CHAPTER 3
They all went back to space, I mean the party was held at a ship, cruise…whatever, especially for formal parties which can accommodate large number of guests and has safety mechanics.
----Night of the Party----
Guests were pouring in to witness the engagement of the pop sensation, Chairwoman Lacus Clyne and the Orb's representative's twin, Kira Yamato. Coordinators and Naturals mingled together. The paparazzi were kept to a minimum.
"Athrun-kun!" Athrun turned around only to find Meyrin attaching herself to him.
"Let's dance, Athrun-kun"
"uh…okay"
'Meyrin wasn't always this forward, wonder what happened to her…'
'Nee-chan was right! If I was more headstrong, like Cagalli-san, Athrun would notice me and forget that Athha!' she thought happily.
"Chief Representative of Orb, Cagalli Yula Athha-san" a voice announced her arrival
Athrun's head jerked up to the stairway. There he saw Cagalli, all he could do was stare at her. Three years has past since he last saw her in person. She changed so much yet so little. She was wearing a strapless, black dress that went way pass her ankles, the dress hugged her figure. Her hair was till a portion of her back, it was done in an elegant knot. Her eyes still pierced everyone, it blazed with determination, knowledge and passion.
Meyrin saw how Athrun stared at Cagalli, for a moment her determination wavered but her love for Athrun was stronger
'I have to distract him for him to return my feelings'
Meyrin pulled Athrun's arm causing him to shift his gaze back to her.
"Sumanai, Meyrin-san" he apologized, "Don't know what got into me." He said as he scratched his head
'Don't worry I know perfectly well' Meyrin thought sadly.
Somewhere with Shiho and Yzak…
"Let's dance" Yzak turned to Shiho.
"right now? Don't want to," she replied obviously in a bad mood since she had to wear a gown
"Damn it, I tried my best to ask since Dearka's pestering me…We.are.gonna.dance" Yzak said trying to control his temper
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Yes!" Yzak argued as he pulled Shiho to the dance floor and lead her into dancing.
"Ne, Kira…" Lacus whispered
"hmm…"
"You saw that?"
"What?"
"I think I'm gonna win the bet," she giggled "I just saw Athrun staring at Cagalli," she smiled
"No way!" Kira began but he then smiled at Lacus. "Not yet, we said to give Cagalli a match not Athrun, her reaction counts" smiling a weird smile at Lacus
"You look weird." She observed as she gave off a giggle.
"Yo! Athrun! You look tired." Dearka said giving him a slap at the back
"I am…" Athrun sighed
"Well, you are an eligible bachelor, most sought after," Miriallia pointed out.
"Thanks for the compliment but I can't take it anymore…You guys want anything? I'm going to the bar" he said as he started walking away.
Dearka and Miriallia shook there heads.
"Did you just give my friend a nice compliment in front of me? I mean you never give me compliments…" Dearka asked
"Miriallia said nothing, she looked up to Dearka and grinned, as if planning something or knowing something.
"Gin and Tonic, please." Athrun said as he sat down on the stool.
"Coming right up"
Cagalli could recognize that voice anywhere. She turned to sneak a look but she ended up staring at a pair of emerald orbs.
"A-Athrun…nice to see you again," she greeted in a civil voice.
"Cagalli… long time no see." He answered back
It was also the first time in three years they've talked to each other.
"This is awkward…"he mumbled, " Doing fine in Orb?" he asked then mentally slapped himself 'Of course she's doing fine, you dolt! Orb has never been better in years.'
"Well yeah…" she replied
"You've been a busy girl…Miss representative…" he said
"So have you, soon-to-be chairman of PLANT" staring at the glass in front of her, purposely avoiding eye contact
"So why are you here anyway? Aren't you suppose to be enjoying the party?"
"Well, I was until a drunk dude started pestering me so I had to kick him hard where it hurt and came here to have a drink." She explained
"Ow…that must have hurt" he winced at the thought.
"Well obviously they don't know what they get when they mess with me!" she said confidently, raising her fist. Unintentionally, she looked up and her eyes were locked with his, she could feel a blush rising.
'Damn, I'm not suppose to blush!'
"I…uh…Athrun, I have to go," she said as she finished the rest of her drink in a gulp.
"Wait, Cagalli!" Athrun grabbed her arm. She looked back with confusion and hurt written in her eyes.
"What is it?" she asked quietly
He took a deep breath and asked "May I have this dance?"
She closed her eyes as if deciding whether to dance or not.
"Please…"
She opened her eyes and smiled sincerely, "Only one dance, okay?"
"That's all I need." He said as he led Cagalli to the dance floor.
