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 MS GSEED and GSEED Destiny. SUNRISE produced it, and it was directed by Mitsuo Fukuda.
Acknowledgement: Ahalyna. darkangel. kiarakite. Azetta. orb90. fate-star. Nina. blondeprincessa. mILiarika24. Freyris. asucagafan. gundamfan. qkiss. suki. OPrincess ShinigamiO. itsmesassy. popcaga. Jewelry'ChuuX3 . YellowMisterLego. arika518. gundamalchemist01. MightyBabooChacha. Arkangel87. Sandyx5. Luna. elgnis rekresreb. eun-nao. aurelian620. xAnyee. serenity serena shields. cess. zala123attha. thextell33. TheRedSin. tetetkh. owtwo. jannatul azira.
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HER LITTLE WARRIOR
Chapter Six: Heart Strings
oooooooo
Orb Union: Athha Estate
"Where the hell is that damn woman?!" Yzak exclaimed impatiently for the third time.
Ade piqued on his seat. He was perched on one of the jeep hoods that they would be using for their afternoon picnic. The little prince told his Auntie Shiho beside him, who was leaning her back against the jeep, to put him down the ground. Confused and curious, Shiho complied with his request and helped him. She scooped him under his armpits, and then placed him safely on the ground. As soon as his feet touched the solid hard surface, Ade scampered towards the scowling platinum-haired Coordinator.
"Gotcha! Gotcha! You used bad words, Uncle Yzak! Will you please give me 2 gilla coins, uncle?" Little Ade asked, jumping excitedly in front of him. He had his small palm extended in front of the older man.
Dearka and Shiho laughed out loud at Yzak's amusing predicament. Athrun chuckled, enjoying Ade's cute antics. Yzak narrowed his eyes at the little boy standing in front of him, but Ade was undeterred and continued his expectant stare. Yzak sighed in compliance, as he groped for coins inside his pocket.
"Yay!" Ade squealed in delight, as he received the coins. He hugged Yzak's legs, and then dashed back inside the estate, with Piggie hot on his heels. "Nana Myrna! I got 2 gilla coins from Uncle Yzak! Please help me drop it inside my 'good deed' jar!" the little prince hollered for his nana.
While Ade was inside, Yzak was glaring at his friends in extreme annoyance. "What the hell are you all laughing at?!"
Dearka cleared his throat, as he tried to contain his chuckles. "Really, Yzak Joule. You still haven't learned your lesson. Everybody knows that nothing escapes Prince Andreas Athha's hearing, especially bad words. If you want to keep your coins, be cautious on what you say in front of him. The kid has a very good sense of hearing. If I didn't know that he was a Natural, he could pass as a Coordinator," the blonde Coordinator said in a matter-of-fact tone.
"I know that!" Yzak snapped at him.
"Then if you are aware of that, as what you have claimed, my dearest fiancé," Shiho started, "Why is it that the little munchkin was able to collect some coins each day from you since we arrived here, hmm?" she teased her pissed off fiancé.
Yzak sneered at them. "Shut up! The main topic here is not me, but the woman who was supposed to be here 15 minutes ago. Where the hell is Athha? She planned this outing, so she should have been here by now."
Five days had passed, since Cagalli, Shinn, Kira, and Lacus had arrived back from Heliopolis Dos. As Peace Treaty Board Members, Cagalli and Lacus informed the others about the Project Entwine. They were surprised and thrilled for this unexpected project. It was not a secret that most of them would surely benefit from Entwine.
The visitors from PLANTs had been staying in Orb for almost a month now. Since it was weekend, Cagalli invited everyone for an afternoon picnic at Yuliya Secret Garden, a private park owned by the deceased Lady Athha of Orb. Unfortunately, the host was missing in action. Athrun, Dearka, Yzak, and Shiho were waiting outside for the others to come out. Lacus, Miriallia, Meyrin, and Luna went to the kitchen to fetch their picnic baskets. On the other hand, Kira and Shinn went inside to look for Cagalli.
"You complain like an old woman, Joule," a feminine voice drawled behind him.
Yzak scowled even more when he saw the blonde princess walking towards them. Cagalli greeted the other three with nod and a smile, and then changed into a smug grin when she shifted her attention to Yzak.
"And if I may inform you, Yzak Joule, I am not late," Cagalli continued, "You are just, too, damn early. I said let's meet down here at 1:30, not 1:15, so it's your fault that you have to wait for 15 minutes, not mine," she sneered at him.
Yzak growled under his breath.
"Why you cheeky little―hmrph!"
Shiho knew how explosive her fiancé when provoked, so she immediately covered his mouth with her hand, before Ade would hear another curse from him. At the same time, Kira, Shinn, Lacus, Meyrin, Lunamaria, and Miriallia went out from the estate, with Ade and Piggie ahead of them. Ade stared curiously at Yzak and Shiho, expecting his Uncle Yzak to spat more bad words, so that he could collect more coins from him.
"I'll guess what happened here," Kira said teasingly, "Yzak was impatient with Cagalli because she was late, and he started to spat some inappropriate words not suitable for children. Unfortunately for him, Ade, my curious and intelligent nephew, heard him and demanded―ehem―excuse me, I mean asked for some coins for uttering those words."
Dearka, Shiho, and Athrun were snickering behind Yzak, while the platinum-haired Coordinator narrowed his eyes at Kira in annoyance, much to the amethyst-eyed man's amusement. Cagalli was smirking just to taunt and annoy more the Joule heir.
Before Yzak would explode in anger and embarrassment, Athrun asked if everything was set. "Do we have everything that we need for our outing?"
"Yes. We have all the picnic baskets ready and on hand," Lacus said, as she waved her hand towards the five medium-sized baskets on the ground.
Dearka grinned, while patting the hood of one of the jeeps that they would be using for transportation. "These two beautiful babies are all ready and set to hit the streets of Orb."
"Well, in that case, shall we proceed to our destination?" Shinn proposed.
One by one, the group went to their designated jeeps. Driving the red and first jeep was Shinn, with Cagalli sitting beside him. With them were Ade, Lunamaria, and Piggie at the middle seat, while Athrun and Meyrin were at the back. The black and second jeep was driven by Dearka, with Miriallia at the front seat. With them were Kira and Lacus at the middle, and Yzak and Shiho at the back. The two jeeps sped up, as they arrived at the highway proper of Orb.
oooooooo
Orb Union: Yuliya Secret Garden
The group spread four blue and white checkered picnic blankets on the grass, and then put them close together to create a big and spacious square-shaped blanket. The women prepared the food, as they chatted. The men were busy playing with Ade and Piggie, since the little boy had been pressuring them to play with him, since they arrived at the park.
After an hour of playing, the women called the men and Ade for some snacks. The women prepared this morning some clubhouse sandwiches, rolls, tarts, cookies, pasties, and waffles for snacks. For drinks, they had lemonade and pineapple juice for the adults and fresh milk for Ade and Piggie.
It was an afternoon full of merriment, as they enjoyed their snacks, while talking and sharing about various things. They laughed at Dearka and Ade's partnership in annoying Yzak with their antics. Cagalli and Kira had their usual brother/sister bantering session, with Athrun and Shinn joining them every now and then. The rest of the women were chatting amiably to anything related to fashion and current events. They were relishing the fine weather and the beautiful garden, when Cagalli stopped midway in her argument with Kira, Athrun, and Shinn.
"Darn! I almost forgot," the blonde princess exclaimed, "I made something this morning, and I want all of you to have a taste of it. Just give me a few seconds to look for it," she said, while looking inside one picnic basket to another. "Where is it, where is it," she muttered under her breath, "...where is―Aha! Here!"
All of them stared curiously at Cagalli, as she pulled out three, medium-sized, square-shaped, plastic containers inside one of the baskets. She also grabbed some paper plates and plastic utensils. The blonde princess brought those that she had pulled out with her, and placed them at the center of the blanket.
"What are those, Cagalli?" Shiho, who was sitting behind the busy princess, peered at the containers.
