Okay, this chapter was VERY rushed. I really did not have the time to finish it and then mail it to my beta editor (I am so sorry, psychoanalyst-san! I will send you the next chapter once its finished) So I apologize in advance if there are any errors. I'm leaving for Germany tommorrow, so I just wanted to get it up in time.

I will not update for 2 weeks because I will be on orchestra tour.

I hope you like the chapter. It's really long, but it works. The next chapter will be action packed, so that is something to look foreward too.

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed or Seed Destiny

"...this sucks..." he murmured to himself.

Shinn was pretty sure that he hated his life right now.

He satin the briefing room, Lunamaria on his right side, with a bunch of other soliders. Everyone was listening to Major Hahneufuss' presentation, and thinking about the time they would be spending on Carpentaria.

A few days ago, Athrun has asked Shinn if he and Lunamaria would do a favor for him. Thinking that it would be something ZAFT related, they returned to the capital right away only to find that Athrun had assigned them command posts on Carpentaria. Although Captain Jule was joining them, Shinn was given almost complete authority over the base.

And he was annoyed as hell.

Spending the next couple weeks or so on some base ordering people around was not exactly his idea of a swell time. However, considering the fact that he and Luna techinically worked for the young Orb lord, they had no choice but to accept. After seeing Rey and everyone else off to space, Lunamaria and Shinn were left to take care of things with Captain Jule and rest.

"...I'll get you for this Zala..."

"Do you have something add, Commander Asuka?" Yzak's voice boomed over the conference room.

Shinn instantly jerked up, "No, sir."

"Good." Yzak leaned foreward, "Please continue, Major."

The other thing he was sure of, was that Yzak Jule was scary as hell.

Leaning back in his chair, the silver-haired captain rested his face on one of his hands, staring intently at the major. Shinn had heard that Yzak and his ace pilot were engaged, and seeing the ring on her finger it only confirmed as much. As the presentation ended, Yzak turned to the rest of the officers,

"This is a very sensitive operation, so I want everyone to work at top shape. I don't want to hear anyone making any mistakes." Yzak then added, "If you make a mistake, it will get you killed."

There was a silence in the room.

"Commander Shinn Asuka will be taking charge of the Carpentaria troops." Yzak continued, "I want you all to give him the same respect that you give me."

"Aye, sir!" the other officers repeated.

Shinn had a bad feeling from the start. Someone as young as he was, was taking charge of a base of soliders that were usually 10 years his senior, and had much more experience the he did. Shinn was pretty positive that the whole reason why Athrun stuck him in charge was because he trusted him, and there were not many people Athrun trusted.

Most of the officers had come from Orb or had been stationed on the Voltaire. Glancing over at Lunamaria, she shrugged and began passing out the reports in her hands.

"These are all the reports that should be filled out and turned in ASAP once every reports to Carpentaria." Shinn explained, "They have everything from duty rosters to your flight training agendas, so don't loose them. I want all maintance on mobile suits finished before departure."

"Aye!" there was a sounding echo in the room.

Shinn looked at Yzak after the reports had finished being passing around the room, and the captain nodded back to him.

"Alright people, look alive here. It's obvious to everyone that there's a battle in the near future, so take care and rest well. Dismissed."

All of the officers left expect one. He was not that much older then Yzak was, however, he had a the same sort of commanding air about him. Yzak clapped his hands together,

"Asuka." he said, "This will be your second, Leutinant Kazuho Fall."

"Sir." Fall saluted to the young commander, who repeated the action.

"I will be relying on you a lot." Shinn said.

"That's to be expected, sir." he said, "Is there anything else?"

Shinn glared at him.

"No, you're dismissed."

"Thank you, sir."

Yzak arms were folded as the other man left. He snorted,

"What do you think?"

"He's a smartass." Shinn sighed, "But I'll manage."

Shiho walked over to them, "Good, because I told them that if I get any bad reports from Lunamaria-san that there would be hell to pay." she laughed.

"I'll keep that in mind." Lunamaria sighed, feeling a sudden surge of pity for anyone that had ever been stationed on the Voltaire.

Yzak shook Shinn's hand, "Good luck, Asuka."

"You too, sir."

Miriallia stood outside.