It was a slow dance so Athrun wrapped his arms around her waist, this caused Cagalli to blush bright red.
'Dammit Cagalli, you're not suppose to blush!' a inner voice said
'I can't help it, he looks hot! I mean he's changed, he's taller, more built and he looks damn handsome!'
'Oh sure, he left you for 3 years and now you're crawling back to his arms, what happened to you woman?! You're pathetic and besides he still has Meyrin.'
'It's just a dance…one dance, and I'll leave them alone later.'
'Okay…but remember that a lot has been worried over you.'
'Thanks you're the best!'
She in return wrapped her arms around his neck and they started to dance.
"See? Kira, I was right!" Lacus squealed
"I still don't like the idea…" his protective brother instincts coming out
"Milly, why don't we dance like them?" Dearka asked.
"Later, after all, I am the photographer of this party," she replied still taking pictures. This led Dearka to sulk in a corner.
"Just kidding, let's dance" she said as she pulled Dearka up.
"Shiho, I don't think we have to take part in the plan." Yzak whispered in her ear.
"Why not?"
"Behind you" he said as he gave her a dip.
"Oh! Okay…"
As the song ended, Cagalli pulled away from him ready to walk away but Athrun pulled her back.
"What now?" she asked impatiently only to realize that Athrun pulled her into a hug.
"Athrun?"
"Thank you, Cagalli"
Suddenly a blast could be heard, the place shaked a lot.
"What the hell is happening here?!" Cagalli shouted over the crowd.
The guests were panicking, pushing each other out of the ballroom.
"Lacus!"
"Kira!" Lacus shouted as she was dragged along by the crowd.
"Meet you there!"
Men holding guns were shooting at random people.
"Politicians are sources of war! Die! Go away! You deserve to die!" as they shot some more
Cagalli whipped her gun hidden beneath her skirt.
"Where the hell did you get that?!" Athrun asked
"I always have my gun around!" she shouted over the noise at she aimed at the others.
"Have an extra gun?!" he said as he ducked as bullets whizzed past his head
"No! Never mind, Go to Meyrin she needs you, I'll cover you!" she shouted as she pushed Athrun out of the ballroom.
"Wait!" the door closed in front of him
Yzak, Shiho, Dearka, Kira and Cagalli grouped together, they were left to fight them off. There was an exchange of gunfire. As they shot bullets at one another, they didn't notice another one on the balcony, aiming his sniper at Kira's torso.
Bang!
"What the hell---!"
"Hey kid, don't let your guard down!" A blond man shouted as he looked back and smirked.
"Mwu!"
"Hey, there are girls here…"
"Yeah, what about it?" Shiho asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Uh..nothing…" he gulped
"Let's go, we're going to escape out, once we open the door, slip in through then hit the discharge button, Got that?" Yzak demanded.
They all nodded… They shot a lot, but then they had lots of back-ups.
"Now! Withdraw!" Yzak commanded
As each one was already slipping past the door, Cagalli noticed a kid hiding under the table. She signaled the kid to keep quiet and the kid, though terrified, nodded. As each one was already across the door, Cagalli shot the ceiling distracting both parties. She darted towards the kid, got him in her arms then threw the kid in where Kira was used as a cushion. As her back was to them, she was shot at the shoulder. She then hit the button to discharge the part of the ship. She was caught in another gunfire.
"Cagalli!!!" Kira's eyes widened in horror as he saw her struggle, his face pressed against the window glass.
"I'll be okay" she mouthed towards Kira
'I hope you're gonna be okay…You'd better keep your promise' Kira silently prayed
Cagalli was able to knock out most but she was injured. Bad…
'Damn, I'm losing consciousness…I need to get out of here!'
She searched for a life pod but then her vision blurred, her eyes covered with blood. 'I guess I won't be keeping my promise, Kira, sorry, Athrun, I…' she passed out.
"Kira?!" Athrun shouted through the crowd.
"Athrun? What are you doing here?" Kira asked.
"Cagalli, where is she?" he demanded as he ignored his earlier question
Kira lowered his gaze, "She got left behind, she's coming already if not, Mwu would fetch her a few minutes later."
"Mwu…a few minutes…left behind…where? He mumbled trying to take in what Kira had just told him
"I need to go, now."
"Be patient, Athrun. Have faith in Cagalli. Why do you care anyway? You left her remember? Lacus and I tried bringing you two back together but you wouldn't budge." Kira glared at him.
"I'm trying to change my mistakes, okay? After this, I want to remain as her friend, I wont hurt her anymore…I swear on my mother's grave" he vowed.
"Same old Athrun, calm yet burning inside."
