Freedom Samurai

New and old characters, new cities, new sorrow, and a new Hukari. But all have one goal; to kill Rau. SEQUEL TO STRIKE SAMURAI you must read Strike Samurai before reading this story. KiraxLacus AthrunxCagalli ShinnxStellar MwuxMurrue DearkaxMiriallia YzakxRaine NicolxSparrowxMeyrin AndyxAisha

Disclaimer:

Me: Hey peoples!

Olivia: So tired…

Chelsea: There is no reason to order McDonalds whenever I cook!

Alex: But Chelsea, no one likes your cooking…Besides, McDonalds is awesome! And Sam's bro is our delivery boy!

Brendan: Screw you little, punk, brats…

Alex: No thanks, you've got a blonde bimbo girlfriend for that! (.)

Brendan: Don't insult her! She may be clueless as Jessica Simpson at an Anime Convention, but oh well!

Me: You just wish you could cuss at us right now don't you big bro?

Brendan: Yes, and I wish I could hurt you right now…

Olivia: But you can't cuz you're 18 and if you hurt us it'd be considered Harassment, Abuse, or Assault!

Everyone but Brendan: HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Brendan: Yea, laugh all you want…damn sister and her little idiotic friends…

Everyone but Brendan: BRENDAN! YOU NAUGHTY BOY! WHERE'S THE SOAP?

Chapter 10 Fall Part 1

Opening his emerald eyes, Athrun sat up and stifled a yawn as he looked over his shoulder at the sleeping face of his blonde angel. He smiled and laid back down next to the woman, his face close to her. He nuzzled her ear, trying to wake her gently. A golden eye opened lazily and the woman smiled as she turned around to face the blue haired samurai and lock her lips with his.

After a few minutes, they broke apart and Athrun wrapped his arms around Cagalli's waist. "Athrun," she spoke softly as she reached for her orange haori and felt Athrun's hands run up her back, stroking her skin softly. She held a moan in her throat as Athrun bent down and began sucking on the nape of her neck. "Athrun, stop it. You had your fun last night…" she added as she gently pulled herself away from him. Athrun pouted as he sat back and watched her put her clothes back on. He sighed and did the same, but after he tied his dark green obi around his waist, Cagalli tackled him from behind and wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist. "You didn't think I was that serious did you?" she growled playfully as Athrun rolled out from under her and pinned her down. She smirked as she reached up and locked lips with him again. Athrun gave in to her and kissed her back, but she pulled away again and smirked up at him. "No more until you go check on Kira next door. I could hear some things going on in there last night," she added as Athrun sighed and stood.

"Whatever, but you have to make it up to me." he warned with a smile and opened the sliding door to the room. He slid it closed behind him and trudged over to the next room. He was about to knock on the door frame before entering, but had an ingenious idea. If Kira is making me be miserable, if only for a few moments, I might as well wake him up 'nicely'… Athrun smirked to himself as he prepared to burst open the door. "Time for a rude awakening Kira," Athrun hissed menacingly as he slammed open the door. But what he saw was not for his eyes…then again, maybe not for Mizu's eyes…

Kira looked up surprised as the door opened. Lacus from underneath him could only get an upside down view of the intruder, but she quickly felt the heat rise up to her face. "ATHRUN!" the two shouted, Kira angrily as Lacus screamed the man's name out of embarrassment. Athrun stood dumbfounded in the doorway, his eyes wide. But the sight wasn't too disturbing. Though seeing a practically naked guy that was his best friend wasn't very pleasing, but seeing a nineteen year old girl with nothing but a sheet and a man covering her…it wasn't too bad. "Athrun, what are you doing in here?" Kira hissed at the blue haired man angrily as Lacus grabbed her kimono robe and wrapped it around her chest. Athrun was smirking like no tomorrow as he leaned against the door frame. "So Kira, looks like someone got lucky," the man finally stated. Kira felt a red blush creep up his neck to his face as his lavender eyes widened. "What? What do you mean? I don't know what you're talking about!" he tried to sound confused, but knew he was caught red handed. Athrun shook his head and looked up at the ceiling, "Jeez Kira, it shouldn't be that big a deal to find out you're a man-" Kira stood, his face red from embarrassment and anger.

