Chapter 3
Cagalli's body was limp and weightless in Athrun's arms. He had been crying, his face buried in the crook of her neck, so uncontrollably that he did not hear his name being called. But, it was called again and again, getting louder and louder each time until he eventually looked up.
His eyes widened. Glowing and sparkling, Cagalli, bare and ghostly, was before him. She carried a smile.
"C-Cagalli…"
"Don't cry, okay?" she said.
Athrun looked down. "But you lost your life, and it's my fault. If I hadn't gone back, then you wouldn't have followed me, and you'd still be…"
"You're a hero, Athrun. If it wasn't for you, so many inncocent people would be dead."
"I didn't want your life—"
"Don't worry about me; keep living. Live your life fully and in peace. You are a good person, Athrun…I don't want you to suffer anymore."
"But Cagalli—"
She moved closer to him, cupping his face into her hands. A warm, tingling feeling ran through him. Her face inched closer to his; she placed a gentle kiss on his cheek.
"I'm happy that I spent these past couple of months with you—that I have become closer to you…I wish it didn't have to end." She sighed. "Please find Kira, I know he is alive, but he needs help. Be there for him." With sad eyes, she removed her hands and began floating away. "Goodbye."
Athrun's breathing became heavier, and his pulse was beyond rapid. The more she drifted, the tighter the squeeze was on his heart. First his mother, Rusty and Miguel, then Nicol and his father…now Cagalli. She was last person to make him smile, to make him feel something other than guilt, pain or confusion. It wasn't fair.
"No!" he shouted.
Removing one hand from her physical body, Athrun reached out, and, to both of their surprise, took hold of her arm. If it was possible, the aura around her shined brighter.
"You want her to stay?" a booming voice – no, it sounded as if many people were speaking at once. Each voice echoing through the cosmos, powerful and resonate. "You want her to stay?" it,, or they, repeated with more vigor, more demand.
"Y-yes." Athrun looked at Cagalli as if she was the one speaking.
Cagalli was busy looking around, searching for the source.
"One does not usually do what you have done. Perhaps it truly isn't her time, so here is a proposition for you…"
Athrun listened—waited—with an anxiety that made him feel as though he would stop breathing if the voices did not speak again.
"…You will have to be the one to bring her back."
"Bring her back?"
"Bring me back?"
Cagalli and Athrun looked at each other, perplexed.
"Yes," the voices spoke. "Bring her back to life."