"Thanks Kira, just lend me anything."
Kira could sense his care, his love, "Fine, follow me."
He led Athrun to a room, attached to it was a bridge, the Eternal's bridge.
"The Eternal?" Athrun was confused
"Yeah…just in case something happens, the Eternal would always be beside us."
He led Athrun to the hanger, "You do know how to pilot a skygrasper, right?"
"Yeah," Athrun replied, he looked round as he climbed into his seat
"Athrun…"
"What?" he said as he glanced up from his screen.
"Please bring her back."
"I will." With that the skygrasper flew away.
'I trust you Athrun, no matter what you did in the past or what you will do, I'm sure Cagalli still feels the same.'
"Cagalli! The hell are you?!" Athrun shouted as he dig past the debris hovering around. 'Damn, where are you, please be okay'
"Cagalli?" he mumbled as he saw a blond floating near the exit. He saw that it really was Cagalli, bloody. He rushed to her side with blood all around. He checked for a pulse 'Come on, don't give up!' he felt a faint pulse and sighed in relief.
He hurriedly carried her to the skygrasper and headed towards the ship.
"This is Athrun, Kira, come in." he connected to the speaker
"This is Kira, what is it?" a voice cracked out of the radio
"Kira, prepare the hospital wing right away, tell the doctor to prepare for surgery. She's been hurt."
"Damn!" a punch can be heard, "Athrun, thanks, I owe you."
"Don't worry 'bout it, let's talk later, I'm coming in!"
The skygrasper went to a halt. Athrun jumped off and raced to the hospital wing. Carrying a bloody Cagalli
"Move!" he yelled at the people who were in the way. There are times where Athrun lost his cool…
"Eh? Wasn't that Athrun?" Miriallia pointed out
"Yeah…Let's check it out…" Dearka's voice drifted off.
Dearka, Miriallia, Shiho, Yzak and Lacus ran after him
"Kira I'm here! Where's the stretcher?!"
Kira turned around, happy to see them, but as he took a look his smile faded he stood still, "Cagalli…what the hell happened to you?!" he said as he stroked her face and tears started to well up his eyes.
Athrun saw his reaction and knew Kira wasn't thinking well anymore, "Sensei, where do I leave her?" ignoring Kira for awhile.
"Put here right here. We'll start with the surgery right away. Please step out."
"Kira, calm down," Athrun said as he tried comforting his friend, the twin was already shaking violently, any minute he would burst already.
"She's a tough girl, she'll pull through."
Tears were flowing out uncontrollably, "CAGALLI!!!"
" Kira, you okay?" Lacus asked him, concerned
"I'm fine I just freaked awhile ago…" Kira said giving a small smile. "How's Athrun doing?"
As soon as they heard the news, Lacus and the gang rushed to the hospital waiting for Cagalli's surgery to finish which already took two hours…
"His quiet at the moment, but obviously he's having a war inside."
Athrun took off his coat and polo which was now covered with Cagalli's blood. He has seen blood a lot of times especially during the war, but seeing Cagalli's blood made him queasy…
The doctor came our finally… "How is she?" Athrun eagerly asked.
"She's gonna be alright. She'll wake up in a day or two…with the wounds she had, she was lucky after fighting with well-trained soldiers"
"Yeah, I guess…" he glanced at Cagalli's sleeping form.
"Mwu-san" Kira called
He turned around to come face-to-face with Kira. "Oi, Kira, heck of a party, huh?"
"Well, yeah…anyway do you know who those guys were?"
"Apparently, they were coordinator-naturals victims of the first and second war. Rebels who hate politicians…It's a good thing Cagalli finished them off… How is she anyway?" and gave a warm smile, trying to make Kira feel better.
Murrue appeared beside Mwu, "Ara, Kira, how's Cagalli?"
"I just asked the same thing." Mwu said as he slipped his arm around her waist.
"She's stable at the moment…Athrun's taking care of her…"
"Athrun?" Mwu and Murrue gave confused looks
"It so happens, he still feels the same as five years ago ever since he met her…"
"Oh, really?"
She slowly opened her eyes
'Where am I?' she glanced around the unfamiliar place. 'Am I in the hospital?' she saw a guy in a white muscle shirt and white pants, as if coming from a party, looked out the window.
She waited for her vision to steady. She noticed his midnight-blue hair and his emerald green orbs, that seem to suck you in.
She blinked a lot of times, making sure he wasn't just a dream. She felt butterflies in her stomach
'Why does he look damn hot?'
Her lids started feeling heavy again, wanting sleep.
'Where am I and why is he here?' these thoughts lingered in her mind
'Who is he anyway?'