Disclaimer: I don't own, I never will own, so don't sue.
Hiya, just sayin' thanks to the reviewers and askin' could you please keep reviewin'. Hope you like this chapter.
Chapter 4
Jo sat in Caliber, stunned. Yzak and Dearka were...dead? And... the Gamow... had been... destroyed? How many more coordinators had to be killed before the naturals were satisfied? Yzak...Dearka...why? 'Jo? Jo, look at me!' came Athrun's voice. She glanced at the screen. 'You're too close to the athmosphere! Pull away and retreat!' She nodded numbly and hit the thrusters. Why...did the naturals...have to...kill all coordinators?
Rau watched his remaining team climb down from their cockpits. Nicol looked shaken and Athrun's face was carefully blank. But Jo...she looked ready to cry. Why was he staring at her? Why would he care if she was in pieces over minor casulties? This was war, people died, fact! But still, she was so young. He watched Nicol hug her. 'Don't worry, Little Lady, Yzak's to stubborn to die and he won't let Dearka die either.' That was true, he'd check for them later.
'"ZAFT's Bloodstained Angel", cute little thing, ain't she?' a highly amused voice said, bringing him out of his thoughts. He whipped round, meeting the twinkling blue eyes of Jay Martin. (AN: remember him from the 1st chapter.) 'What do you want? I'm in no mood for you!' Rau barked. Jay looked slightly annoyed. 'That's the thanks I get for checkin' up on ya?' Rau looked down slightly, 'I know you, what are you here for?'
'I want a favour.' Rau looked up, confused. 'Would you take care of Jo? Please.' Rau shrugged. 'She's a soldier, she chose this life, she chose to put herself at risk. Why should I take care of her?' Jay stiffened, 'If you don't care, why do you stare at her like she really is an angel?' Rau looked away slightly. How could he answer that? Damn Jay! How come he always knew what he was feeling?
'Just take care of her, please. For me.' Rau looked up and nodded. Jay smiled. 'Thanks.' And then he was gone, like every other time, he just disappered. Rau sighed.
'Sir?' came Athrun's calm, soft-spoken voice. Rau clenched his teeth. Why was the boy so bloody calm? 'Athrun, why weren't you helping Yzak hold off Strike?' he asked, his voice very calm. Athrun's face remained blank, not so much as a flicker of emotian crossed his eyes. 'I believed Yzak could handle the situation.' 'You belived wrong and now two team members may be dead.' Rau kept his voice calm. Athrun's hands were gripping his gloves, but his face remained the same. 'I did not realise the trouble until it was to late.'
'Sir,' came Jo's voice. 'The trouble was not apparent until nothing could be done about it.' Rau glanced at her. Her lips formed a tight line across her face. Her look said, 'Leave Athrun alone! You know it's not his fault!' Rau blinked, how many soldiers could look at their commanding officer like that? 'We're heading back to the PLANTs, I'll call a meeting when we arrive. Dismissed!' he said. The teens turned sharply and walked out.
Rau growled in frustration. Where was his team? The alert for a meeting had sounded ten minutes ago, for crissake. This would have to be doe the hard way. He strode out of the room and headed towards the sleeping quarters.
Half-way there, he stopped. The shower was going in one of the public bathrooms. He sighed, stupid teenagers. 'Athrun, Nicol!' He ordered and opened the door. A second later, he flew backwards into the wall.
'YOU PERVERT!' He glanced up, to see Jo standing in front of him, wearing nothing but a fluffy peach towel. A one-in-three chance. This was not going to look to good on his record!
'Co...commander?' Jo gasped, pulling her towel tighter. Rau struggled to regain his composure. 'Ensign,' Damn, you're cute when you're angry. I did NOT just think that! Look away, Rau, look AWAY! 'Ensign, I called a meeting.' 'Uh-huh, but if you don't look away from my chest, neither of us are going to make it!' God, was I looking at her chest? I'm not perverted, I can't have been! 'I'll be there in a minute!' She snapped and the door slid closed, leaving Rau in a daze. Teenage boys, I can handle, but one girl, and already I'm slipping up! God, Soldiers shouldn't have to deal with this!
He turned, and came face-to-face with Athrun. The boy looked stunned. 'What did you see?' Rau barked. Athrun swallowed and looked down. 'One word, Zala, just one, and everyone is going to know about Kira!' Athrun nodded. 'Meeting room, now.' Athrun started to follow, when Jo stomped out of the shower room. The tempreture in the hall seemed to drop to below zero.
