Disclaimer: Most characters in this fiction are not mine unless stated otherwise. Every effort is made to keep this fiction satisfactory; hence, the chapters published are subjected to minor changes without prior notice. I do NOT own Mobile Suite Gundam SEED and Gundam SEED Destiny. SUNRISE produced it and it was directed by Mitsuo Fukuda.
AN: This story took place FOUR YEARS AFTER the Second Bloody Valentine War. To identify their present age, just add four years from their GSEED Destiny age.
Acknowledgement: YellowLego. OPrincess ShinigamiO. blondeprincessa. sassy. Freyris. gundamalchemist01. orb90. CriMsonxLadY. elgnis rekresreb. Luna. moonlove. falconrukichi. Arkangel87. lili. qkiss. animelover101. aurelian620. Xx Meisha xX.
HER LITTLE WARRIOR
Chapter Three: Little Prince
oooooooo
Orb Union: Athha Estate
Athrun had experienced countless of near-death situations when he decided to join the military ranks. Despite of those life-threatening events in his life, he never felt scared or hopeless. But seeing the little boy running towards Cagalli and calling her 'mommy' made those near-death experiences significantly small and useless from what he is experiencing right now. He never felt so weak, and at the same time, numb. His chest hurt, and thought he might collapse in pain.
'She has a son,' he thought in despair. 'She has a son...with another man. She made love...with another man. I did not even made love to those women I dated because I felt guilty for doing it,' he thought bitterly, while clutching his chest in pain.
All throughout their interaction and introduction, Athrun was in a daze. He was brought back from his stupor when Kira loudly demanded an explanation from the Chief Representative of Orb.
"CAGALLI YULA ATHHA!" Kira bellowed, as he abruptly stood up from his seat. "WHAT. IS. THE. MEANING. OF. THIS?"
Cagalli calmly looked at her brother square in the eyes and responded slowly.
"Little Prince Ade is the current Heir of the Athha Royal Family...and he is also my adopted son."
Athrun abruptly turned his gaze to Cagalli. He met her amber orbs, asking her to repeat her statement and confirm it. 'Adopted son...?' He thought with a bubble of hope inside his heart.
Cagalli moved her gaze from Athrun, and then stared back at Kira. She decided to sit in front of them, and then sat cross-legged on the wooden platform. Her expression was calm and poised. Her stance demanded attention and patience from them. Seeing this side of Cagalli, Kira and their friends waited for her explanation.
"I had little Ade a month after he was born. I was the one who named him because her mother wasn't able to name him anymore. He is a Natural," Cagalli started. "After the 2nd war, you don't know how lonely I was when all of you left me here in Orb. At that time, I felt alone, with no one to lean on or to keep me sane. The seven months after the war were the most life-changing and painful months of my life. During those times, I am close to giving-up." Cagalli had a rueful expression on her face. "I remembered it was the last night of March and it was raining so hard. I was at the peak of letting go all of my pain and sorrow, and to just give-up on life. That faithful stormy night, I lost the final straw to my strength and sanity. I slowly started to succumb to my misery and devastation. I thought I had no hope, until a month after my initial breakdown, someone showed little Ade to me. All my misery halted to a stop as I stared at him, and then it slowly started to disappear as I gaze at the crying infant in my arms."
Kira and Athrun were tightly clenching their fists in extreme guilt. They shouldn't have left her alone. They should have been here when she needed them the most. They should have been there beside her when she needed someone to hold on to. They were much too caught up with their own feelings that they forgot the one person who was suffering the most. They forgot to take care of the person who was always there to comfort and support them in times of hopelessness and grief.
Lacus was silently crying as she imagined how Cagalli felt after the war. She felt sadness and guilt because she had her friends beside her when she was still struggling as the new Chairwoman of PLANTs, and Cagalli was left alone to shoulder the problems of her nation and the grief of war. Kira decided to stay with her in PLANTs, and she was so happy that she unconsciously ignored her best friend's feelings. Unknowingly, she took away the only person that Cagalli needed the most. She took away her only brother. She took away Kira from Cagalli, and left her to suffer alone.
Yzak, Dearka, Shiho, and Luna had a solemn look on their faces. In all honesty, they did not experience much the burden of war because they had their family and friends near them. They had someone to talk to, and they had someone to divert their attention from the impact of war.
