Title: Wherever You Will Go

Author: moony.rj

Genre: Angst/ Romance

Rating: PG-13, to be sure

Warnings: fluff, angst

Summary: AU. When he thought that he had her at his fingertips, she suddenly disappeared from his life. He didn't know what to do; she didn't know why she did it. AsuCaga


The night was young, and the full moon shone brightly in contrast to the dark autumn night. A gentle breeze blew across the trees, making the night colder than it should have been. Dead leaves were cluttered along the path, neglected and numerous. The smell of grass and nature was in the air.

It was then, in a park, where Athrun Zala and Cagali Yula Attha decided to meet. Both have mentioned that they had something important to tell the other. Both thought that they had the same intention in mind. Both of them have not been more wrong in their entire lives.

Athrun glanced at his wristwatch. It was 8:00pm, the decided time that they would meet. In one hand, he carried a small bouquet of red roses. Dressed in a smart-casual attire of a long sleeved, buttoned-up tee and jeans, he stood against an old oak tree, where he and Cagali used to play when they were young. Being there aroused feelings of nostalgia and reminisces. Athrun remembered the times when both of them had first met in that same place.

It was when Athrun was about five years of age, and Cagali was about four. Their mothers were old university classmates, and both were very surprised to meet each other by the oak tree by the park pathway. Athrun remembered the golden-brown orbs hesitantly peering behind her mother, as both of them were introduced.

"Hi! My name is Athrun. What's yours?" Athrun started chirpily.

"Cagali." She replied shyly, looking at her feet.

"Do you want to play?"

"Umm…I don't know."

"C'mon, it'll be fun!" Athrun said, while reaching out for Cagali's hand.

With an approving nod from her mother, Cagali took Athrun's hand, and they spent the whole afternoon running around and having fun, as children usually do. Cagali eventually got out of her shell, and became very lively and energetic, as children should be. They spent their childhood years growing up together, and they soon became the best of friends. They shared secrets that they didn't find the courage to tell others, but that didn't mean they shared everything with each other.

By the time Athrun turned fourteen, he realized that he had a mounting attraction towards Cagali, and it wasn't just friendship. He tried to ignore it at first, but that attraction just grew. He stuttered when they talked, and he found it very difficult to hold hands while walking in the park, as they usually did when they were younger. He blushed profusely when Cagali hugged him, and couldn't meet her eye when they would run in to each other.

To Athrun, Cagali seemed painfully oblivious to all of this. Yes, she did mature, in all aspects actually. Physically, Athrun couldn't help but notice Cagali's developing curves as she entered her teen years, especially when she put him in a bear hug. He noticed, though, that she never did this to anyone else, even to her close female friends. He took it that she saw him only as a big brother. Athrun was an only child, and Cagali had a twin. However, her parents were divorced, and the father took the other twin with him when he moved to a different city with another woman. Cagali then tended to look at Athrun as her role model.

Mentally, Cagali excelled in her studies, and although she never became the top of her class, her marks were still exceptionally high. This was often due to Athrun occasionally tutoring her in his spare time. The boy was good with his Mathematics and Physics, and relentlessly taught the girl to understand the various theorems and formulas without fail.

Cagali became a social butterfly, even during her primary school years. After dispelling over her initial shyness, she easily made friends with many people of different attitudes. Sure, she had this anger management problem, but her charisma negated that aspect of her.

Coming back to the present, Athrun recently gave Cagali a call to meet in the park. She also casually mentioned that she needed to tell him something, also. After three years of hiding, he decided that he needed to confess his true feelings to her. After three years, he finally gathered all his courage he had in his seventeen years. He hoped that it would be enough.

Just then, he saw a figure coming down the dimly lit pathway. It was Cagali. Her blonde hair was tied into a low ponytail, and a scarf was around her neck. She wore a jacket over her usual body-hugging blouse and faded jeans. Athrun noticed that she had a sad look in her eyes. He felt that something was wrong. He was right.

"So, what is so important that you had to bring me over here on this fine evening?" Cagali asked, when she finally approached Athrun. Her eyes were still sad, but they had a sparkle to them when she caught sight of him.

"First, these are for you." Athrun replied, while handing to her the bunch of flowers he carried.

"Oh! They're so beautiful, thank you!" Cagali exclaimed, and gave her friend a peck on the cheek. She didn't notice Athrun's cheeks become flaming red. But heck, she didn't notice much of Athrun's discomfort around her for the past few years.

After smelling the roses, Cagali looked up to Athrun and asked, "Is there anything you want to tell me?"

"Oh…You have something to tell me too, right? You go first."

"Always the gentleman. Umm…Maybe we should take a seat first." She said, walking toward a bench adjacent to the pathway.

Athrun noticed how close of them were, when they sat down. She took his hands in hers. He felt the blood rush up to his face. "Cagali?" he asked, motioning for her to continue what she was about to say.

"Athrun..." she started, looking at their intertwined hands, "you've been such a good friend to me the past few years, and I don't know what I'd do without you. Thank you so much for being such a good friend to me."

What surprised Athrun the most was when she looked up to meet his eyes, her own were swelling with tears.

"Athrun, I've applied for a scholarship in one of the top schools in the PLANTs, and I've been accepted. I'm leaving in a few weeks. I don't want to leave you, but – "

Droplets of tears trickled down the outline of her face – down her cheeks and chin, finally dripping down on her clothes. Her breathing became more hitched, as she started crying. She rested her head on Athrun's crest, and put her arms around him. She smelled faintly of soap and cologne.

Shocked at what just happened in the past few minutes, all Athrun's subconscious mind could tell him to do was to put his arms around her to reciprocate, and pull her closer. He started to cry as well, with invisible tears and silent cries. His world just turned upside-down.

Cagali was trembling when she continued. "But – If I d – don't go for this…Dad has been blaming M – mom that she hasn't been taking care of m – me well, a – and threatens t – to take me away, to live with him and m – my twin. I – I love my Mom, and I can't let Dad take advantage of her t – this way…" She was stopped when Athrun put a finger over her lips.

"Shh…Don't think of these things now…Don't cry…" He whispered, while patting her back with his other arm. He wished he could tell himself the same.

They remained this way for a few moments, until Cagali calmed down. Wiping her tear-stained face, she finally finished what she came to say. "Dad wants me to be as successful as my twin, Kira, who is under his close supervision. He just got my latest grade point average, but he isn't satisfied with it –"

"But your marks are way above average!" Athrun cried

"Yes, I know…But the old man still doesn't see it to be enough. He reckons that my mom is being too slack with me. When I first heard about this, I immediately applied for scholarship to one of the top schools in the PLANTs, specifically in Aprillius City. I couldn't let my mother down. I didn't expect that I'd pass, but I did, Athrun! I know I should be happy, but I'm not…You're my best friend Athrun, I can't just leave you…"

Athrun used both of his hands to cup Cagali's face, making her look straight into his eyes. This was the first time in years they have had this eye contact. Cagali could see the hurt brimming in his eyes.

"You know what's best for you Cagali. Don't worry about me, and don't let me keep you from your goals. Many people love you for who you are, Cagali. You'll find new friends over there, I'm sure. Maybe even people that are…are…better friends than…me…"

At his final word, he leaned in, and lightly brushed his lips over hers. Her eyes widened in shock at the sudden contact, but she didn't push him away. After a few seconds, he pulled away.

"I'll miss you, Cagali." was all he said. Then he walked off, buried deep in thought, along the path merely illuminated by the moonlight, reflecting all the sorrow in his heart.

TBC?


Was it good? Should I continue? Review please! It'll make another soul in this world happy!