Title: Crossfire

Author: Jusrecht

See Warnings and Disclaimer in chapter one.

A/N: I have made minor changes in the story especially concerning the age of the characters, a piece of information I have acquired only recently. I've fixed the earlier chapters so yeah, just to make an announcement, this story happens in C.E. 77.

A/N2: Is there anyone interested in being a beta for this fic? I continuously do stupid mistakes. Please, it will help me greatly. If anyone interested, don't forget to leave your e-mail address. Thanks!

A/N3: I haven't forgotten about Luna. There was Meyrin, so there should be Luna. This is the second part of the Hawke sisters. Hope everyone enjoy it.

A side note to GenderFucked Angel: Sorry I lied ... The chapter about Kira that you wanted isn't due until another two or three chapters again. I'm really sorry.

Chapter Nine: Luna – To Li(v)e
Lunamaria Hawke was furious.

A model whom she had an appointment with arrived thirty minutes late and the fitting session afterward did nothing to alleviate her bad mood. She already had more than her share of dealing with big shot models with pretty face, tall attitude, but virtually no brain. An important fashion show was coming up and their interest should be favorably mutual, but there were those who behaved like she was the one who desperately needed them, not the other way round. Of course sometimes she would have the chance to meet a decent one, but those occasions were few and far in between.

As if they can live without a contract, she frowned and kicked a stray pebble.

Already an assistant to the chief designer of a major brand in her age of twenty year old, Luna worshipped punctuality, a trait which sadly was rarely shared by the pretty models she worked with and many of her colleagues. But her boss appreciated it very much and thus the fast leaps of her career. But sometimes, sometimes she did wish that her work didn't take so much of her time. Especially with a sister lying sick in the hospital.

Oh Meyrin.

Quickening her pace, Luna found herself reminiscing the day of the shuttle incident. At first, there had been news of triple murders of the Supreme Council members, which she had drunk in with a mix of horror and strange relish, a familiar thrill humming in her chest. She had left that world long ago, but sometimes she could not help but to miss the excitement, the danger, enjoying blood rushing in her body. Luna remembered calling her old friend Youlan who was still working at ZAFT and hearing the nervous edge in his voice, his meticulous choosing of vocabularies and the occasional stutters. She had immediately suspected that something had gone wrong and managed to grind the news out of him ten minutes later.

The words had taken one full minute to sink in and when they finally had, her first thought had been why it had felt so familiar. She had never experienced déjà vu before and never known that it could feel so horrible.

But Luna was never a woman who gave up too quickly. After the initial shock had passed, she had demanded explanation and refused to accept the possibility that her sister might have died in the accident. The ugliest of all was when she had discovered the cause of the accident, along with a name she had known so well.

She had struggled against that monster once and now found herself losing the same battle she had triumphed over three years ago. It had been hard to forgive Shinn then, but she had quickly realized what it meant to be a soldier, and that it had been Meyrin's choice to help Athrun escape and thus sign her death warrant. But now the circumstances were different. From what she had found out, it was purely rooted in a little fault her ex-boyfriend obviously hadn't been able to overcome since their younger years in the academy: carelessness. And it torched blistering anger in her veins.

Shinn had called her once and she remembered shouting incoherent insults at his strained apology. They ended up crying together over the phone and like it had been three years ago, on that moment she was able to accept the truth. There couldn't be a miracle for the second time, could it?

But it did happen.

Ever since Meyrin had returned, Luna dedicated every second of her free time in the hospital – since her employer could not afford to give her a leave with so important of a show coming up. It hurt her to listen to the cheerful voice, see the smiling lips, but then notice that her sister's eyes were two dead pools. And she had heard it just yesterday, when she had returned to the room to fetch the design of her newest dress which she had accidentally left there, the soft crying falling from Meyrin's mouth and the whispered, broken words.

"Athrun…Athrun…I'm sorry…"

The rest were incomprehensible sobs and Luna was so close to crying herself that she ran to the lavatory and forgot about the sketch altogether. At that moment she hated the world, everyone; Shinn, Athrun, herself. Because she didn't know how to pick up the fallen pieces of her sister's shattered heart. She didn't know of love enough. She never really had the chance. Not this kind of love.

Luna drew in a heavy breath, her heart throbbing at the thought. She never clung to the past – it didn't worth it – but sometimes, even with that many tears Meyrin had shed, she couldn't help but envy the love that had caused them. And hearing Shinn's tense voice a few days ago, a thought abruptly came to mind. If they had not decided to end their relationship, would she know how it felt?

