a/n: Okie, chapter six…(finally) I really couldn't figure out how exactly to end this one, and I've worked at least a month on it, since before the break, but there were a couple of factors…well, anyway, please do read on, and maybe leave a review or two…? Thanks.
To My Reviewers:
Maryam Khanoom – Thanks for the review – and they're together now. (Spoiler…)
ll innocence ll – I'm glad you like it – and I made this chapter as long as I could. (smile) the smiley faces just refuse to show!
FreedonElf – Thanks. I don't know, really. I guess it's because I like to while the hours away with my head in the clouds… (which gets me in trouble more often than not!)
WillTheWatcher – Thank you for writing such a long review, and I really hope you like this chapter as well… -) (the smiley face might not show up again, but I typed it in)
fantasydestiny – Athrun will confront his father; but that's not going to be until after the next chapter. Thanks for reviewing!
Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Seed or Destiny.
Chapter 6 – Broken Chains, New Beginnings
It was morning, and, after waking from a less-than-restful sleep, Cagalli Yula Attha woke up to the sound of muffled laughter and whispered conversations…as well as the feel of something cold and hard on her wrist – something that wasn't there when she finally got to sleep the night before.
Opening her eyes, Cagalli rubbed away the last remnants of sleep and got a clear look at the scene before her: Her best-friend, Lacus Clyne, and her brother, Kira Yamato were sitting on the couch facing the bed, lost in conversation. Sitting up, she tried to get out of bed but something restrained her. Turning, she looked at her hand and was mortified to see that she was handcuffed…to a still slumbering Athrun.
Turning, she saw that her brother and her best-friend were now standing side by side, identical smiles on their faces. "Did you do this?" she inquired of her brother, lifting her chained arm for emphasis.
"Uh, yeah…" he replied.
"Why?"
"Well, you see, we knew that you and Athrun weren't going to talk to each other willingly, so…we decided we'd make you." Lacus answered for him.
Cagalli's amber eyes flashed angrily. "What?" She practically screamed the word.
This, of course, woke the person lying next to her. Athrun bolted upright, obviously startled by the sudden noise. "What's going on here?" he asked, taking in the scene before him.
"Kira. Lacus. What are you guys doing in my room?"
Cagalli made her presence known to him then. "This isn't your room; it's mine."
Athrun turned to her, his eyes wide. "What? But why? I don't get it…"
She tilted her head toward the guilty party. "Why don't you ask them."
He turned his attention to his friends. "What are you guys trying to do? Why'd you guys bring me here?"
Cagalli didn't wait for their companions to answer. "They want us to talk, apparently."
Athrun looked to his best-friend. "Kira?"
"It's true. We're really sorry, but we had to do this…we – Lacus and I – think you guys need to take some time and talk things through. We couldn't think of any other way to get you guys to do that, so…" his friend replied.
Before either Cagalli or Athrun could answer, Kira spoke again. "Well, we're going to leave you two alone now. Bye!" With that, Kira put his arm around his girlfriend's shoulders and they started to walk out of the room.
"Wait!"
"What, sis?" Kira asked.
"Where are you guys going?"
"We're going out."
"Huh? What do you mean you're going out?"
"I mean we're going out. Maybe even do some sightseeing."
"You mean you're leaving me here with him?" she said, pointing a finger at Athrun.
"Hey! Watch it! It's not like I want to be alone with you either, you know!" he burst out.
Ignoring his best-friend's outburst, Kira directed his next statement to his sister. "What's wrong with that? It's not like you've never been alone with him before."
She blushed. "T-that was different!"
"Why're you blushing?" her brother asked. "I didn't say anything embarrassing…oh, wait, I did!" he said mischievously before bursting into laughter.
Lacus giggled. "What's wrong, Cagalli? You look like you're going to implode!" she declared teasingly.
Her best-friend pouted. "Lacus! Not you too! You're supposed to
be on my side!"
"I'm sorry, Cagalli." she said,
still laughing.
"You don't sound like you're sorry at all…" the blonde muttered.
The songstress sobered up briefly. "It's true, I am sorry for laughing at you…but we're still leaving you guys here."
"But…!" Athrun and Cagalli said at the same time.
Lacus and Kira only smiled and walked out of the room, giving them one last, backward wave before disappearing completely.
