Chapter 3: Parents

Hospital, Rooftop

Lacus was standing at the rooftop of the hospital building while looking at the streets below. She then shifted her eyes to the sea. Even though she knew that the bodies of water in the colonies are artificial, she always thought that it was beautiful. She was in deep thought of a certain Ultimate Coordinator.

"Kira, where are you right now? I hope you're okay" she whispered. Ever since their 5th anniversary, she was always longing to see Kira visit her body everyday. Now that she is clear of his feelings for her, she was trying hard to find a way to return to her body.

"Lacus...", a voice called out to her from behind. It was the voice of a man.

"I have always wanted to see and talk to you again, my little pink princess" another voice called out to her. This time it was the voice of a woman. Lacus was surprised at the familiar voices that she heard. She then turned around and saw two people that she haven't seen for a very long time.

"Father! Mother!", she cried out. She then rushed to them and gave them a big hug. She could clearly see the smile on her parents' faces.

"Father, mother, I never thought that I would be able to see the two of you again. And in an unconventional way" the emotion that she was feeling was not like anything she had felt before. Happiness. Sorrow. Anxiety. All these feelings mixed together.

"We're also very glad, dear. Especially your mother since she was gone longer than I was" Siegel said then reached for her hand and handed it to his wife's.

"Even though you weren't able to feel our presence after our demise, your father and I were always with you. Whether it was during the good times or the bad times. We were always there to give you a warm hug when you needed it", Mrs. Clyne said to her daughter. This gave Lacus a feeling of affection. Her parents were always doing the same thing that she has been doing to Kira for the past 3 months. That is to provide protection and emotional support.

"But I guess you understand your current situation now right?" she continued. Lacus looked down at the floor

"Mother... To be honest, I don't fully understand what's happening. Am I really alive? Because I feel like I'm dead" for the first time Lacus started to question her status as a human being. Was she alive? Or was she dead?

"Lacus dear, you are on the boundary between life and death" Siegel answered. This gave her a big shock but didn't show it to her parents.

"I'm afraid I didn't understand what you just said, father. Boundary between life and death? Is there such a thing?" she saw Siegel and her mother near the stairs. He then motioned for her to follow them.

"Come dear, I will explain everything" they went down the stairs.

Hospital, Lobby

The Clyne family walked at the lobby of the hospital. It was full of people.

"Now dear, during the 3 months that you stayed here, haven't you noticed that the hospital was always full of people? That it's still full of people even thought it is way past visitation hours already?" Siegel asked her daughter. Lacus noticed it before but she didn't really mind since she was always focusing on watching over her body.

"Well yeah I did notice that. But is there something wrong with that?" truth be told, even though she is the Chairwoman of the PLANT Supreme Council, she still doesn't know a lot of things. Most of it are the simple things.

"You see, a lot of these people around here are just like you. They are also on the boundary between life and death, or simply put it as the astral plane" he started to explain. This time, Lacus could not hide her shock.

"Most of them are on coma. Some have mental illness... Do you see that man over there?" he then pointed at the guy who was staring at the window. They walked until they were right behind the person. Siegel then pointed to the back of the guy's neck and it has "55,632" written on it. Lacus shook his head.

"It's just a tattoo" she thought it's normal for some people to get a tattoo. A lot of people, even in ZAFT, have tattoos on their bodies.

"Now I want you to turn around" she then listened to her father and turned around. When Siegel looked at the back of her daughter's neck it has "67,748" written on it.

"Your number is 67,748. It means that you're the 67,748th person to enter this life or death situation this year. Day by day the number increases, but it also decreases" Lacus wondered about the last thing that her father said.

"It decreases? Does that mean..." she was suddenly stopped by her father.

"The person chose either to live or to die" he said in a straightforward way. Lacus jolted at his father's statement. It was her choice. After a few walks, they reached Lacus's room.

Hospital, VIP Room

When they opened the door they saw Kira asleep by Lacus's bedside.

"Kira!" the ghost Lacus rushed into Kira and hugged him. As usual, he can't feel it. Lacus's mother was very glad seeing her daughter in so much joy. She saw the love between the two. It would have been nice if they were able to meet each other personally. Mrs. Clyne then put her hand on her daughter's shoulder.

"He's really important to you isn't he?" Lacus gave her mother a nod.

"We've always been together. Whether it was fighting to stop a war or taking care of the little children in the orphanage, we did not want to leave each other's sides. Even for a single second, it brings us much pain to be away from each other. That's why right now, I want to get out of the astral plane and be with him. This time, nothing can stop us from living the life we always wanted. A life wherein we can show our love for each other and live in peace" Lacus said with much determination. Her parents, however, were not entirely glad of what she just said.

They did not just appear in front of their daughter so that they can have a reunion. And why haven't they done it before? Why did they have to wait 3 months before they show their selves? Their reunion must have a significance. Siegel then held both of her daughter's hands.

"Lacus dear... We want you to... die... and come with us"

"Huh!?"

A/N: Well I gotta admit, this chapter was shorter than the previous two. Sorry for the very late update, there has been a lot going on in the past few months. And I think, the next update will take longer since I'll be entering college. Thanks for reading. READ AND REVIEW

I'll update next time

Oh, and please read my other fic "Fate".