Meyrin was confused with her feelings for the princess. When she first met the Princess of Orb, she was inspired by her. She admired her strength and her capability to lead a big nation, despite of her young age. When she found out that Athrun had a romantic past with the princess, she was jealous and envious because the man that she is in love with had been in love with her idol. She tried to be angry at her. She convinced herself that Cagalli Yula Athha is her enemy and rival to Athrun's affections, but her admiration for the Princess of Orb will always overpower her jealousy and envy because Princess Cagalli will always be far better than her. She knew that Athrun never loved her. She knew that he will always be in love with Cagalli Yula Athha. She was just living in a dream where in she and Athrun will be together forever. As long as she could still pretend, she would continue dreaming, until the moment comes for her to wake-up from that dream.
Cagalli had a serene smile and a dazed look on her face. "Ade is my saving grace. Without him, I wouldn't be able to stand-up again. He became my strength and inspiration for all these years. At that time, when I was holding him in my arms, I thought this baby boy needs me to shelter him from harm because no one else can do it but me. With that resolve, I gradually matured both emotionally and mentally for the both of us. I adopted him and raised him as my own child. Only a number of trusted people knew about him." She looked at her friends, and smiled her biggest genuine smile. "I am still the same Cagalli that you knew before, but with Ade, I became the strong and independent woman that I am today."
Kira suddenly stood-up, and then went to Cagalli's side. He stooped over so that he could scoop his sister in to his arms.
"Wha―Kira!" Cagalli yelped in shock as she held on to her brother's neck to keep her from falling.
Kira plunked himself cross-legged on the wooden platform, with Cagalli cradled on his lap. He wrapped his arms around his sister as he hid his face on the junction of her neck. Cagalli was confused with her brother's actions. She was about to ask Kira on what he was doing, when she felt his body tremble against her.
"Kira...?"
"..."
"Kira...are you alright?" Cagalli asked hesitantly once again, while looking at her friends helplessly.
"I'm...sorry...so sorry. Please...please forgive me. I'm sorry."
Cagalli's eyes widened. "Kira...?"
"I shouldn't have left you...I'm so sorry."
Cagalli smiled tenderly. She slowly wrapped her arms around Kira, and then she soothingly rubbed his back. "Sshh...sshh...everything is alright now. It's in the past, Kira."
Hearing this, Kira tightly wrapped his hold on her, while Lacus and Shiho stood-up from their seat and wrapped their arms around the hugging siblings. Athrun looked away from the scene in front of him. He wanted to hold Cagalli, too, and ask for forgiveness, but he knew it's not yet the right time to approach her.
After a few minutes of their hugging session, Lacus and Shiho released the twins from their small group hug as Cagalli slowly pushed her brother away from her. Cagalli smiled at Kira, while she wiped away his tears.
"Stop those tears now. I thought you graduated from your crybaby tendencies," Cagalli teased Kira.
"Shut-up Cagalli." Kira pouted, and then grinned at his sister.
Cagalli stuck her tongue playfully, and then kissed her brother's forehead, before pinching his cheeks. "You're really cute when you cry, my wittle brother Kira!"
"OW! Cagalli!"
All of them laughed at Kira's childish behavior. They were still guilty for leaving Cagalli behind, but her smiles were proof that all is well, and in time, they would be free from their guilt.
Cagalli stood up from Kira's lap, and then faced her friends with a grin on her face. "Well...now that everything is okay. Why don't we go inside so that I can formally introduce all of you to Ade?"
Everyone nodded in agreement. They stood up from their seat and went inside the estate. On their way to one of the sitting rooms, they saw a freshly bathed Ade running towards them, while holding and pulling Mir's hand in his.
"Ade, slow down! You might fall down if you're not careful," Mir reminded the charming little prince.
The little prince only giggled in excitement. His eyes widened in delight when he saw his mother a few meters ahead of him.
"Mommy!" he shouted in glee, seeing his mother smiling at him. When they got closer, little Ade launched himself on Cagalli's awaiting arms.