It was dark except for the bonfires in the area. The whole traveling group was spread out in the forest, and she could see light from bonfires all around her. It looked like firefly light among the trees.

Glancing at her watch, she sighed. She had been waiting there for almost 30 minutes, and he was late. Whatever it was that was keeping him bettter had be important, or she would start to get even more annoyed then she was now. After a whole day of traveling, she was exhausted, sore, tired, and covered with dirt. All she really wanted to do was sleep, but she had promised Dearka to meet up with him.

"Yo!"

She turned as Dearka walked towards her.

"Sorry, I'm late." he shrugged, "One of the jeeps broke so I had to fix it."

"Multi-talented." she chuckled.

"Hey, what can I say? I'm a man of many virtues."

"I'll bet." she laughed, "So, what was it that you wanted to show me?"

He hauled a bag on his shoulder that she had just noticed.

"Come with me."

She followed him through the trees, her eyes fixed on his back the entire time. Despite the fact that she had stared at it the entire day, she was not tired of looking at him at all. Miriallia yawned, and Dearka turned to smile at her.

"Tired?"

"Exhausted." she said, "I can't ever remember being this tired-"

She yelped as she tripped over something. Finding herself wrapped in a pair of strong, dark-skinned arms. With her face pressing into his chest, she could not help but smile. Dearka tilted her face up to his,

"Are you alright?" he asked.

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

"It's not much further. Right behind these bushes." he took her hand and lead her down the rocky path.

"Dearka, what is it that's so important that you had to lead me all the way-"

He pulled back that branches, and she gasped. The warm steam that rose from the water seemed to make her entire body relax and clear her headache on contact.

"Hot springs?" she stared at them.

"Yeah." he nodded, "I noticed them on the map, and I thought that maybe we could check it out. I don't know about you, but I really would like a hot bath right now."

She blushed, what?

"Dearka?"

He walked over, setting the bag on the ground, he ran his fingers through the water and sighed.

"Just perfect." he grinned, "Wanna go for a dip?"

Miriallia's mouth dropped open, "I...uh-"

He stood up, pulling off his dirty shirt, "Is something wrong?"

"I..." she looked away from him.

Dearka then smirked at her, realizing what it was that was bothering her. He turned his back to her, covering his eyes with his hands, "I won't look."

She never had felt so self-conscious in her entire life. There were many times where she had to change clothes in front of people on her travels, but this was different. Dearka was standing just a few feet away from her.

Slowly she peeled off her clothes, folding them neatly on the ground. It did not matter that it was dirty, her clothes were already so dirty from the journey. Crossing her arms over her chest, she lowered herself in the water.

It was absolutly wonderful.

"What do you think?" he asked, his eyes still covered.

"Its...great." she grinned to herself.

"Good." he said.

Almost emidatly, he pulled the belt off his pants. She quickly turned her back to him, covering her own eyes. Dearka snickered as he undressed himself, his clothes tossed in a messy pile next to her neatly folded ones. He then slid into the spring across from her.

"This IS great." he smiled, closing his eyes, "You can look if you want. I'm not that hideous."

Miriallia slowly looked behind her hands. She felt her heart race and her breath caught in her throat.

The water and the moonlight made his skin shine. Dipping his head into the water, he used it to slick his hair back. A few strands stuck to the sides of his face, and then he leaned his head back, looking at the night sky. His arms were stretched out, and she could see his muscles flex every time he moved. He was a powerhouse of a solider, and it was obivous that he had a lot of raw strength.

"I don't know about you, but I'll be glad when this is done." he said, "Getting back to civilization and all that."

"You?" she smiled, "I thought you liked this sort of thing."

"Sure." Dearka shrugged, folding his arms behind his head, "But the whole running for our lives part isn't fun, that's just a pain in the ass."

"You got that right." she said, "How long do those Twlight people tend to chase anyway?"

"Probably all the way to Carpentaria." he said, "I've been watching them, and I have a bad feeling."

"About what?"

"There are a lot of regular soliders, but I'm pretty sure there are at least two or three elites with them. We've been lucky so far because we haven't had to deal with them. But, if they decided to get serious, there would be a problem." he said, "I could probably take on one on my own with just the resources I have, maybe two on a good day, but not three."

Miriallia sighed.

