Disclaimer: Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny does not belong to me.
A/N: My plot is moving slower and slower, gosh, I need to buck up! Thanks for those who reviewed.
Phase 10: The Invisible Sword
In an Ocean
They had decided to cremate Kira on a raft in the ocean. Lacus could not bear to leave Kira. She kissed him for the last time while hanging her ring which he bought for her over his neck before burning the raft with his body together with her favourite hairclip Kira had found which made him thought she was killed on it as the raft drifted in the sea.
Lacus looked on to the direction of the ocean in daze with Lunamaria by her side. She had worn Kira's ring over her neck.
"Kira…" She finally broke down crying in Lunamaria's arms.
"Kira-san, I'll continue to replant the flowers no matter how many times they'll be blown away." Shinn swore watching the raft which was burning in flame disappearing from their sight.
Over the water of the ORB territories
Athrun continued fighting with the Asterisk Gundam. He knew he did not have enough time. He had to remove him as soon as possible in order to catch up with the Archangel which was submerging anytime with Akatsuki covering it while slashing the murasame.
Nicol who was smirking opened his comm. connecting to the Infinite Justice using his URANUS system installed in the OS.
"It's been a long while, Athrun." Nicol spoke up. "I hope you haven't forgotten me."
Athrun was stunned. It was a voice which sounded very familiar.
"If you have forgotten me, I shall introduce myself, I'm Nicol Amalfi, your long-lost friend. A friend who you abandoned!" Nicol glared at the Infinite Justice in fury as he activated his mirage colloid and utilized the holographic boomerang.
"Nicol? Impossible! He's dead." Athrun was feeling stunned. His mind was in a blank. He couldn't believe his ears. Athrun dodged the holographic boomerang thinking that they were real.
"If you are Nicol, why didn't you contact us?" Athrun tried to say something since he found his comm. currently working.
"Coward, meet your maker." Asterisk threw a real boomerang towards the Infinite Justice slashing open the cockpit revealing a shocked Athrun who was not able to react on time.
"I'm not like my partner who loves stabbing people on the back, I'll kill you right here in front of you." Asterisk pulled out a giant saber and was about to impale through the cockpit. Nicol smiled as he was able to avenge himself finally.
Minerva
Yzak and Dearka were discussing on their military strategies. Since things had come to this, there was no turning back.
Meanwhile Shinn was sitting in the room where Kira's body used to be laid. Shinn closed his eyes and he thought he could hear Kira's thought. He was smiling to him by the wind as he passed him his mechanical bird and disappeared. Shinn almost fell off from his chair when he woke up. Torii flew right into his hand.
"I understand, Kira-san. I'll take good care of her for you."
The three of them left Minerva in a jeep. Shinn looked back at the foot of Minerva. It used to be his mothership even though there were unhappy memories whether now or in the past. For now, all he could do was to let Lacus recover in a place for Kira's sake.
Somewhere in the Equatorial nation
Shinn and Lunamaria decided to reside in the equatorial nation temporary. They were surprised to see that this part of the area was untouched by the URANUS when they heard from Yzak. They were expecting resistance from the URANUS army when they first arrived in the nation.
"This place seemed peaceful." Lunamaria exclaimed.
"Yeah, they were still able to cope with life even with heir communication link cut." Shinn said while reading the map. "Don't tell me." Lunamaria felt the worst.
"We are lost again." Shinn answered immediately earning him a whacking on his head. Lacus laughed. Shinn and Lunamaria stared at her in surprise. This was the first time they saw Lacus laughed after Kira's death. They smiled at each other for it.
"Both of you are really on good term. Aren't you?" Lacus couldn't see but she could sense it. "It sounds normal for a couple to bicker." Shinn and Lunamaria just blushed with their back turned each other.
"I wish I can do that too." Lacus said sadly. "Forget about it, let's grab a bite instead." She said livened up a bit.
"Yeah." Shinn didn't know if she had gotten over Kira. She never would. It would take a person a lifetime to forget. But he was glad, happy that she did not put herself in despondence at least for now. Perhaps she was putting up a strong front.Shinn would do whatever he could for her, for Kira's sake.
Over the water of the ORB territories
Nicol was about to stab Athrun through the opened Infinite Justice cockpit when he stopped suddenly feeling hesitant. Image of their happy times flashed through his mind and he realized he couldn't kill Athrun.
Nicol turned his attention on the Archangel by sending boomerangs on the back of the engine in turn damaging it. The impact of the explosion shaken the crews in the bridge. Mwu couldn't react on time as he was taking on too many enemy murasame at once. Asterisk threw another boomerang this time disabling Akatsuki by slashing both arms of the mobile suit.