"Ade! Be careful. You're a big boy now. You're not getting any lighter," Cagalli gently reprimanded the little prince in her arms. She carried Ade until all of them sat in the sitting room. Cagalli stood in front of her friends, still carrying the little prince in her arms.
"Baby boy, I want you to meet our family and friends from PLANTs," Cagalli told the little prince while looking at him tenderly. She approached Kira and Lacus first, and then placed little Ade on her twin brother's lap.
"This is my only brother and your uncle, Kira Yamato." Cagalli introduced the two to each other. "Kira, meet my son and your nephew, Ade Athha."
The two males stared at each other, until Kira smiled at the young boy and offered his hand to him. "Hello. I am your Uncle Kira. It is nice to finally meet you, Ade."
Ade stared at the older male in front of him, and then turned his dark green eyes to his mother, who nodded her head in encouragement. Ade slowly grinned and launched himself to Kira.
"I HAVE AN UNCLE!"
Ade wrapped his arms and legs around Kira like a koala in a tree. Kira laughed heartily as he hugged the energetic and charming little boy in his arms. This was their first time to meet, but they already formed a familial bond with each other. Everybody smiled at the cute scene between uncle and nephew. When the two released each other, Lacus leaned closer to them an introduced herself.
"Hello, little Ade. My name is Lacus Clyne. I am your Uncle Kira's soon-to-be-wife. You can call me Auntie Lacus if you want." Lacus smiled warmly at the little prince.
Ade stared at the woman beside his uncle. His eyes grew wide in amazement when she introduced herself. "Woah! Pretty lady!" He gasped loudly.
Lacus giggled at the compliment that she received from the little prince. The others chuckled at the cute admiration of the little boy to the Pink Princess. Ade blushed when he realized what he said. He hid his face on his Uncle Kira's chest. Kira was chuckling himself as he patted the little boy's head.
"It's alright, Ade. I think she is pretty, too." Kira winked at Lacus when he said this.
Ade slowly raised his head from his uncle's chest and stared shyly at him. "Really?"
Kira grinned at the little boy and nodded his head. "Yes. Uncle Kira thinks that Auntie Lacus is a pretty lady, too."
Ade only grinned in reply.
Seating between Yzak and Dearka, Shiho called Kira's attention. "Hey, Kira! Don't hog the little munchkin all to yourself. We want to meet him, too," she said jokingly.
Cagalli carried Ade away from Kira, and then deposited him on Shiho's lap. When the little boy was placed on her lap, Shiho squealed in delight and hugged him like a big teddy. "Munchkin! You're so cute!"
Yzak and Dearka raised an eyebrow at her uncharacteristic display of girlishness. Since they met Shiho, this was the first time that they heard her squeal like a girl. Shiho continued to hug the little prince and kissed him on both his chubby cheeks. Ade was blushing from the attention that he received from another pretty lady.
"Hello, cute munchkin! I am Shiho Hahnenfuss, a good friend of your mommy. You can call me Auntie Shiho!" Shiho excitedly introduced herself. She might be acting tomboyish most of the time, but one of her weaknesses is cute and charming little boys and girls.
Little Ade nodded, and then turned his head to his Uncle Kira. "Uncle Kira! Another pretty lady!" He exclaimed, while wrapping his arms around Shiho's neck. Shiho showered Ade with kisses on his cute face as he giggled loudly.
When Shiho released Ade from her embrace, she introduced the two males beside her. "Munchkin, this guy on my left is Dearka Elsman," she pointed at Dearka, while still holding the little prince on her lap.
"Yo! Kiddo! You can call me Uncle Dearka." Dearka smirked, mocking a hand salute. Ade followed his gesture clumsily while smirking.
"And this grumpy guy on my right is my soon-to-be-husband and best friend of your Uncle Dearka, Yzak Joule. You can call him Uncle Yzak," She continued introducing.
Yzak merely grunted as the little prince tilted his head to the side in wonder at the platinum-haired male beside his Auntie Shiho.
Ade leaned his body near his Uncle Dearka and asked innocently, "Uncle Dearka! Uncle Yzak has white hair. Is he a grandpa?"
Everyone burst in fits off laughter when they heard the innocent question. Dearka, Cagalli, Athrun, and Kira were clutching their stomach while laughing. Lacus tried to stifle her laughter with her hand. Mir, Lunamaria and Meyrin were laughing, too, but not as loud as everyone else. Shiho was tightly embracing Ade, while she laughed heartily. The only people who were not laughing were Yzak and little Ade.