"Don't worry though, I promised to protect everyone and that's what I'll do."

After a silence, she asked the question that had been nagging her for a while.

"What...what are you going to do when you get back?" she asked, "Go back to ZAFT?"

It wa a valid question, and it had been worrying him for a while as well.

For the first time in a long time, he felt like he belonged somewhere. Being by her side, traveling, protecting her...it was something that he wished he could keep doing. But he knew that she would never allow it, and with the war, there was no way he could leave the service.

"Go back to work, I guess." he said, "What about you?"

She really did not know.

"Report back to Orb for my next assignment."

"I see."

That was the end of it. They would part ways and never see each other again.

Suddenly, Miriallia felt a sting of saddness in her heart. Staring at the churning water, she began to muster all the courage she had to say the next set of words. The words that she should have told him a long time ago.

"Dearka..." she said, "Dearka I..." Looking away from him, she began again, "...I heard you talking in your sleep..."

"Oh? What did I say?" he laughed, "I have a tendency to do that when I'm really out cold."

"You..." she said, her hands figgeted in her lap, "...you told me..."

"Told you what?" he said, "Can't be all that bad."

"You said you were in love with me."

Dearka's eyes shot open in horror. Miriallia was still looking away from him. It was her oppurtunity to tell him what she really thought before she would loose the chance forever.

"I...listen Dearka, I-" she finally looked up.

Gods, where did he come from?

She had not heard him get up and move towards her. When Miriallia looked up, Dearka had somehow moved across the water and now stood in front of her. He stared at her with a serious, stern look in his eyes. It was not often that she got to see this serious, blatantly honest, side of him.

Suddenly, she felt cornered.

"Miriallia?"

"Y-Yes?"

He stood still a few more moments, and then his arm shot out from the water with lightening speed. Dearka grabbed her, pulling her into his arms, and crushed his mouth over hers. Taking a moment to let the surprise subside, she melted into his arms, kissing him back.

She walked down the hallway, tucking the edge of her glove into the sleeve of her school uniform. Even though it was an artificial environment outside, it was still cold.

"Hurry up slow poke!" the teenage booy stood at the doorway, his bag thrust on his shoulder like he was some sort of thug. Katsuya Kiriyuhi was a year older then her, but despite this, both of them looked like twins.

Suzuka made a face at him,

"Well, excuse me for wanting to look presentable." she said. "We may be going to the local academy, but it's not appropriate to look like peasants, Niissan."

"Just because we're rich and powerful doesn't mean that associating with other people our age isn't going to contaminate us, Suzu." he said, "Besides, you and June-dono hang out a lot and she lives at the local boarding house."

"June-chan doesn't count." Suzuka took her school bag from the servant waiting at the door, "I'm ready."

"Good, good." Katsuya replied, "Cause we're walking today and I don't wanna be late."

"WALKING?" she gasped.

"What? Is that BENEATH you?" he gave her an exasperated look, "You're not made of glass, you know."

"ButToussan and Kassan-"

"Screw that. We're walking, so move your ass."

Suzuka sighed, and followed her brother out of the mansion. As they walked down the street, she had to almost run to catch up with her brother.

"Niissan! Slow down!" she said, "We have plenty of time, and June-chan is meeting us on the way there."

"I know." he nodded.

Turning the corner, Suzuka smiled, waving at June. The dark-haired girl stood at the corner of the sidewalk, smiling as she met up with the two siblings. She gave them a puzzled look.

"No limo today?" she asked.

"No." Suzuka sighed, "Niissan decided to be a rebel."

"Shut up." he folded his arms.

June giggled as she watched them argue, "You two don't get along too well, do you?"

"Maybe if she wasn't such a spoiled brat."

"Spoiled? Maybe if you followed rules more often you wouldn't be scolded all the time!"

"Come now, children." June waved her hands at them, "We'd better get going, we don't want to be late."

They headed towards the school.

It was a local prep school. Even though it was not the largest school on PLANT, it was well-known for producing elite students, many of which went on to ZAFT afterwords. Both Suzuka and her brother were entering the military after they graduated, as their family was mostly in ZAFT, it was just customary for the children in the head Kiriyuhi family to carry on the family 'buisness'.