Athrun and Cagalli stared helplessly after them. "You know, we could go after them…" Athrun said after a brief moment of silence.
Cagalli nodded. "Yeah, we could, but…I think…I think maybe they're right. I think we really do need to talk. I mean, we can't just keep avoiding each other forever, right? And it's not like we can avoid talking about this stuff forever, either…"
He leaned back against the headboard. "I guess…"
After another moment of awkward silence, Cagalli decided to take the initiative and spoke first. "So. What do you want to talk about first?"
"How about you tell me the truth." Athrun said softly.
She frowned. "What do you mean?"
He sat up and turned his eyes towards the side window. "I told Lacus what you told me…about your reason for breaking up with me."
She stiffened. "And? What did she say?"
He turned around to face her. "She told me that if I believed that, I don't deserve you."
SCENE CHANGE
Lacus and Kira pulled up in front of a local convenience store. Walking in, Lacus turned to Kira. "I'm going to go use the ladies' room. Ok?"
He nodded. "What do you want to get?"
She shrugged. "You decide."
"Ok."
After getting everything they needed, Kira walked up to the counter and engaged in idle conversation while the attendant rang up the purchases. "So, you here on a vacation?" a girl who looked about his age asked.
"Yeah." he replied.
The girl nodded. "I gathered as much. So, are you guys planning to watch the meteor shower tonight?"
Kira raised an eyebrow questioningly. "Meteor shower? Tonight?"
She nodded. "Yeah, everyone's going to the Point to go watch it. Lots of people are bound to be there."
He perked up. "The Point, huh? Can you give me directions?"
"Sure." she answered, scribbling the directions on a wrinkled piece of paper.
"Thanks." Kira said after he'd paid and she handed him the paper.
The girl smiled. "No problem."
Turning, Kira looked up in time to see his songstress girlfriend emerge from the rest room and started walking over to her. After reaching her side, he smiled at her. "Ready to go?"
"Yeah…So, did you find a place where we could go?"
His smile widened. "Yeah. I think I found just the place."
And with that, they walked out of the store and drove off, a rather surprised attendant staring after them. "Was that…Lacus Clyne?"
SCENE CHANGE
Cagalli's distressed amber eyes stared into Athrun's jade green ones. "So, is there anything you want to tell me?" he asked softly.
She stood up abruptly, and, because Athrun's arm was still handcuffed to hers, he was forced to follow her as she walked towards the window. "I'd tell you, but then…I'd be putting you in danger…" she whispered after a moment.
"I don't care."
She looked up at him, surprise and worry written on her face. "Athrun…"
He reached over and took her hands in his. "I want to know. You can't keep this from me, Cagalli." he said earnestly, his grip on her hands tightening.
"But…"
"Didn't you hear me? I said I don't care! Just tell me!"
Tears started to fall from her eyes then. "But I do. You might not care if I put you in danger but I do! I can't bear the thought of you getting hurt, Athrun...I can't possibly…I could never live with myself if anything bad ever happened to you!"
Athrun's eyes widened. "Cagalli…"
She pulled her hands out of his grasp and looked away. "I can't tell you. No, I won't tell you."
"…So you do care about me." he whispered softly.
"…I always have…always will." she said silently, her throat suddenly constricting with emotion at the thought of never being able to tell him.
He turned her around to face him. "Tell me."
"But Athrun -"
He smiled. "It's okay. I can take care of myself; you don't have to worry."
She looked back at him defiantly. "No."
Athrun's expression turned stormy then. "Damn it, Cagalli, I -"
"I said no."
He ran a hand through his hair in exasperation. "Look, I'm not a kid. I know there's danger, and I know you're worried about me, but you have to believe me when I tell you that I can handle it!"
"You really want to know? Fine! I broke up with you because Yuna threatened to hurt you if I didn't! He told me such horrible things…" she said, her tears spilling down her cheeks and down her chin, her shoulders trembling with the barrage of emotions rioting through her.
Athrun's green eyes softened, and he pulled her close to him then rested his chin against her blond hair. "I'm sorry…"
After a moment, Cagalli pulled away from him. "Now you know." Turning, she looked into his eyes, her own amber orbs clouded with unshed tears. "You understand now, don't you? Why we can't be together?"
He smiled. "I understand what you mean, but that doesn't mean we can't be together."
