Author's note: There we are… The next chapter… Lacus will try to convince Cagalli, Athrun, Shinn, Lunamaria, Meyrin, Miriallia, Haruma and Caridad to let Kira rest in peace. Just a short chapter that will let you see the stand of the characters and their reaction to Kira's suffering throughout the six years...

And I would like to thank Zero'N'oveR for the review. It was the first in several days since I published the story and I really appreciate it. And of course I would also like to thank Kiheada.Ray.T. for her review. It really, really motivated me to carry on with the story.

Now then, on with the next chapter…

Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed or Gundam Seed Destiny and the characters…

Meals were silent when we sat down at the dinner table every night. Gentle clinking of metal against porcelain and glass reverberated through the strangely, quiet hall... lonely echoes in a forlorn room...

I stared past my dinner plate into past memories of the happy times we had had after the war... lovely times which I knew would never once again come back. They would forever be nothing more than memories and the love I had for him. I slowly lifted my fork and punctured the tender steak with it, drawing my knife across the meat. I brought it towards my mouth but queasiness growled in me. Resignedly, I laid down the fork on the plate for the umpteen times and returned to staring silently at the food that lay untouched in my plate.

A clatter of utensils hitting porcelain dinner plates tore through my daze and I turned my gaze to the blonde sitting across from me. Her brow was furrowed as she bore holes in her plate with her furious gold eyes. Heaving an irritated sigh mixed with weariness, she roughly pushed her plate across the table, sending it clattering into the dishes spread on the oak surface and earning several glances from around the table.

"Get rid of it!" Cagalli growled, "I don't have any appetite..." She whipped her napkin from the table with more force than necessary, sending her empty wine glass clinking onto the table.

I watched as Mana fidgeted behind her, before stepping forward and pulling the dinner plate towards Cagalli again. "Please eat, Miss Cagalli..." She urged, placing her fork and knife before her again.

The same scene happened every night. The weariness from those painful thoughts literally ate through us, leaving us an empty core filled with worry and exhaustion with an appetite for nothing. No one could manage more than half the plateful of food presented to us every night. Mana, Kisaka and the other maids and servants knew but they filled every plate to the brim with food, hoping in vain that one day we would finish it all...

I watched as the familiar scene unfolded before my eyes. An identical clattering came from beside Cagalli. Eyes turned to watch as Athrun pushed his plate away and crossed his arms, staring absently at the table top. I glanced down at my plate and guided the meat to my mouth, chewing and swallowing with painful difficulty.

Mana flittered between Athrun and Cagalli, pulling their plates towards them and persuading them to eat. Cagalli ignored her pleas and merely reached across Athrun and grabbed his wine glass, drowning it in one gulp. She poured herself another glass and contented herself with staring at the crimson liquid.

I continued staring at my plate silently. Across the table, clattering sounded again and again in the next few, excruciatingly still minutes until no one had their plates any longer. Hesitantly, I placed down my fork and likewise, shifted the white porcelain ware away from me.

Mana, who had skipped around the table, persuading and urging us to eat, had given up. Nothing could make us take another spoonful of food and the attention we gave to her pleas were minimal... an irritated glare from Cagalli, a weary expression from Athrun, a tired shake of the head from Meyrin, a sigh from Lunamaria, a dull glance from Shinn, a gentle pat on the hand from Caridad, a soft 'no, thank you' from Haruma and a smile that was drained of happiness from Miriallia... When she came to me, I merely forced a smile and shook my head...

I needed to get this over with...

"I went to see Kira today…" I muttered, breaking the silence, my voice weaker than I had planned it to be. Puzzled eyes rose up to look at me. "I've been thinking about what the doctors said… " I drawled, taking in a slow, deep breath before lifting my head to stare into their eyes. "…about letting Kira rest in peace…"

I paused, my voice wavering unsteadily, "And I've decided to agree and let him go…"

Shocked silence fell over the room like a dark shroud. I averted my eyes but the accusing glares continued relentlessly. Instead, I focused on the wine glass in Cagalli's hand. The crimson liquid shook as the pale hand holding the glass began to quiver. In reluctant fascination, I watched as the glass slipped through her fingers and fell towards the polished floor… breaking into irreplaceable shards… a shrill shatter that broke the still silence…

"What did you say… Lacus?" The voice was shaking despite her attempt to keep it steady.