Before they entered, June stopped,

"Suzuka, can you go on ahead, I have to run an errand." she waved, "Bye Suzu-chan, Katsuya-kun."

"Later." Katsuya yawned.

Suzuka shrugged, "Alright, I'll wait for you in class."

Suzuka entered the school, stopping at the lockers to switch her shoes. Shutting her locker, she headed down the hallway. Right before she turned into the classroom, she heard to familiar voices around the corner. Ducking behind the wall, she listened.

"...would never work. Please, understand that I never meant to hurt you." she replied.

"Oh? So you're just going to turn away from me? Leave me even though we've already done so much together?" he snapped.

It was her brother and June. Suzuka leaned closer to listen.

"It's not that. You don't understand the problem."

"I understand that you're afraid of yourself. If you were going to just lead me on and then dump me without a reasonable explination then maybe it would have been better if we had never met in the first place!"

"Katsuya!" she roared, "You don't even know what you're talking about!"

It took him by surprise, staring at her enraged face. There were tears in her eyes as she sunk against the wall.

"You don't understand."

"Maybe if you told me, I would." he said, "Damn it June, don't just run away from me."

Looking at the floor, she began to walk foreward. Katsuya frowned,

"June?"

She reached her hands towards his face and pulled him towards her. Turning her face to the side, she leaned towards his ear, and there was silence. It was obvious she was telling him something, but Suzuka could not pick up what it was.

There was a thunk as Katsuya dropped his bag.

"Wha..." he shook his head, "What do you mean you're a-"

"SHH!" she threw a hand over his mouth, "Now do you understand? Do you understand why I never let anyone know me? It would be the end of someone knew the truth."

"I know."

June stared at him a moment, and then picked her own bag up from the floor.

"What you want to do with the information is fine with me." she said, "You know how I really feel."

"Do I?" he stared at the wall when she started to walk off.

She stopped, "I love you, but if anyone found out about me, it would only bring you trouble."

Katsuya's fists tightened at his sides, "You can't just be alone. You need someone."

"I don't need anyone but myself." she said, "Everyone I ever knew or loved died. I don't want that to happen to you-"

He grabbed her shoulder, "I'm not letting you go."

"I'm sorry." she tore her shoulder away from him.

Suzuka sat at her desk, her head resting in her folded arms. Something shook her shoulder, and she looked up to see June staring at her,

"Suzu?" June looked worried, "Are you alright? You look tired."

Suzuka frowned, her brother and June?How long had this been going on? Why ddi she never say anything? Why did HE never say anything?

"Suzuka?"

What was the secret that June told him?

"Suzuka, are you alright?"

"Suzuka-san."

She opened her eyes to find Rey's hand resting gently on her shoulder. Rubbing her eyes, she yawned,

"Sorry, I didn't mean to fall asleep."

"It's alright, it was a long ride." he said, "Look."

In front of them was Apirillius One.

Suzuka frowned, the mission began now. They only had 3 days to find the princess, rescue her, and escape from the base.

"When we get to the docking port, let me do the talking." he said, "I don't want them to grow suspicious. If my aid starts giving orders, they may think something is up."

"Okay." she nodded.

"Make sure to keep contact silence until you're completely sure it's clear."

"Understood."

"Suzuka-san?" he looked at her, "Are you alright? You look a little pale."

"I'm okay, just tired." she smiled, "What about you? You've been flying this shuttle for a day straight."

"I've had worse." he said.

There was a blip on the com. Rey frowned, flipping the switch on the communications line.

"Control Tower A589, this is Apirillius One to shuttle. Please state your purpose."

"This is Commander Rei Minami requesting permission to dock to conduct an inspection of the base."

He held his breath, hoping that all of Ezekiel's hacking paid off in the end.

"Confirmed. Shuttle 01, dock at port F."

"Rogar that."

As the line switched off, Suzuka let out a sigh of relief. It seemed she was holding her breath as well.

"So far so good." she said.

"Let's hope the whole mission goes this smoothly." he said, lining up thedocking lights with the shuttle.

"Okay." she stood up, pulling her bag over her shoulder, "Let's show them what we're made of, Rey."

He smiled at her, "Aye."

I hope you liked it :D

Wish me luck on my tour, and I hope everyone is having a good summer!

Arigato

Lilith