"What…?"
SCENE CHANGE
"Where are we going, Kira?" Lacus asked, turning away from the scenery and directing her gaze at her boyfriend who was at the wheel of the rented car, cruising along the coastal road on the way to a place which was unknown to her.
"It's a secret," he replied, his voice tinged with laughter.
Lacus raised an eyebrow at him, her eyes showing curiosity. "Kira…"
He smiled at her before turning his attention back to the road. "Trust me, you're going to like it."
SCENE CHANGE
Cagalli stared hard at Athrun, her face a portrait of mixed emotions. On the one hand, she was unbelievably elated at the realization that he really did still love her – enough to not care about the potentially life-threatening situation he would be putting himself in if they got back together.
On the other hand, she was intensely worried about that same threat – enough to want to keep her distance.
"Athrun, I -"
"I'm not going to go away, Cagalli. Not this time." he said firmly, interrupting her.
She lifted her amber eyes to his green ones, and Athrun could see the ill-hidden worry in them. "I mean it, Cagalli. I don't care what happens. I'm not going to let you push me away again."
Cagalli immediately pushed him away and retreated to as far as the cold metal handcuffs would let her. "You don't understand, I-"
"Never again, Cagalli." he repeated, interrupting her.
"Athrun, please," she pleaded, her voice hoarse from the lump that had formed in her throat, "don't make this any harder for me than it already is. It was good while it lasted, but it's over now, so please, just let it go. It's…over."
He looked hurt for a moment, and he didn't speak for a long time, but when he did, his voice was calm and sure. "Look me in the eye and tell me you don't want this as much as I do. Show me you don't feel the same way I do and I'll leave you alone – you'll never see me again."
Cagalli's heart broke at the thought of never seeing Athrun's familiar face again, but her heart also told her this was something that had to be done. She had to push him away – tell him, for the second time – that she didn't love him. It was all so very painful – and uncomfortably familiar - for her, and though what she was about to say contradicted everything she felt, she also knew she had no choice. This needed to be done…because, as ironic as it might seem, she did love him.
Squaring her shoulders, she took a deep breath and looked into his eyes.
That was a mistake. Because, as soon as her eyes met his, her resolve immediately began to crumble. She couldn't do this – not again. "I can't do this again. I can't…he's too important…I don't want to lie anymore. I love him."
"Athrun, I…I can't. I just…" she started, only to be silenced by Athrun's taking her into his arms and saying, in a shaky, uncharacteristically hesitant voice, "…You don't need to say anything. I know how you feel – I understand."
With half of her face hidden against Athrun's shoulder, Cagalli let the tears that had been gathering in her eyes fall freely, soaking the wine-colored shirt he was wearing. Breathing in his familiar scent, she whispered words she had only said to the wind for the last year… "I…I do love you, Athrun."
SCENE CHANGE
Walking up a relatively empty parking lot with Kira by her side, Lacus looked around her at the lush greenery which was bathed in the deep reddish light of dusk and remarked, quite serenely, "You were right, Kira. I do like this place. It's so beautiful here…"
He smiled at her. He felt so at peace when she was around, and he hadn't felt as good in a long time. "It is, isn't it? But it gets better."
She shot a questioning look his way. "What do you mean?"
He smiled that small, mischievous smile at her again and said, cryptically, "You'll just have to wait and see."
Lacus walked quickly ahead of him and, when she'd created some distance between them, she turned back to face him and smiled. "I can wait. I'm happy as long as you're with me; but what's with all the mystery? You're acting really strange for some reason."
Kira's expression never changed, but his lavender eyes softened and he said, very quietly, "I have a surprise for you."
She giggled in delight. "Really? Is it over here?" she asked, running over to the entrance of the restaurant nestled between large, imposing oak trees, motioning for him to hurry after her.
He smiled to himself as he followed her. "No, the surprise is right here…" he thought, clutching the small ring in his pocket tightly. "And I don't want to wait anymore…"
Two hours later
Kira stood next to Lacus in a quiet arbor next to the restaurant which was situated atop a hill, affording them a view of the city lights below. "It's so beautiful up here." Lacus remarked.
"It's going to be even more beautiful in a few minutes…" he thought, glancing at his watch.
His girlfriend noticed the action. "Are you waiting for something?" she asked, curious.