I turned to look her straight in the eye. My vision blurred as tears threatened to overwhelm me and I whispered, "I've decided to let Kira rest in peace…"

Loud clanking shredded the uncomfortable quietness as I turned my gaze to the heavy oak chair that fell to the ground before returning my vision to the furious blonde leaning across the table, her eyes challenging me to repeat what I had said.

"I dare you to say that again…" She whispered, her voice deadly low. I repeated my decision calmly, my face an empty mask… but my heart struggling to control my spewing emotions.

Her attack was sudden… She lunged across the table and tried to grab my collar but was held back by Athrun when he bounded from his chair and pulled her back. Chairs were upset as everyone left the table to stop Cagalli.

I watched the struggle without a word; waiting patiently for the assault I had expected would come.

"Cagalli! Get a hold of yourself!" Athrun growled, pinning her arms to her side. "Let go of me, you bastard!" She shrugged off the hands and arms holding her down and shot an irate glare in my direction. "I won't let you do it!" She burst out, slamming a hand on the table.

"I don't want to see him suffer anymore…" I replied softly, my blue-gray eyes fixed on her fury, gold ones.

"I don't want to either, Lacus! But… but the hardest battle is to keep living!" She cried.

"Well, I don't want to see him battle anymore!" I shouted, leaping from my chair, ignoring the noisy clattering of it as it collided with the ground. Once again, the room fell into stunned silence at my atrocity. Unbelieving eyes turned to stare at me, shocked.

"The war is over!" I hollered, my voice shaking, tears slipping down my cheeks. "Kira doesn't need to fight anymore! He wasn't meant to fight in the first place, he was never meant to be part of the war… but after the battle, he has to struggle for his life again, and this time, his body is his own enemy! If I have a choice, I'll wish I could save him from this torture or take his place in the battle!"

I stopped only when my throat ached and my breath was coming in gasps. I clenched my fists and dropped my gaze to the table, "That's why… That's why I decided that it would be best if he… if we let him go…"

"That's not right, Lacus… None of these is right…" A voice close to breaking rose through the awkward silence. I raised my head and stared into the eyes of Miriallia. Emotion danced through them, so complex that I couldn't comprehend them. "Kira would never give up… Though… though it seems that life now is nothing but pain, I know he won't…" I interrupted her, my voice no more than a hoarse whisper, "Give up? I don't know what Kira is thinking now… I don't know if he has given up, but it's been six years, Miriallia… Six years… I wouldn't hold out so long if every breath I took was laced with pain. Six years, Miriallia… Six long, painful years for Kira. If being selfish could rid him of all these pain, I'll be selfish for him, I'll make him leave this world if he will be better off doing so… I need you to understand… that I've had enough of watching him suffer…"

Hesitation flashed through Miriallia's eyes and she turned away.

"Kira must have a choice, Lacus… You must talk to him first. Kira should make the last decision if he wants to… wants to leave this world…" Athrun said. He received an approving nod from Shinn, Meyrin and Lunamaria.

"If being selfish could rid him of all these pain, I'll be selfish for him; I'll make him leave this world if he will be better off doing so…" I repeated, determination lacing my voice as I stared into his emerald eyes. I needed them to know… to know that I had come to this decision after serious thoughts…

"If being selfish could rid him of all these pain, I'll be selfish for him…" Caridad's voice was soft when she spoke, repeating my line quietly. "I've seen Kira suffer enough, Lacus… And if being selfish can really help him, I'll be selfish with you…" She nodded at me as Haruma slid an arm around her waist.

I forced a smile and turned to Cagalli. Her head was lowered, her body shaking in Athrun's arms.

With a sob, she turned and dashed out of the room. Athrun called to her but ran out when she didn't reply.

I watched their retreating backs, the familiar agony gnarling in me. Turning, I traced Cagalli's steps and left the room behind, returning to the comfort of my silent bedroom… tears trickling down my cheeks.

I promised you, Kira, that I would never let you suffer again… And if being selfish and making you leave this world would rid you of the pain you endure every day, I'll be selfish for you…

Author's note: And that's the end of the third chapter… How was it? Please review and tell me! I seriously need your reviews as encouragements. You may criticize me for being heartless too! But, please, please review!!!