Cagalli sat cross-legged on the blanket, and then opened the container lids. "I made some cakes for all of us this morning. I have here mocha pudding cake, strawberry cheesecake, and chocolate moist cake. Choose and eat whatever tempts your taste buds," she said, while pointing at each round and medium-sized cake, as she named them.
The women were excited to taste the cakes. The men were curious, but not that excited, since they were not into sweets. All of them, except for Kira, were busy serving themselves with a slice of their preferred flavor. The Ultimate Coordinator was busy gaping at his twin sister in disbelief, instead of attacking his favorite chocolate moist cake.
"Woah, woah, woah! When did you learn to bake a cake? Is it even edible or do I need call and warn your family physician in advance in case food poisoning will occur?" Kira asked his sister. His eyes were still wide open, but with a teasing glint on them.
Although she was smiling, Cagalli's eyebrow twitched in mild irritation, "Brother, dear. If you don't want your share of chocolate moist cake to be eaten by me, I suggest you shut up and keep your annoying and petty jibes to yourself. Do I make myself clear, Kira Yamato?" She lightly threatened, gritting her teeth in annoyance.
"Crystal."
"Good. Now eat your share."
Dearka, Shiho, and Shinn were snickering at the background, as they stared at the siblings. Kira and Cagalli's bantering sessions were legendary within their group. It was legendary, in a sense that Cagalli won most of the time, and Kira would concede like a servant to his master. Athrun and Yzak were grinning as they listened to the siblings, while the rest of the women were amused. As the ever sweet Pink Princess, Lacus gave Kira a tender look, while patting his lap in comfort.
Kira shoved a medium-sized chunk of chocolate moist cake into his mouth. A very evident pout could be seen on his mouth, while chewing his favorite treat. Cagalli grinned smugly at her dominance against her twin brother.
Ade tilted his head to the side, staring at the adults around him. He was trying to understand what was funny, but decided to mind his own business, since adult stuffs were quite confusing for his young mind. Ade was enjoying his strawberry cheesecake beside Piggie, when he saw Meyrin offered his Uncle Athrun a slice of chocolate moist cake.
"Is that your fa-vo-rite cake, Uncle Athrun?" he asked, as he pronounced each syllable of the word 'favorite' slowly. Since he was still four years old, he had a hard time pronouncing some long words.
Before Athrun could answer the young boy, Meyrin beat him into it. "Yes, little Ade. Chocolate moist cake had been Athrun's favorite. Since we became a couple, Athrun had been eating this particular flavor of cake and nothing else," she informed the curious prince quite confidently.
Cagalli, who was about to eat her last piece of moist cake, caught the last part of their conversation and decided to join them.
Cagalli stared back and forth between her emerald-eyed ex-lover and Meyrin. "Wait a minute. You prefer chocolate moist cake now, than strawberry cheesecake? When did you start eating that?" She addressed her question to Athrun, genuinely interested at his answer.
Athrun stiffened slightly on his seat, trying to conceal his nervousness from his red-headed fiancé.
Meyrin stared at Athrun and Cagalli in confusion. "What do you mean, Miss Cagalli? Didn't you know that Athrun's favorite cake is chocolate moist cake, since...you know...the two of you were quite...close...a few years ago?"
Their conversation caught everyone's attention. The group waited for the blue-haired Coordinator's answer. Most of them knew that Athrun was a certified and loyal―in Cagalli's term―'strawberry-holic'.
Now, Cagalli's curiosity turned into confusion. Also, she was a little bit irritated on how Meyrin worded her past relationship with Athrun, though she tried to deny it and simply passed it as awkwardness, and not irritation.
"Yes...that is why I'm asking," Cagalli stated with combined patience and testiness, "From what I know, since we were...close...a few years ago, Athrun dislikes anything with chocolate on it. He is more on to strawberry flavored treats because he likes the combination of sweetness and sourness of it. Aside from that, he likes the fruity smell of the fruit. It calms his nerves," she slowly explained to the frowning younger red-headed woman.
Meyrin was skeptical of Cagalli's explanation. She firmly believed that she was right about Athrun. "I'm sorry, Miss Cagalli. Maybe you got the wrong details. Since we arrived in PLANTs and I became his secretary, I haven't seen him eat anything other than something with chocolate. He orders chocolate moist or chocolate mousse cake for snacks in his office, once every week."
"Really...? Maybe I was misinformed then? Oh well, if you say so," Cagalli stated, although, she knew in herself that she was correct. Athrun confirmed it to her that he preferred strawberry than chocolate, when they were still dating.
"But how come," Lacus added softly, "when Athrun was still visiting me at Clyne Mansion, he always chose the variety of strawberry desserts that I prepared than the chocolate flavored ones? We have been close friends for so long," she continued, "that I am sure that the only people in the group that craves chocolate more than anything are Kira and Cagalli, especially Cagalli."
All throughout their conversation, Athrun remained silent, as he pondered on how would he explain his new fixation with chocolate, and his long time addiction with strawberry cheesecake.
Kira, who was listening at them, shared his own insight. "Now that you mentioned it, as far as I can remember, when we were still attending our preparatory school in Copernicus City, you told me that your favorite dessert was strawberry cheesecake, since your mother always made it for you. Aside from that, you don't like chocolate that much because it was too bitter or too sweet for your taste. Right, Athrun?"
Athrun was brought out from his thoughts, when his best friend since childhood asked him a question. "Pardon, Kira. What was your question again?"
Kira raised an eyebrow at him. "I said, you told me when we were still children that your favorite dessert was strawberry cheesecake, and that you don't like chocolate that much. Right?"
"Athrun...?" Meyrin faced her silent fiancé, waiting for him to back her up.
"Uhh..."
All of them were waiting for Athrun to confirm or deny anything.
"Athrun...?" Meyrin asked again, "Your favorite was chocolate moist cake, right, darling?"
"Err..."
Yzak got impatient and snapped, "Zala! Just answer the insignificant question already!"
Athrun sighed, and then grinned sheepishly at them. "Strawberry cheesecake was―no―is my favorite dessert, since childhood and up to present. I just recently liked desserts with chocolate, especially chocolate moist cake."
"So..." Meyrin started hesitantly, "your favorite dessert is really strawberry cheesecake? But...I thought it was chocolate cake. I assumed it was chocolate, since you had been requesting it for the past four years."
"You never asked Meyrin. Actually, I started trying chocolate flavored cakes when we went back to PLANTs. Maybe, that was why you thought that my favorite dessert was something to do with chocolate. Before that, I preferred eating strawberry cheesecake only. Nothing else," Athrun explained gently to his fiancé. He did not want her to be more embarrassed in assuming that she knew him very well more than his friends.
Meyrin blushed in humiliation. She was so confident that she knew everything about Athrun. Before awkwardness would creep out around them, Dearka voiced out something that had been bothering him, since they started this strawberry versus chocolate debate.
"Hey, Athrun. I'm just curious," Dearka opened up, "Why did you decided to finally try some chocolate treat? We had been forcing you to eat some of it, but you refused to even have a bite. Why the change of heart, man? C'mon tell us," he asked with one of his eyebrows raised.
Beads of sweat started to form on his forehead, as Athrun tried to conceal the truth behind his new hobby of eating chocolate treats every once in a while. He cleared his throat, and then answered as calmly as possible.
"Aah...I just felt like it was time for me to...uh...try something new. So why not try one of my least favorite treats, right?" Athrun answered as simple and vague as possible, enough to satisfy his friends' and his fiancé's curiosity.
"Really, Athrun?" Meyrin asked, a bit skeptical of his answer. She felt that there was a deeper reason why he started eating those foods with chocolate, right after he left Orb for PLANTs.
"Of course," Athrun answered rather quickly.
Meyrin sighed, pleased with his answer.
Lunamaria stared at her younger sister in concern. The magenta-haired Coordinator knew from the start that Athrun and Meyrin were not meant to last forever. The two were polar opposites. According to the human law of attraction, 'opposites attract', but in the case of her sister and the blue-headed High Commander, it was not applicable. Hopefully, her younger sister would understand and accept it someday.
