WE BELONG TOGETHER

Sorry for taking so long to update this time! I feel like I'm sorta losing my ideas on the story. Hopefully this chapter is not too bad. Also, I'm thinking of starting a new story, perhaps FFVII (with Sephiroth x OC), Devil May Cry (D x V x OC), InuYasha (Sess x OC) , Yugioh (Kiba x OC) or Sailormoon (Minako x Kunzite). Give me some votes, guys! Thanks!

Chapter 20: Ruptured Harmony

Kira lead Lacus down the hall without saying a word. His face looked so stiff and heavy that everyone stayed clear of his way. Lacus was practically dragged down the hall but she was too afraid to open her mouth.

What happened between her and Heine was nothing but Kira had obviously misunderstood. She just needed to explain it to him to make him understand, she thought optimistically.

Once inside the privacy of his study, the prince released her hand and moved to the other side of the room. Still, Kira refused to speak out.

Lacus lowered her head and cleared her throat. "Kira…" She started.

"Lacus…I…I wasn't lying when I said I was there. I really was." He opened slowly.

"Then surely you must have saw—"

"I did," He cut her off, "I saw you and Heine together."

"That's right, but—"

"Lacus, I know what I saw." He disrupted her for the second time. "You allowed it, didn't you? The embrace you shared and the words he spoke…I held witness to all of it…" He said bitterly.

"Kira! That was not how it happened…You must listen to my explanation!"

Kira shook his head. "Just answer me two questions, okay? Does he love you?"

"…Yes." She choked out, feeling the tears built up. It seemed hopeless for Kira to listen to her.

"Did you both agreed to keep this a secret from me?"

Again, she nodded. Kira closed his eyes tiredly. Regardless of what Lacus and Heine will say, his best friend has feelings for his fiancé and the now the pain of them keeping something from him was too great to carry.

Lacus broke down and wept like a heart broken child. She knew Kira had made up his mind about this issue. She didn't think he would go as far as to label her unfaithful, but she has definitely lost his complete trust and faith in her.

The prince could only watch her in silence, mellowing in his own darkness. Love could comfort and warm the heart, but it could also cause unbearable agony and destruction. His love had come too strong and fast so now he was having the greatest difficult in dealing with the chaotic emotions.

Perhaps time will wash away and slowly heal both of their grief…

"I knew I'd find you here." Shinn said, frowning at the half drunk Heine.

It's been days since Lacus' trial and the news were still causing an uproar in Alliance. The whole kingdom has been stirred up by Azreal's accusations and the citizens have been divided between those who supported Princess Lacus' innocence and those who sympathized with Prince Kira's position.

Aisha told him that Heine had tried on several occasions to talk to Kira, but it was to no avail.

Kira has completely shut Heine and Lacus out at this point in time. Stellar and Aisha did their best to keep Lacus company to ease the gossips and loneliness the princess felt in her new home.

Ever since, Heine has disappeared and after investigation, Shinn finally found him in a tavern on a quiet street.

"Heine, get up. Let's go." Shinn said while trying to wake his friend up.

Heine opened his eyes partially and smiled lazily at Shinn. "Why if it isn't Lord Asuka paying me a visit…Come come…Have a drink…" He offered his cup to him.

Shinn pushed the cup away and grabbed Heine by the collar. "Wake up! I didn't come all this way to see you make a fool of yourself!" He slapped the alcohol out of Heine's hand and dragged him out into the quiet street.

Heine struggled and staggered against Shinn, yelling and singing incoherent words and phrases. Suddenly, he wrestled out of Shinn's control and carried himself to a corner and vomited violently. Shinn stepped back and waited till Heine recovered.

Afterwards, Heine opened his eyes and sobered up. He turned and muttered his gratitude to Shinn while collapsing against the wall.

"What's the matter with you?" Shinn asked.

Heine smiled bitterly to himself. "I've made the biggest mistake of my life in destroying Kira and Lacus' perfect lives. I'd die a thousand deaths but still I cannot undo what I have caused."

