Agh, I could start with another long string of apologies for updating a few days late, but that's never any fun to read.

Chapter Three, here we go!

Athrun woke up to the incredible light of day and a sore neck. So the floor wasn't such a great place to sleep... perhaps folding a jacket or some cloth to make some sort of pillow would be a better idea next time. Slowly pulling himself up and smiled. At least it looked like she was having a decent rest...

Cagalli lay sprawled across the bed, curled in a fetal position. From the crumpled mass of blanket, it didn't look like she was a calm sleeper, but currently, she looked pretty darn peaceful.

He sighed, and dusted himself off briefly. It would probably be a good idea to go out and buy some food, maybe ask some questions. It also might be nice to send a messenger to the Athha manor, just to let them know they were all right. Of course, Cagalli might have his head, and truthfully he wasn't sure if it seemed right to drag her back. She seemed much too vulnerable, unwilling, and above all, completely unready. Perhaps some time away WAS what she needed...

He stole another glance at the bed, wondering if he should simply leave. A large part of him was worried that if she were to wake up and find him missing, she may become worried or cause a scene. Thus he resolved to wait until she had woken up, before setting out.

...An hour or two later it appeared she had no intention of waking up. Growing somewhat impatient, Athrun warily approached the bed, at first calling her softly.

"Ms. Athha?"

No response.

He tried again, this time louder.

Nothing.

Extending a hesitant hand, he tried shaking her lightly.

A incoherent mumble.

He tried shaking her a bit more firmly.

This time she turned away from him and readjusted herself, presumably into a more comfortable position.

Increasingly amused, Athrun tried calling her and shaking her this time, to which she responded by...

Swinging her arm in his direction and almost smacking him in the face. Stumbling backwards, he hit a dresser and fell onto the ground with a rather clumsy thud.

Gradually, Cagalli seemed to rise from the bed and took a glance at him.

"Oh. Hi."

In truth she was somewhat surprised that he was there... She recalled him saying that he was probably going to go out and figure out where they were. She also wasn't much of a morning person, which meant anything from being tired and grumpy, to snappy and downright irritable.

Today, she was tired and somewhat snappy.

Currently, she was adding plenty of sugar to a nice cup of tea, and wondering what he was staring at. They were waiting for their breakfast to arrive, which was pretty simple on account of the low amount of money they had. He seemed to be somewhat troubled, and she wasn't quite sure what to do.

After all, he was a servant. It didn't really matter to her, since she had always been the type to cross social boundaries. But he was the servant of her supposed "fiancé". So then what was stopping him from wandering back? He said it was because he was afraid of punishment, but if he kept running with her forever, then he'd end up in much bigger trouble.

Besides, it wasn't like she was planning on never going back. She was going to eventually, and he would have to go with her. Wouldn't that land him in hot water anyways?

Suddenly, his voice broke into her thoughts.

"When do you plan to go back?"

She blinked. to be honest, Cagalli hadn't set a timetable for this. She figured she'd go back when she felt like...

"When I feel like it" She shrugged.

"What if you never feel like it?" Athrun asked, raising a puzzled eyebrow. he was much to used to a planned schedule.

" suppIose I'll run out of money at some point, and then I'll have to go back." She responded after a quick moment of thought. Athrun silently digested her words.

"I don't know how much money you have on you, but I don't think it will last very long. No more than a week, at most is my best guess..." He mumbled to himself. Cagalli bit her lip.

"Well... again I didn't really plan on having you with me."

"Do you not want me here?"

At this moment some toast and various jams were presented to them, and they began to eat heartily, both feeling rather hungry after almost a day without food.

"It's not that I don't' want you here. I just question why you would choose to stay. Seems to me like you'll end up in trouble either way..." She replied, covering her mouth so she could speak while chewing.

Athrun took a drink of water to swallow the toast in his mouth before replying. "I will, and so it's not an issue for me."

"Then what is?"

He paused, visibly uncomfortable... "How much do you want to get married?"

"Not at all. Otherwise I wouldn't be here."

"I see... So even if I left and went back you would continue hiding form your father on your own. And you would probably run off somewhere else too... So that if I did tell them you were here by the time they got here you would be gone."

A nod.

"Well then... Like you said I'll get in trouble anyways. But I'd rather make sure you stay safe while you're out here, and get into a little more trouble, than run off now, leave you here in possible danger, and be off the hook a little sooner." He stated matter of factly.

Cagalli frowned. "I don't need you to babysit me."

"I know, but I wouldn't feel right if I didn't follow my conscience... Besides I think some time to get used to the idea of marriage would do both you and the young master well..." Athrun added.

"So then it's settled?"

"It seems clear enough in my mind. I'll follow you wherever you want to go, for as long as you keep hiding. however, you have to go back as soon as you run out of money."

"It's a deal. And if I pay for you expenses as well... I know you won't run off, but you can't send messengers to tell them where we are either."

Athrun fell silent. "I won't disclose our location, but I don't think I'd feel comfortable breaking off all communication. If you don't mind, I think we should send a quick message to let them know that you're alright, and you just need to take a breather."