"Alright, if you say so," the blonde Representative of Februarius City said, "I thought it was your way of remembering your happiest moments with our resident chocoholic herself, Princess Cagalli of Orb," he joked to lighten up the mood.
Unfortunately, instead of preventing the awkwardness in the atmosphere, Dearka's statement heightened the tension between them.
Athrun stiffened on his seat, his eyes widened for a second, until he masked his reaction into fake amusement, though he failed.
Cagalli almost blushed. Thankfully, she was able to conceal it by turning her head to the side.
Meyrin snapped her head towards Athrun, trying to meet his emerald orbs and find, at least, a small amount of assurance from him that what Dearka said was far from truth.
Shinn turned his gaze to Cagalli, an eyebrow raised at her unreadable reaction.
Kira slightly gaped at them. He was subtly staring from Athrun, and then Cagalli, and then Meyrin, and then vice versa.
Lacus gasped inaudibly, as she controlled her hands to stay put on her lap, and not to cover her mouth with them.
Yzak narrowed his blue eyes in irritation, while glaring daggers at his tactless blonde best friend.
Lunamaria turned his gentle purple orbs at her younger sister in concern.
Miriallia sharply elbowed her unofficial lover at his side. "Dearka, you idiot," she hissed at him.
Silence surrounded them. The only sound that you could hear was the shuffling of leaves around them. It was one of the most awkward ten seconds of their life.
Shiho, having the presence of mind of a veteran war soldier, clapped her hands to get their attention and said enthusiastically, although a bit forced, "Alright! Alright! Who wants to eat more cake? I have tried the mocha pudding and the chocolate moist already. I'll be having a slice of strawberry cheesecake next, so who wants more?"
Athrun, Cagalli, Yzak, and Miriallia sighed, grateful for Shiho's quick thinking. 'Damn, woman! I knew there was a reason why I fell in love with you,' Yzak thought, smirking subtly at his fiancé.
Ade perked up from his seat. His mouth was covered with red strawberry syrup from the cake. He scrambled hurriedly towards Shiho and beamed widely at her.
"ME! ME!" Ade announced excitedly, his arms waving above him, "I want straw-ber-ry cake! It's my super fa-vo-rite! Please give me more, Auntie Shiho!"
With Ade's excitement and Piggie's loud barking combined, the tension between them slowly decreased. Only one person remained silent. Even though she was smiling at her companions, her eyes betrayed her true feelings.
'Athrun...why can't you forget about her? I stayed by your side for four years. You said that the two of you will just be friends and nothing else, and now, I found out that most of your actions and interests for the past years were somewhat related, or something to do with her,' Meyrin thought in despair and betrayal.
ooo
Sigh.
Dearka sighed for the eighth time since they sat there. After they ate, the group split into pairs or smaller groups. Staying on their prepared picnic blanket were Kira and Lacus, while Yzak sat a few feet away from the couple, leaning his back against a tree, as he watched Athrun, Cagalli, Shiho, and Ade enjoying a game of Frisbee. Lunamaria and Meyrin were also watching the playing group, as they sat under the tree, while brushing Piggie's thick fur, who was sleeping and basking from the two women's light brushing. Shinn disappeared somewhere a few minutes ago.
Sig―
"Dearka..." Miriallia threatened softly.
"Hmm?"
"Do you have a problem?" asked the auburn-haired photographer.
"None...?" Dearka replied, although she was not sure if his answer was a statement or a question.
"If you want to say something, or you want to confide to someone, I'm here, alright? I'll listen to you...anytime." Miriallia smiled encouragingly beside him.
Dearka and Miriallia were resting side by side in an elevated part of the garden, away from the prying eyes of their friends. From where they rested, they could see their friends having fun and enjoying their time. Miriallia was sitting upright, her arms wrapped around her bent legs as she rested her chin on her knees. Beside the pretty photographer, Dearka was lying on the ground with hands clasped behind his head, and one knee bent.
Sigh.
Another sigh came from the blonde Coordinator.
"Sigh. I feel unattractive and the ugliest guy in this universe," Dearka declared out of nowhere.
Miriallia swiveled down her head to the blonde beside her. Dearka acted oblivious
"Kira had Flay Allster during the first war, and then he had Lacus during the second war. And now, the cry-baby is engaged to his true love. On the other hand, Yzak was never interested in women even when we were still kids. As much as he could, he avoided women at all cost because he thought they were hindrance to his goals in defeating Athrun, and to become one of the best elite soldiers in ZAFT. Now, look at that grumpy best friend of mine. He had an instant fiancé, and then fell in love with her eventually," Dearka stated as he stared at the moving clouds above them.
Miriallia frowned. She did not like this topic at all. She wanted to interrupt him, but Dearka was adamant in finishing his 'ranting'.
"At an early age," Dearka continued, "Shinn was clouded with revenge against Orb and the Athhas. He wasted his teenage years in training, so that, he could avenge his fallen family. But damn, the kid had two lady-loves during the second war. And if my innocent and attractive violet eyes were not deceiving me, the kid and miss 'don't-call-me-princess-or-else' have something going on between them. And the worst of all, mister Red Knight himself, Athrun Zala, had his own 'unofficial' harem with him. First, he had PLANTs Pop Idol, Lacus Clyne, as his pre-arranged ex-fiancé, and then he had Princess Cagalli Yula Athha of Orb as his ex-lover and ex-fiancé, too. When he was serving for ZAFT during the second war, he had Meer Campbell as his fake fiancé, and then got an admirer in Lunamaria Hawke, his subordinate. After them, he dated some irrelevant women for the past years. Now, he was engaged to his secretary and longtime stalk―err I mean admirer, Meyrin Hawke. Damn those lucky bastards!" he grumbled, pouting like a deprived kid.
Irritated at the over-acting blonde beside her, Miriallia punched him on his gut.
"Ow! Why did you do that?" Dearka whined, clutching his stomach. He sat up and massaged the aching spot.
"Hmph!" Miriallia snorted. "That punch I gave you was nothing. I know it was not that painful, so don't over-react," she said, raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms. "And stop it with your rambling speech. I know how big your ego is when it comes to your looks. As far as I remember, I heard you bragging to Yzak how women flock around your irresistible looks and good physique when I visited one time at PLANTs," she informed him sarcastically.
"Eh?" Dearka scrambled beside Miriallia. "M-Mir sweetheart, that was only once. I was just annoying grumpy Yzak at that time. None of those things that you heard were true. Cross my heart!" The ex-pilot of Buster tried to persuade his lady-love to believe him.
"Hmm...So you were not telling the truth then when you said that I am the only love of your life?" Miriallia asked him in a deadpanned manner.
"M-Mir! Of course you're the only love of my life! Ever since we met, you are all that I think about and no one else," Dearka gently held her hands in between his and softly kissed them, as he stared intently at her eyes. Signs of humor were completely wiped out from his face. "I have been in love with you for six years, Miriallia Haw. My heart will love no one but you, and that I can promise you."
Miriallia stiffened on her seat. "NO. Not about this again, Dearka! We've talked about this already," she protested, while trying to pry both of his hands to release her, though she failed to do it.
"Miriallia, I love you so much. I don't care what other people say about us. I don't care about them. I just want to be with you," Dearka said, to the point of almost pleading.
Miriallia inhaled shakily as she tried to suppress the tears that were about to fall from her eyes. She weakly shook her head from side to side as she struggled to say something. "I-I know. I never doubted you. I know you love me, and I know that you know what are my feelings for you... b-but we can't. D-Dearka, you know we can't be officially together. Your parents do not approve―"
Dearka released one of her hands, and then placed his two fingers on her lips to cut her off. "Sshh..." He closed his eyes and leaned his forehead against her, and said, "I know we had talked about this. If it was up to me, I would have defied my parents years ago and follow you here on Earth. My parents be damned. As long as I am with you, I will be happy―"
"Dearka―"
"Sshh..." This time, he opened his violet orbs as he pleaded through them for her to listen to him. "Please, Miriallia. Listen to me first. I think it is time for us to discuss this. I understood when you said a long time ago that we could never be officially together, as long as my parents would not approve of you and accept our relationship. I tried my best to understand your concerns. I know that you don't want to be the cause of the rift between my parents and I, but Mir, sweetheart, you are very important to me, too. I am tired of waiting and waiting for us to be officially together and show to everyone that we belong to each other."