"Stop it! Kira has misunderstood and in time he will know the truth. What's happening now is exactly what Azreal is hoping to see."

"What do I care? I'm just a scum now…"

"Are you willing to do what it takes to amend your mistake?"

"Of course, but how?"

"Perhaps you can…" Shinn leaned closer and whispered into Heine's ear.

"You're hurting me! Athrun, let go!" Cagalli yelled all the way through the palace, for Athrun to release his grip on her arm.

After her rescue and Le Creuset's arrest, the prince clamped his mouth shut and continued to put on a cold expression all together. But Cagalli was not afraid. Thanks to her plan, Le Creuset was behind bars and that's that.

But that was not how Athrun viewed it. His fiancé had deliberately disobeyed him and had almost gotten herself and her friends killed in the process. If they had not received the note from Murrue in time, there's no telling where the ladies would be now or what the consequences would be. For that, Cagalli was to be held responsible.

Athrun pulled Cagalli roughly along and into the throne room where the others are. Cagalli snatched her arm away once inside and kept her distance from Athrun, eyeing him cautiously.

"Cagalli!" Meer exclaimed when she saw her. She rushed towards the princess and gave her a tight hug the almost suffocated the blonde girl. "I'm so glad you're safe."

"Ya, I'm sure." Cagalli replied sarcastically to Meer. She bet Meer would just love to see her gone…for good. Meer pretended not to hear and answered with a sweet smile that was so similar to Lacus. This of course pissed Cagalli off even more.

"Princess, I'm glad you're safe." Yzak saluted. Cagalli smiled at him. It felt good to hear such sincere words after all the excitement.

"I wouldn't be smiling if I were you." Athrun said coldly, glaring at his fiancé.

"What do you mean?" Cagalli replied defiantly. "It's bad enough you're not appreciative of my efforts but to give me such attitude…"

"Appreciative? You want me to thank you for what you just did? Have you no brains? All of you could have been killed!"

"But we weren't! I'm sorry Mir and Murrue got involved, and Mwu and Dearka for the injuries, it was never my intention. But I did lure Le Creuset out and now he can't be a threat to Zaft anymore."

"Forget that! You deliberately disobeyed me when I ordered you to stay in the palace! Have you not swear loyalty to me your lord and king? If you cannot even do something so simple then I have reasons to doubt your's and Orb's sincerity in this union."

Cagalli balled her fists. She had to physically restrain herself from exploding in his face. Her face turned crimson from anger. "How dare you! Is this what it's about? Your ego? That is all I'm worth to you? Answer me!"

The entire room went dead silent. Everyone focused their attention on the royal pair.

Athrun turned to the princess. "Listen to me carefully, Cagalli Yula Attha. I do thank you on behalf of Zaft. But let me make one thing clear, you are never, ever going to disobey me again! Is this understood?" He stated boldly.

Cagalli trembled from rage. There was no way she could take this. Uncontrollably, she rushed toward Athrun and slapped him clearly across the cheek.

Everyone gasped at the turn of event. Even Cagalli and Athrun froze.

Cagalli looked at her hand and could not believe what she had just done. After the initial shock, Athrun recovered and felt a burning sensation on his cheek. He put his hand on it and felt the pain, both in his heart and on his face. He understood Cagalli's frustration, but he could not just let her off and do something so dangerous ever again. Though it pained him to restrain her, using authority and rank was the only way to protect her as well as to make her seemed unimportant to him.

He rubbed his cheeks with one hand and went to Meer's side. "This just confirmed my point about the degree of your devotion. I will let this by this time. Guards! Place the princess under careful watch. Make sure she does not get out of your sight. Come on Meer, there's something I would like to talk to you about in private." Athrun held his hand out to Meer and they both went out of the room together, leaving the furious blonde princess alone.

