Chapter 4

Jealousy

Quote: "The path to inspiration starts beyond the trails we've known.
Each writer's block is not a rock, but just a stepping stone." - Unknown to me.

Story Recommendation: 'Connections' by.. Me! Wahahaha! And Disconnected, the sequel, which is currently on hold.

Blah Blah Blah: The world is coming closer to the brink of coordinators. We may yet meet our characters in our lifetimes. The Genome Project, genetic engineering. When Orb is created, remind me to head to outer space. Kira-kun. -swoon-

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed. If I did episode 11 would end like my story. -smile grin- Of course, you have to wait to see that.

– – – – – – – – –

It had been about 4 weeks and all Yzak and Susume could do was work harder and harder. They spent hours in the library but could also be seen wandering the halls alone, talking. Yzak asked her questions and she'd answer. They hardly had normal conversations but Dearka swore Yzak was changing.

He watched as his friend came back from his teaching just before lights out and grunted that he was tired. But the silver haired teen would be up for the next few hours, just staring at random walls or ceilings..

Athrun was headed to the library to do a little research for himself when he paused. Susume was casually leaning on the wall, a little ways away. He went to call to her when he noticed the slightly depressed look on her face.

"Susume." he smiled when she looked up at him. "What's up? You okay?" he asked.

"What? What's that mean? Of course I'm okay. What a stupid question, Zala." she scoffed at his words and folded her arms, acting tough as usual.

"You never change, do you?" he laughed.

"Susume!" a familiar voice called. Both turned to see Yzak running up, a usual glare fixated on Athrun.

"You're late, Joule." Susume scolded, but her eyes clearly disagreed with her tone.

"Whatever." Yzak turned to Athrun. "What are you doing here, Zala?" he asked. Athrun pondered for a moment.

"I don't know, Yzak. What do people usually do at a library?" He replied smugly. Yzak tensed and his eyes narrowed slightly. Susume grabbed his arm and began to pull him away.

"Sorry, Athrun. We gotta go study. My first big test is coming up soon and I don't wanna fail it."

"Right." Athrun waved as they both left.

– – – – – – – –

"What the hell?" Susume smacked Yzak upside the head.

"What was that for!" he growled.

"What was with you're attitude back there? It's been forever since you glared like that!" she crossed her arms.

"Why do you care, stupid! I can glare at anyone I want!" Yzak glared at her and growled.

"I don't know what's gotten into you today, but you better not act like this while we're studying. I really do have a test coming up." Susume turned away, huffing.

As they walked off to another place they studied together, Yzak began to wonder exactly why he glared at Athrun. Athrun was one of his only.. 'friends', if you could call people that. So what was the stupid anger problem he'd had when he saw Susume and him smiling and talking together?

– – – – – –

"I think they call it jealousy." Dearka spoke randomly one night when he and Yzak were the only ones still awake. Yzak tensed at his voice. Did Dearka know he was still up or was he talking to himself?

"I know you're awake, by the way. You don't toss and turn that much in your sleep.. Not usually, at least." Dearka spoke again.

"So how do you know it isn't just a rare occasion?" Yzak grumbled.

"Well you're awake, right?" Yzak could hear the smirk in his voice. Dearka slept on the lower part of their bunk beds. Across the room, no matter how small the room was, was Nicol sleeping on the lower part of another bunker and Athrun up top.

Yzak grumbled and rolled over to face the wall.

"Jealousy isn't good for your health, Yzak."

"Who said anything about jealousy?" Yzak replied sleepily. His mind was just taking in the word and jumbling it up with all the other stuff he was thinking about.

The glare. The girl. The anger. The ... Jealousy? Is that what Dearka meant?

"Athrun told me about an incident he encountered by the library. I never imagined you to fall for anyone.. Surprising really. But if you like her, you should tell her before she doesn't need you to tutor her anymore.." Dearka's word were soft and meant to give advice despite his 'yahoo!' attitude.

"But I don.."

"But seriously man. Her test is coming up. With your help she even started listening in class. If this keeps up.. She may be able to go in alone soon.." Dearka rolled over and before Yzak could retort, he heard his friend sleeping.

"Jealous.. Ya right.." he grunted and sighed. Continuing his stare at the ceiling, he thought about what Dearka had said.

'She may be able to go in alone soon..'

He sighed again and closed his eyes, not wanting to think anymore.