Pointing an accusing finger at Athrun, the emerald eyed samurai chuckled and pointed downward. Kira followed his gaze and he turned red as a tomato and sat back down with his legs and hands covering his, uh, 'area'. "Just get out you baka!" he shouted. Athrun chuckled and turned to close the door, but before he could do so, he turned around once more. "Oh, and I'm telling! You naughty boy!" the man giggled like a little girl as he slid the door shut and left the couple in the room. Kira and Lacus stared at the door, then to each other; they were in a room, alone…unsupervised…Kira smirked at the pink haired girl and lunged at her, his lips going straight to her neck. Lacus fell back onto the futon willingly and her hands ran up along Kira's back. "Kira, what if someone comes in again?" she asked a bit worriedly. Kira just chuckled, "Knowing Athrun, he'll keep others away from his little discovery till he can embarrass the Hukari spirit out of me in front of a fairly large crowd," Lacus sighed a bit as he informed her of Athrun's future actions. "But Kira-" he cut her off again as his lips kissed hers hungrily. "Besides, I'm not done with you yet." he stated as his lips claimed hers once again.

Athrun made his merry way into the next room where Cagalli waited for him. "So, what was with the noises last night?" she asked as Athrun kneeled down in front of her and wrapped his arms around her. "I'll tell you later," he mumbled as he kissed the woman's lips and she returned the kiss hungrily.

Dearka stretched lazily as he stared into the sunrise. The gardens were especially beautiful in the morning dawn. He took in a deep breath of wind and smiled to himself as scents and sweet smelling breezes swirled around him. "Beautiful…" he whispered as his violet eyes glazed over as he stared into the sky. "Thank you," a woman's voice replied. Dearka's eyes became focused as he turned around to see the princess. "Miriallia-sama," he replied in response. He felt it get warmer around him as she stepped closer to him. "I told you, you can call me Miriallia, or Miri. No need for the formalities." she smiled and turned to stare at the sunrise. "So you like the sunrises as well?" she asked quietly. Dearka nodded, "Yes, they remind me of someone who was very special to me." he added, a bit of bitterness in his voice as he finished. Miriallia looked up to him and smiled, "The sunrise to me always means the promise of a new day, hope for new life." Dearka looked down at her and studied her thoroughly. Her aqua eyes shined with a bit of gold from the dawn, and her long auburn hair was down and flowed down her back to her waist. But she had one small braid lying over her right shoulder. Her kimono was made of thin blue silk and had white etchings all over the fabric. She's beautiful…his thoughts trailed off as she turned to him again.

"Dearka, do you like long hair? Or short haired girls?" the question threw the assassin off guard. It was so…random…"I don't know. I guess short hair has always been appealing to me, but your hair is nice too! Not that I was inspecting it of course. Uh, but I mean, any man would have to be crazy not to want to check you out! Oh, uh, what I mean is that, uh…" I must have just sounded really stupid, the man thought as the woman stared into his eyes deeply. She leaned up and closed her eyes slowly, and the man felt lips soft as flower petals brush against his own lips. But just as soon as the kiss had come, the princess pulled away and turned around. As she walked back towards the palace, she stole a glance back at him and he could see the blush on her cheeks and the cute look in her eyes. Dearka stared after her, the taste of her lips still on his. He licked his lips after she hurried through the screen doors to the palace walkway. He smiled after her and felt wind twirl around him, a soft green glow around his hands.

As Miriallia hurried back towards her room, she could still feel the force his lips had made on her own. She could still feel the blush heating up on her face as her fingers floated up to her lips and softly brushed them. "What is this feeling?" she asked herself quietly and stopped at her doors. The princess opened her doors and closed them behind her as she strode towards a bureau and opened one of the drawers and pulled out a dagger. Sitting down cross-legged after rearranging her kimono skirt, she took a firm grasp of her hair and held it to her shoulder. Miriallia then slipped the blade behind the strands of beautiful locks and cut through them jaggedly. She repeated this process with her other shoulder until her hair was nearly evenly balanced. (FYI: Now her hair looks like normal) The woman smiled at her short hair, and placed the dagger back in the drawer.