A bitter laugh almost escaped from her enclosed throat. Again. The past. She didn't think that she could ever love Shinn in the way Meyrin gave her heart to Athrun and she had not changed her mind about their decision. She knew him too long, too well, and for Luna, it was a mistake.

Those stupid thoughts would pass eventually, she assured herself. What mattered for her now was that her sister was safe and sound, the rest could wait for later. It was one of the most obvious benefits of not having a serious boyfriend, she thought wryly.

Before taking the last turn to the hospital, she passed a bakery and was enticed by the thought of a slice of strawberry cheesecake. Meyrin loved it to death and seeing how little she had eaten yesterday, Luna was determined to do anything to return her appetite. She mentally made a note to ask the doctor about it later.

It was that news, she said to herself resentfully. Locked up in a hospital room, a patient had nothing to do but to watch a television available there. And of course the decision from PLANT Supreme Council that they would elect a temporary chairman would make it into the news. She had been there when the news had aired yesterday, arranging the flowers her boss had insisted her to take for Meyrin, and she had finally recognized emotion in those eyes. Disbelief. Anger. Disappointment. It was regrettable but not unexpected that the news was the first thing which could get a genuine reaction out of her.

Luna honestly could not care less about who was going to play substitute to Athrun's absence. She had left that world long ago and politics had never interested her much in the first place. Meyrin was different. Luna might be the prettier, smarter, friendlier, and the more confident, but Meyrin always had her tenacity, strong will, devotion and love. She put her heart in everything she did and because of that, they all held such a meaning for her and everyone around her.

It had not come as a surprise when Meyrin had called her and said that she was going to be Chairman Zala's secretary. There had been a bond between them ever since she had followed him to Archangel. Luna wasn't surprised, but she would be lying if she said that there was no envy. Athrun had been a crush of her and at that moment, she had just broken up with Shinn for three months. But it would also be a lie if she said that she wasn't happy for her sister.

It was why, that when Meyrin had told her that the chairman had loved someone else for a very long time, her first reaction had been incredulity. Her sister was a suitable partner for him, that she was sure of, and the world would be damned if those helluva of gossips circulating around didn't have a single base of truth. But Meyrin had only smiled at her and said that she didn't stand a chance, because it would be horribly repulsive of her to destroy a love that was so beautiful. Luna had stared at her, incredulous, and asked why. Her sister only shook her head and Luna asked who. She had never gotten a name out of her mouth no matter how hard she tried, and deep down, her respect for her sister had increased tenfold because of it.

Secretly, she thought that had it been her, she wouldn't be able to do what Meyrin had done. Luna was never a woman who gave up too easily and she kept the words as true as possible. A rival would stimulate her, not weaken her desire to win.

Secretly, she thought that it was because she had never known what true love felt like.

Treading her way silently but quickly across the front hall of the hospital, she arrived at the reception desk and quickly said before a smiling nurse behind the desk could say her greeting. "I have an appointment to meet Dr. Julius Latham about my sister's condition. It should be at three o'clock, but something came up and…" she trailed off and waved her hand eloquently.

The nurse reacted quickly and checked with her computer. "Dr. Latham is currently attending to his patients, Miss," she informed after a moment. "If you are willing to wait for a few minutes, I shall tell the doctor of your coming."

"Yes, of course," she nodded.

"And if I may inquire your name, Miss?"

"Lunamaria Hawke," she said quickly. "I'll be waiting at my sister's room, 605. Thanks a lot."

After flashing a grateful smile at the nurse, she headed to the elevator. It was empty and she huffed in relief when the door slid closed and left her isolated from the world, weariness finally settling in her feet. She closed her eyes, enjoying a moment of peace. The last two weeks had been particularly hectic. Beside the incident, she had to deal with administration problems at her job, and then there were the designs she needed to work on for the show. It was astonishing how her current life could take more of her time than the previous years of military service had.

Don't whine, she chided herself. Her sister had returned and it was what mattered the most. The extreme relief she had felt when she found out that the worst had not happened to Meyrin would probably be alive forever in her memory. And when her sister had come back with Vernes and she had gone to the port to make sure of the fact and just to see her face, she almost broke into tears right there and then.

Luna took in an unsteady breath and repositioned her bag under her arm as the elevator came into a halt. She strode along the deserted corridor, unconsciously thinking about the small object tucked deep inside one of the many pockets of her handbag. The door leading to room 605 stood in front of her and she only stared at it, stock-still, her sister's request just the day before ringing in her head.

