a/n: Two updates in a month? Who would have thought? Anyway, not much to say here, except that this chapter is quite longer than my usual. Hope you guys like it.

Chapter 7 The Plot Thickens

He would be starting school the next day, Kira's father Uzumi had said, after the last of his guests stepped out of the manor that night. Finally, a real school. The last eleven years of his life he had been under the tutelage of Reverend Malchio who, although he had more to offer than the average elementary teacher, could not compare to the feeling of studying in an actual learning institution, with its blackboards, hallways, lockers and all the other telltale things that could possibly be associated with it...

Kira had been miserable, more so than he already was, when Fllay was taken to be adopted by an elderly, childless man who happened to be a good friend of the reverend. George Allster, was it? And that was that; she - the only one he had who was as close to a friend to him - left, and the boy blamed himself for not having the heart to apologize before she did. That night on the beach would haunt him forever, of that much he was certain.

And then suddenly, twenty-four months later, he had heard footsteps approaching him as he sat staring at the sea, like he always did. And I looked up to find my father's eyes. Just like that, I found I was finally going home.

He thought then that he would finally find happiness, that the gaping hole inside himself (made from being absent from his family for the longest time) would magically disappear.

But as he met those golden eyes, those that belonged to his twin sister, all he harbored in his heart was resentment. Nothing she said would help her, it was much too late.

He had already been scarred by her neglect.

He ran a hand through his rumpled-as-usual hair, frowning at an unopened envelope that lay on his desk. It was a letter from Cagalli, which he'd received one day before Uzumi's arrival. But again, it was much too late.

The sixteen year-old boy crossed the room, placed the envelope inside the desk drawer, and flopped down on his bed without bothering to change from his suit-and-tie outift.

When will you ever forgive her? his mind demanded. No matter how hurt you are, she is still your sister, and you will have to put up with her everyday.

Yet he already had the answer before he'd asked himself the question.

Not even in eleven years.

"Athrun, he won't even walk to school with me!" Cagalli said, angrily brushing off a tear trailing down her cheek. What was it with the crying thing? She was never much of a fun of letting out sad emotions, and yet the night before that was exactly what he did - to her pillow. Her eyes felt dangerously heavy. I'm probably gonna fall asleep in Spanish today...

"Look at it from his point of view," her best friend rationalized. "He was probably always lonely in that orphanage without you. And maybe he waited for your letters, not knowing you weren't going to write him one until you were contented with your handwriting. Keywords: He didn't know." He paused. "And he still doesn't."

The blonde-haired girl let out an exasperated "Ughhhh". "I tried to explain. I tried to talk to him last night, after the party, but he just slammed the door in my face. Maybe he never read that letter I did manage to send him."

Athrun crossed his arms as they continued their three-kilometer journey to the school gates. He and Kira had exchanged barely five words the night before, save their introductions. That had been six words. Thus, there was not much the raven-haired teenager could say about him.

"Give it a few days. I'm sure he misses you more than he hates you. He'll cave in soon," he assured Cagalli, giving her a comforting pat on the back, which of course made shivers run up her spine - as was always the case when it came to Athrun, Cagalli, and physical contact.

"A-And what makes you think he hates me? That's a really strong word." Oh no, but what if he does? she could not help but question.

Athrun winced. "Sorry. You're right, it's probably not that bad." He did a sideway glance and saw her frown. Darn. I need a distraction... "Bet you can't beat me this time, Cagalli, judging by how you're holding up right now." This statement was accompanied by the appropriate, self-confident smirk which would surely challenge the girl.

"Situation," she scoffed. "No 'situation' is gonna make me lose to you, Zala." She mirrored his smug smile as her eyes, red and puffy though they were, stared determinedly at Athrun's bright green ones.

Score.

A little hesitation (She, of course, secretly wanted time to freeze with their eyes locked.), but she finally looked away and bolted. "Better run for it, Athrun! It's starting to rain!"

And as if to confirm what she'd said, a single fat raindrop fell from the heavens unto his forearm.

Best give her a head start, the boy thought. On any other day, he would have always won their races to school. But right then he would have cared less.

After all, he was her honorary substitute brother. And since the real one isn't living up to his purpose, I guess I'm keeping the position.

Even the cold, gloomy weather the nimbus and cumulus clouds brought that morning seemed unable to penetrate Lacus's good mood. While everyone else was moaning and groaning about the mud on their shoes and the frigid atmosphere in general, she flashed her warm smile as she crossed the hallway to her locker.

Her aforementioned good mood escalated, much to her surprise, when she caught sight of a familiar mane of brown hair. Perhaps she could start her Cagalli-sleuthing a bit earlier...

"Hello there," the pink-haired girl greeted. "Kira, isn't it?"

The boy looked up, startled that he was being approached. He gave Lacus an "Are you talking to me?" look before he realized, of course she was; she had just said his name.

He blinked. "That's right. Hi, Lacus," he answered, a bit shakily. He raised to his eyes the crumpled piece of paper he held, a nervous look in his eyes.