"Dearka, please...we had an agreement―"
"No! Miriallia, listen to me." Dearka gripped her hands more firmly, not to hurt her, but to hold her attention. "I know we had an agreement that we will not broach again this topic of us being officially together, until both our parents would accept our relationship, especially my parents. This was your decision, and I respected that because I know you will not be fully happy with me if those people who are dear to us are against us."
Dearka took his sweetheart's hand and affectionately kissed each of her fingertips, before he stared lovingly at her blue-green eyes and said, "I would not have brought up this topic again IF nothing had changed, sweetheart."
The pretty auburn-headed Natural stared at him in confusion. There was something different in his violet eyes as he said those words. He seemed to be hiding something important that would change everything about them.
"Dearka...?" Miriallia asked hesitantly, confusion written on her face.
The ex-Buster pilot squeezed tenderly his lady-love's hand. "Aside from visiting and catching-up with our friends here in Orb, and of course, to spend quality time with you, I have another reason why I chose Earth to spend my whole vacation with," Dearka started. "A month before our compulsory vacation," he continued, "I received a phone call from mother, asking me if I could visit and have dinner with them. It was the usual pleasant dinner with both of my parents, as we talked about random things. Everything was the same as our previous intimate family dinners, except that when the time that I had to go and bid them goodbye, father called back my attention and said an unexpected thing."
Miriallia listened attentively at him with baited breath. As much as possible, the two of them would avoid any topic in relation to their parents, since the main reason why they can't be together were them. If Dearka had willingly talked about his parents now, it meant that this information was something important for the two of them.
"He said and I quote, 'Son, when will you bring that special girl of yours here, so that we could finally meet her?' I thought I heard wrong, until mother started to talk and mentioned your name. She said that she hoped that it was not yet too late for them to meet you, despite of their five years of silence and opposition to our relationship," Dearka stated, waiting for her reaction.
"Huh?...B-But...w-what...?" Miriallia was shocked. She had a hard time in absorbing and comprehending what she had heard.
Noticing that his lady-love wasn't able to form any coherent words, Dearka decided to continue what he had to say. "I was supposed to tell you about it the day after our family dinner, but I decided to postpone it since my parents' approval would be useless if your parents would not approve of us. A week before we left from PLANTs, I contacted your parents and asked for an audience. Thankfully, your parents agreed. I had been secretly meeting with them for the past three weeks, trying to win their approval. I'm still working on―oomph!"
The handsome blonde Coordinator wasn't able to finish what he had to say as his auburn-headed sweetheart jumped on to him, and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. Dearka was about to ask her what was wrong when he felt her body shook against him.
"Mir...sweetheart? What's wrong?" Dearka asked hesitantly.
Miriallia tried to contain her emotions when Dearka said that his parents were finally ready to meet her. She tried to let him continue talking without interrupting, but all the things that he said were overwhelming, and her poor heart couldn't take it anymore. She threw her arms around her sweetheart and sobbed on his neck to her heart's content.
She was happy.
She was happy because, finally, they would be able to show to the world that they belong together...officially.
They had been waiting for this moment for years, that their parents would finally accept and acknowledge their relationship, a Natural and a Coordinator.
Dearka wrapped his arms around Miriallia, and then positioned her comfortably on his lap. He alternately kissed her hair and murmured sweet and loving words to her ear. They stayed in that position for a couple of minutes, until Miriallia had calmed down. Dearka slowly pulled away from her and gave her a few more kisses on her nose and eyelids. He wiped away the remaining traces of tears that haven't dried yet with his fingers.
"Are you alright now, sweetheart?" Dearka gently asked her. Miriallia smiled, and then nodded at him in affirmative.
The blonde Coordinator pecked her lips with his, and then curiously asked her, "Are you happy, Miriallia?"
"No."
Dearka choked on his saliva. Her answer shocked him. He stared at her impassive face, trying to decipher if she was serious or not.
'NO?! What kind of answer is that?! She didn't even pause or thought it over. She just blurted it out nonchalantly!' he screamed inside his head. His eyes rounded in incredulity.
"E-Eh...? Miriallia, s-sweetheart―"
"No." Miriallia repeated impassively, "I am not happy."
Miriallia wanted to laugh out loud, as her sweetheart froze, with his jaw slightly hanging in disbelief. Thinking that she had tortured him enough, Miriallia gave in and softened her impassive expression into pure bliss and full of love for the man sitting before her.
"I am not only happy, sweetheart," Miriallia said lovingly, as she held his rough and larger hands in her softer and smaller ones, "I am extremely happy."
Dearka was grinning foolishly when he heard her confession. An overwhelming sense of elation and contentment spread within him. Unable to contain himself, he held her face between his hands and captured her lips in a slow and sweet kiss. After a few seconds, their kiss turned a little bit more heated and passionate as it could be.
As they calmed down, Dearka slowly removed his lips from hers. He leaned his forehead against her and tenderly asked, "So...Ms. Miriallia Haw, will you officially be my girlfriend?"
Still high from their kiss, Miriallia replied breathlessly, "Yes."
Dearka chastely kissed her again, before he wrapped his strong arms around her, and then pulled her in his embrace.
"I love you," he whispered to her ear.
"I love you, too," she replied lovingly.
After a few minutes of cuddling, Dearka opened his mouth and said something. "So..." Dearka trailed off, "...does this mean we are not only friends with benefits, but also...loverswithmorebenefits?" he finished the last words in one breath.
Whether it was due to embarrassment, or anger, or both, Miriallia turned into a human tomato, as she stiffened and blushed instantaneously.
"ELSMAN, YOU LECHER!"
ooo
Shinn was perched on one of the lower tree branches, away from the prying eyes of others. He needed a short breather away from his issues in life. Right now, his hands were full of responsibilities to his country and his countrymen. Past issues were not relevant as of the moment and should take a back seat first, and wait for the right time for it to take center stage. For an hour, he had a peaceful and relaxing alone time, when he heard someone below him clearing her throat.
Shinn looked down and saw one magenta-haired woman, who he was avoiding subtly for a month now, staring expectantly at him.
"What are you doing up there, Shinn?" Lunamaria curiously asked him.
Lunamaria wanted to talk him for a long while now, since she saw him removed his helmet three weeks ago. Unfortunately, as the Orb Commander and Security Head of the Royal Family, Shinn Asuka was one busy man. He was busier than the word busy itself.
"Trying to clear and calm my mind. I just want to stay away for a few minutes and relax, if possible...alone," he answered indifferently, as he turned back his head before him.
Lunamaria slightly flinched at his words. Lunamaria was an intelligent young woman. She knew that her presence was not welcome as of now. She understood, but still, it was quite painful that the person that you care for did not want your presence near their person. Admitting defeat for now, Lunamaria poorly excused herself from him.
"Oops! Uhmm...I forgot I promised little Ade that we will play together with Piggie...uhmm...I have to go," Lunamaria reasoned, "Excuse me!" she added with haste.
The pretty magenta-haired Coordinator turned her back at the silent raven-haired young man, and then walked away from him.
Shinn remained silent and motionless atop the lower branch, as if he did not care about the young woman who, some time ago, was his lover. A few seconds later, Shinn slowly turned his gaze to where he could see a distant speck of magenta walking away from him. His ruby orbs remained glued on her back, until she completely disappeared from his sight. Shinn slowly raised his head, watching the clouds above him, and then smirked contentedly at no one.
"I might still have feelings for you, but right now, someone needs me more than you do," Shinn whispered to the wind, his messy raven locks swaying wildly with it. "It's not yet the right time for us. Hopefully, when that time comes, wherein everything is in place, we will be given a chance to renew what we had before, whether it is friendship or something more. And this time, what we will have...will be much better," he promised to himself, as he smiled faintly.
ooo
"Care to share what's bothering you, Kira?" Lacus asked without looking at her fiancé, who had his head on her lap.
