Kira left with Lacus. He will be with her for two days in the PLANTS.

They were driving on the busy streets of Copernicus when Kira remembered something as they passed by a jewelry shop.

Cagalli's ring.

"Something the matter?" Lacus asked as Kira stopped and looked at the glass window.

"We'll stop for a while, okay?"

"Why?" Lacus was puzzled.

Kira looked straight ahead. It took some time for him to answer.

"I have to buy her a ring."

"Cagalli?"

"Yeah…"

The car stopped. But neither of them was leaving.

"She kept on asking where was her ring… their promise ring."

"I see," Lacus just whispered.

Kira suddenly realized what's going on her head.

"Don't think it'll have a special meaning…err..she's my sister."

"I know," Lacus replied.

They drove in front of the shop and Kira went there first.

Lacus was walking behind him. Quite distant.

It was me who bought our ring… yet you're buying one- for her – she thought.

(end of scene)

The first night… without Kira.

Athrun went to Cagalli's room. Holding a tray on his left hand, he knocked at the closed door.

No answer. He knocked again.

Still- silent.

He twisted the knob and went inside.

She was there, facing the large window, curled into a ball.

"I brought you some dinner…"

She wasn't paying attention.

He went on the bedside and placed the tray on the table. He sat by the bed, beside her.

"Don't worry, he will be back," he reassured her.

She was sniffing. She'd been crying since afternoon, after Kira's departure. It only stopped when Athrun decided to take her for a stroll in the garden… where she kissed him- unknowingly.

"You have to eat… he'll kill me if you starve," Athrun joked. He was getting used to this one-way conversation with her.

She was still sobbing.

Athrun remained there. He too, stared at the window.

Began reminiscing everything that they shared when she was still his.

He went to the window- unlocked it, and soon, the cold wind outside started to rush in. He returned to where he was settled.

He looked at her- shivering.

He was surprised when that soft hand of hers began to reach out to him. She placed her hand on his lap, and the other on his sleeve as she raises her head and stretched out from her previous position. He helped her as she sits up- beside him. Her eyes were already sore. He saw them.

Is this what she looked like back then…when I left her?

He wasn't prepared to what she'd done next…

She embraced him.

"Kira…left me…alone." She wasn't crying anymore.

His hands remained on the side…but as soon as she uttered these words, he began to caress her back.

"I…will never leave you, I promise." He uttered those words.

Words that only lovers who are foolish enough to say it- and give such meaning to it- a promise of devotion. He never said that before.

He joined her as she ate dinner. He fixed the dishes on the tray, and started leaving when she said something that almost made him drop everything that he's holding.

"Be…with…me…Athrun."

First, she already remembered his name. And the words that had gone with it was

Be-with-me.

He looked back at her, and then placed the tray on the table. He couldn't hide the joy that he felt upon hearing her say his name.

"You remembered me?" He was smiling.

It took a while for her to answer… she shook her head. No.

But he knew it. She remembered him as someone who stayed with her. It isn't important if she doesn't remember what he totally means to her… the simple memory that he engraved on her mind was enough -enough to make him happy.

He was in tears.

He sat beside her as she drifts off…in a dreamless sleep.