CHAPTER 9
"Shiho, I've been looking around for you"
"hmm?" she glanced up from the book to see Dearka's worried face
"Just wanted to talk"
-----flashback-----
"YZAK!!!" tears were flowing uncontrollably
Dearka pulled her into his arms as she sobbed on his shirt, he was also trying hard not to cry.
His best friend…dead
Shiho could hear sobs from the people around her, 'apparently Yzak was apart of all our lives, thank you.' A few minutes later she pulled back
"Shiho, he's gone, Yzak's gone."
"I know Dearka" she smiled sadly at him as she wiped her tears away, "Thank you"
"Shiho, please"
"He did great, he—"she spoke in a shaky voice. She didn't want to cry again.
"Shiho, please…it hurts me to see you like this."
"I'm fine." She took a deep breath, "I want to be alone…I need to come down." She exited the bridge. As the door closed, she leaned back on the door. A line of silver could be seen falling from her face.
"Shiho…" Obviously Dearka was affected just as much, he bowed his head, as tears flowed out, "Yzak…"
…they were childhood friends…
…went to the same academy…
…goofed around but mostly he did…
…stationed at the same ship together with Nicol and Athrun…
…He knew Yzak the best, he knew him the best…
…They were completely opposites but they were best friends…
"Dearka"
"Milly, he—"his head stilled bowed, his tears falling
"Now, now Dearka, its fine, Yzak has gone to a better place. Live for him" she said as she wiped his tears away. He took hold of her hand, "but he—"
"—would want you to live on" she continued
"Milly"
"Everythings gonna be alright" she hugged him whispering simple words of assurance. Feeling her warmth, he felt whole, he felt stronger. He hugged her smaller figure back, 'Thank you Milly'
He glanced up to see Miriallia smiling softly at him, her eyes puffy. He chuckled a little.
"what?"
"you're trying to comfort me, yet you look bad"
"hey!"
"thanks again"
Athrun punched the wall, "Yzak!"
They were rivals and friends at the same time. They never really saw eye to eye but they ad respect for each other
"dude, we'll handle things here," he whispered as he looked up the night sky which betrayed what happened earlier.
-----end of flashback-----
"Thank you"
"for what?"
"I'm not strong, I know that Dearka. But seeing all of you have helped me. I have to live on for his and my sake." She then turned her attention to the book.
Dearka looked closer to see a doll tucked on her arm. Yzak doll.
"Yzak…doll?" he didn't know weather to burst out laughing or give words of comfort.
Shiho looked up and smile, she gave the doll to Dearka for a look, "Actually he said a Yzakie doll…Yeah, he actually sews quite well."
"I knew Yzak sews, but dolls?"
"It was a wedding present. He sewed a Shiho and Yzakie doll. He was blushing mad when he gave me this, he looked like a cute kid." She chuckled at the memory.
Dearka joined her in laughter
"you want to get a bite?"
"sure"
"Hey"
"hey! You alright?" Miriallia asked her, concerned
"of course"
"Since you feel alright, you mind finishing this? Dearka was in the mood to cook and he cooked…uh…a lot…" Athrun said as he pointed to the table with overflowing with Dearka's…ahem…cooking…
"Uh…no thanks…" Shiho sweat dropped.
As she sat down, there was a beeping sound. Shiho froze.
"Shiho, you want to get that?"
She pulled out a tracking device (A/N: Somewhat like what Shinn had in Destiny when he and Stellar were stuck)
"Yzak…" she said quietly
She placed the beeping device down on the table, "On second thought, I'm going to sleep" she walked away from the table.
"Yzak's?" all of them took a look at the device, "Then it could mean he's still alive?"
"If that's the case, I'm gonna check it out" Dearka said
"So will I" Athrun said
"Fine, as long as you guys come back." Lacus agreed
"We'll be back"
"Seen him anywhere?" Athrun asked Dearka
"Not yet. According to the device, it should be around…here…"
"Is he in there?" There was a floating pod
"I guess so."
They brought the pod back to the Eternal, as they opened the pod, they saw a mad…Yzak…
"The hell, it you guys so long?!"
"Yzak…"
"huh?" he was confused at the looks given to him, they were all teary and happy to see him, "what?" they're looks were giving him the creeps.
He backed away, as all of them took a step forward.
"Yzak!" All of them yelled as they pounced on him. They were all hugging him, and laughing altogether. Some were giving him a noogie as some were patting his back…hard…He was in the middle of the crowd.
"uh…its nice to see you all too."
He looked at the crowd, "where's Shiho?"
"Shiho…yeah…"
Yzak raised a brow, "It seems I'm missing something."
Nobody would return his gaze, "che, Dearka."
"well…"
"Dearka"
"okay…sowethoughtyouweredeadShihowassadandthatsthatuhmmithinkthatatsit."
"why would you all think that?"