"Lacus…" Stellar called out to the pink hair princess, who was worried about her friend. It was so stupid to see Lacus and Kira acting so distant toward each other. They clearly cared about each other but they had to let something so idiotic get between them. She tried a few times to talk to Kira about it but Kira has been rather unresponsive lately. Whenever she mentioned Heine or Lacus' name, Kira merely gave her a frightening look that just paralyzed her from saying more. The only thing she can do was to keep Lacus company and try to get them to open up to each other.

"Hello? I'm trying to tell you a joke here." Stellar pouted.

"What? Sorry…" Lacus said weakly. She really wasn't in the mood to listen to jokes but the princess really appreciated Stellar's efforts to cheer her up.

Stellar watched with worry as Lacus slowly drifted back into her own melancholy. There must be someway to get through to her.

"Did you know Heine left Alliance already?"

Lacus sat up immediately. "What? When?"

"Just this morning."

"Why didn't he tell me? I didn't even say goodbye."

"Hello? There's no way he can even get close to you without someone making a big deal out of it. Besides, do you want Kira to know about it? I don't!"

Lacus sighed and closed her eyes. Heine was a good friend to her and perhaps it was best for him to just go. But with the way things were right now, her friend probably left in disappointment and shame. The gentle princess could do nothing but pray for his safe journey.

"Did…Kira talk to him?"

Stellar shrugged. "I don't think so. It's been a long time and Kira still refused to see him. At the very least Asuka saw him off."

"I see…"

"Yeah, let's just hope things are starting to die down a little so Kira has some time to think about it."

All of them decided to have a meeting about Athrun and Cagalli.

It's been days since Le Creuset's capture and the prince and princess has been at each other's throat ever since. Whenever the two of them see each other, the air around Athrun freezes while Cagalli turns red hot. The clash between ice and fire was always intense and extreme. The arguments between them have no end.

"What are we going to do about them?" Miriallia asked. Even someone as gentle as her was now suffering a terrible headache.

"Who knows? It's not like any of us can control either of them." Yzak complained.

"We have to get them to kiss up. This just can't go on any longer, for all of our sakes." All of them nodded in agreement.

"I think Meer might be a problem between them." Murrue suggested. Meer Campbell has been seen in the company of the prince quite frequently these days. She likes Athrun, this was no secret. Every time she's with him and whenever Cagalli's there, the princess' face shadowed.

"I see your point, but I'd rather blame Le Creuset for our problem." Yzak sniffed. Immediately, Mwu jabbed at Yzak's side for his careless comment. Yzak uttered an 'ouch' and realized his mistake. Murrue turned away her face in sadness.

Hearing Rau's name made her remember. Since his arrest, Murrue tried to visit him once in the dungeon. She had asked him why he did what he did. He did not give her the answers for his actions, but rather, smile gently at her like he always did and apologized for the pain he had caused her. She wept even more at his words.

Suddenly, the door to the room opened and Cagalli stormed in with a letter in her hand. She was followed by the frowning Athrun.

"Alright, why did you call me here?" Athrun said irritably.

Cagalli did not reply, merely pacing back and forth repeatedly, muttering incoherent words.

"Cagalli, what's going on?" Mir asked. Something big must have happened since Cagalli was acting so out of character today.

Cagalli stopped in her tracks and struggled to find the right words. She wore a confused/hurt look that made her look childish and vulnerable. Athrun softened to see this side of the princess. He walked towards her and put his hands on her shoulders to calm her down.

Cagalli looked up at his emerald eyes and felt reassured. She spoke in a misty voice, "The letter stated that Father is….!"

At the same time, Lacus also received the same letter from Orb. She opened it with eagerness to see what her father wrote. Kira, Aisha, Andrew, Shinn and Stellar all crowded around her to announce the content of the letter.

When Lacus read it, she turned so pale and faint that she had to hold on to Aisha and Stellar for support. Looking up, she turned her teary gaze at Kira.

"What did the letter say?" Kira said quickly.

"…..Father is….He's getting married!"

I know this chapter is a little shorter than usual. But the next one will be better. Next chapter, more info. on who Uzumi is marrying.