Disclaimer: Gundam Seed and Gundam Seed Destiny does not belong to me.
A/N: I'm so busy. The plot holes I created must have gotten bigger. Have to work harder.
Phase 13: The Temporary Interval
Kingdom of Scandinavia
The Archangel had arrived in the facility of the Scandinavia after forcing their way through fighting against with the troop with their remaining murasame as the both the Akatsuki and the Infinite Justice weren't ready for battle after suffering damages from the previous battles.
Nothing serious happened when the leader realized that it was the Archangel and ceased the attack. The crews were relieved that the country was not taken over by the URANUS. They needed a safe shelter for the time being.
They couldn't understand the reason why they were able to find the location of the country despite their use of mirage colloid. They found it anyway which means the enemy might be able to find the country if tried hard enough.
Murrue greeted the head of the Kingdom of Scandinavia. Cagalli ignoring her injury, still came in wheelchair with Athrun pushing her behind. She was glad to see the head well and alive and hugged the uncle.
They would stay in the country until the ship and the mobile suits were fully repaired.
"What's the matter?" Cagalli asked noticing his troubled expression. Athrun looked around and felt that they were being observed but he couldn't confirm.
"Nothing…" Athrun muttered. Athrun decided to wait and see. They would not make their moves for now.
Indeed, someone was watching them closely in the screens around in an underground facility.
Julius
Mayu was reading a book. It had been so long since she last indulged in her hobby of reading. She missed those period of time she had with her family.
She had been suffering from the intensive pain from her broken arm when she was taken in by the URANUS. Mayu thought of dying but upon hearing the news of her brother, she discarded that thought. She ought to be glad that her brother was alive but he had abandoned her and joined the ZAFT. She had wanted to meet her brother in person. The old man assured her that she would be able to if she joined the URANUS and so she did as soon as she recovered.
The old man offered her a prosthetic arm to replace her lost arm. This is to make up for her disability of losing her arm and to boost her ability in piloting a mobile suit and join in their operation should the time comes. She missed her brother terribly and she felt hatred towards him when she learnt about her parents' death.
Stanley was puzzled about the old man's next order. Looking over to Mayu, he read over her data. She was special. No wonder, the old man kept her alive all this while. She was a backup tool in case some interruption came up especially on the ZAFT side should Shinn Asuka returned reenlisted.
Shinn Asuka ability was acknowledged but Stanley didn't not see him as powerful as the old man described as Shinn allowed his emotion to control him. If that was the case, Mayu was a tool to control him. With that, Stanley understood the old man's simple intention. He had never seen Shinn before nor did to even say fight him. He was just an ex-pilot from Minerva. Stanley felt his hatred burning up in his throat with the thought of the ship.
Stanley decided to settle his vengeance with the ship once and for all.
Minerva
"Shinn." Lunamaria came to his room and saw Shinn tossing and turning in his bed with his back facing her. She knew he was awake. She sat down by his side without saying anything. The Shinn she knew was crying. All she could do was to stay by his side consoling him. The presence of Lunamaria made him felt he was in peace. In an instant he fell into her arms and finally broke down as a little boy who needed concern and shoulders to cry on.
"I can't even save a little boy."
"Shinn." Lunamaria hugged him. She always believed in him and she always would be.
Lunamaria couldn't find Lacus in her room. She was looking for her frantically as she ran down the corridor until she reached the bathroom. She gasped for her breath when she saw hairs all over the floor until she found Lacus sitting naked in a cubicle with the door opened with a scissors on her hand.
Lunamaria took a towel to cover Lacus up. She couldn't stop cutting her hair. She had cut off her long hair till the length of Lunamaria's.
"Lacus-sama, what are you doing?" Lunamaria snatched the scissors off her hands.
"Lacus-sama!" Lunamaria hugged her. Lacus started crying.
"That's enough, ok?" Lunamaria did not know how to console her after all these.
Sitting in daze, Lacus allowed Lunamaria to dry her hair.
"Hair is a girl's treasure, you must take good care of it." Lunamaria started combing her hair. She allowed her hair to grow after the war due to the same reason too.
"Kira-san wouldn't want you to torture yourself like this." Lunamaria said. The name itself already pricked her. Lacus felt herself in intensive pain with thousand blades in her heart. Kira left without any word. Clutching her twin crescent ring around her neck, she cried again. Lunamaria felt sorry for her. Not knowing how to console her, she stayed by her side. She would let her cry her eyes out and hopefully, she would recover from it.
Shinn decided to look on Lacus after calming down and reflection in his own room. Pressing some buttons in outside the room, the door slide open. Lunamaria put her fingers over her lip indicating him not to disturb Lacus of her sleep. Shinn stepped in quietly. He sat beside Lunamaria who was covering Lacus with a blanket. Lacus' face was tear-streaked.
"She may be dreaming of Kira-san." Shinn muttered wiping her tears off her cheek. Lunamaria looked at him sadly. Shinn realized that her beautiful pink hair was shortened. He almost shouted in surprise but Lunamaria signaled him to lower down his volume.
"She'll be all right, don't worry." Lunamaria assured Shinn. "Kira-san will be looking over her in heaven. Lacus-sama promised me that she'll move on for Kira's sake." Lunamaria whispered in a sad tone.
Shinn looked onto Lacus' face sadly, he was supposed to stay strong no matter what might happened. He would protect everyone even if it cost him his life.
A/N: Who is watching them? The answer would not be revealed just yet. Stay tune for the next chapter. Please R&R and see you next time!
