Chapter 4: Come Sail Away With Me
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or events related to Gundam Seed/Destiny. However, the ideas expressed that are unrelated to the series belong from mine own head, so please no stealing.
Finally! I am not dead, and neither is this fic! The cobwebs have been dusted away and our pirates are up to no good! How will they save their friends from their fates? Will they finally be caught for good? Read on to find out!
"Captain Kira, sir! There has been word of the wedding!" Nicol called and ran towards his Captain.
"Aye? What be the news?" he asked.
"Cagalli is to be wed to Yuuna at half past noon today, at the Grand Church near the harbor." He reported.
"Is he trying to tease me? That church is close enough to the sea we need not debark!" Kira exclaimed.
"Kira, will we make it by then? Or do you want to wait?" Athrun asked.
Kira could tell it was hard for his friend to hold back, he knew the storm raging within Athrun's heart and could practically envision his dreams of busing into the ceremony and capturing Cagalli at the altar…
Actually, that wasn't half bad…
Kira beamed with a wicked look in his eyes. "A 'course we'll make it in time, Athrun, it may be just in the nick of time as a matter-o'-fact." He said.
Athrun got a queer look about him. "Wot are ye up to?" he asked with narrowed eyes.
Nicol glanced from one to the other, waiting for Kira's plan. The Minerva was sailing with them, and they were headed back to PLANT awaiting news of Cagalli, Shinn and Lacus's fates. The general plan was to try and get them all out somehow and back on the high seas, killing Rau in the process.
They were high hopes, and would most likely only be achieved in dreams.
"I was jus' thinkin', we could save Cagalli right before she marries Yuuna, so as not to be quickly followed. Ye get my drift?" Kira finally replied.
"A bit risky, and what about Lacus and Shinn? We'd have t' light out quick after taking Cagalli, so either we'll have t' grab the Lady and yer brother beforehand or come back another time, in which case 'twould be a might harder to escape." Athrun answered.
"Aye, but I figure they'll be at the wedding as well, so's it would be easy like to jes take 'em all then and there."
"Uh, abou' that…" Nicol said with a sheepish look.
Kira looked at him quizzically. "Wot?"
"Shinn's already left for Aprilius One, the Versailles School for Boys. Sorry sir, there's no way to track him by sea now; he should be there by now anyway. No word on Lacus except that Rau continues to make advances." Nicol told him.
Kira swore, unleashing a torrent of renowned sailor language. Some of the crew glanced at him and edged away.
"Kira, Shinn can take care of himself, plus he's away from Durandal so 't will be easier to catch him later. Let's focus on the girls, since they's can't fend for themselves." Athrun said.
Kira could hear the pleading desperation in Athrun's voice despite the man's efforts at hiding it. He was right though, as much as Kira hated it. Shinn would have to wait, they had to make sure Cagalli and Lacus were safe first.
"Alright then, we'll save Cagalli and Lacus first and then when Rau is either dead or off our tails we can go after Shinn." Kira said.
Athrun breathed a sigh of relief and then looked as if to take it back. He glanced at Kira with an apologetic look but the Captain shook it off. He smiled and patted Athrun on the arm and then they got down to business as to what the actual plan was.
"Are you ready, dear?"
Cagalli sucked up her pride and hardened her heart as a mask of professionalism overtook her features. She nodded to the maid and took the woman's hand as she stood in her extravagant white wedding gown. It billowed out and was full of ruffles and lace and girl things that she did not like. A simple white dress would have sufficed, with a simple small wedding of only close friends and relatives, but it was not to be.
At 12:30 p.m. Cagalli would marry Yuuna in the largest church in the town, surrounded by over half the township, most all nobility, in the most outrageous experience of her life.
She commanded herself not to cry or lose her self-control until everyone left. Yuuna knew her feelings, so she didn't care if he had to suffer through her curses and cries. But for everyone else, she would have to keep up appearances.
She was lead to the carriage that was all decorated with wedding arrangements, with flowers, veils, and frilly white things, where her father was waiting.
Well, her adopted father, that is.
Honestly, she wasn't a real princess or dignitary, especially since the Seiran's now outranked her. Wasn't she just an ordinary girl? Couldn't she marry an ordinary man?
Even though technically they were both pirates…
Uzumi was smiling broadly, although he could tell Cagalli wasn't happy. She was trying to hide the look of anguish on her face, but he could see right through her. Even the maids and servants knew.
He helped her into the coach and then all was silence.
For a few moments, anyway…
"Father I can't do this!" she cried and covered her face with her hands.
"Calm, child, you can and you will. I know what you're feeling, but you must forget about your short-lived adventure on the high seas with your brother and step back into reality. You know I love you and your brothers, Cagalli, but my hands are tied. I can do nothing to protect you now." Uzumi told her.