The request which made her cry afterward.

Suddenly the door was opened from the other side and she almost collided with a man coming out from the room. The telltale white coat and stethoscope was enough to let her know who he was, but it was him who spoke up first.

"Miss Lunamaria Hawke?"

"Yes," she answered politely. "Doctor Latham, I suppose?"

"No other," an easy smile graced the handsome face which Luna could not help but to appreciate. But the smile quickly turned into a somber expression and he said again, "I need to speak to you concerning your sister."

She inhaled a deep breath, steeling herself, and nodded. "I'm listening."

The doctor gave him a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, it's not exactly bad news. She is recuperating well and I have no doubt that she will make a full recovery soon. However, her mental state is what I am most concerned about. As you have undoubtedly known, she is barely responding to any external input and seems to be caught up in her own thoughts." At this point, Luna opened her mouth to contradict but he was faster. "Don't get me wrong. I know she looks pretty normal and that's exactly what makes me anxious. She experienced a loss, and while it is somewhat a relief to see her not drowning herself in misery, I fear for her stability."

"I understand that she has recently suffered a great psychological blow," he continued, his voice deep and steady still, "and it can have an impact to her normal life. There may be nightmares and many other traumatic consequences for a while. That is why I truly recommend some therapy sessions if your sister will agree to it. I suppose she has a military background?"

"Yes," Luna nodded, "before she became the chairman's secretary, that is."

The expression on the doctor's face became thoughtful and he was silent for a while before inquiring, "She was a very close person to Chairman Zala, wasn't she?"

Luna felt a frown creasing her brow, her voice coming out cold and firm as she answered, "She is."

"Ah, yes, of course," he quickly said, an apologetic smile curving his lips. "Well, that is all I need to convey, Miss Hawke. Oh, and one more thing. It will be advisable that she isn't staying alone for a while once discharged from the hospital. She will need some moral support and to be alone is hardly helpful."

"I do not plan to, Doctor," she said, attempting nothing more than a tight smile to show her gratitude to the advice.

"Very well then," he nodded at her, smiling sweetly, and stepped aside. "Good day, Miss Hawke."

Always, always the good-looking ones managed to irk her in some ways. Luna followed the retreating figure from the corner of her eyes, her frown deepening now that there was no longer anyone there to see it. Athrun had made her impatient with his introversion and sometimes, also indecisiveness despite appearing very cool from time to time. Shinn had wearied her to no end with his immaturity and unhealthy obsession with a certain pink cell phone and really, a long-distance relationship just didn't work for her. A few men she had dated in the past three years also had some little flaws she had discovered she couldn't tolerate in the end. If loving someone meant that she had to accept her boyfriend as what he was, completely and unconditionally, Luna seriously doubted that she could ever do it.

Shaking her head to get the thoughts out of her mind, she turned to the door and knocked. Meyrin's soft voice drifted out from the room, rising above the drone of television, and Luna opened it to her sister's smiling face.

"I was wondering if you were too busy and couldn't come today," Meyrin said cheerfully, her red maroon pajamas stark against the white sheet of her bed. Like her smile against her pale face, Luna noted with a pang in her heart.

"What wouldn't I do for you, little sister?" she replied, keeping any melancholy out of her voice. "Today I'm not too busy anyway. Where do those come from?" she nodded toward another vase standing next to the red poppies she had arranged just yesterday. A cluster of white gardenias combined with scattered stems of lavender, lavish and obviously pricey. Luna just had to smile at this.

"My, aren't they pretty. A secret admirer?" she added with an innocent smile.

Her sister's pale cheeks suddenly attained a light shade of pink and her voice was a little too high-pitched when she answered, "Don't get any funny idea, Onee-san. Youlan was here today and he gave me those."

Luna's smile widened a notch. "Youlan, eh?"

Meyrin opened her mouth and looked more than ready to provide another argument when she suddenly stiffened, her gaze running past Luna to something behind her. The fashion designer turned around and almost cursed out loud when she found herself looking at the television, currently broadcasting another news about the election. As if the commotion wasn't enough. Luna silently swore to find a way to remove that object from her sister's room.

"I almost forgot," Meyrin's voice was quiet, restrained, "they elected a new chairman last night, didn't they?"

"A new temporary chairman," Luna deadpanned, her tone of voice forcing her sister to look back at her.