Little Ade tilted his head to the side in confusion. His eyes were wide in wonder on why the grown-ups were laughing at his question. Yzak fumed silently on his seat as a vein kept on popping on his forehead. He wanted to shout at the little boy, but he knew that it was only an innocent question from a curious kid.
"Athha! What the hell are you teaching your kid?" Yzak snarled in annoyance. Before Cagalli could answer him, little Ade interrupted Yzak using his cute and loud voice.
"Uncle Yzak!" Ade exclaimed, extending his open palm in front of Yzak, "You said a bad word! You have to drop 1 gilla coin in my 'good deed' jar!"
"What is your kid talking about, Athha!" Yzak hissed, eyes narrowed in confusion.
Cagalli grinned at the fuming platinum-head Captain. "Ade and I had a deal when he turned three years old. He can ask one gilla coin for every bad word that he hears from the person who said it, but if Ade said a bad word, 2 gilla coins will be deducted from his 'good deed' jar."
Hearing this, their laughter escalated more. Ade was still waiting for Yzak to hand him a coin. He was staring at his uncle expectantly with his big innocent eyes.
"C'mon, Yzak! Give the kiddo a coin!" Dearka said while laughing. Yzak grumbled to himself, and then fished a coin in his pocket and gave it to little Ade.
"Thank you, Uncle Yzak!" Ade chirped, clapping his hands in delight. He dropped the coin inside his jumper pocket, and then grinned at the scowling platinum-haired man.
Before Yzak explodes in anger, Cagalli scooped Ade from Shiho's lap. She went in front of Lunamaria and Meyrin, introducing them to her son.
"Little prince, the lady with short hair is Luna Hawke, and the lady beside her is her younger sister, Meyrin," Cagalli said while Ade is still in her arms.
"Hello! Nice to meet you!" Ade waved at the sisters in greeting.
"Hello to you, too, little prince. You can call me Auntie Luna," Luna greeted back.
"Hello. You can call me Auntie Mey," Meyrin smiled at him.
Lastly, Cagalli approached Athrun and stood in front of him. She slowly dumped the silent Ade on his lap. Athrun instinctively held the little boy in his arms.
"My little prince, this is Athrun Zala. He is your Uncle Kira's best friend and mommy's...good friend." Cagalli smiled at the two as she stared at Athrun in encouragement.
Athrun shifted his gaze from Cagalli to Ade. He looked at the little boy on his lap, who was staring back at him in wonder. There was something in the boy on his lap that draws him to Athrun. The emerald-eyed Coordinator could not explain the feelings of elation and love when he held the dark green-eyed child in his arms.
"Hello there, buddy. I'm your Uncle Athrun." Athrun tightly embraced the silent boy on his lap, while gently patting his dark blonde hair. Ade wrapped his short arms around his neck and hugged him back.
When they released each other, Ade stared at him with his big dark green eyes and asked an unexpected question. "Uncle Athrun will you be my daddy?" he asked as he tilted his head to the side.
An uncomfortable silence spread around the sitting room, that they could even hear a pin drop on the floor. Ade was still staring at Athrun, waiting for his answer. Cagalli spoke before Athrun could open his mouth.
Cagalli knelt down in front of Athrun and Ade as she gently talked to the little boy. "Baby boy, Uncle Athrun can't be your daddy because he will be Auntie Mey's husband soon and their soon-to-be-baby―"
"You can call me daddy." Athrun blurted out, interrupting Cagalli.
All of them swiveled their gaze to Athrun, waiting for an explanation. They were surprised of his suggestion. Before he could explain, Cagalli interrupted quickly.
"NO! I-I mean it's not appropriate. I think Ade should address Athrun as his uncle and nothing else." Cagalli reasoned calmly.
"Really, Cagalli. It's okay. He can call me―"
"No! No, Athrun." Cagalli insisted. She held Ade's face in between her hands, while he was still seating on Athrun's lap, but now facing her. "Listen to mommy, little prince. Uncle Athrun can't be your daddy. Do you understand me, baby?"