"So from now on, you must protect yourself and keep your head held high. It is not a perfect world, but at least you are better off than most. You will have a home, food, clothes, everything you need and ever wanted."
"But it means nothing to me. I would rather be homeless than married to that…that bilge rat!" she yelled.
"With Athrun, you mean?" he asked quietly. He laid a hand on her shoulder and felt her trembling as she cried.
"Yes. And even if we were homeless, we could live on the ship, we could travel the world and stay in Inns, there are plenty of welcome places for us. I don't need riches and aristocracy, father…" she said.
"Yes, but he is a wanted pirate, even though his father was the head of the PLANT council. He would have been a better match, combining our two countries together, but now Gilbert is the Chairman, and his son is your brother. Yuuna is the only option you have now."
"No one knows Shinn is my brother." She mumbled.
"A marriage between the two of you, even a fake one, would be disastrous. Gilbert knows and would never allow it just so you can get out of marrying Yuuna, and besides, information has already been leaked, and sooner or later everyone will know the three children of Caridad Yamato."
She sniffed and wiped her face, smearing her carefully applied make-up. He sighed and gave her his handkerchief that she used to dry her face off.
"We'll have to fix your face before anyone sees." He commented. The look she gave him warned of a new volley of tears, but he let his pained expression show and hugged her tightly.
"I am just as upset about this as you are, make no mistake. I hate to see you in this situation, but in this world…a woman has very little options. I would rather be assured you are safe and secure. We may be able to find a way out of this, but for right now we have to play what little cards we have left." He whispered to her.
She took deep breathes to halt her crying- they were almost there now. She nodded and dabbed at her face again.
The door opened and she was ushered into the church, into a room meant for the bride and her bridesmaids. She was lucky to get Lacus as her Maid of Honor, but the rest were aristocratic woman with influential husbands and Yuuna's kin.
Her make-up was reapplied and she was again prim and proper for the wedding. She stared into the mirror as the rest of her dress and outfit were attached. The room was bustling with activity.
Her eyes held a dull, numb emotion in them as she stared herself down.
Before Cagalli had arrived, Lacus was there making preparations. She was already outfitted and ready, so she tried to get everything straight so the wedding could go smoothly.
Rau had brought her, and was keeping watch over her and trying to help with whatever she needed to get done. There was no doubt he was trying to win her favor. She knew about the arranged marriage he made with her father, and all that had conspired when Kira was captured. Pirate spies had sent a message to her from Siegel who was on trial in Aprilius One for treason. However, it was a hushed affair- everyone thought he was just attending meetings and doing his regular job as a councilman, not knowing of his betrayal by helping the pirates.
"Lacus, is all well?" Rau asked and snapped her out of her thoughts.
"Yes, I believe everything is ready now, we just have to wait for Cagalli." She replied.
She knew how her friend felt, but she tried to be helpful and supportive as much as she could. She was prepared to not only be the Maid of Honor, but also the shoulder to cry on. She knew Cagalli's predicament. She highly doubted she would be able to marry Kira.
And what Rau said next confirmed her fears.
He took her aside, but in clear view of the guests already gathered, and a hushed whisper began to sound the halls of the church. They had an audience as he knelt down and revealed a magnificent ring.
"Lacus Clyne, would you do me the supreme honor of accepting my hand in marriage, as your friend Cagalli does so today with Yuuna?"
She gasped and couldn't think for a few moments. She knew she couldn't refuse, but she was unable to make her words sound accepting. She was in shock.
An excited murmur ran through the crowd and they were all waiting for her to say yes. She struggled with herself for a moment before regaining her composure and letting out a shining smile.
"Yes, I would be honored, Rau le Creuset." She replied and tried not to choke.
This couldn't be happening. Not now, not this way. It was bad enough that Cagalli was unable to get out of this dreadful experience, but now she would have to suffer as well. What would Kira think? Would he still love her even if there was no way they could be together? She tried holding back tears, but they began pouring down from her face as Rau beamed and slipped the ring not her finger.
Clapping and cheers were heard, and the crowd rushed to congratulate her and she continued smiling and let her tears signify joy, not sorrow.
Thinking back on it now, she felt a lump in her throat but swallowed the tears that threatened to overflow again. She walked up to Cagalli who displayed a mask of solemnity as she surveyed herself in the mirror.
It was almost time to go, so the bridesmaids went out of the room and into the line leading into the sanctuary. Cagalli stayed behind, still staring in the mirror, and Lacus was the only one left with her.
She walked up to her friend and stood beside her. Her dress was blue, like her eyes, and was decorated with bows and frills that matched Cagalli's, but didn't overshadow it. They stood in silence, staring in the mirror.
"Rau proposed to me, before you got here." Lacus finally whispered.