Cagalli weighed the thought... "As long as they can't find out where we are from it..."

A deep chuckle. " I don't see how that's possible as we barely know where we are ourselves."

She consented, and he smiled.

"Well then... It's decided. We won't go back yet."

Uzumi absently flipped through the pages of a book, not really reading through it. Last night had not been a good night, as he had spent most of the night awake in wait of news of Cagalli, all to no avail. His son-in-law-to-be had also searched into extended hours of the night, but finally grew tired as well and had to retire for. As for his parents, the lady had demanded sleep fairly early on. Of course the sleeping quarters arranged were in inferior condition, and she demanded that she be allowed permission to search the entire house until she found something suitable.

Her husband was less picky, but just as infuriating, and he was trying to track down Uzumi for most the morning. Apparently he was frustrated that Uzumi had been too busy trying to lead the search for his own daughter, and thought it was of much more importance to go over deeds and property arrangements after the marriage was settled, then to find the bride-to-be at all.

His only solaces at this point were the facts that their son was reasonable that others would be here soon. Hopefully they could aid in the search and would be a pleasant distraction.

A knock at the door was his warning. Perhaps it was news of Cagalli. More than likely it was another horrific demand along the lines of lunch being served on solid golden plates by the queen of Sheba.

Instead a pleasant voice behind the door asked for permission to enter. Standing up and brushing himself off lightly he approached the door and opened it, welcoming in his daughter's fiancé.

"Pardon for interrupting. I just finished eating and though this might be a good time to have a chat... After all I am engaged to your only child." he added the last sentence with a bit of a laugh. "Sorry sir. I don't mean to come off as rude, but it's still a bit of a strange concept to me. I thought I was still... How to put it?... Too young?

Uzumi smiled. "From my perspective you should still be wearing diapers, but to tell the truth I'm a bit relieved at who you are. As a person, you're... quite the unexpected surprise. I was expecting someone possessing both qualities of his parents."

The young man gave an apologetic look at the door before sighing. "What can I say? They're my parents. Perhaps it's because I grew up with Athrun... Even though he's my servant, growing up around him probably affected me."

"Athrun?" Uzumi repeated the name... "The one that's currently with my daughter?"

Another laugh from both sides. "Yes, he's the one. And I assure you that as long as he's with her, she's safe. He's a very good person. As for how this happened at all, I can safely say that I have no idea."

"Oh, I do... My daughter did not take to the idea of engagement lightly." The tired father explained. "My apologies. It has nothing to do with you, as she hadn't even known you when she decided to do... this. But just the idea in general..."

"Understandable." An nod. "Well, I best be going now... I'll be heading west today. I believe there are several small towns there. It seems like a good lead, but it'll just take a while to search all of them." And with a polite goodbye, he left the room.

Uzumi smiled and seated himself again. Well... He seemed like a nice boy, and the Yamato's would be here soon, as well as the Clyne's. And it looked like the search for Cagalli was going in a good direction. Perhaps things wouldn't be so bad after all.

But one thing bothered him... That boy. Athrun was apparently his name... Servant though he was, he possessed and air of familiarity. This hair, eyes, and stature reminding him of something achingly nostalgic. But the first thing he thought of was impossible, so pushing the idea aside, Uzumi bookmarked the page in his book and left the room.

A framed portrait opposite the door, hung innocently on the wall. Flanked by two heavy oak bookcases, it seemed half obscured by shadows. Yet on the slight amount touched by the light creeping in through the room's solitary window, a hint of color could be seen.

Blue.

"... You want to go shopping?"

"Sure, we can't stay in these clothes forever. We need to change some point, besides wearing something so formal in a small town like this makes me stand out a lot." He turned and found a pair of amber eyes glaring furiously at him.

"If you think you can get me shopping, when four maids and two butlers couldn't you've got to be kidding yourself."

Athrun raised an eyebrow. Was that a challenge?

"I'm really not kidding though. We're much too conspicuous in these. And we don't' have a change of clothes..."

"No."

"... Am I allowed to just go shopping on my own?"

"No."

Sighing, Athrun turned around as if resigning to her stubbornness. Suddenly, he snatched a hefty pail of water and splashed it onto her. Cagalli stood there for a moment... dripping... While Athrun apologized to the owner of the pail for using the water inside. By the time he was done, she looked ready to rip out his intestines and strangle him with them.

"Oh dear, will you look at that!" He feigned mock surprise. "You're all wet! I guess we'd better go buy a change of clothes." Leaning forward, he lowered his voice and grinned. "Sorry but I couldn't think of anything else... besides, it's not that bad. You're not completely soaked."

Cagalli looked at him as if he'd grown antlers. "You're insane. Just great, out of all the people I could have run away with, I get the one who's mental..." She mumbled angrily. Nonetheless, as Athrun began to walk towards the clothing shop, she trudged along.