"Hmm?" Kira responded, lost in his thoughts.
Lacus marked the page of the book that she had been reading for a while now, and then put it away. The two of them were resting on their picnic blanket, enjoying the sounds of nature and the laughter of their friends, who were playing not far from them. Lacus sat comfortably, with Kira stretched down beside her, his head resting on her lap.
Lacus smiled down at him and touched his forehead with her fingers. "I said, care to share what's bothering you?" she repeated.
Kira looked up and stared at her baby blue eyes, scrunching his forehead. "What makes you say that I'm bothered by something?"
Lacus huffed teasingly. "This―" she said, while straightening his furrowed forehead, "―made me say that something...or maybe someone is bothering you. Since we left from Heliopolis Dos, you've been lost in your thoughts for many times already," she stated, and then pecked his forehead affectionately.
Kira sighed in defeat, and then grinned at her. "You know me that well, huh?" he asked rhetorically. "Have you observed something different between Cagalli and Shinn? They seem to be a little bit too close for someone who is only friends."
"What do you mean, Kira?" she asked in puzzlement.
"Where Cagalli goes, Shinn always follows. Sometimes, they end each other's sentences when we have our conversations. Most of the time, they communicate by just staring at each other's eyes, and they were able to understand each other with just a look. They bicker like they are an old married couple. They do almost everything together. They argue and contradict each other most of the time, but if you observe them closely, they are quite affectionate with each other. Heck! They are more affectionate with each other, compared to when Athrun and Cagalli were still dating," Kira stated as he tried not to rant like a spoiled kid, though he failed miserably.
Lacus started to comb his brown locks with her fingers as Kira continued to speak.
"He is very protective of her," Kira continued. "They have the same likes and dislikes. He brought back the genuine smile on her face that Athrun carelessly took for granted years ago. He brought back the old Cagalli, and at the same time he changed her for the better―"
Lacus nodded in understanding, trying to grasp her fiancé's main point.
"―they may be enemies at first, but now, they act like they were not enemies at all. The two of them have more similarities in attitude and in their principles―"
Lacus was still combing his hair, waiting for Kira to blurt out his main problem.
"―there is something between Shinn and Cagalli, and whatever it is, I don't want her to get hurt again," Kira ended.
Lacus stilled her hand on top of his head. "And...?" Lacus started. "You are bothered that Shinn might leave and hurt Cagalli, as what Athrun did a few years ago," she stated.
"Well, no...I mean, y-yes! Yes, I'm bothered with that, too..." he trailed off, frowning in concentration.
"But..." Lacus baited him to continue.
"B-But...but I...I mean he..."
Lacus sighed exasperatedly. "Alright. From what I perceived, you are bothered by Cagalli and Shinn's closeness. You are worried that Shinn will hurt Cagalli like Athrun did, but you are not that bothered by it because what's bothering you is something bigger than that. Am I right?"
Kira stiffened on her lap. Lacus waited patiently for Kira to react.
5 seconds... 10 seconds... 18 seconds―Kira sat up abruptly, his head almost collided with Lacus's chin. Fortunately, she was able to avoid their collision. Thank god for her Coordinator reflex!
"He's a thief!" Kira exclaimed.
"..."
Lacus almost gaped at Kira's unexpected statement...the bottom-line here was almost. Chairwoman Lacus Clyne would never express an undignified expression such as gaping.
"He is stealing Cagalli away from me―"
"..."
"―Since he lost his little sister during the war, he is now trying to steal my own little sister away from me―"
"..."
"―He is trying to replace me as Cagalli's only older brother!"
Lacus remained silent on her seat, as she stared owlishly at her beloved, yet childish, fiancé. Kira was scowling as he tried to relax and slow down his heaving chest.
Seconds passed, silence surrounded the powerhouse couple of PLANTs.
If he was not staring at his angelic, pink-haired fiancé, Kira would have mistaken the melodious sound that he was hearing with wind chimes. Lacus tried to muffle her laughter with both of her hands, but some traitorous sound would escape from them. Her baby blue eyes were sparkling with mirth, while her face and neck were flushed, as she tried to stop her laughter. Kira was also flushed, but for a different reason. He was slightly upset that his beloved Lacus was laughing at him, and at the same time, embarrassed because his lovely fiancé found his situation and problem amusing.
"Lacus! This is not a laughing matter!" Kira exclaimed. He frowned, not pleased at all.
Lacus gasped in between laughter as she tried to calm herself. Unfortunately, every time she calmed down, a new batch of giggles and laughter would come out from her mouth.
"Tsk! Lacus, stop it already," the brunette Ultimate Coordinator grumpily admonished his pink-headed fiancé. Kira waited for her laughter to die down, almost pouting like a petulant child.
When her laughing bout calmed down into soft giggles, Lacus stared at her fiancé in amusement, and told him, "You're adorable, Kira."
The amethyst-eyed Coordinator had his eyes wide open, and his mouth open like a fish out of the water. He stared at his beautiful fiancé in disbelief, quite miffed that he was called 'adorable', when he was worried about Cagalli and Shinn's sibling-like relationship.
"Kira, my love," Lacus started, smiling prettily at him, "Shinn and Cagalli are just good friends. You may think that he is replacing you as her brother, but he is not. It's just that, Shinn became Cagalli's support for the past four years that she had been alone here in Orb. You don't have to worry about them. You'll always be Cagalli's only brother, and no one else," she comforted him.
"But, Lacus..." Kira trailed off, not fully convinced yet.
"You don't have to worry. So cheer up!"
Kira frowned at first, and then grinned at his fiancé. He pecked her on her lips and said, "Fine, I'll let it pass…for now. Thank you for listening and assuring me, love."
The couple smiled at each other, basking on the feeling of comfort and happiness that they give to each other. Their moment of peacefulness was interrupted when Dearka and Miriallia walked towards them, and the loud Buster ex-pilot called everyone to gather around their blanket.
"We have an announcement to make." Dearka was grinning like no tomorrow.
Cagalli stared at Miriallia's smiling and blushing face, with a something-good-happened-so-spill-it look on her shining amber orbs. Lacus smiled at the couple, while Shiho was grinning and had her one thumb discreetly up, so that Miriallia would be the only one seeing it. Yzak knew something very good had happened, since he never saw his violet-eyed best friend beaming like there was no tomorrow, and if possible, it might rival the shining sun with its brightness. Aside from that, the supposed to be unofficial couple was tightly holding each other's hands. At the corner of his eye, Yzak knew that Athrun and Kira, and even Shinn, saw that particular romantic gesture.
Dearka inhaled deeply and announced, "Mir and I were friends with benefits!"
The women in their group gasped at the scandalous announcement, of course, except for Shiho and Cagalli, who were snickering at Miriallia's pale and mortified face. The men, however, were more interested to hear the couple's announcement. Dearka's statement peaked their interest.
"Again. Mir and I were friends with benefits―"
"ELSMAN!" Miriallia exclaimed, horrified at her no shame boyfriend.
To Miriallia's mortification and distress, Dearka continued his announcement with gusto. "―and now, finally, we are officially together and leveled-up into official lovers with more benefits! Isn't it great, guys?!" he ended excitedly.
They were quiet for a couple of two or three seconds, until Lacus gasped Miriallia's name in delight and broke their silence. Cagalli wrapped her arms around Miriallia and congratulated her, and then went to Dearka and playfully swatted his head.
"Hey!" Dearka whined, while rubbing his head.
"It's about time, you pervert!" Cagalli exclaimed, happy and excited for her closest friends.
Shiho stood beside Miriallia, and then placed her arm around her shoulders. All the women crowded around them, as they congratulated the bashful, but very happy, auburn-haired woman. The men went to Dearka and gave him congratulatory pats on his shoulder. Athrun and Kira were standing on each side, with Dearka between them, while Shinn stood beside Kira. Yzak stood in front of his childhood best friend, smirking and very happy for the blonde, though he would never say it loud, much more in front of his annoying best friend.