Mwu was surprised by the action. He thought Asterisk had him.
Nicol ordered a retreat while Murrue decided to risk it all by submerging in this condition. All their engines were severely damaged. Noticing the retreat of the enemy murasame, Mwu heaved a sigh of relief as Akatsuki landed on the catapult of the Archangel.
Infinite Justice remained in the sky in daze. Nicol whiz past the Infinite Justice tossed him a head crest of a mobile suit. Athrun caught it in surprise.
"Nicol! Why?" Athrun cried.
"I'll let you off for now. My master is inviting you to Panama where the source which caused the disruption is located. The power between the Archangel and us is on par for now. The next time we meet will be the time I obtain the head crest of your Infinite Justice." Athrun looked down on the red and white head crest with two yellow spikes.
"Don't mistaken me. I'm not the one who obtained the head crest you are holding on. I'm not that powerful. My partner is the one. That's his victory. You'll see him in Panama." With that Nicol switched off the comm. and activated his mirage colloid Leaving Athrun who was glared at the retreating troop.
Hangar of the Archangel
Mwu got off from his Akatsuki and was feeling thankful that he survived after the Asterisk Gundam almost struck him.
"Mwu." Murrue who arrived on the hangar jumped into his arms in tears.
"It's all right now, my dear." He patted her.
Infinite Justice docked and Athrun came off of his mobile suit removing his broken helmet. His head was bleeding from the slash and the impact of the attack. The crews rushed to him offered to take him to the infirmary. Athrun nodded as he was feeling a bit dizzy.
Meyrin was worried for Athrun as he walked out from the infirmary with his head bandaged. He was glad to hear that Cagalli was fine. He stayed by her side waiting for her to wake up. He thought about his previous encounter with Nicol. Why did he call him a coward? Athrun recalled Nicol mentioned to him about Panama that he would meet his partner and about the source that disrupt communication.
He fell asleep as he recalled the previous incident. He was aroused from his sleep when Cagalli stirred suddenly. She opened her eyes slowly and saw Athrun smiling at her.
"Athrun." She spoke up in her weak voice. Athrun's eyes beamed in happiness and he hugged her gently afraid that it might affect her wound.
"I was afraid that I will lose you." Cagalli closed her eyes and smiled.
"You are always on my mind, Athrun. I couldn't keep my mind off you when I was shot. I…"
"Cagalli, I know. Please give me a chance, we'll start all over again." Athrun released from their embrace and held up the ring he gave Cagalli."
"How did you…"
"A medical personnel passed it to me when during the operation." He placed the rings on her palm.
"Cagalli, I'm sorry." He kissed her on the forehead. Outside of the room, Meyrin had witnessed everything. It seemed that she had lost. Lost Athrun's affection to the Representative of ORB. Tear welled up on her eyes. She ran down the corridor and bumped into Miriallia and rest of the crews with stiff expression still shocked at what they had just seen.
"Meyrin." Miriallia got her on her arms. Meyrin was crying. Miriallia understood what could have happened. She wanted to console her but they had more important things to do right now.
Cagalli realized that Athrun was hurt. Athrun just smiled. He assured her that he was alright and believe in him. Athrun did not want to burden her with his problem with Nicol whom he thought he was dead all along. Cagalli realized she had forgotten about ORB. She tried to get out of the bed but Athrun stopped her.
"For now, just stay on the bed. I'll promise you, I'll take ORB back for sure. For now, we can't do anything." Athrun patted on her head. Cagalli nodded her head.
"Kid! Murdock-san said he wanted to see you immediately." Mwu popped in. "He said it's urgent but they he's not telling us anything."
"Is Justice too damaged to be repaired?" Athrun asked.
"Like I know." Mwu shrugged.
"Athrun, you better go." Cagalli pushed him.
"Ok, ok!" Athrun kissed Cagalli in her forehead as he took off to the hangar. Murrue felt happy for both of them even though they were currently in dire situation when she arrived standing behind Mwu. She cleared her throat a bit signaling her presence. Cagalli just blushed.
"Murdock-san, does anything matter? Is Justice too damaged to be repairable? Athrun asked as the maintenance crew looked at him sadly while they were moving the head crest Athrun brought in to one side.
A/N: End of the chapter. The longest ever written meaning the next one will be short since I changed the sequences of the events. I'll let Athrun learn about what happened to Kira but for now, he'll only know about it briefly the next chapter. Please R&R. See you next time!