"We saw the Duel, bust…"
"So you all thought that I would just die like that"
"Not really…"
"Dearka."
"yes."
"Dearka, you do know that I don't like people thinking I'm weak. So where is Shiho?"
"In your room, I think you better leave her alone for now, she was really upset." Athrun voiced out
"Athrun, isn't it better for Yzak to see Shiho for her to be happy again?" Miriallia asked
"No I'll wait until tomorrow"
"Why? Shiho is really in a bad form, it would be better if you go to her now" Dearka said
"Shiho has had a tiring day today, it would be better if you let her rest first after all, she's physically drained." Cagalli explained
"She has been dragging her body around after all" Kira continued
"I know, lately she's been tired" Yzak said
"It maybe because of…"
"Milly, wouldn't it be better if Shiho told Yzak herself?" Lacus smiled knowingly
"I guess so…" Miriallia pouted
"How?"
"How what?"
"How were you able to escape the blast?"
Yzak thought for a while. "Oh that."
'Come on, Yzak faster…everyone's back and you're here securing the place. You had to be the good guy' his inner voice said
'I am a good guy'
'No you're not'
'Whatever you say…'
He went near an old facility
'Weird never saw this one…'
He dot off the Duel and readied his gun he floated across the hall
'Hell…' there were dead bodies everywhere…floating…not a good sight.
Suddenly, someone started shooting at him. The bullet whizzed past his head, 'Good thing he wasn't a sharp shooter' he had let his guard down.
He hid behind the table. "Who's there?!"
"Shouldn't I be asking that? What are you doing here?"
"Why should I tell you?" Yzak shouted back
"I'm sorry, but you are to die since you trespassed our property."
"What property? This place belongs to PLANT."
"Now it belongs to us" he started shooting at random things.
"Stop it will ya?!" Yzak shouted across, "I don't want to fight you"
"Why not?"
"I don't believe in violence…anymore"
"So maybe the souls of the past came to haunt you, eh?"
"That maybe so. So lets stop, why do you fight anyway?"
The man thought for awhile, Yzak could have shot him at the instant but that was the way of a coward.
"I fight because they said I need to."
"You just a kid aren't you? Lets stop."
"In your dreams!" he charged right at Yzak. Yzak instinctively shot at him.
He floated, blood everywhere…
"So…you fight for what…reason…?" he struggled to say
"I fight for myself…for what I think is right for my friends and family."
"It was nice meeting you Jule-san."
"Wait how did you know my name?"
"We have no time for that…this place is about to blow… The moment I lost, they triggered the bomb, they took the Duel…They would die for anything…" his voice above whisper.
"So how the hell do I get out of here?!" Yzak shouted 'Damn, I need to get out of here! I'm gonna die here? No way! Shiho would get mad. Shiho…I haven't told her how I felt yet…uh…damn!!!'
"There's…a…life…po—" then he was gone
"Life po? What? Wake up!" he shook the man hard. 'Damn, he's dead…Shiho would so kill me…'
"Life po? Life pod! Damn, Yzak, your dumb!" he was talking to himself.
He brushed her hair out of her face. She looked like she was sleeping peacefully. He gave a sigh of relief
"At least, you're alright." He whispered his hand rested on her cheek.
"Don't leave me…" she whispered in her sleep
"I won't"
"Yzak!" Shiho awoke in a start
"stupid dream…" she smiled, 'another day I guess…'
"ohayou" she greeted the people as she entered the dining area
"Shiho, slept well?"
"yeah"
When she finished eating, "I'm going to the deck."
"we'll follow after" Dearka waved her off.
As soon as she was out of sight, "Damn Yzak, where the hell is he? Wasn't he suppose to show himself?"
"Maybe he wants to surprise her?" Lacus said in a happy tone
"You're a hopeless romantic, Lacus" Cagalli tsk-tsked.
"I'm sure he overslept" Athrun said
"I bet he has a hangover" Kira laughed
"Oh, you guys are so right." A voice said
They turned their heads to meet a pissed Yzak.
"Hi, Yzakie"
"Yzakie?" he twitched, "ITS ALL YOUR FAULT I OVERSLEPT AND HAVE A HANGOVER!!!! YOU GUYS MADE ME DRINK!!!!" he yelled in chibi style.
"Come on, she's at the deck…you can always go up…"
"After I eat." He stole a pancake from Cagalli's plate
"That's mine!!!"
"You were too slow" he smirked
"Where did you sleep by the way?"
"The couch. Funny thing is Shiho didn't even notice me." After a few minutes of thinking, "Hey dudes, how am I gonna tell Shiho, 'hey I'm back'?"
"Ooohhh, Yzakie's having girl problems."
"Oh shut up! I shouldn't have asked."
"Fine fine…maybe you could go running to her in slow motion…you know, like in the movies?"
"I'm not stupid, Kira."