A cheerless smile made its way to Meyrin's face. "You don't usually care for semantics."

"Only when I deem important."

The smile remained on her face for a moment of silence, which Luna soon regretted. The news about the election had ended only to be replaced by one covering the search of their missing chairman. In a grave voice, the presenter reported that the search would be officially stopped tomorrow at twelve p.m. under many considerations. The temporary chairman had expressed his objection in this matter but ZAFT had other duties and he was aware of it. He had promised another team to investigate the matter more deeply and before the reporter could say anything else, Luna turned back to her sister and asked quickly, "What did you speak with Youlan?"

"Eh?"

"You said Youlan came here. What did he speak about?"

"Nothing much," the darkness disappeared from Meyrin's eyes – or was it merely concealed? Luna scarcely knew, but her suspicion remained even with that neutral voice and the little smile on her sister's face. "He told me stories about his work mostly, and then about his new girlfriend. Can you believe that there's a new one already? I seem to remember a girl with long blonde hair – Levina or something – from that party two months ago."

Exhibiting one of her knowing smiles, Luna put in a comment, "I still think that he hasn't gotten over his huge crush for you. That's why he's behaving like that."

Meyrin arched a skeptical eyebrow. "By boasting about his new girlfriend in front of me?"

"By trying to provoke jealousy from you," Luna corrected, still smiling widely, and added with a chuckle, "Too bad it misfired though."

"It's an odd way to show one's affection."

"He is Youlan, never honest enough," Luna pointed out with a sigh. She was seldom wrong in this kind of things and she remembered encouraging Youlan to make a move on her sister, but all she got in return was a violent denial – though it came with a beet-red face and heavy stuttering. Never honest enough, she sighed again inwardly. All she hoped for was a wonderful set-up – Luna was already at her limit seeing her dearest little sister hoping for a seemingly-impossible love – and Meyrin surely liked Youlan enough.

But was it really enough? Love was not something you could just buy from an everyday store and shove into your sister's hand. It wasn't the first time Luna wished that Athrun had never come into their life.

Still, giving up was not her forte at all.

"It's very nice of him," she said, caressing the beautiful bouquet with honest admiration. At the same time, another emotion prickled inside her chest.

Meyrin who owned the heart of one man. Meyrin who had been in love with another for the last five years. Meyrin who couldn't forget.

"Yes, it is," the voice that replied to her was somber and a sidelong glance told Luna that her sister was obviously reluctant to pursue the subject. She frowned, more than familiar with the detrimental results due to a unbreakable attachment to a certain chairman, but conceded at last. Meyrin's condition was not at its best, she reminded herself.

That didn't mean she was giving up though. Someone just had to wipe Athrun out of Meyrin's heart.

"Onee-san," the voice rose again and the tentativeness shadowing it alerted Luna at one. If it didn't, the sight of her sister's staring down at her clasped hands as if she was afraid to look at her certainly would.

"Do you bring what I asked yesterday?" she finally asked.

Luna felt her heart crumbling at the question. Meyrin who couldn't forget. Damn it.

"Yes," she replied reluctantly and reached inside her bag, fumbling for the box she had retrieved from her sister's room just this morning. The small object felt heavy in her hand as she extended it out for her to see. "Is this it?"

"Yes, thank you." The sadness was palpable in her eyes and Luna suddenly felt that she wanted to strangle something.

Her long, taper fingers – one quality Luna couldn't help but envy from time to time even though her own were not that bad – caressed the black velvety casing with such care that it almost hurt to see. A cream coloured card peeked from inside once the lid was opened, embellished with a neat handwriting everyone could pretty much guessed whose. After all, not just anybody could put that look on Meyrin's face.

Luna had seen the gift only twice and in each occasion, nothing could refrain her from bursting with total admiration. It wasn't any different now. Once the card was removed, there was a pendant sitting on the black velvet in its full glory, beautiful red gems fashioning the shape of a single leaf with little diamonds adorning its border. A delicate silver lace chained the jewel to the box and Luna remembered how beautiful it had seemed against the pale skin of her sister's neck.

There had been many reasons why she had refused to believe in Athrun's indifference at first and it had been one.

"I'm very stupid, am I not?" Meyrin's unsteady voice distracted her from the pendant. "I don't even have the right–"

"Meyrin," Luna cut in firmly, trying to ignore the coldness that had settled in the depth of her stomach, "it's okay to love. There is nothing wrong with it. But sometimes," she swallowed, pressured by the big sorrowful eyes that were looking at her almost pleadingly, but went on bravely, "sometimes we need to let go."