– – – – – –

"Now. According to Ian Howard's documentation on nuclear and atomic bombs.. What is the best way to avoid the use of these weapons?" Yzak asked, flipping through a book.

"Um.. An N-Jammer. Currently inoperative and un-perfected, the ZAFT forces hope to accomplish the completion of these jammers by the middle of next year and stop any attacks on our homes..."

"Good..." Yzak flipped through the book some more.

"Hey Yzak... We're not going to go to war anytime soon, right?" Susume asked, leaning on a wall. They were sitting on the steps, outside a sweets parlor. It was military school but things weren't as tight now since there was no war and the program was fairly new.

The sky was clear today so far but the weather reports called for rain. Susume covered her eyes when a cloud moved and a sliver of sun shone into her eyes.

"What kind of stupid question is that? What does it matter if we do or don't? We're soldiers now and whether you volunteered or were forced into it, we still have a duty to uphold when the time calls for it." Yzak seemed to find what he was looking for and announced it triumphantly.

"What?"

"Next question!" Yzak smirked evilly and Susume groaned. Yzak laughed and Susume paused. Yzak was... laughing? Since when did Yzak laugh?.. it was.. A nice sound. She smiled softly while he was distracted with trying to stop and relaxed against the wall.

"Anyway.." Yzak cleared his throat. "Lieutenant Colonel Yuan's report on the status and advantages of the coordinator's body capabilities relies mostly of the fact that... what?"

"That with our genes tampered with before we're born, we are given the ability to do more than we should be and evolve and progress faster than the normal human being. The study for the information he acquired had been developed since the Human Genome Project (1) that was finished around the 20th century, before the CE calender was created, and most of the original work was lost." Susume replied proudly.

"So.. I think you'll be ready for your test.." Yzak finally closed the book and relaxed.

Silence ensued and neither felt the need to fill it in with useless words. It was a peaceful silence that was rare in this world and both were enjoying it.

"I guess after the test.. I wont see you as often.." Susume finally spoke. Yzak perked up to listen.

"I've become more alert during class, if you hadn't noticed, and my grades are coming up. If I ace this test, it'll be smooth sailing through the rest until Finals." she continued.

"So...?" Yzak asked.

"Well.. Yzak do you want to grab something to eat?" she abruptly changed the subject. Yzak grunted and closed his eyes, hands behind his head.

"No. Go by yourself."

"Hey! What's with the one-eighty all of a sudden?" she pouted.

"This is how I always act. Don't delude yourself that you're a friend or something. And even if you were, I treat everyone the same. I'm the best in this school and no one is ever gonna surpass me. So whether other people like it or not, I'll always be looking down on others and causing them shit. You're ready for your stupid test and don't need me anymore. So just go get your own stupid food and leave me the hell alone. I'm tired of babysitting you."

Susume jumped up off the stairs and glared at him. After almost a month of earning his respect to the point that he'd treat her as an equal. Of studying until she passed out in front of him and spending almost whole days together. Lunches together, ice cream, free period. She thought she'd finally gotten a higher standing in his view.

"So you've been babysitting, huh! If you were just babysitting.. Then why did you put up with me so much, huh?" she knew he was lying if he said he hadn't enjoyed it

"It was a mission and I was following orders. I'm part of the military. I thought I explained this. When you're a part of a division, you must do your job whether or not you enjoy it. If you failed your test, I failed my mission. I am a soldier and as such, I let no emotions or obstacles stand in my way of success. You're just another step towards my goals." Yzak stood up and walked past her as he spoke. "Good luck on your test."

Susume spun around to yell but ended up just balling her fists and glaring at him.

"Ya! I'll do well! I'll make your sorry ass the greatest commander of the ZAFT army as any 'has been' who's ever been!" she knew he took that as an insult but she meant it.

– – – – – – – –

Yzak walked into his room and leapt up onto his bed. He didn't acknowledge Dearka, who was reading a book, or Nicol, who was writing music. When Yzak was silently resting on his bed, Dearka and Nicol took the time to stare questioningly at each other instead of at Yzak.

"What's up with him?" Nicol asked.

"Girl problems probably.." Dearka sighed.

"Oh please!" Yzak growled.

"Yep. Definitely Su.. Girl problems.." Dearka readjusted his position on his bed.

"Su? Susume?" Nicol asked, setting his music aside.

"Something like that.." Dearka replied as random heavy objects came into contact with his head.

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