The joyful atmosphere lasted for a few more minutes, until little Ade, who they had forgotten due to curiosity and excitement, approached Yzak. The little boy tugged the platinum-haired Captain's pants to get his attention.
"Uncle Yzak! Uncle Yzak!" The little boy called the older man.
Yzak diverted his attention from his friends to the little prince standing below him. "Yes, Ade. What is it?" he asked, one eyebrow raised.
Ade tilted his head to the side inquisitively. "Uncle Yzak, what is 'friends with be-ne-fits'?" he loudly asked the platinum-haired Coordinator, pronouncing the last word slowly.
Yzak turned rigid when he heard the question.
As luck would have it, all of his friends had heard the young boy. Time stood still between them and the little prince. A few seconds ticked by when Ade got a little bit impatient and asked again his question. This time, two thunderous voices, a man and a woman, reverberated around the park. The male voice had his blue eyes narrowed into slits at his best friend in extreme irritation, because the blonde idiot was the reason why he was cornered into this awkward situation. On the other hand, the female voice had her amber orbs burned in anger at the cowering blonde Coordinator, while her fists were clenched tightly beside her, ready to punch the idiot who got her innocent son hear those inappropriate words.
"ELSMAN!
oooooooo
Orb Union: Athha Estate
Athrun was typing rapidly on his laptop keyboard. He had been typing some plans for the upcoming Peace Treaty Anniversary next month. He was making some outline proposals and diagrams that would be presented to the Peace Treaty Committee two weeks from now. As the Security and Safety Committee Coordinator, he was in-charge in assigning the on-duty soldiers, policemen, and guards to their respective area of responsibility. He would be also assigning the escorts for each important and prominent figure that would be attending the celebration.
Athrun typed the last sentence of his proposal, before saving it in his Documents folder. He leaned his back on his chair, and then massaged his temple with his index and middle finger to alleviate his mild headache. He had been working with Yzak, Dearka, Lacus, and Cagalli about their tentative plans for the upcoming celebration. The five of them were working and discussing inside this mini conference room, with an eight-seater round table and a leather sofa. The five of them had started meeting every other night, since last week. They had their first meeting the day after they went to Yuliya Secret Garden.
Athrun checked his wrist watch and read '00:30'.
'It's half past 12 already. Time flies by when you're really busy,' the emerald-eyed Commander thought. It had been an hour ago, since Yzak, Dearka, and Lacus had retired for the night.
Athrun sighed, and then started gathering his things. "Hey, Cagalli, are you not done yet? You can finish that tomo―" When the blue-haired Coordinator raised his head, he stopped whatever he had to say, as he saw the Princess of Orb slumber on the leather sofa situated at the opposite side of the room. She was wearing a loose, long sleeves, red, button-up shirt that had its first two buttons unbuttoned and skinny jeans. She was lying down on her back, with her left arm resting across her abdomen and her right positioned beside her head.
Athrun smiled, and then slowly approached her slumbering form. He sat beside her on the sofa, his emerald eyes did not waver away from her beautiful face. It seemed like hours since he sat there, but actually, it was only two minutes. He raised his right hand, and then tenderly caressed her jaw. He slowly traced with his fingertips her relaxed forehead, and then her closed eyes, and then her cute button nose. He positioned his index and middle finger above her petal-like lips, hesitant on touching them. Finally, his heart won against his mind, as he slowly caressed her soft lips with his fingers. His fingers lingered a little bit longer, before he decided to remove them, though reluctantly.
Of course, unexpected things happen when you least expect it.
Before he could pull his fingers away from her, Cagalli unconsciously parted her mouth and thrust out her tongue to wet her lips, resulting for his fingers to slip in between the two softness. Athrun swallowed with difficulty. He was transfixed with his fingers cushioned between those enticing pink softness. Before he could stop and control his hormone-driven body, he removed his fingers from between her lips, and replaced them with his own.
Athrun knew he should not be doing this, but he was at his limit. As of now, he did not care if he had a fiancé already, or if Cagalli was vulnerable and asleep. He needed this closeness with the woman who was once his.
'Just one kiss. One chaste kiss on her lips, and that's it, I'll pull away and keep my distance,' Athrun swore to himself, even though he knew that he was lying and would break that promise some other time.
He positioned both of his arms on each side of her head, staring at her closed eyes and peaceful face. He had his emerald eyes on her face, watching if she was still asleep, as he lightly grazed his lips over hers, keeping the pressure as soft as possible. He did it for a few more times, before he added more pressure to his kiss. He gently kissed her lower lip, before slowly sucking them between his. A sensation of overwhelming happiness and contentment rushed inside him. He tried to control the urge to close his emerald orbs, but the feeling of excitement was too much for him.
Athrun continued skimming her lips with gentle kisses. Since his eyes were closed, he did not saw the sleepy amber orbs below him fluttered open.
Cagalli was reading some proposals at the sofa when she dozed off. She was floating in the land of dreams, when she was slowly pulled out from her slumber by something soft and delicious pressed on her mouth. She fluttered her amber eyes open, and saw something blue above her.
'Hmm...what's this sweet taste and...what is that blue thing...?' Cagalli thought. She was disoriented from her light slumber.
She blinked her eyes to fully wake her up. When she was fully awake, what she saw and felt above her shocked the hell out of her.
'A-Athrun...?' The blonde princess thought uncertainly.
She blinked.
There was a handsome blue-haired man pressed quite intimately above her.
She blinked.
There was a handsome blue-haired man pressed quite intimately above her, with his delicious lips on her.
She blinked.
There was a handsome blue-haired man pressed quite intimately above her, with his delicious lips on her, gently kissing and sucking her lips.
'...wait a damn minute!' Cagalli thought, her amber orbs widened in extreme shock, 'ATHRUN IS KISSING HER WHILE SHE WAS SLEEPING! Perverted creep! Stupid h-hamster brain!' she shouted inside her head.
Cagalli was about to push Athrun away from her, when the said handsome man slowly parted his lips from her own, his eyes were still closed.
"A-Athrun..." Cagalli gasped, startling the blue-haired man above her.
Athrun's eyes flew open when he heard his name. His first reaction should be mortification, since he was caught stealing a kiss from her, but the 'sensual' part of him was captivated by her dazed and half-lidded amber orbs. She was very beautiful flushed below him, her parted pink lips ready to be ravished by him and only him. Unable to control his strong urges, Athrun abandoned all his righteous and logical thoughts, and succumbed to the delicious temptation presented before him.
"Consequences be damned..." Athrun muttered to himself, and then pressed his lips on her parted ones.
Cagalli was totally confused. At first, she was staring at Athrun's darkened emerald orbs above her, and the next thing she knew, the handsome hamster brain captured her lips, again, and was kissing her sensually. Even though Cagalli wanted to push him away because it was wrong for them to do this, her traitorous hands and mouth, especially her heart, disobeyed her and started to respond to the temptation.
Cagalli surrendered and slowly closed her eyes, as she wrapped one of her hands around the back of his head, and the other one was tangled in his hair, gently pulling them with her fingers. She slowly kissed him back and received his slow and luscious kisses.
Athrun almost smirked when she started kissing him back. He wrapped one of his arms around her small waist, while the other was slowly removing the tie on her pony-tailed hair. When her hair was released, he entangled his fingers with her long blonde locks, pulling her petite body closer to him. Athrun lightly bit her bottom lip, and then slowly sucked the abused lip in his. They had more slow and sweet kisses, until Athrun slowly brushed his tongue along her lower lip, coaxing her mouth to open up and accept him. A few more of his gentle nips and his tongue sweeping along her lip, Cagalli surrendered to his seduction and slightly opened her mouth to receive his eager tongue. Athrun almost groaned in bliss, as his senses were bombarded with the taste and feel of uniquely Cagalli. Everything in him was on fire. He tilted his head slightly to one side so that he could taste and explore more her sweet and inviting mouth.
The yearning that they felt for each other was too much for them to handle. It had been so long since they held and felt each other. They had missed this feeling of letting go and complete surrender to their inhibitions, only doing what they wanted to do, and what they felt was perfect at the moment.