Shinn opened his eyes as a hand shook his shoulder. He groaned lazily as a blonde girl with magenta eyes stared at him wearily. "Shinn, what am I going to do with you?" Stellar sighed as she yanked the blanket away from him when he tried to cover his face again. The black haired boy sat up quickly and pouted at her. "Stellar, the one time we get real comfy beds and you wake me up!" The girl stuck her nose up in the air and retorted, "I wouldn't be surprised if we've missed breakfast." Shinn perked up and sat up straight. "Breakfast? I haven't had a royal breakfast in awhile!" Stellar gave Shinn an odd look and the boy chuckled nervously. "Uh, well, my sister's cooking was like a royal feast, I'm sure you remember?" he asked, hoping she'd buy the white lie. It wasn't all a lie, Houseki did know how to cook surprisingly. Stellar smiled, "How could I forget? Now c'mon, we better hurry to the dining hall." The red eyed boy nodded and grabbed his black vest that was lying next to his futon and quickly slipped it on over his red haori. Before he followed Stellar out of the room, he looked over to her futon and saw the blanket had been folded neatly and the mattress flattened and squared like new. Compared to his, well, let's say he's as organized as Athrun in a brothel.

Yzak sat in a relaxed position in a tall tree as he watched the sunset. Something about how relaxed and calmed he felt when doing this made him become consumed in loneliness. It was just like it had been with her. He sighed as his blue eyes became clouded with wishfully forgotten memories. He could almost see her climbing up and sitting next to him or settling herself in his arms to watch the sunrise with him. Or plucking leaves from the branches and dropping them to watch them float on the wind as the slipped back to the ground. He could almost, almost, catch her sweet scent of jasmine. Yzak could almost see her deep brown eyes gazing into his as she ran a hand through her long brown hair. "Shiho," he mumbled as he closed his eyes to stop the sting of tears. But even this couldn't keep the memories away.

A young man with silver hair stood in a clearing in the forest, waiting for someone to show up. Soon enough, a girl with brown eyes and brown hair stepped into the clearing with a woven basket in her hands. The young Yzak walked over to her and took the basket from her as he kissed her lightly on the cheek. She blushed at him and followed him to the center of the clearing and sat down next to him. The young couple then began to take food out of the basket and eat together as they talked softly.

The memory faded to a grey and dismal looking day as rain fell heavily onto a two story building. A girl with long brown hair pulled into a low pony tail stared out a window with her chin resting in her hands bored. A figure darted around the ground, avoiding any people still walking in the streets. They stopped under the window and threw a small rock at the ledge they girl was by. She looked down and brightened up greatly when she saw the figure. She then rushed back inside the room and then back to the window. The girl swung her leg out over the window ledge and then the other, before she climbed down expertly. As soon as her feet hit the ground, the figure, a young man with ice blue eyes and silver hair, wrapped an arm around her waist and pecked her cheek. She smiled back up at him and whispered, "Arigato Yzak," Yzak smiled back at her, "You're welcome Shiho." he replied.

Yzak opened his eyes before more painful memories could resurface and looked into the sunrise. She was always there with him in his heart, but why did he feel so alone, so empty? He would have thought about this longer, until he sensed Mizu and Kitsu stir from the room below. He smiled softly as he jumped from the tree's branches. The little leech, Kitsu, wasn't so bad. At least, when she was clinging to her brother. His smile faded to a neutral look as he stepped onto the ground and walked towards the open sliding door.

"C'mon kids, we should head towards the dining hall." he began as Mizu stretched. "You know, sleeping in a bed in a palace is really nice," the boy admitted as he scratched his head. Yzak rolled his eyes as he waited for the brother and sister to get up. Kitsu was sitting with her legs crossed and staring at Yzak with puppy eyes. Yzak looked down at her reluctantly knowing she wanted something. "What do you want leech?" he asked. Kitsu smiled a small smile that made her cuter than a kitten and asked, "Jikei, can I sit on your shoulders?" Yzak sighed in relief, "Is that all?" he asked with a weary grin. Kitsu nodded innocently while Mizu who stood behind her was trying to tell Yzak no. The boy ran a finger across his throat and then pointed to his sister, then to his own shoulders. Then he pretended to be carrying someone on his shoulders and then messed with his hair and looked at Yzak frantically. The assassin just stared at him with a questioning look. I don't know what's more strange: That he could perform that skit in five seconds, or that he just may be more mental than Athrun. Yzak shrugged it off anyway and reached down to Kitsu and lifted her onto his shoulders. Turning out of the room, the man turned to the boy, "Hey nut case, hurry up." Mizu sighed reluctantly and followed them out.