Ade nodded his head in hesitantly in affirmative. He smiled brightly at everyone, and then announced, while pouting, "Mommy! I'm hungry!"
All of them laughed at the charming little prince.
"If our little prince is hungry, who are we to deprive him from his food. Why don't we look for Myrna and ask some snacks?" Cagalli suggested.
"Yay!" Ade exclaimed in gladness. He went down from Athrun's lap, and then ran ahead of them with Piggie. "Let's go, Piggie. FOOD!"
oooooooo
It was a week after Kira and her friends arrived from PLANTs. The Orb Council decided to give her another week of vacation to rest and unwind, despite of Cagalli's violent protest. If it wasn't for Kira and little Ade's teaming-up in doing the most pitiful puppy dog eyes, she would not have agreed for the extra week vacation leave.
The week had been eventful. She had a sleep over with Lacus, Mir, and Shiho. She had a mini outing with only Kira and little Ade at the park. She was able to catch-up with all of her friends, including Murrue, Mu, and Andrew. For the past week, little Ade had caught the hearts and affection of her friends, especially Kira, Shiho, and Athrun, while Piggie had a new playmate with Dearka and Mr. Pink.
Cagalli drank her coffee as she leaned her back against the balcony railing. She was alone in the balcony, basking in early morning sunlight. In times like this, she wished that she was not a political leader and a royalty. Working as Chief Representative and Commander-in-Chief of a powerful nation was a demanding task. But then again, leading a peaceful country for 6 years had its perks and privileges, too.
Ring. Ring. Ring.
Cagalli fished her ringing phone inside her pocket. She checked the caller, and then grinned when she saw the name. She had been waiting for this phone call for a week now. She answered the phone, while gazing on the vast Athha Estate Grounds.
"Finally you called! I thought you were dead!" Cagalli greeted the caller.
"What a nice greeting," drawled the voice in the other line.
"Fine. Hello there! It's good to hear from you, how have you been...Are you happy now? I greeted you nicely."
"Quite."
"Well...How was it?" she asked impatiently, while taking a sip from her china cup.
"Everything is set. All you need to do is review it, before presenting it to the Peace Treaty committee. Project Entwine can be launched during the Peace Treaty Week celebration."
"Perfect! Thank you."
"It is our job, Lady Athha...So how are you?"
"I'm alright. Why did you ask?"
"Nothing. I just want to know if you are alright, especially that HE is there with you, after four years of not seeing each other."
"Honestly, I'm fine. We're good. We haven't really got the chance to talk alone. I think he's happy now. He's actually engaged...Now that I have answered your question, can we stop talking about HIM and discuss on more important things?" she answered exasperatedly.
"Fine. I'll stop asking for now, but we'll talk again when I come back. Anyway, how's the little sport?"
"Ade is fine. He's enjoying the attention that he receives from our guests. He is looking for you, too. Before he sleeps, he kept on asking me when will you come home."
"Tell him I'll be coming home soon."
"Oh? And how soon is that?" she inquired as she put down the china cup on the balcony table.
"Very, very soon. So...I have to go. I'll talk to you about Project Entwine when I come back. Good day, Lady Athha."
"Good day to you, too...uhmm...come back soon and...we miss you."
"..."
"...Hello?"
"..."
"Uhmm...did I say something wrong?" the amber-eyed princess inquired the caller.
At first, the other line was silent, and then she heard a faint chuckle, until it grew into a full blown laughter. The caller on the other line was laughing at Cagalli in amusement.
"What are you laughing at you pompous git!" Cagalli gritted her teeth.
"Sorry, sorry―hahaha―sorry, my lady. You sound so girly for a while. We haven't seen each other for two weeks and you're missing me already? Don't tell me you're becoming clingy, Lady Athha?" The caller drawled teasingly.
"What the hell are you talking about! Is it wrong to miss a friend? And who are you calling 'clingy', YOU POMPOUS GIT!" Cagalli ranted heatedly.
"Woah! Relax! I'm just teasing you. Tsk tsk tsk. Temper, temper!"
"SHUT UP! Goodbye, asshole!"
The caller on the other line was still chuckling. "Fine. See you soon, Lady Athha and..." the caller trailed off, and then burst out in a fit of laughter as he teased Cagalli, "...I miss you, too."