"You seem to be having trouble. Is that your class schedule?" Seeing Kira's nod, she held out her hand. "Give it here, then. Oh," she said, her eyes scanning the paper. And then, a chuckle. "It seems you've been standing in front of your first class the whole time."

"I was?" Kira said, dumbfounded. He turned his head to where he had just discovered was the Spanish classroom. He found that quite a number of students were already inside, some even sitting on their tables while they made pleasant conversation.

"You were."

"Uh..." was all that could escape his lips, as the sound of Lacus's laugh echoed through his mind. It was like nothing he had heard before. Blame that on having minimal contact with girls, and the general populace.

The first bell rang then, and Kira seemed suddenly aware of his now-awkward situation. "Thanks. So, uh, I guess I'll be off now."

"Oh, don't be silly. Spanish is my first class, too. We can go together," Lacus suggested.

To refuse an offer is an insult, Kira thought. Besides, there's something about her... "Okay, then. That would be great." He made an effort to smile back at his new friend as they made to enter the room.

Just then, a commotion behind them broke the normalcy of the morning. Said commotion was, of course, coming from two teenagers who stood soaked and dripping on the main hallway.

Lacus could not hide the distate on her face as she saw people crowd around the two. Did they have to try that hard to stand out? "I suppose you'll have to get used to that everyday. They usually act like third-graders, racing to school and all."

"Cagalli and Athrun... Have they always been like that?"

She knew immediately what her companion meant when she caught sight of the way he looked at them - a gaze that wondered if Athrun had filled in for him as Cagalli's brother when he'd been gone.

"They have. To the point that when you look at one of them, you almost instantly think of the other."

Kira averted his eyes from them and turned his piercing stare towards her. "And if you don't mind me asking, what do you have against them?"

The sudden inquiry caught her off-guard. Was she not the one doing the mystery-solving around here? Lacus merely smiled. "I'll tell you, but in exchange, you have to tell me why you're not on speaking terms with your sister."

The boy fell silent. That had definitely been a sore spot.

"When you're ready, then..." Lacus trailed off, as the only people she disliked finally came within speaking range. Yet, like everything else, their "argument of the day" routine seemed to deviate from their usual; this time, it was actually the blonde-haired princess of Orb who did the initiating.

"Kira, you really should've come with us. We could have shielded you from bad influence," she said, specifically turning to Lacus at the last two words.

"But apparently, you wouldn't have been able to shield him from the rain," was Lacus's reply, with the complimentary smirk and the head-to-toe observation at Cagalli's soaking self.

"I happen to like her, but thank you for the concern, Cagalli."

Lacus saw his eyes harden, as they did once before. Ah, so it wasn't my fault he was mad, she thought with an inward sigh. It was hers.

"What, you like her? You sure about that?" Cagalli said incredulously. That, in itself, was an insult. She would not have her brother, of all people, take a fancy towards her worst (only) enemy.

"N-Not in the way you're thinking," Kira defended. "I mean, her company. I enjoy her company."

Athrun, meanwhile, chose to keep his mouth shut. Evidently this dispute was getting heated enough without his help. He contented himself, instead, with darting his eyes from Cagalli to Lacus to Kira and back again as they spoke. He saw the flush on the brown-haired boy's cheeks as he explained that he did not like Lacus that way.

And he found himself unable to look away from that tan face, even as the second bell rang.

"Athrun!" An irritated Cagalli called. "Come on, we have about a minute to change clothes. Athrun!"

"Huh, what? Oh. Yeah, yeah," the blue-haired boy said dazedly. He reluctantly shifted his gaze as he followed Cagalli to their lockers. What just happened?

Why wasn't it as easy to look away from him that day? There was nothing about Kira that could be of interest to him. Not when all they shared in a conversation were six words.

Nothing of interest. Nope, not even those hypnotizing eyes and the way they seem to see right through me, like he already knows who I am, what I am...

"What does he think he's doing, hanging out with her?" his blonde friend grumbled. "Is she his new twin sister now?" she added, opening her locker with the correct three-digit combination, taking out the shirt and jeans she kept inside, and slammed the door shut. All this was done with evident aggression.

"Mm-hmm..."

Cagalli stopped walking and surveyed the boy with a suspicious eye. "And what the heck is eating you? You haven't given me a single, coherent response since the argument of the day started." She placed her palm on his forehead. Maybe a fever's getting him like this. "Are you okay?" she asked with concern.

"Yeah, of course," he replied, a bit too quickly for his own liking. He, too, took out his extra clothes from his own locker. Might as well have the word 'guilt' written all over your face. "I'm not guilty," he said aloud before he could stop himself.

Cagalli shrugged, and with a roll of the eyes, muttered. "Whatever you say, Athrun." She would have plenty of time to figure out her best friend's case.

The problem at hand was that, apparently, Lacus Clyne was trying to turn the prince of Orb against his own sibling. And, seeing that Kira already had a baggage of animosity towards Cagalli the second he stepped inside his home, she would probably not have much of a hard time at all.

"School play... Interesting," Kira mused, scanning a particular post on the bulletin board with his eyes. A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare. A comedy that featured a love quadrangle of sorts... He vaguely remembered Reverend Malchio narrating the main plot of the story to him, a few years ago.