Athrun slowly opened his half-lidded emerald eyes, dark and blazing with passion, as he slowly broke their passionate kiss. Cagalli whimpered absentmindedly in protest, missing the warm sensation that his kisses could render to her whole body. To their great relief, the ex-lovers simultaneously reached for each other, igniting again their unconscious passion. The amber-eyed princess had her hands slipped under the back of his white shirt, and trailed her fingers sensually across the hard and toned muscles of his back. Athrun shivered under her electrifying touch, as he showered her jawline with his hot kisses.
Blinded with so much passion, Athrun removed his arm around her waist, and then moved his wandering hand on her midriff, until it reached the section just right beneath her heaving chest. Over her slightly rumpled red shirt, his fingertips were lazily grazing the base of her left breast, making her shudder uncontrollably. His mouth moved to her neck, showering her long and elegant neck with slow and open mouthed kisses. The act was so erotic that Cagalli's moan came out huskily, while biting her bottom lip to contain her pleasure-filled voice. Her other hand ran through his blue locks, pulling and clumping his hair into her hand.
Athrun continued his pleasurable task, until he reached a certain spot near the junction of her neck and left shoulder. He vividly remembered this special spot. This was one of her pleasure trigger points, among others that he had discovered a long time ago, that made her wantonly react and squirm instantaneously. Athrun wanted for Cagalli to remember and subtly tell her, that there would be no other man, except him, that could make her feel this way. He thought that this was his chance, to prove that they belong to each other. So he nibbled gently on the spot, and then flicked his tongue over her tender and slightly reddening flesh.
Yes, what he did might be perfect in this kind of situation, but, he had forgotten that what he and Cagalli had was very complicated at the moment. Lost in his lust filled mind, Athrun did what any amorous and in love man would do when presented with this kind of opportunity. He peppered her graceful neck with more open mouthed kisses, and then greedily sucked her pleasure trigger spot. Hard.
Two things happened at the span of five seconds.
"Athrun...!" Cagalli gasped her ex-lover's name. Her voice was ringing all over the empty and dimly lit room. She wasn't able to stop herself on reacting, quite audibly, her excitement.
With the combined tingling and slight painful sensation on her neck, Cagalli roused out from her lust-filled subconscious, as her amber orbs flew wide open, and remembered that what they were doing was completely unacceptable and inappropriate.
Athrun was off-limits.
Athrun was off-limits because he was already engaged.
Athrun was off-limits because he was already engaged, and his fiancé was staying inside one of the rooms above them.
'Oh, sweet and merciful Lord...!' The flushed and horrified Princess of Orb exclaimed inside her head, quite distressed at what transpired between her and Athrun.
Cagalli pushed away the hovering attractive man above her, who was still sucking her neck, as she scrambled hastily from the startled man. She stood a few steps away from him, while he was sitting on the sofa, staring at her with belated surprise expression. Both of their button-up shirts were rumpled, and some buttons were unbuttoned. Both of them were heaving, as they tried to control their breathing and their erratic and loud heartbeat.
Cagalli wanted to faint. Athrun was staring intently at her. His mesmerizing and dark emerald eyes, to the point of almost pitch-black, were ablaze with eagerness and hunger...for her.
Cagalli swallowed hard. 'Okay...okay...' she inwardly coached herself, as she tried to calm her nerves, 'Okay...Okay, that's it! I can't think properly,' Cagalli concluded desperately inside her mind.
For quite some time, silence surrounded them, as they stayed rooted on their spot, until Athrun attempted to move and stand-up from his seat.
Cagalli reacted on instinct.
"W-WAIT!" She exclaimed, raising both of her hands up in front of her, in a somewhat 'stop-stay-there-don't-come-near-me' manner.
"Cagalli..." Athrun rolled her name off his tongue huskliy, as if he were savoring it like a piece of his favorite strawberry treat.
"NO!" Cagalli exclaimed again, trying to resist the urge to stomp her foot...barely.
When Athrun attempted to stand-up again and approach her, Cagalli chose to do the opposite of her epithet, Goddess of Victory, and retreated cowardly from the dangerous, albeit gorgeous, male specimen that she wantonly sampled a while ago.
"U-Uh...I m-mean...I...uhmm...I-I have t-to go!" she sputtered quite desperately, slowly stepping away from the handsome emerald-eyed man before her.
In a last attempt to distance herself from Athrun, Cagalli walked―or dashed―towards the heavy oak doors, and then closed it with a bang, as she left the blue-haired male, alone, inside the conference room.
Athrun remained unmoving on the sofa, staring at the closed double doors. He groaned loudly, and then slump his back against the sofa, as he combed his blue hair with his hand in frustration. He dropped his head upright on the backrest, and then covered his closed emerald eyes with his forearm.
Even if Cagalli was not inside the room, he still ached to touch and worship each and every part of her body, but knew it was forbidden...for now.
Athrun groaned loudly, again, and then growled to know one, "Damn it, Zala! You and your perverted and hormonal urges! Why can't you control yourself, damn it! You really are a hamster-brain," he loudly berated himself, "Idiot! Idiot! IDIOT! ID-IOT!" he said, while slamming the back of his head against the backrest.
Athrun and Cagalli knew that if someone would find even just a hint of what had transpired inside the room, hell would really break loose.
Unfortunately, unbeknownst to them, their confusing feelings and uncontrollable lust for each other were the least of their problems. When they were busy making-out, someone had opened the door and saw their compromising and passionate embrace.
Time could only tell on when that someone would confront Athrun or Cagalli, or maybe, both of them.
ooo
Ever since that passionate incident two nights ago, Cagalli was avoiding Athrun like he was the plague. She opted to stay inside her Parliament Office to read and sign the mountains of paperwork on her desk. She had been irritable and impatient to everyone, which didn't go unnoticed by her peers, staff, and friends. The only person who could approach her, without getting scolded or yelled at, was little Ade. Even sweet and gentle Lacus received a sneering remark from the angry blonde princess. Of course, Cagalli apologized for her bad behavior, but still, her crabby mood would resurface every now and then.
Athrun tried to approach Cagalli, but the Chief Representative of Orb would both glare daggers at him and warned him through her flashing amber orbs to 'stay-far-away-or-else', or she would subtly ignore him, as if he was not there. Most of the time, Athrun ignored her warnings, and still attempted to talk or approach her. Unfortunately for the emerald-eyed High Commander, Cagalli Yula Athha was legendary for her stubbornness. She was more stubborn than the word 'stubborn' itself, especially, if she put her heart and mind into it.
It was quarter to ten in the evening, when a disheveled blonde princess tiredly came home from a late night meeting with the Orb Council of Emirs. She silently trudged up the staircase, and then towards the Royal Family Suite. She slowly closed the majestic oak door of the suite room, and continued trudging towards one of the large settees in the common living room. Cagalli threw clumsily her attaché case on the carpeted floor, as she flopped herself comfortably on the settee.
Cagalli was about to doze off for a while, when she heard someone knock on the door.
Cagalli was hesitant to answer and open the door because her 'perverted-enemy-number-one', also known as Athrun―hamster brain―Zala, might be the one standing behind those massive doors. She was about to ignore it when she heard the faint masculine voice of her Security Head, muffled by the thick oak doors.
"Lady Athha, this is Shinn. Forgive me for intruding, but may I please come in? I have something important to discuss with you."
Cagalli sighed in relief. 'Stupid. I'm being paranoid. It's just Shinn,' she thought in relief. She wearily stood up and opened the door, allowing the raven-haired Commander to enter the common room. Shinn slowly closed the door behind him, while staring indifferently at his superior and friend.
Cagalli sat back on the settee, as she lazily waved her hand at Shinn to have a sit. The ruby-eyed man stayed motionless in front of the closed door, without removing his gaze from her.
"Well..?" Cagalli asked, raising an eyebrow at him to start talking.
Shinn remained silent for a few seconds. He was contemplating on how he was going to approach and start the subject. Giving up, Shinn decided to use the much direct approach.
"I saw you." Shinn calmly stated.