Kira felt his heart lighten slightly at the site of the Athha estate in the near distance. He and his father had decided to speed ahead on horseback, and though he was slightly hesitant about leaving Lacus in a carriage behind him, her parents, his mother as well as several other servants accompanied them.

In any case, the fact that his favorite cousin was missing worryed him more than anything, and he was eager to go and find out the details, then join in the search. Granted, they were really more very distant relatives, and the only two with some relation that were roughly the same age. But he was sure that even if the others were the same age as them, she'd still be his favorite.

And though he was somewhat "used" to these antics of hers, in which she would storm off when frustrated, angry, or irritated, usually a cursory ride through the grounds would reveal her to be throwing rocks into a pond, or something to that extent. In this case, a thorough combing of the entire area had failed to reveal anything, and her reason of departure sounded like enough to make her permanently stay away.

An arranged marriage was something that even he would feel uncomfortable taking. He probably would have been goaded into one if he hadn't found Lacus, but this was probably sprung on Cagalli like some sort of poorly planned surprise party. It's no wonder she bolted.

Finally reaching the front doors, he and his father were greeted by Uzumi himself, who looked all too happy to greet them.

"You'll be a very nice distraction from the hell that is my daughter's future in-laws." He explained with a wry smile. "We've decided to start searching the nearby towns. After all, they have to sleep somewhere..."

"They?" Kira was startled.

Uzumi paused "Yes... Both her and a servant that came with Westenfluss family are missing. However, they're probably together..."

"Together?" Another startled looked, with eyebrows raised high into his forehead. "She ran away with a servant she didn't know?"

"Believe me if I could understand it, I wouldn't have as much of a raging headache right now either. The only way to get this sorted out is to find them."

Lord Yamato stepped up for a moment. "You did say it was the Westenfluss family just now, correct?"

"Yes."

"So then her fiancé must be..."

Uzumi smiled. "Yes. Heine Westenfluss."

Meanwhile, the unlikely pair of roommates returned to their temporary abode, wearing cheaper clothes. Cagalli grumbled a lot about shopping, and how she was just wasting the little money she had on her. Athrun reminded her that all the money in the world would be of little use if someone found them, which was about a hundred times more likely in those clothes.

After a modest dinner, they had decided to sleep earlier, not really being in the mood to do much else, nor seeing anything interesting either. True to her word, Cagalli allowed Athrun to send a message to the manor, informing them of their safety. The messenger said he'd probably get it there by morning.

Athrun moved to take the spot on the floor that he had occupied last night, before pausing for a moment and cringing despite himself. It wasn't the most comfortable place in the world, but it was probably the most appropriate...

Suddenly, he felt a pillow hit him square in the chest. Looking up, he quirked an eyebrow in question.

"You've been struggling with your neck all day. I get the bed, so the least I can do is give you a pillow." Cagalli shrugged, laying herself down onto the bed.

"But-"

"No buts."

"It doesn't seem right for me-"

"I don't care."

"I don't need-"

"Sure you do. Now any more complaints or protests from you, I'll take it back!"

Athrun smiled in resignation and gratitude... What a girl. "You're sure then?"

"Positive... Now shush so I can get some sleep."

Athrun stared at the pillow for a moment. "Thank you, Ms. Athha."

Cagalli replied in a half asleep state. "Call...me... Cagalli..."

A few minutes later she was sound asleep.

Moving forward, Athrun pulled the thin blanket a little more snugly around her, wondering if it would really be enough. Perhaps he should offer his coat?

Picking up said article of clothing, he dusted it off briefly and spread it atop her sleeping figure.

"Sweet dreams... Cagalli."

Next chapter of "To Pluck an Honest Rose." How will Uzumi react to Athrun's message and what will the search of nearby towns reveal?

Wow, I got a lot of guesses for Nicol, but nothing for Heine. I suppose given earlier descriptions, Nicol would make a lot of sense, but the problem is that Nicol's parents are wonderful, and just not enough fun to torture Uzumi with. Since we've never met Heine parents, I decided to make them those awful type of in-laws that everyone dreads. Heh...

As usual, thank you to all my wonderful reviewers:

'-'.Melodious.Noturne.'-', Ladymadchan, Life Is Death, Garowyn, meowmeowtheblackcat, 3fi-pina3, Cagalli Yula Athha Fangirl, Eternally Asuka, The Angels' Princess, jackie-88-ac, Kintora, tenshi, the light of hope, existence92, raikendai, XxbuffyxX, Princess Ashes, yumi'd'izka, asga, Ladu Onuk, animemistress419, Sunflower Seeds, kura52, PINKSISA, ovp, omi, Kandida, Tetsuni, Rayar, psychoanalyst, thousandbirds, ANONYMOUS-gsd, Siriuslyblacked, Childish Hentai, Cari-Akira, Swt. Harmony, X-19A Infinite Justice, Star-Moon-Angel, 45, gseedlover, Feminist1991, Kazumi Kairi or Kairi-chan, Kazumi Kairi or Kairi-chan, Kitty-Kat90013820, IYGU, The Jackle

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