Lacus smiled, and its effect was becoming more pronounced on the boy each time she did. (But as to what kind it was had yet to be revealed.) "Every year the school holds a different Shakespearean play. Last year it was 'The Merchant of Venice', if I remember correctly."

"Wow, I wonder who's taking the lead role this year," a girl's voice came within earshot as a crowd began to form around the bulletin board.

"I know, right? But I'll bet, like always, it can only be either Cagalli Yula Attha and Lacus Clyne."

At the mention of her name, an evident tinge of pink rose to her cheeks. Though she was well aware of how high she was regarded in their school, she was uncomfortable with the whole setup. If anything, she would often wish she could turn invisible for a while...

"Kevin from the drama club said Mrs. Waltfeld alternates between Cagalli and Lacus, to be fair, apparently."

"I noticed. Wasn't Lacus the lead last year? And during tenth grade Cagalli was Anne Boleyn in 'Henry VIII'."

Kira could not stifle a grin at all the information the gossipers were unknowingly feeding him. He tilted his head to one side, locking his amused eyes on his friend, who he knew then had a passion for theater arts. "Do you always look that constipated when you hear people talk about you?"

Lacus's eyes were downcast when she answered, "Oh... Do I?"

"Well, 'constipated' is a bit of an exaggeration."

"I just don't like it when my name and hers are used together in a sentence."

"You hate her that much, then?"

"I could ask you the same thing, with the way you've been treating her," she said, her voice suddenly taking a serious tone. "I don't have any experience with siblings, but you've been away for a long time, haven't you? Don't you miss her, even a little?"

Kira looked backed at her, appalled. How had the conversation shifted to that? Yet no one was more surprised at her words than Lacus, herself. Her goal was to obtain information she could use against Cagalli; not to restore her enemy's strained relationship with her brother.

She wanted to shake her head in disbelief. She just had to stop being too nice.

"I'm sorry. Forget I said anything."

"Don't worry about it," the brown-haired boy said with a shrug. Noticing a certain inseparable pair approaching from behind Lacus, he added, "You have bigger problems."

The problem called Cagalli hid a pained look through narrowed eyes.

"What is it you want, Cagalli?" Lacus said coolly, without bothering to turn around. "I get tired of this, too-"

The blonde cut in. "This will be the first and last time I'll ask this from you. I want to talk to you about something... civilly, no bad-mouthing, no trash-talking." She was trembling as she said this, as though she were consenting to her own personal execution (and in front of no less than her executioner).

Lacus could not hide the surprise on her face at the request. What would she possibly want to "talk" about? But even with all her doubts, she found herself nodding in assent. A plan, she said to herself. This was merely an advantageous variable. It was not as if she was becoming soft...

A sudden clearing of the throat almost made both girls jump in shock. "Uh, sorry," Athrun said. He strode towards Kira and whispered, "We should leave." And without waiting for an answer he took the latter's arm and practically dragged him across the hall.

Instead of flailing his arms and shouting in protest (something his twin sister would have done if she were him), Kira calmly fell in step with Athrun. "So. What does Cagalli want to 'talk civilly' about with Lacus?"

The blue-haired teen gave him a fleeting look. "Do you know how long those two have been at odds with each other?" Kira shook his head. "Six years. And never in the history of their being enemies have they 'talked civilly'. This would be the first time."

"Six years? Try eleven." Athrun felt those piercing eyes on him then, and he tried hard not to shiver.

"There's a similarity between her feud with Lacus, and whatever you want to call it between her and you," he dared to say, "None of it was her fault. At least, not directly."

His companion let out a derisive snort. "Aren't you being just a little bit biased, saying that?"

They reached the end of the hallway, stopping near the double doors that led outside. Both felt the warmth of the late afternoon sun, unhindered by the open doors, on their skins.

"Let me show you something." Athrun, without a backward glance, walked out of the school building, his leather shoes plodding on the moist soil. He fought back a self-satisfied smile as he heard Kira's footsteps not far behind him.

The place of destination was a vegetable garden behind the school's greenhouse. There Athrun would give Cagalli's brother a good long lecture about life, and eventually tell him of past events.

But he had not counted on having an eavesdropper when he did.

"Chen. What are you doing here?"

A sixteen year-old boy sat, hunched over one particular crop which had just begun to sprout. He hoisted himself up with his hands, stood up straight, and brushed the dirt off his pants. All this he did without turning around or acknowledging Athrun's presence.

It looked like a scene straight out of an anime, in Athrun's opinion.

"Athrun, who is he?" Kira said, speaking for the first time since they had arrived at the area. He felt a certain familiarity with the person, whose dirty-blonde hair was a dead giveaway.

"Allow me." The boy wheeled around and faced the two. Rimless glasses framed his hazel eyes. Other than that, Kira could easily recognize him.

"Michal Chen." He said, smiling knowingly at the brown-haired teenager. "Good to see you again, Kira."

And Athrun stood there, dumbstruck.

a/n: More characters! Well, how Michal figures into the equation is yet to be seen. At least, until the next chapters...