Cagalli sputtered in outrage. "BASTARD!" she yelled as she press the 'cancel' button of her phone.
"Ungrateful brat! That arrogant bastard! When I get my hands on him, I'll pummel him to death," Cagalli muttered under her breath. She would have continued her ranting, when she heard someone clearing his throat behind her.
Cagalli turned around to shout on her intruder, when she saw Athrun leaning his body against the balcony door.
"Athrun! you scared me," the Chief Representative of Orb exclaimed, "How long have you been standing there?"
Athrun pushed his body away from the door, and then sauntered towards Cagalli. "Not for a while. I was looking for you as I pass the balcony and heard someone ranting about an ungrateful brat and an arrogant bastard," he stated, while looking at her amber-colored eyes.
Cagalli instantly drank her coffee to hide her growing blush. "Sorry about that," she said after drinking. "I was referring to the person calling me a while ago."
"Is there a problem? Maybe I can help?" Athrun asked.
"Oh! No, no, no! Everything is fine. Anyway, you said you were looking for me. Do you need anything? What is it?" Cagalli asked as she poured some coffee on another cup, and then gave it to Athrun.
"Thank you," Athrun said as he received the cup on his hands. "I just thought I've been here in Orb for a week already, yet we haven't really got the chance to talk...alone."
The two stood side by side in front of the balcony railing, enjoying the relaxing view before them, the fresh air, and each other's presence.
"We are alone now, so what do you want to talk about?" she asked, subtly peering at him through the corner of her eyes.
"I just want to say...I'm sorry. I am sorry for what happened four years ago. I should not have left. I was not thinking straight at that time. My only concern was my self and my feelings, and I did not even consider what you might feel when we left you...when I left you," he said somberly. He was avoiding Cagalli's eyes, ashamed of what he did. "Please forgive me, Cagalli."
For a while, the Princess of Orb was silent. Athrun thought that she might not heard him, or worse, she was ignoring him, but he waited patiently. It's the least he could do compared to what he did years ago.
Cagalli took a deep breath and sighed. She wanted to tell him that all is forgiven, but she knew in her heart that she still had a tiny flicker of resentment against him. But despite of those negative feelings, she was willing to start all over again and welcome his presence back into her life.
"Honestly, I don't know what to say."
Athrun abruptly turned his head to the beautiful woman beside him. He slightly jumped in surprise when she started to speak. He listened as she continued talking, while she was staring on the vast Athha Estate Grounds.
"I want to say all is forgiven and it's in the past and let's move on, but I know I'll be lying to you when I say that. It's not that I'm not willing to accept your apology. It's just that for now, I'm not ready yet to open old wounds. I think it's not the right time to discuss the past. Everything is peaceful now so let us not complicate things. Time will come that everything will be forgiven, and acceptance will be in our hearts." This time, Cagalli faced Athrun as she stared at his emerald orbs. She gave him an encouraging smile and continued, "But even though I can't say I forgive you now, I am more than willing to start all over again and embrace you as one of my most important people in my life. Will that be acceptable for now, Athrun?"
Athrun slowly put down his coffee cup on the balcony railing while still staring at her amber orbs. Cagalli was about to turn away from him, when Athrun abruptly caught her arm and pulled her in his embrace. Cagalli accidentally released her china cup in surprise as it shattered on the floor.
"Athrun!" she gasped his name out as she stiffened in his arms.
Athrun hugged her tightly and buried his face in her neck. One of his arms was wrapped around her shoulders, while the other one was around her waist. He subtly inhaled her alluring strawberry scent and mumbled against her neck, "I accept...for now."
Cagalli relaxed and smiled above his shoulder. She slowly raised her arms, and then wrapped them around his waist. They were hugging for a minute, savoring each other's presence, when Cagalli suddenly bopped Athrun's head with her knuckle.
"OW! What the―CAGALLI!" Athrun exclaimed in pain and surprise as he released Cagalli from his embrace, and then massaged his aching head.
"Good for ya' IDIOT!" Cagalli crossed her arms against her chest as she scowled at him.
"What did you do that for!" Athrun demanded.