'Wohoo! I got some free time!' Jo yelled happily, practicly flying off the Versalius. The other two stepped down more slowly. 'Come on guys, at least act like you're pleased!' she squealed. Nicol huffed. 'I am happy, Little Lady.' Jo grinned, grabbed his hands and started spinning him around. 'Then show it!' she laughed. Athrun rolled his eyes and grabbed her arm.
'You're still in a military base!' he hissed. Jo grinned at him, trying to look innocent. 'Stop being so uptight!' she pouted. 'Then stop being such an idiot!' he shot back. 'That's mean. Nicci, he's bein' mean to me!' she whined, faking a lisp. Athrun winced.
'What is going on?' came Creuset's voice. 'Sir!' they all said, snapping a salut. Rau surveyed them, they looked perfectly respectable now. 'We're leaving again in a few weeks. Please get some rest.' They nodded and turned to leave.
'Hey guys, I've managed to organise a piano recital, wanna come along? I want some support.' Nicol said, on the way out. Jo annd Athrun grinned and nodded. Nicol beamed.
Jo hated these chairs. Was it a rule of concert halls? Chairs have to be uncomfortable. Ah well, what can ya do?
Athrun was sitting next to her. The other pilot looked exhausted. Y'know, with his long dark hair and emerald eyes, Athrun really was quite cute. But even as she stared, the dark hair morphed into silver and the green eyes turned a wonderful icey blue. Her face heated up. I hardly know that guy! Ever since I found out he was still alive, I've been having fantisies. Yzak Jule is loud, violent and...really, really cute. JO! Stop thinking about this!
Nicol looked out at the audience with a bright smile. It grew when he saw Athrun and Jo in the front row...although, Athrun looked half asleep and Jo was oddly red in the face. Shrugging, he made his way to the piano and sat down.
The ivory keys looked inviting, and as he started playing, the horrors of war seemed far away. It was just him, the music and his friends.
Jo glanced up as the music started. It was soft and beautiful, sounding very wrong, but oddly...right for her war torn world. Nicci's hands were made for this, for the healing music, not to destroy. She closed her eye and let the music close all her open wounds.
Athrun tried to keep his eyes open, but it was so hard. He was so tired and the music was so relaxing. Jo didn't seem to notice his head landing on her shoulder.
Jo opened her eye at the soft bump on her shoulder. She looked down to see Athrun's head resting there. He was fast asleep. She shook her head as Luch curled up in his hair. At that instant, Nicci stopped playing. The hall burst into applause. Athrun slept right through it. Tears formed in his closed eyes.
'Why? Why are you in the EA? Why are you fighting against me? I don't...want to...kill you!' he mumbled, his voice muffled by her shoulder.
'Athrun, you'll never have to kill any of us,' Well, maybe Yzak. 'We'll always fight with you.' she whispered, soothingly. 'Kira, please don't make me kill you!' Kira? Who's Kira? 'Athrun?' she asked. His eyes opened a fraction. Seeming to realise where his head was, his eyes flew open and he jumped up. Luch went flying.
All attention turned on them.
Athrun stared at his shoes, trying to will the glares to turn away. Jo turned in her seat, 'I'm sorry, is something wrong?' he heard her ask. Several muffled comments followed, but he could feel the eyes leave him. Jo turned back around. 'Didn't see where Luch went, did you?' He shook his head. 'I'm sorry, I think you dropped this,' came Nicol's voice. Jo beamed at him, and took her mouse back. 'Thanks Nicci.'
Jo walked into the military base. Her leave was up, and now she was being sent back to earth. She sighed. 'Jo! Jo, wait up!' She turned round and saw Lacus running over. The minute the pink-haired girl reached her, Jo found herself being hugged. Lacus was nearly in tears. 'I know you don't want to go back to earth, Jo. But do it for your friends, your brother and your parents.' Jo clung to her friend, her parents had been killed in the Bloody Valentine. 'I'll fight for you, L'. You're still alive. Mama and papa are dead.'
Lacus watched the shuttle pull out of the dock. Jo had lost so much to war, and war was continuing to hurt so many people. Why couldn't it just stop. Nobody had an answer.
So, what do you think? Yzak and Dearka are coming back in the next chapter. Please R&R. Bye for now.