Some life came into Cagalli's eyes as she glanced down at the shimmer lighting upon Lacus's left hand, on the third finger.
"He insisted I wear it, even though I expressed that I did not want to outshine your wedding day with my engagement. I had no choice but to say yes, everyone was watching." Lacus continued.
Cagalli turned to her and saw the sad smile on her friend's face. They embraced and shed some tears.
"I'm sorry Lacus, it seems you've been roped into the same thing as I. What shall we do?" Cagalli asked in a mournful voice.
"At least we have each other. We'll figure something out, Cagalli, or Kira and Athrun will. I know they won't leave us here like this." Lacus told her.
"Maybe they will, they're free now, able to go wherever they please. What use do they have of us? Why would they want to come back here and face the Hangman's Noose again?" Cagalli asked with a defeated expression.
"Don't think like that! They're good men! Kira is your brother, and I know he would rather die than let you rot in this city with Yuuna! And I know Athrun would fight all the militaries of the world to get you back into his arms! They'll come for us, Cagalli, one way or the other we'll be free too." Lacus replied earnestly.
Cagalli nodded and they calmed down, fixing their faces in the mirror before they gave themselves stern looks and walked out of the room.
Lacus took her place in line while Cagalli stayed in the back and the veil over her face was put down. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes before the music began to play.
Her bridesmaids began the walk and Uzumi took her arm. He smiled at her and she managed to smile back. The crowd in the church stood and all smiled. Yuuna was at the altar beaming, but with a sinister look beneath his happy demeanor.
It was a very long walked that seemed to last forever. She could see her entire life flash before her eyes: her marriage with Yuuna, raising a horde of young children, watching them grow up, having Tea Parties and visiting rich friends who didn't give a damn about her well-being, her and Lacus growing old on the porch of their mansions, yearning for their lost loves.
Shinn was gone. He was sent to a boarding school for boys in another city, and she would most likely never see him again if Gilbert had his way. She heard about his whipping and was appalled. She knew about Rey as well. Her little brother was just as bad off as she and Lacus were.
After things seemed to be going so right, everything is now so wrong.
She finally made it to the steps leading to the altar. Yuuna and the priest were waiting as the wedding party stood on either side. She focused on the large, circular stained-glass window right behind the altar. She could see the sun's rays as they filtered through and knew that the ocean was straight through. She longed to be out on the sea instead of in this church, about to be wed to a man she despised.
Uzumi handed her to Yuuna; the symbolism strong as Yuuna smirked and eyed her as property already. She could barely restrain the tears, and so could not smile. She glanced at Lacus and they exchanged knowing looks before she faced the priest.
She didn't hear the music because of the ringing in her ears. She had to remind herself to breath as she held Yuuna's hand and the priest began the ceremony. She looked up at the window, but the light no longer filtered through but instead was dark. She squinted her eyes in a wondering expression.
As the window shattered those eyes widened in surprise and then caught on the figure swinging on the rope.
"Athrun." She breathed.
People were screaming and Yuuna was shouting obscenities and ordering for guards and military personnel to come, but Cagalli just stood and kept her eyes on Athrun as he swung down and held out his arm. She smiled widely as she extended her arm as well and caught his as he swooped in and back through the window.
Kira snuck through the crowd, keeping his head down as he searched for Lacus in the fray. Rau was pointing his sword at Athrun and Lacus had taken a few steps back when Athrun had crashed through the window, so no one noticed when Kira touched her on the shoulder, flashed a smile, and then grabbed the other rope that was sent through the window and held onto her tightly as they flew through.
She had a bewildered yet happy smile on her face and stared into his eyes as they swung back onto the ship. The Minerva was serving as a distraction for the mass of military supposed to have been guarding the harbor in case of Kira's return, while the Freedom slipped in close to the church.
Rau was glaring the whole time, screaming furiously while Yuuna pitched a fit and the guests were screaming and running out of the church, screaming "PIRATES!"
Athrun and Cagalli landed on the deck of the Freedom and instantly locked lips, entwining their hands in each other's hair. The crew gave a hoot and cat-called, so that the ruckus had already started by the time Kira and Lacus landed. The two simply stared and smiled at each other lovingly for a few minutes, then kissed as well.
The Freedom began hastily breaking away from the harbor while the Minerva retreated after her, Rau finding that his ships were rendered incapable of being sailed at that time.
Lacus and Cagalli were saved, and the pirates were able to get away as free men and women.
-Author's Note: This story is not over, I repeat, not over! However, there will now be a time skip after a few short events, so expect some…changes. I know it's been forever, and honestly I'm not sure when next I'll be able to update this, but I finally got the urge and the time to sit and type this up, so please let me know what you think. Thanks to all my loyal readers and reviewers, and again I apologize for taking so long between updates. Peace out!-