"Look what you did to one of my expensive china cups, you idiot!" Cagalli yelled, pointing at her shattered china cup on the floor. "It is one of my prized collections, you stupid! If you did not surprise me by pulling me abruptly, I would have not released it!"
"You are the one who was holding it, so it was your fault, not mine" Athrun reasoned out.
"It was YOUR fault, you hamster brain!"
"Of course not," Athrun denied calmly.
"YOURS!" Cagalli insisted hotly.
"No. It's yours."
"YOURS, you idiot hamster!"
"Cagalli, be reasonable. It was your fault."
"NO! YOURS!" Cagalli stomped her foot in annoyance, pouting like a spoiled princess.
"No. I said it was―" Athrun was cut off by a female voice, calling their names, near the balcony door.
"Athrun. Miss Cagalli."
The arguing pair turned their gaze to the new comer. Meyrin was looking at them in confusion. She had been looking for Athrun around the estate. She wanted to invite him for a stroll around the Athha Garden.
"Meyrin," Athrun cleared his throat, "What are you doing in here?"
"I was looking for you," she replied, staring at them suspiciously. "Uhmm...Is there something wrong? It seems like the two of you are...arguing?"
Cagalli huffed in annoyance. "This idiot hamster you call fiancé broke my prized china cup!" she said while pointing a thumb on Athrun.
Athrun turned his head on the woman beside him and calmly said, "I said it was not my fault, Cagalli. You released your hold on it. It was not my fault that you are easily surprised."
"Ha! Shut up! It was your fault and it's final!" Cagalli strode her way to Meyrin, and then pulled the confused red-head away from the balcony. "C'mon Meyrin! Let's leave that idiot and go down to meet the others."
"B-But Miss Cagalli..." Meyrin trailed off as she was pulled away from the balcony. She kept on glancing back at Athrun, who was looking at them in amusement.
When the two women were out of sight, Athrun went back near the railing to stare across the vast Athha Grounds. He took a deep breath and exhaled with a huff. His emerald orbs were twinkling in delight, while he chuckled silently.
'It's a good start,' he thought to himself, 'I will wait as long as you want, Cagalli. I'll be your good friend for now, but I'll make sure that in the future, our status will be more than that.'
A smirk was slowly forming on his handsome face as he thought, 'Relax and slow down, Zala. Just relax and do it step by step.'
oooooooo
A few hours after Athrun and Cagalli had their talk at the balcony, the group of friends planned to do something. It was after lunch when the whole gang decided to visit the orphanage by the beach. Kira, Athrun, Yzak, Dearka, Cagalli, Meyrin, and Lunamaria were waiting outside the Athha Estate for Lacus, Shiho, and Mir to finish preparing little Ade. They would be riding separately in three different cars. It was decided that Kira, Lacus, Cagalli, and little Ade will be using a red Maserati convertible; Athrun, Meyrin, Luna, and Piggie will be using a white BMW convertible; and lastly, Yzak, Dearka, Shiho, and Mir will be using a silver Volvo convertible. Of course, these three cars were owned by the one and only Princess of Orb.
"Damn, Cagalli! You own more cars than Kira, Athrun, Yzak, and I combined. It should be illegal for a woman, and a Princess at that, to own these expensive toys," Dearka exclaimed in amazement as he checked out each car.
"What is that supposed to mean, Elsman? Just because I'm a female, I'm not allowed to indulge myself with these big toys?" Cagalli sneered in annoyance.
"Woah! Relax, Cagalli. Don't mind him. Dearka is just jealous because you own more cars than him," Kira pacified his sister jokingly. Cagalli only huffed as she crossed her arms in irritation.
Dearka whistled in admiration. "Tell me, princess. How many cars do you own aside from these beauties?"
"These three are my only four-seater convertibles. I also have three two-seater convertible sports car, one of them is one of a kind. I own a 4x4 jeep, too," Cagalli enumerated smugly.
Dearka's jaw dropped in incredulity. A vein was popping on Yzak's temple. Kira had his eyes widened in astonishment, while Athrun raised an eyebrow.
Dearka was first to react. "You have to let me see them, princess, or else I swear I'll follow you like a stalker!" he declared eagerly.
"No!" Cagalli denied him. "And for the millionth time stop calling me PRINCESS!"