He shook his head nervously. "N-no…why do you ask?"
"You were looking at your watch a while ago. Are you worried about Cagalli and Athrun?"
"Yeah, a little," he admitted.
Lacus smiled gently. "I'm sure they're fine."
Kira couldn't help but smile back despite himself. "Yeah, I'm sure they've patched things up," he replied, his rattled nerves getting more and more rattled by the minute.
A few minutes later…
Lacus frowned, noticing his continued discomfort. "Kira, are you alright? You don't look well…"
"Huh? Uh…I…um…"
"Kira?"
Just then, Kira saw something from the corner of his eye and smiled. Pointing to the sky, he whispered, "Lacus, look over there."
In front of me, you start emitting lights, and I can't see
Where are we?
Turning, Lacus looked up at the sky and felt her eyes widen. "Oh my god…"
As the other diners started to pour out of the restaurant to watch the meteor shower, Kira led his girlfriend away to some place where they could watch the falling stars in peace.
Among the noisy landscape, don't disappear yet.
I can't hear anymore, but I can feel you breathe…
When they were alone again, Lacus turned to her boyfriend and smiled. "So this was the surprise. It was wonderful; thank you, Kira."
He smiled gently and took her hands in his, placing something in them before letting go, saying, in a soft, barely audible voice, "Look at what's inside."
Due to this surprising outcome, oh, oh, I still hope.
Looking down at her hands, Lacus' blue eyes focused on the platinum band she held in her hand. "Kira…"
I wanna be here eternally
Like this, I want to stare
I can feel you close to me
I can't be without forever
He took the ring from her and held it up to the light so she could catch the inscription on the inside. It said 'Lacus and Kira Eternally'.
She looked up at him, and he could see the tears glistening in her eyes. "Kira…"
He got down on one knee and whispered, a little shakily, "Will you make it true, Lacus?"
"Of course I will," she answered; and as soon as he stood back up, she threw herself into his arms, tears streaming down her face.
Make this moment eternity…
Kira closed his eyes and held her, letting it all sink in. Lacus was his fiancée now…it felt a little weird because she was technically still engaged to Athrun, but it felt very good, too, and he really couldn't be happier.
Pulling away slightly, Lacus smiled at him. "This is the perfect surprise, Kira. Thank you."
He smiled back at her, his heartbeat slowly returning to normal. "Always, Lacus."
I wanna be here eternally
At the place where no one can see us
She blinked, confused by his odd reply. "Kira, what -"
"I'm always going to stay by your side, no matter what," he said in reply to her unfinished question, his amethyst eyes looking at her with a gentle, quietly happy expression.
I wanna be here eternally
I can see you are all I need
She couldn't help but smile at the sincerity she heard in his voice. "And there's nothing I'd rather do…" she said as she leaned forward, "than stay right by your side," she finished, just a moment before his lips met hers.
At least this feeling is eternity…
SCENE CHANGE
The room was dark and eerily quiet. A masked man sat behind the large oak desk in the middle of the room, and as the door opened, he looked up to see one of his men, this one wearing a black trench coat over a black t-shirt and pants, walked into the room and handed a large brown envelope which looked like it was filled to capacity to him.
"What's this?" Rau Le Creuset asked, already beginning to dismiss the parcel in his hand.
"Those are pictures," the young man said, a little nervously, "of Kira Yamato."
Rau's eyes narrowed. "Of who?"
"K-Kira Y-Yamato, sir."
The blond-haired man's frown deepened, and his voice was strained and laced with a dangerous undertone as he said, very slowly and deliberately, "Watch him. Follow him around and wait for my call."
The young man nodded. "Yes sir."
When he was left alone again, Rau pulled out a picture of the brown-haired young man and stared hard at it, his face a cold mask. "Kira Yamato…what a troublesome existence you're turning out to be…"
a/n: Okie…again, I'm really, really, really, really, really sorry for taking so long to update, but I really wanted this chapter to be at least a little longer than the previous ones, so…well, that, coupled with a bit of writer's block, laziness and school…well…you know. So what do you guys think? Corny, stupid, crazy, silly…? Anyway, please review…thanks. -) Oh, and in case you're wondering where Kira got the ring, it'll be revealed after a chapter or two.
The song is 'Eternally' by Utada Hikaru.
