his chest, her tears dampening his cotton shirt but he didn't care. They stayed in that position for awhile, sitting down on Cagalli's wide bed until she calmed down.
"Tell me Cagalli, is something the matter?" Athrun asked, his hands resting themselves on her shoulder, his eyes gazing at her worriedly
"Tell me something" Cagalli said, looking away once more
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"Have a safe trip home" Caridad bid farewell to Lacus, who was riding a carriage with Kira.
"Good night to you, Lady Yamato" Lacus smiled at the middle aged woman, turning her attention back to the king she smiled, "It has been a honor having a wonderful dinner with you tonight" she thanked, bowing her head in the process
Kira smiled back "I truly would be looking forward to our next meeting; I shall make that a memorable night"
Lacus blushed, also noticing the brown haired king having a tinge of pink on his cheeks, one meeting with him and she was already falling in love, was it possible? For an ordinary songstress like her be able to be with the king?
The question lingered in her mind unanswered, her train of thoughts only broken when she heard Kira's voice
"We are here, this is your home isn't it?" he questioned, glancing at the ordinary looking elegant house, flowers of different sort by the porch. He could smell the sweet jasmine growing in the garden.
"Thank you" Lacus mumbled as Kira escorted her towards the front door, "I'd be leaving now" Kira spoke, reaching for Lacus' right hand and kissing the top of it. Lacus blushed at the sudden action "Good bye, Kira" she waved as she watched the carriage leave.
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"Hm?"
Cagalli sighed, "I feel pathetic…" she whispered "It seems that life is so unfair to me, I always see people around me happy and content, and sometimes I'm left alone to think why it's always me who's the odd one out" she paused, taking in the air her lungs needed "I'm selfish yet lost Athrun, tell me… tell me, cause you know that I'm nothing like Lacus Clyne right?" she laughed bitterly
"Cagalli…"
Athrun looked at her, questions flooding his mind, was she feeling like this all along? These reasons why she didn't like her royal life? Was she dwelling in her sadness without anyone to supports her?
He knew, Cagalli cared for her people, she cared for everyone more than she cared for herself. She looked strong and reliable to her people, to serve them well because she knew it was her job, the responsibility passed on to her. And he knew it was unfair, it was unfair for her to carry all these burdens upon her shoulder, no one tried to reach out to her.
It pained him to see her in this state
"Please don't say that princess" Athrun pulled her into his embrace, "Things in this world aren't perfect"
Cagalli wanted to laugh, she compared everything with her. She felt the flowers were more beautiful than her, they showed their beauty to the world unlike her who feels dull in this world.
Athrun, Athrun Zala was perfect. He was tall and handsome, his charming smile charming its way to every woman's heart. His perfect features, all so bold and well toned. He was someone whom she can't compare herself with, she felt ashamed to be even in his company at the moment, she was sure he had more important things to do than to listen to the selfish musings of a princess.
And there was Lacus Clyne, the known songstress through out Orb. She felt so ashamed of herself, seeing her long flowing pink hair beautifully arranged, without strands sticking out. Her voice so soft and melodious unlike her who keeps on screaming and shouting. She didn't feel like a woman at all. She could see the beautiful body Lacus had, she was a real lady compared to her.
Everything else seem to be beautiful, but not her.
"If you don't call Lacus perfect then what do you call me?" she suddenly asked; her voice bitter and dry. She felt more tears threatening to fall from her amber orbs.
"Cagalli" Athrun spoke her name in silent warning, a silent saying telling her that she was over-reacting with her choice of words. She was thinking negatively about herself again, these things happened already before. But she didn't cry, she didn't sound so insecure before.
Kira has told him once that his sister always tortured herself silently. When she was alone, she would cry all her anger and frustrations. And when she was in public she would muster all her strength to show that she was strong, to show that she was capable of being a princess, of being someone who is worthy of the title. And Athrun also knew how she hated being in royalty.
"It's just that I feel like an outcast in my own house"
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"Father" a boy in his teen years called his blue eyes dark and emotionless "You have asked for me?"
"Yes, Rey, my son" Gilbert Dullindal smiled slyly; the dark room made him look very sinister. "I have a new mission for you"
"It's the Princess of Orb"
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Athrun's eyes soften, lovingly caressing her soft blonde hair
"It's not in everyone's eyes that you're imperfect" he whispered softly, a light blush staining his cheek.
His words made Cagalli look at him, "Athrun…" she softly whispered his name, pearly tears once more threatening to fall from her amber orbs. Athrun smiled, pushing her to him.
"Princess Cagalli, never once have I seed anyone as perfect as you in my eyes"
END
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Yuki: That sucked! I know you all hate me! I'm so sorry! Please do forgive me!
Anyways, if you all think that Athrun and Cagalli's life will be all happy and that the story is ending, you are all wrong! This is where the devastation starts!
The start of their battle and the real start of everything I have in mind of, so here is the preview for the next chapter! Hope that somehow you enjoyed this chapter!
Send me your comments! Review!
Preview chapter 3
Revenge is sweet; he smiles slyly as he thought of her suffering slowly. As she screams in pain and agony like how his mother died years ago, under her blood.
"I'm going to kill you, and wipe you out of this world once and for all"
--Scene change--
"I'm glad that what happened last night wasn't anything serious Cagalli" Lacus smiled
"No, nothing was wrong, I was just feeling a little tired" the blonde princess giggled "Now tell me, do you love my brother, the king?"
--Scene change--
And when he thought that everything will turn alright from this time on and that he could return to see his mother, he heard a blood curling scream. He knew right away whose voice that belonged to, "Cagalli!"