"I have!" her sister nearly choked in her own words, "You have no idea! I know that he has somebody else and I have decided to let him go. But this I cannot accept! I can't bear not seeing him again and..." Her voice started to wither and she looked at the pendant, undeterred longing in her dark grey eyes. "I wish I–"

"No," Luna gritted her teeth, barely aware that she had been gripping her bag too tightly. "You will make me very sad if you say that."

Tears sprung in conflicting eyes and Meyrin reached for her empty hand, whispering, "Oh Nee-san. I'm really sorry. I really don't mean that."

"It's alright," she shook her head, ignoring the cold laughter ringing in her head. Because who would believe that? It wasn't alright. They were not alright. Still she smiled and stroked her sister's long hair soothingly. "Everything will be okay in time."

Meyrin looked ready to break down into tears. "I can't believe that he's…"

"It's true that we must prepare ourselves," Luna said again, a hint of steel in her voice, "but until it is an undeniable fact, you can't lose hope, Meyrin."

Her sister's smile was sad, poignant. "Don't you think it's an empty hope?"

"Probably," she answered quietly, finally letting out a shaky breath she had been holding since who-knows-when. "But you believe him, don't you?"

"Yes."

Inwardly, she released a sigh. "Good girl."

Another smile, less despondent, drew a delicate curve on Meyrin's lips and she squeezed her older sister's hands, murmuring quietly, "Thank you for always being here, Onee-san."

Smiling back, Luna ruffled the pink head affectionately. "Don't worry about it. A little sister always troubles her big sister, that's a fact."

"You're as mean as ever," Meyrin put on a childish pout and settled back to the bed, looking more relaxed even though the box remained seated on her lap. Luna refrained herself from saying anything and diverted her attention to the vases on the table. Change the water, an idea popped up in her mind.

"By the way, Shinn called yesterday," Meyrin suddenly spoke up again.

The name stiffened her before she could reach out for any of the vases, and Luna had to force herself to stay nonchalant and carry on the conversation properly. "What did he say?"

"I didn't get the chance to speak with him," answered Meyrin with a sigh. "He called when I was asleep. The nurse told me. Too bad because I really want to speak with him." She paused, thick silence hanging in the air like butter waiting for a knife to come down and cut it with ease. Luna glanced back and put an innocent smile on display when Meyrin narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

"You didn't yell at him, did you?"

"Not badly."

"Onee-san!"

"I was really heartbroken!" she argued back defensively. "But I did forgive him in the end."

"Good then," Meyrin was still eyeing her doubtfully. "Did he say anything?"

"He felt guilty, that's for certain. Serves him right though," Luna muttered, sounding more spiteful than she actually felt, and almost grimaced when she caught her sister looking at her with reproach etched on every inch of her face. "I'm sorry, Meyrin, but I really found it hard to forgive him when I discovered the truth. A single apology just wasn't enough."

"It isn't the truth," Meyrin murmured. "Not yet at least."

Luna was silent for a moment and then answered slowly, "Yes, I know."

Perhaps her sister was right, that she had been unfair. She had been angry – not to mention confused, miserable – and Shinn had provided her an easy lashing target especially with a reasonable basis to back her up. Well, he had admitted that it was his fault, right? And he had been so meek – timid, apologetic – so unlike the Shinn she had come to know in the academy and fought side by side with, and for some reasons it had upset her greatly.

A deep sigh broke the silence and Luna looked up at her sister's hesitant voice. "Ne, Onee-san?"

"Don't ask me to apologize to him," she said hastily.

Meyrin rolled her eyes. "I wasn't about to, although I really think that you should. You can't just blame him like that, Onee-san. If someone is at fault, it's the one who fooled around with the machine."

"We'll see," Luna replied evasively and warded off the frown she felt coming. "So you're saying?"

The ambiguous, slightly-hopeful-but-sad look returned and Luna was so close to looking away. She recognized that look. How could you forget the moment when you realized that the one person you wanted to be happy the most was breaking inside? She realized that no girl in her right mind would run off to save a guy's life with her own life on the line unless she fell in love head over heels with said guy. And normally, the guy didn't just forget about it and loved somebody else, right? But it happened to Meyrin. At a New Year Eve party two years ago, Luna finally realized that.