"Huh...?" Cagalli said in a tone that showed that she didn't quite get what he was saying.
"Two nights ago, I saw what happened."
Hearing the words 'two', 'night,' and 'happened' triggered something inside Cagalli. Her heartbeat started to ascend erratically in her chest. The feeling of dread crawled slowly inside her heart. Coaching and assuring herself to remain calm, and not to panic, Cagalli continued her clueless act.
"What do you mean, Shinn?" Cagalli pretended to act oblivious
"I saw the two of you...together," Shinn stated, to the point of almost snapping at her.
"I don't understand you. Who and what are you talking about?" Cagalli stated, attempting to laugh off his supposed to be nonsense accusations in amusement, though she failed almost pathetically.
Shinn slowly massaged his forehead to relieve his mild headache. He sighed impatiently at the stubborn and clearly lying Princess of Orb.
"I saw what happened between you and Athrun Zala inside the conference room two nights ago," he attempted to explain again, as he was almost at the end rope of his patience.
Cagalli turned rigid on her seat. She opened her mouth, but her throat was dry from anxiousness. She subtly placed her right hand on her abdomen, trying to calm down her breathing and her beating heart. She cleared her throat, as she stood up and pretended to be busy in arranging her disarrayed papers on the table.
"I allowed entrance in this room, thinking that you have something important to tell me. I thought you will share something favorable to Orb, or perhaps, a possible perilous threat to our people. If it can benefit us greatly, I will listen, otherwise, you might as well leave and let me have my much needed sleep," she said crisply, as she strode towards her chamber.
Before she could reach her double doors, in three quick strides, Shinn stood directly behind the fuming princess. He took one of her arms in him, and roughly pulled and turned her back to face him. Shinn's fragile control snapped off like a cheap thread, as the stubborn blonde princess continued her feigned ignorance and charade.
"Pardon my words, Lady Athha, but cut the bullshit and don't play dumb. I saw you and Athrun. I saw the two of you passionately making out inside that god damn office. For haumea's sake! Get a hold of yourself! Where's your self-preservation?!" Shinn hissed in extreme irritation. There was no mistaking the venom in his voice.
"I demand that you let me go, Shinn Asuka!" Cagalli commanded him in desperation, as she tried to remove her arm from his tight hold.
"No! I will not let you go. Not until you understand that what you are doing will affect many lives, whether it will be the people of Orb, or the Orb Council of Emirs, or your close friends, or―God forbid―little Ade," Shin continued his lecture, but this time, he released his hold around her arm.
"You don't need to concern yourself on what you saw. The issue is between Athrun and me. And I will greatly appreciate it, if you keep it to yourself, and let no one know about it. Aside from that, what you saw was a one-time thing. I was tempted. I lost control. I grabbed it. I came to my senses, and that's it!" Cagalli explained and assured him quite snappily, as she diverted her eyes to the side.
"So that's it? You'll pretend that nothing happened?" Shinn hotly asked her, crossing his arms against his chest, "What the hell are you doing, Lady Athha? You are the Princess of Orb, and the man is already engaged and committed to one of our friends―"
"Damn it, I know!" Cagalli interrupted, frustrated and tired of defending herself and her careless actions, "I'm not foolish! I know what we did―what I did―was wrong. I really tried to resist. I tried so hard, but I was caught off guard! There are so many things to do. I was stressed with mountains of work, with the planning for the Peace Treaty celebration, with...with my emotions...with my mixed feelings for Athrun! I just wanted to rest for a while, but then, when I opened my eyes, he was already there, hovering above me," Cagalli explained weakly, her amber eyes were pleading for him to understand, and to help her.
"I am only human, Shinn," Cagalli continued, trying to contain the tears that were about to fall from her eyes, "I get tired, too. I may be the Chief Representative of Orb, and the so called Goddess of Victory, but every strong leader has their own weakness, too. However I hide it, it will always resurface, and I am rendered powerless to stop it. Do you understand me, Shinn?" Cagalli pleaded softly.
Shinn slowly combed his raven hair with his fingers, and then sighed in acceptance. He was about to nod at Cagalli, showing that he understood her sentiments, when a certain issue passed through his mind.
"Do you still love him?" Shinn unexpectedly asked.
"Shinn, please stop―"
"Do you still love Athrun, Lady Athha?"
"Shinn―"
"DAMN IT! Answer my god damn question, Cagalli!" Shinn yelled. His irritation skyrocketed again to extreme levels, as Cagalli tried again to avoid answering his question.
"I DON'T KNOW!" Cagalli exclaimed in anger and frustration. She thought that they had an understanding already, then why did he had to open up another controversial topic?
"I can't answer your damn question because I don't even know the answer!" Cagalli growled, and then ruffled her blonde ponytail in annoyance. "Why do you always annoy me with your endless snooping?! I am sick and tired of listening to your lectures like a squawking mother hen to her chick! Hell! You're even worse than Kira! You might as well surpass him as the Most Annoying and Over-protective Brother awardee! What the hell is wrong with you?! Is it your guilty pleasure and enjoyment to see me frustrated and confused?! If you don't stop your questions about Athrun and me this instant, I will pester you about the 'magenta-haired-who-must-NOT―oomph!"
Before Cagalli could grasp what was happening, Shinn had already pushed her against the wall, kissing her with reckless abandon.
Shutting Cagalli up with a kiss was definitely not on his priority list. The woman was so loud and annoying that Shinn acted without thinking. He was just standing there, listening frustratingly at her, as she ranted and raved, with a scowl on his handsome face. The next thing he knew, he had shoved her against the wall and covered her soft lips with his.
Of course, it might be sheer luck, or fate had pre-planned, that when he captured her lips in his, her mouth was about to open again to spout another word. A reckless kiss, plus, eager tongue, plus, parted lips, was equal to, and without a doubt, an intense and pleasurable kiss.
A few more seconds of intense kissing, Shinn and Cagalli, finally, parted their swollen lips. Ruby stared intensely at amber orbs. Their chests were heaving, as they tried to replace the much needed oxygen in their lungs. Cagalli swallowed with difficulty, while Shinn unconsciously licked his wet lips.
Taking in a deep breath, Shinn leaned down, until his mouth was almost brushing her own swollen and ravished lips, and breathed, "Shut up."
Shinn wrapped his arms around her waist, bringing their flushed body close together, and then swooped down for another kiss—this time, slowly and sweetly.
Like an automatic switch, Cagalli instantaneously wrapped her arms and legs around his neck and narrow waist, while Shinn carried her towards her chamber. As they kissed each other, Shinn slowly closed the door with his foot, concealing whatever they would be doing inside the privacy of her room.
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AN: UPDATE at last! I would like to apologize for updating this late. The only explanation I could give you was this: I was busy reading some of my favorite fan fictions. I made this chapter extra-long to appease you.
I have a Her Little Warrior Guessing POLL in my profile page. This poll is only for FUN. This poll will NOT affect my conclusion for my story. I just want to know what my readers are speculating with my story plot. Visit my profile page to participate!
PS: Please continue reviewing. REVIEWS are very much appreciated. I need reviews for more inspiration and for the will to continue this fiction with vigor. THANK YOU! If you REVIEW, I'll be giving exclusive update/spoilers about the next chapter.
PPS: Follow me on Twitter: peeboink for more intimate discussions, especially to those who have no account here in FanFiction. Visit my profile page and click on the link!
PPPS: Rating might change from T to M. I'm not yet sure.
Notes:
* Yuliya Secret Garden - a private park commissioned by the late Lord Uzumi Nara Athha for his deceased wife. It was his wedding gift for his Lady of Orb.
* Yuliya - Russian in origin which means youthful. Yula is another variation for Yuliya.
* I sometimes use the military time, or also known as the 24-hour clock in my fiction. Example: 00:30 is equivalent to 12:30am.
* The Royal Family Suite is like an apartment located at the West Wing of the Athha Estate. The suite houses six royal chambers and a wide common room.
- boink! -
13 Sep. 2012
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NEXT CHAPTER: Chapter Seven: Confidential Instances