A/N R/R as usual! Sorry if it may seem a little fluffy, I had to go along with it, but I promise that there isn't too much fluff in the remaining chapters!

Chapter 7 : His Problems

After the girls left, Athrun and Dearka had sat down on a bench near the front entrance of the park.

"Hey Athrun, get out your cellphone. Kira's probably sulking lazily around his house by now, and we got to hurry up or else Maya will be too far ahead with Lacus!" Dearka suddenly burst out. Athrun was startled at first by Dearka's sudden demand for his cellphone, but quickly slipped it out of his jacket pocket before Dearka could grab it out.

He dialed Kira's cellphone. Athrun heard the first dial tone. The second. Then the third. Soon enough it just led to Kira's voicemail. Athrun sighed and hung up. "He's not answering. I suspected that he would turn it off."

Dearka frowned. "Here, I'll try his home phone..." Athrun said as he dialed again, a concerned tone in his voice. Dial tone...dial tone...dial tone... "Hello?" It was Kira.

Athrun broke out a small smile to Dearka and answered back, "Hey Kira, it's Athrun." "Hey! What's up?" He happily answered. Athrun was shocked at his giddy tone of voice, especially now of all times, "Hold up okay?" Athrun put it on mute.

"Dearka...He seems, happy." Athrun said with a confused face on. "What? This doesn't make sense...He couldn't have gotten over it this quickly, let alone getting over it in all." Dearka added. "Keep on going.." He demanded sharply as he crossed his arms. Athrun nodded and unmuted it.

"Hey Kira?"

"Yeah?"

"Okay, just checking if you were still there..So anyway...the Masquerade Ball is this Friday. Have you picked out anything for it? Got... -Athrun swallowed a huge lump in his throat-...a date?" Athrun eagerly awaited the answer. Kira's voice softened a bit. "No actually, I don't.."

"Why don't you come with me and Dearka to go pick out an outfit and a mask right now? Meet us at the park. Then we'll solve your date problem...and.." Athrun then kept rambling on about what they would do. "Athrun..I ca..Athrun...Athrun...ATHRUN!!!" Kira interrupted his tangent. Athrun could hear Kira crying on the other end, his breathing getting heavier, his voice wavering. "I don't have anything prepared for it because..I'm not going."

Athrun's eye began twitching vigorously. He was at loss for words. Athrun hesitated to speak, "Come on, just go along with us. I'm sure you'll change your mind Kira." "Okay." Kira quietly spoke into the telephone, then hung up. Athrun closed his cellphone and slid it back into his pocket. "Now we just wait for Kira then..."

---

Kira had laid the phone back on the receiver and grabbed his black and red jacket, shirt, and pants out of his dresser. What could they be planning... He thought as he changed out of his school uniform. Kira was catching on to their plan. When he was finished changing he put his cellphone into his pants pocket, heaved a great sigh, and left for the park, which was several blocks away from his house. As he walked, he thought about everything that had happened so far in this new school year.

Images of Lacus Clyne kept appearing in his mind, her tender voice speaking to him...Kira shook his head as the teardrops caressing his face flew off. Thinking about her...Why am I thinking about her? I don't really understand this feeling. I've always isolated myself from most girls, but somehow..I felt different around her. Her..her..Who is she really? Lacus...couldn't have been different from any other girl I've met before! So why am I--

But Kira was cut off from his train of thought by Athrun and Dearka rushing over to meet him, that is, yelling for him of course. Dearka slung his arm over Kira's shoulder and Athrun patted his other shoulder. "Hey Kira! Let's get going." Dearka quickly said and pushed him forward. Athrun then ran ahead to his car, as Dearka shoved Kira into it. Kira chuckled awkardly and buckled his seat belt.

Athrun and Dearka had noticed the change in the way he acted. No, the change had happened at the beginning of the school year, but they were just too blind to notice it. But...what was it? Athrun and Dearka both thought at the same time, His...

"Suffering." The two said out loud. "Huh?" Kira looked at the two of them, dumbfounded. He looked dead, not as in dead like he passed away, he looked like something was bothering him, but he chose to ignore it and hide it from the real world, thus, he looked so empty. "Uh, nothing." Athrun covered up. He couldn't take it anymore, watching Kira suffering like this, just doesn't seem fair to him.

"Kira." Athrun sternly said. "You don't have to hide it, you're real emotions, the ones you're feeling right now. You know, it's...okay to tell us what's on your mind. If anything's bothering you, we're here listening. We can help you Kira, if you're lost and confused in life." Kira's eyes widened, his voice faltering. He let out a shaky sigh. "I..I...I couldn't tell Lacus."

"Tell Lacus what?" Dearka asked, he couldn't bear to wait to hear his answer. Athrun bit his lip in secret, hoping that his best friend would feel comfortable enough to tell them. They both held their breath, awaiting the continuation of his sentence. Three words buzzed throughout Dearka's mind, excited for his friend, Here it comes, Here it comes, Here it comes, Here it comes, Here it comes!!!

"That I loved her."