Censored Memories

" What happened?" Shinn said as he enters Cagalli's room.

" You… bast..!" Cagalli cursed. She wasn't able to finish her sentence because Kira covered her mouth with his hands.

Athrun went to Shinn. He grabbed his arms and took him outside, out of Cagalli's view.

" I didn't do anything!" Shinn protested.

" Me either…" Athrun said without looking. " But… she hates us."

They went to the veranda and Athrun explained everything to Shinn.

Kira was with Cagalli. She seems to relax after Shinn's departure.

She was resting on Kira's arms.

" Are you okay now?" Kira asked.

She looked up at him and nodded. Her hands were swollen because of the scratches. Kira used the emergency kit on her room to tend to the open wounds.

He was wiping her hands with hydrogen peroxide, when Cagalli said something that made Kira stop.

"Where…is…my…ring?"

She was once again looking at her hands.

He had no choice. He has to do it. He reached out Cagalli's face and said.

"You lost it. I'll give you another one."

Her reaction was unreadable. As if she didn't want to believe.

How could she believe? She barely understands anything.

Someone who cannot understand isn't capable of believing.

Three nights without panic attacks…

(end of scene)

"That's good," Lacus sighed. She was visiting Kira and Athrun. They explained what the doctors said, and Lacus says that if they pretend to be what they appear to her, then it would lessen her anxiety.

Miriallia, Yzak, and Dearka went there earlier to pay a visit.

But they weren't able to speak to her.

She didn't know them… as usual.

"I'm worried about her, deeply," Miriallia confessed.

"All of us are, but we can't do anything about it," Dearka added.

Yzak wasn't speaking and was indulging on a deep thought. He tried to speak but he soon held back his words.

"Poor Athrun…" Mir said as she watches Athrun follow Cagalli while she strolls in the garden.

"She wasn't even speaking to him, but he still follows her for heaven's sake!" Dearka said distastefully.

" Maybe Athrun could do better than that for her to notice and remember him…" Yzak suddenly spoke. " That isn't enough to heal the pain."

(end of scene)

She was picking some red roses. Athrun realized that she prefer red roses than white.

At least one of the things he knew about her remained consistent…

She prefers red.

He was with her for almost an hour, but she barely notices him. Didn't even bother acknowledging his presence. He was taking everything- eyes closed.

Kira told him earlier to watch over Cagalli because he will be leaving for two days.

It took a hard time for Kira to convince his sister to let him go.

(flashback)

" I'll be leaving you, for a while… but you'll be ok," Kira said. Then he looked at Athrun. " He will watch over you…"

Cagalli was on the verge of crying upon hearing those words. Then, the tears fell.

" No…" she sobbed. She embraced him tightly. Kira's shirt was already drenched with her tears.

Separation anxiety.

" I'll be back, I promise," Kira said.

" Leaving me…alone," she continued.

Her words had a stinging effect on Athrun.

Leaving me- alone

It reminded him of something… something that he had done.

"You will not be alone. He will be with you." Kira pointed towards Athrun.

She gazed at his sad eyes.

He saw those brown orbs drenched with tears. She did not blink- neither did he.

She didn't look happy.

He just nodded. Acknowledging her hostile feeling… accepting every bit of pain that she's subconsciously inflicting on him.

(end of flashback)

She was about to pick the last rose among the clusters, when he heard a sudden cry.

He rushed forward to check.

Her fingers were bleeding… the thorn was still there… piercing her flesh.

He grabbed her hand to look at the wound. She did not retaliate. He pulled the thorn out of her skin… and the blood suddenly squirts out of the opening.

He couldn't find anything to wipe it out.

Instinctively, he placed her bleeding finger on his lips. He sucked the blood…to make it stop.

She was making him bleed…and he's reluctant to bleed himself dry…

She caught her breath upon feeling his warmth around her fingers.

The bleeding stopped. They were staring at each other, for the infinite time.

The flowers were lying on the ground.

His eyes were blank… shocked.

She locked her lips with his.

Instinct? Or a censored memory?

He wasn't sure.

She lifted her head … stood and walked away… leaving him in the cold.