Author's Note : You'll see why Lacus is being so apprehensive about going to school the next day in the next chapter. Just a heads up!

Chapter 9 : Mission Complete

Athrun, Dearka, Cagalli, Mir, and Maya had gathered at the local cafe, regardless of how late it was now. Athrun and Dearka had secretly checked up on Kira and saw he was gone. Then Mir and Maya checked up on Lacus and found she was nowhere to be found either. Cagalli had just tagged along, still shutting herself off from the guys really.

"Okay guys, let's hope for the best and...well, leave it to them!" Maya tiredly yelled out. "Yeah, I hope this works out." Miriallia added.

Maya slyly smiled as an idea popped into her head. The perfect time for this!! "Hey guys..." She smiled proudly at her idea as everyone leaned in to hear her. "How about you all?" Everyone looked confused. "Do you guys have dates to the ball? Don't worry about me, an upperclassman already asked me! Miriallia and Dearka, you two are going together right? Awesome!"

Athrun and Cagalli, now taken aback, laid back in their chairs and shut their mouths. They knew exactly who she was trying to set up. Maya got irritated. "Come on, I know you two don't. Athrun, why don't you take Cagalli?"

Athrun sighed and sat up in his chair. Smiling straight at her, he asked, "Fine. Cagalli, would you like to go to the ball with me?" Her heart pounded, What should I say?!? "U-Uh..Okay."

"Then it's settled! Everyone here has a date! Mission complete! You're all dismissed!!" And so Maya bubbly skipped home, and Dearka and Miriallia got up and left too.

---

As Dearka walked away from the group, he noticed Miriallia running to catch up with him. "HEY! You know, you don't have to be like that. What's wrong?" She asked, peering over Dearka's shoulder and looking at his flabbergasted face. "Sorry. It's just that I didn't really get to study that much for the exam tomorrow, and it's already late." He complained flatly, checking his watch. "Aw, it's okay..I can lend you my notes!"

Dearka looked surprised. They were a couple, but never really close to being a romantic couple. Mir slipped her yellow composition book out of her pack and shoved it in his face. "Come on, take it! You said you wanted to study!" She smiled, her blue eyes glistening.

He smiled and took it. As he took it, he kissed her on the cheek. She immediately held the spot that he had kissed and turned bright red.

"Uh..I-I got to go now.." Mir's voice faded away slowly and she took off home at a running start. Dearka smiled and turned around to get to his house. It turns out, that he only walked that way so he could talk to Miriallia.

---

"You going to pay? Because i'm sure as hell not paying. Athrun and Cagalli were left at the table with the check. "Okay, I will. But as long as you answer one question." Athrun asked, a happy tone in his voice. "And what is that?" Cagalli asked, the tone in her voice upset as her eyebrows furrowed.

"Why do you seem angry all the time?" Now Cagalli was the only on taken aback. "I..I...You know, no one's ever asked me that before..The truth is, I just get tired of...well, being alone all the time...My father's always busy, so I live by myself."

"You know..You really aren't alone. You've got your friends behind you. There's also Kira, Dearka, and me. You've got Maya too, and so many other people too." Athrun tried to help her feel better, even if she still seemed uptight, he noticed that some of the tension in her was lifting.

She looked surprised that he was trying to make her feel better. Cagalli shrugged and they both continued walking home.

---

Lacus froze at Kira's words. They rang in her head, just as Miriallia's words to her. Love... She understood now.

"I..I...Me too." They hugged each other and began crying. "I..I love you too." She sobbed quietly. Kira and Lacus remained embracing each other for several seconds.

They pulled back, and Kira kissed her gently on the cheek. Lacus blushed crimson and smiled, the two folded their hands together tight. It seemed that nothing could pull them apart right there. Kira had an idea.

Then he whisked her away, still holding hands, out of the park. "Kira...Where are we going?" Lacus questionably asked, confused. Then it all made sense. They broke through a clearing and found themselves at a hidden section of the beach. "This is my secret place, I go here when I need to think and there's too many people at the park. It's a beautiful view."

And it truly was. The moonbeams hit the crystal-clear waters perfectly, leaving a deep royal blue color tinting the ocean. The sand was pure white, and the moon was full.

They sat down under a tree, sitting next to each other, still holding hands. "You know...it's funny." Lacus chuckled slightly. "What is?" Kira asked, smiling. "Well, we haven't known each other long, but it seems like I've known you forever." Lacus explained, as Kira kept a straight face, like he was waiting patiently for her.

"I feel the same way." Kira added. "You're going to school tomorrow for that exam in Japanese Grammar right? Everyone else in our homeroom is going to take it in the morning then we can leave if we want." Lacus asked, hoping for the answer she was expecting. "Yeah, I made a promise to my mom that I'd get a good education if I lived away from her. She's in Orb, but a different island right now.."

No, that wasn't the answer Lacus was expecting, but she went along with it. "Oh, okay, then I will too." They squeezed each other's hands tightly and Lacus rested her head on Kira's shoulder. It all seemed perfect.

But..a little too good to be true.