And at that fleeting moment, buried beneath layers of remorse for her sister, there was little relief, faint but decidedly there. If that was truly falling in love all about, she sincerely thanked the gods that she hadn't experienced any. Maybe it could lift you up to the seventh heaven, but if it could also make you felt like hanging between dead and living – because the hope was just an arm's length too far – she would gladly choose to pass.

But Meyrin had stayed there for all those years, alone, maybe hoping even until now. And she was still looking at her older sister, her request falling softly from her lips.

"Can you help me to put this necklace on?"

Luna found herself fighting the urge to run away out of the room, but managed to keep her feet under control. "Of course," she smiled stiffly and reached for the jewelry.

As she sat at the edge of the bed and fumbled with the lock, Meyrin continued speaking, sounding almost cheerful despite the dull edge of her voice. "He gave it on my nineteenth birthday last year, do you remember? We celebrated it at your favourite restaurant. And I was blushing like some stupid school girl when I opened it," she chuckled, a sound that pierced Luna's heart painfully. "It does look expensive, doesn't it? I wonder how much he spent on this."

"You are a very valuable person for him, Meyrin," Luna said, firm, more like a desperate try to convince someone than a mere stating of fact, and tugged at the chain almost too forcefully.

"I have never doubted it," Meyrin replied with a hint of pride. "And you are right, Onee-san. Sometimes I do hope that I can just forget about him and find someone else. Too bad it isn't as easy at it sounds."

Luna bit her tongue, swallowing back a stinging reply she knew her sister just wouldn't appreciate. It wasn't his fault, she would say with a frown. But it was unfair that a guy could hold so much influence, could take so much space in a girl's heart when he didn't even love her. Luna felt her head spinning madly. She had hated Athrun Zala in various ways before – some childish, some just plain envy, some rooted in her wounded female pride – but decided that this was unquestionably the worst.

"I just don't want to run away," Meyrin said again, sounding stronger than she must be feeling.

Abandoning her train of thoughts, Luna patted her sister on the back and announced, adding just a little shade of teasing into her voice, "If that is the case, once you're out from this hospital, I'll introduce you to the best-looking of my friends. Some that I'm working with now are the most handsome men I've ever met, you know."

Meyrin raised her eyebrows skeptically. "I seem to remember you saying that most of them only have good looks and nothing else."

"Eyecandy, darling," Luna grinned and shrugged, hoping that none of her worries was detectable. "Simply watching cannot possibly hurt, can it?"

"So no touching allowed?"

She found herself smirking. "Well, as long as you like him and he's ready to marry you, I hardly can care less."

Meyrin laughed and Luna followed soon after, other matters forgotten for a moment.

But when she was about to go and shut the door behind her, she had a glimpse of her sister fingering the necklace, that painful, longing look back on her face. Luna felt a cold hand wrenching her heart away, but the pain was just so dull that she realized she was growing accustomed to it.

Just like her sister.

Luna smiled bitterly and the door closed with a soft click.

End Chapter Nine

Notes: If anyone is confused about who the hell Youlan is, he is Shinn's dark-skinned friend who was with him when Shinn met Stellar for the first time in episode 01 of GSD. I'm trying not to use more OC than I already have, really.

For those who are already tired of reading about girls with broken hearts and unattainable loves because the two male main characters are apparently in love with each other, don't worry, there will be character developments. I do plan to have them paired with someone else, but I'm afraid losing focus to the focal storyline. But if it's possible, I'll include it. Please give me ideas who you think the possible suitor is, for Lacus and Meyrin. I initially plan Dearka for Meyrin (yes, you read that right, because I love Ssigh/Miriallia to death) but it will contain too many twists and honestly, neither of them is the main character in my story. I don't like to have them suddenly BAM! Falling in love with each other without any indication whatsoever either, so do forgive my fussiness and give me your vote. If you want the girls to stay single, that's fine too. I'll consider all available options.

Since this is getting confusing (or maybe I'm the only one who cares about this?), I will now announce clearly how old the characters who already made an appearance are. These are their ages in the beginning of the story (on September 16 C.E. 77): Kira 22, Athrun 21, Cagalli 22, Lacus 22, Shinn 20, Yzak 23, Dearka 23, Meyrin 20, Luna 21, Mwu 33 and Murrue 31. His/her age will change as the story progresses. If there is someone who cares and happens to notice that I got something wrong, please inform me.

And of course, if anyone has any question, fire away. I'll try to answer it if it doesn't spoil the fun :D or giving away the storyline, that is. Thanks for reading everyone! Please review!