Well Everyone, I told you the next chapter would be up in a hurry. Chapter 6, I'm not so sure about. For all of you that are worried for Athrun, things are about to get a whole lot better, or worse; depends on how you look at it.
"May I help you?" a squat man asked from behind a desk positioned carefully in front of the main door asked.
"Yes," Lacus answered. "My name is Lacus Clyne and I am looking for a friend of mine."
"Oh, Clyne-sama, I apologize for not recognizing you." Yeah, because we all know how common pink hair is. "Please, tell me who your friend is, and I'll fetch them immediately." Wow. That was easier than I thought it'd be.
"A man by the name of Zala, Athrun Zala, actually." The man's helpful attitude sure left in a hurry.
"I am sorry, but I don't think he can come out here." He thought for a moment. He was obviously a fan of the songstress, not wanting to push her away. "However, I can take you to him." He smiled.
"That would be helpful." Lacus thanked him. When we started to follow him, he quickly stopped. Confused, Lacus asked what was wrong.
"I said I could take you to him. Not them." He said pointing to Kira and me.
"Then they will wait here." Lacus said, staring at Kira as if to tell him something with just her eyes. Kira nodded, handing her the key, and Lacus followed the man down a blackened hallway.
Kira and I sat in two adjacent chairs near the man's desk. "Are you sure it was a good idea to let Lacus go with that man alone?" I asked Kira quietly.
"No." Kira answered, just as softly. We then sat in silence. The seconds rolled into minutes, about 40 of them to be more precise. I knew we were both worried. Must run in the family. That thought was almost enough to make me smile, but I was too worried about Athrun and Lacus to smile. Suddenly, Kira looked up. "They're back." He whispered. I didn't doubt him; after all, his hearing was much better than mine. He probably heard their footsteps; I strained to hear them too. No sound came to my ears.
I never heard the footfalls, even after I could see them coming back. Lacus was helping a dangly figure down the hallway. The man who led her offered her no help. I couldn't make out who the other person was in the dim light. Until they came closer. I almost leapt up. "Athrun!" I said, barely above a whisper.
It was Athrun. I knew it, though he was barely recognizable. He looked beaten and abused beyond belief. He limped ever other step, though he tried to hide it. I could count his ribs without effort, and he had absolutely no energy. I wanted to run to him. I would've, had Kira not grabbed onto my wrist.
Lacus walked her charge all the way too us. It was then when Kira let me go. I took him by the shoulders. He seemed to not be able to even lift his head to see me. I knelt down to see his face. It was hidden somewhere in that mass of blue hair. I brushed it back to find his face, but what I saw broke my heart.
His face was horribly marred; one eye blackened and dried blood everywhere. "Athrun," I sobbed a little. He did what he could to lift his face and open his eyes, but it seemed to be too much.
"Ca- Cagalli?" he asked in a beaten tone.
"Yes Athrun. It's me." I cried. The sight was too much. What had they done to him?
Lacus let him down onto me for support. "Cagalli, I-." He tried to speak.
"Shh. Don't strain yourself. I'm here now. Everything will be all right. I'm here to take you home." I whispered, so that only he would hear.
"Cagalli, I never meant for this to happen." He choked out. His voice was so pained. I couldn't stand to see him like this. It was too much.
"We're taking you home Athrun." I sobbed into him. "I'm taking you home."
"You can't." he sighed. "I am in no condition to be moved."
I heard Lacus pay the man at the desk. She gave a large sum, apparently for his bail from the prison. Kira leaned in on us. "Lacus paid for you, Athrun. You're free now."
"Kira," Athrun strained. "I'm so broken, I'm all but dead." He tried to laugh a little, but it turned into coughing, which seemed to weaken him more. When he stopped, he said, "Don't worry, I can't feel it anymore." Painkillers. They drained Yzak of everything too.
I held him there for a moment, until I heard sirens in the background. "Lacus," I looked up. "What's that?"
She nodded from Kira's arms. "An ambulance, to take him to the hospital."
"We're going to help you get better, Athrun. You'll be fine, and we can be together."
He just stared at the floor. There was no energy left in him to even talk.
A team of paramedics came in and took him from me. They laid him out on a stretcher and wheeled him out of the building. Just like that, he was taken away from me again.
"Athrun." I cried to myself. He's gone again.
No. Not again; not this time. I'm going after him, and now. I picked myself up, resolve strengthening. I heard Lacus crying, and Kira trying to console her. I glanced at them only for a moment. I'm coming Athrun. I walked out the door and ran down the street. My legs grew tired in a hurry, but that would not stop me. I ran still harder, still faster. As my muscles began to give out on me, I became more dependant on sheer determination. Though that was a trait I was not short on, a mile or two down the road, even it began to run dry. I began to break down. I slowed; I couldn't push myself any harder. But I did. I was not giving up now. I continued to run.
I realized just how far I let myself go when I realized I was looking up to sidewalk sprawled out in an almost serene, picturesque way in front of me. I closed my eyes, as people walked around me, not even realizing I was there. My sides heaved; I couldn't breathe, but I had to go on. I had to catch up with Athrun. He needed me.
I needed him.
But, I couldn't stand back up. My body wouldn't let me. After trying to struggle, crawling my way farther, my eyes closed.
His first grand apperence, and he's instantly gone again. I hated it when I wrote it, but it seemed logical. Poor Cagalli, though. Things just keep getting worse. I think I actually cried when I reread this for errors. Please review.
Oh, and if anyone has an idea for me, I'm running thin.