"Then tell Shiho what you said earlier, 'hey I'm back'" Athrun imitated him.
"It's a little awkward"
"Well, you don't have anymore choice, now do you?" Sai said
"Fine fine— eh?"
"Yzak-kunn!!!" a girl jumped on Yzak
"Ahh!!! Amaya?!"
"Yzak-kun, I thought you were dead, I knew you couldn't live or die without me, so here you are." She rubbed her face on his like an affectionate kitten.
"A-ma-ya" he gritted through his teeth
"huh? Nani? Nani?"
"Get off."
"Mou, meanie!" she got off him but still cling her arm against his.
"Remove your arm off mine."
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No!"
"Yes!"
"No! NO! NOOO!!!"
"Spoiled brat!"
"That's what you love about me"
"Dream on"
"hmph!!!" she crossed her arms, like a child having tantrums.
"at last" he muttered as he rolled his eyes towards the guys. They all snickered
"What?!" she glared at all of them
As she was busy glaring at them, Yzak stood up
"Where you going?" Dearka asked
"To Shiho"
"What are you going to say?" Athrun asked
"Shiho? Hahnenfuss?! Why? I'm here, I'm all you need" Amaya whined
Yzak paid no attention to her, "whatever comes into my mind" he raised his hand as a gesture of 'I'm going wish me luck'
"Yzak-kun!" she ran after him, "You're mine!" she jumped onto his back, her arms gripping him tight
"Let go!!"
They were both struggling until they heard footsteps stop in front of them
"Shiho—"
"Y…Yzak?"
Yzak shook off Amaya and walked over to Shiho.
"I'm back." He put pressure on her chin for her to look at his eyes.
"Yzak…" she said quietly
Sha balled her fist and gave him a hard uppercut. He fell a few steps back holding his face.
"The hell…" he was cut off as he felt Shiho lean her head on his shoulder
"—Shiho?"
"I'm glad you're back."
"So am I" he hugged her, "I love you" he whispered in her ear
"I know."
"Such a sweet scene, ne, Cagalli?" Lacus said as she dubbed her eyes with a hanky
"Uh…yeah…" she exchanged looks with Athrun, as they stifled their laughter.
"cheesy Yzak still used the 'I'm back' line" he whispered
"Yzak is getting cheesier…guess that's what happens to married couples." she whispered back
"Hey, hey, hey! What's going on love birds?" Dearka swung his arms against their shoulders, with his usual mischievous grin.
"Athrun!" Kira barked, as soon as both of them jabbed Dearka away
"What?" he asked in surprise
"keep distance from my sister" he glared
"Oh you mean this?" he placed an arm around her shoulder which caused Cagalli to blush, "play along will ya?" he whispered
Now it was her turn, she placed a hand on his chest, "Why does it bother you bro?"
This time it was Athrun's turn to blush.
"A-th-run!" he gritted through his teeth. "Die!"
"whoops…" Athrun dodged Kira's attacks. "Cags, help me out!"
"Nuh-uh, you caused this." She said as she busied herself with the food table.
So the day ended like that. Yzak and Shiho were back together. The others were laughing at Kira's attempt to catch Athrun.
Not! We forgot a certain someone.
Dark aura was surrounding her.
"Hah-nen-fuss!" she growled
Yzak and Shiho looked at her as if saying, 'What the hell?'
"He's mine!" she growled out, "Stay away from him!"
"I don't think so." Shiho stepped forward, she wasn't about to back down in a fight.
Amaya placed her hands on her hips, "What are you gonna do, Hahnenfuss?"
"That's my line, after all you started this."
"Arghh!!!" she stomped her foot in frustration, "Damn you!"
"Shiho, Amaya stop this." Yzak said in a stern voice.
"Stay out of this." They both said in unison
He was taken aback. Nobody ever told him to mind his own business whenever he intervened. He was just trying to stop the fight. He wasn't happy about this. "Fine, kill each other for all I care."
"Yzak!" Dearka scolded
"I.DON'T.CARE." he emphasized as he left the room.
"Shiho, Amaya-san, let's stop this, shall we?" Lacus pleaded
"Shiho, its not worth it." Miriallia said
"Come on, Shiho." Cagalli said as she pulled her arm.
"Shiho, Shiho, Shiho! That's all I hear from you!" Amaya screamed as she whipped a gun and aimed at them.
"Woah, I think this is getting too far." Athrun said
"She deserves to die! She stole Yzak from me!!!" she yelled aiming her gun at everyone.
"Amaya-san, stop this before someone gets hurt."
"Oh you mean this?" she shot at Shiho.
Cagalli being closest, pushed Shiho away. She closed her eyes getting ready for the impact of the bullet.
Bang!
Blood splattered everywhere
Amaya was shaking, "I didn't mean to!" she scremed as she fainted
"Call the infirmary, now!"