Kira and Lacus walked slowly down the walkway towards the dining hall, the man's hand resting on the woman's hip. "Kira, you should move your hand before everyone sees us," she warned quietly as Kira pulled her closer to him. "Let them see, I love you. We shouldn't hide it," he added as he leaned down and gently pecked her on the cheek. She smiled softly up at him and nodded, "All right, but prepare for Cagalli to pound you into the ground when Athrun tells her about last night, and this morning." she added as Kira chuckled nervously. "Yea, let's hope she's not too angry huh?" he asked as they finally entered the dinning hall.

As the two entered the hall, they saw their companions were already seated at a low rise table. They recognized the emperor and empress at one end of the table, but they seemed to be glaring at the princess. Lacus cocked an eyebrow that Miriallia's hair was now just above her shoulders, she also saw Dearka staring at her from the corners of his eyes. Smiling to herself she mentally shook her head.

Kira and Lacus bowed their heads respectively to the emperor and empress before taking their seats across from Athrun and Cagalli; Athrun smirking at them crazily from across the table. As men and women in servant robes and kimonos entered the room carrying trays of food, the emperor raised his goblet and nodded to the Hukari and assassins. "I must thank you for helping us; my daughter would surely have died from the curse if you hadn't come along. I am deeply in your debt." Miriallia widened her eyes; I never told them it was a curse. I haven't even spoken with them since I got sick with the curse. How would they know? she wondered silently. But before she could actually ask them anything, they stood from the table and bowed politely to their guests. "Now, if you need anything before you leave us, we would be happy to help." The emperor continued as his eyes narrowed in a disgusted way. Kira smiled, "All we need is more supplies and we'll be off by noon." The man at the head of the table nodded his head pleased, and replied, "We'll give you all you need."

As the two royals started to leave the room, Miriallia spoke up, "I'm going with them when they leave." The Hukari and the others stared at her in silence, while the royal couple stared at her in anger. The emperor stepped towards Miriallia and his voice boomed angrily, "What did you say?" Miriallia looked up into his dark brown eyes and frowned defiantly. "You heard me father, I'm going with them." Miriallia's father fumed, "Really now? And who say's they'll even let you go with them?" Dearka jumped into the conversation with Kira close on his heels. "Well, it'd be her choice to come along with us," the tan assassin began but Kira finished with, "But it's dangerous. And we'd hate to bring in more innocent people into our problem." Miriallia growled, "Well I don't care, I'm willing to take that risk and I don't care what kind of trouble it gets me!"

The room filled with silence as Dearka grabbed the woman's wrist and pulled her out towards a hallway. No one followed them and Dearka stared into her eyes. "Do you know what kind of danger you'd be putting yourself in?" She looked up at him angrily. "Well you barely know me so why should you care?" Dearka frowned and stood straight in front of her. "Because you remind me of someone I once knew, a valuable friend. And I don't want you getting hurt because of a swooning dream to get out of these palace walls." Miriallia's expression was frozen in shock. She didn't know how he knew she wanted out of this foreign palace, but he did. "How did you?" Dearka's frown still marked his face as he continued, "I won't stop you from coming, but if you do, you'll be in constant danger, even with the Hukari right there. They aren't bodyguards, they'll expect you to pull your own weight." Miri nodded, "Yea I know, and I plan to do that." Dearka's face softened and he nodded, "Whatever, but trust me, once you're in there's no going back. "I don't care, there's more than a 'swooning dream' that I need to find out," the princess finished, remembering her vision from the night of Tolle's death. Dearka nodded, and sighed, "I guess there's no changing your mind," Miriallia shook her head, no way."

Okay, I know I jumped into the ending really quickly but I really want to get out of this chapter and get back into the journey! So much to do, so much to type, such a short attention span…Anyhoo, I have a special surprise for you all when I finish Freedom Samurai, but I'm not gonna tell you till then, hehehe…I bet you'll all have ants in your pants by the time I finally finish FS, hehe. And in other news, I'm trying to type as fast as I can but I've been busy lately. So please bear with me if my updates take awhile, I'm goin' as fast as I can. But as for the previews of the next chapter which will be super short:

"Watch out!"

"What is that?"

"Stellar, Shinn, cover Mizu and Kitsu!"

"YZAK!"

POMH!

SAM