"C'mon Cagalli!" Dearka whined while tugging Cagalli's white, folded long-sleeved, button-up shirt.
"I said NO!"
"Princess, c'mon! Let me see them, let me see them!"
"Dearka..." Cagalli growled threateningly.
Before Cagalli could clobber Dearka with her fists, Lunamaria decided to intervene between the two blondes. "Uhmm...Miss Cagalli."
Cagalli snapped her attention to Luna, urging her to continue what she was going to say.
"Uhmm...I was just wondering if you can help me find someone here in Orb," Luna asked shyly.
The men stared at Lunamaria inquiringly. Cagalli tilted her head to the side in curiosity. "Yes, I can help you about that. We can ask one of my men to check the Orb's profile database library. They'll be able to find who you are looking for with in a day or two if that person you are looking for is a very active citizen of Orb. If that person is not that active, we have to wait for at least a week or two to find him or her."
Lunamaria's eyes widened in excitement. "Really? Thank you very much, Miss Cagalli. This means so much to me. I haven't seen this person for four years now. I wanted to continue our communication, despite of our painful separation, but unfortunately, we were not able to exchange our personal contact and address."
"Him? What's his name, onee-san? Do we know him?" Meyrin asked her elder sister.
Lunamaria slightly blushed, almost unnoticed by the others, if not for their Coordinator enhanced sight. "Of course all of you know him. I'm asking help in finding Shi―"
While they were talking, they failed to notice the incoming speeding navy blue motorbike. Before Lunamaria could finish stating the name of the person she was talking about, a loud screech interrupted her. Everyone turned their attention to the mysterious motorbike rider. The mysterious rider was wearing a matching navy blue tinted helmet to hide his identity. He wore a blue, long-sleeved, turtle neck beneath his stylish, brown, leather jacket. He wore black jeans and black, leather, combat boots. He was wearing leather gloves, too. He was a little bit tall, with lean and a slightly muscular physique.
When the mysterious rider moved away from his motorbike, Kira, Athrun, Yzak, and Dearka positioned themselves in front of the ladies to protect them in case the rider would cause trouble. As the mysterious rider moved his hands to remove his helmet, the Athha Estate entrance door opened and out came little Ade and Piggie zooming his way towards the mysterious stranger, behind him were Lacus, Mir, and Shiho.
The four men tried to stop Ade from getting near the stranger, but the energetic boy escaped their grasps. They were about to follow him, when little Ade wrapped his short arms around the stranger's leg and screamed something that froze them in place.
"PAPA SHINN!"
The mysterious rider fully removed his helmet. He scooped little Ade and carried him in one of his arms. He slowly turned his head towards their direction and faced them.
Unruly black hair and piercing ruby orbs greeted them. He slowly smirked and gave them an informal, yet friendly salute.
"Long time no see everyone."
oooooooo
AN: Goal accomplished! I was able to write a much shorter chapter than my previous ones. I'm trying to minimize the number of words per chapter...6,000 to 7,000 words quota. The reason why I wanted to shorten my chapters is because I planned for this fiction to have a total of 150 to 180 thousand words, with 15 to 20 chapters including the Prologue and Epilogue.
THANK YOU for my readers and reviewers! I am extremely SORRY for updating later than expected. I know I messaged my reviewers that I'll be posting a new chapter early this week, unfortunately, I was busy reading some GSEED fictions and I got carried away.
Please continue reviewing. REVIEWS are very much appreciated. I need your REVIEWS for inspiration and for the will to continue this fiction with vigor. THANK YOU!
PS: I'll be giving an exclusive update about the highlight topic of the next chapter, and the tentative and approximate posting schedule to my reviewers ONLY.
Notes:
* 1 gilla coin = Gilla is the standard currency used by the Side 1 colonies in the Universal Century. Universal Century is the timeline before Cosmic Era.
* I changed Kisaka, Athrun, and Shiho's military rank. These will be their new ranks and please be guided: Fleet Admiral Ledonir Kisaka of Orb Forces; High Commander Athrun Zala of ZAFT; and Major Shiho Hahnenfuss of ZAFT.
- boink! -
29 Mar. 2012
ooo
NEXT CHAPTER: Chapter Four: Crimson Raven