CHAPTER 12
"Bye," Athrun gave her one last hug as she boarded the shuttle.
"Meyrin, you staying or going with Sai?" Luna asked
"I'm going. See you in a week." Meyrin said
"Why a week?"
"Next week's Cagalli's wedding already."
Athrun flinched.
"Okay, see you."
"You going?" Yzak asked Athrun as the shuttle took off
"Going where?"
"The wedding, dude! Drinks on the house!" Dearka said
"I don't think so."
"You're choice."
Athrun turned on the news, 'Wow shocking, Cagalli's wedding is in the news' he thought sarcastically
"I am a dumb, pathetic bastard." He said
"I know, you don't have to tell me."
Athrun looked up. Yzak was leaning against the door
"Aren't you going?"
"here" Yzak threw something at him
He caught it, "What's this"
"I think you know what that is."
"Yeah…its suppose to be with her"
"She gave it back"
"How did she know it was mine?"
"She knew. I think you better go to her now, before you regret it. She remembers already." He said as he walked away, "The weddings today."
"You aren't going?" he asked again
"I'm going, by the way you are a dumb pathetic bastard but she loves that dumb pathetic bastard seated on that dumb chair, who hasn't made any stupid effort to fight for her" he raised a hand as a gesture of leaving.
"The hell…"
Athrun rushed to the shuttle, "I need to get on that shuttle now."
"Chairman Zala, you can't its full." The conductor reasoned
"Then bring out the private shuttle" he gave a deep breath, "But you said—"
"I don't care what I said, I need it now. 5 minutes. Thanks."
"Damn, I never saw Chairman Zala this flustered." He shook his head
"Faster…fasterfasterfasterfaster…" he was drumming his fingers on the table of his shuttle. "Wait for me."
'Damn I thought Yzak just went, why is he already at Orb?!' he was flustered really flustered that disturbed him. 'Keep Cool, Athrun.'
"This is why I don't like dresses." Cagalli complained as they fitted the wedding dress on her. It was like her first wedding dress. "This brings back bad memories…" she muttered
"You look great, Cagalli!" Miriallia squealed
"Yeah right."
"Come on, you do. Well, if you'd act like a lady for today, you would go throught with this without any problem" Shiho said
"Cagalli, you look bored"
"I am"
"Cagalli, have you ever thought of ditching this wedding?" Lacus asked
"Yeah…Lacus is that you? Are you telling me to ditch this wedding?" she was surprised Lacus usually followed the rules
"I was just asking, anyway he's coming."
"He who?"
"You're prince charming."
As soon as the shuttle landed, he jumped out of it. He glanced at his watch it was 3:50. The wedding was going to start at 4. "Damn. If I only had my car." He started running when—
"Oi, kiddo!" a familiar voice yelled
"Mwu?"
"Want a ride?" it was his sleek convertible. "Where did you get this?" he asked as he slid in the passenger's seat
"Orb parking. I have my ways"
Athrun smiled, "Sure, would you step on it just make sure you don't scratch it."
"Of course, this was given to you by the princess now, why would I scratch this baby?"
"Come on, let's go."
Cagalli stepped out of the room, she was headed for the limosine that would bring her to the Haumea temple (A/N: is that what you call it?)
"Cagalli, you're so pretty like a bride"
"I am a bride"
"Cags, good luck" Kira wished her, "By the way, I had a twin SISTER?"
"Shut it, Kira" she gave him a headlock
She was in the limo with Yuuta, "Cagalli, I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"This" he kissed her in the cheek. This left Cagalli confused
The limo stopped in front of the temple. "Wait, Yuuta" she called out, "What was that?"
Suddenly Meyrin appeared beside her, "Here" she ropped something into her hand
"Meyrin what is this?"
"He told me to give it back to you"
She fingered it, "Thanks"
"I'll go ahead."
"Yeah thanks Meyrin"
She forgot all about Yuuta when he said, "Yo, Cagalli"
She turned around to see Yuuta
"Hey" she smiled
"Nice necklace, a Haumea pendant?"
"Yup, it was mine."
"Was. Means you gave it to someone else and why is it here?"
"He gave it back"
"Listen to me Cagalli, about what I did awhile ago…I want you to be happy. I want to let myself be happy…"
"Yuuta, you mean…"
"Yup. Here a pen." He handed her a pen and a document
"Thanks" she gave him a hug
Athrun panted as he ran along, the traffic was bad. Apparently the news went to feature Cagalli's wedding causing one hell of traffic. Even though he was tired, he still had his composure, Nice suit and still had nice unmessy hair.
He saw the crowd from far away, "How am I gonna go through that?!"
A helicopter flew above him
"Athrun, here!" Shinn shouted as he piloted the helicopter. A ladder rope was dropped down. Athrun climbed a few steps as took hold of the ladder.
"This is some dramatic entrance" Athrun muttered under his breath
Cagalli walked down the aisle, holding a bouquet. Something unusual was that she was smiling. The elders of Orb and Earth Alliance were in front with Yuuta waiting for her.
She reached the front. Yuuta offered his arm to her. She took it willingly
"You ready?" he whispered above her ear
"Ready." They turned to the elders. "We're sorry but we decided to—"
There was a shadow above them. "The hell…" Cagalli looked up just to see Athrun jumped down.
"The hell are you here?!" she took him by the collar, "You're suppose to be in PLANT."
"What if I told you I can't stay there…alone." he looked at her directly in the eyes.
"What are you talking about, Athrun?!"
"What do you think I'm talking about?"
"Sorry to interrupt, I'm Yuuta Seiran by the way." He extended his hand. Athrun watched it at first, then he brushed off Cagalli's hands which were around his collar, "Athrun Zala, please to meet you" remembering to be civil.
"So Cagalli, this is the man. I knew you like someone else but not the famous Athrun Zala." He winked at her
"Yuuta!" she blushed
"Am I missing something here?" Athrun asked
"We'll somewhat. Well, you see I have my—"
"Yuuuttttaaaaaa-kun!!!" a girl ran to him. A beautiful girl actually. She jumped into Yuuta's arms. "Maya-chan!!" he twirled her around. People like went O.o. A murmur spread through the crowd.
"So Yuuta, this is Maya-chan" Cagalli said smugly
"Yeah, why?"
"Nothing, you only cried, you know how many times saying you don't want to leave Maya-chan…" she said nonchantly
"Cagalli!" it was his turn to blush
"I was kidding." She turned to the elders, "I'm sorry but we, Yuuta and I decided not to get married, however we made an agreement." She took out an envelop
"What is this, Cagalli-sama?"
"This is the agreement. We both signed it, here it states that Orb and the Earth Alliance are now allies. War is not an option." Yuuta explained.
"Are you Cagalli, Yuuta-kun?" Maya asked him
"No, but I think she need to talk to someone, right now." He gave Athrun a wink and walked away with Maya.
"Cagalli, I…"
"What is it?"
"I…you…you look like a girl." He blurted out
"What?!"
"I said you look like a girl." He was digging his own he grave. But it was a mistake. He was too nervous to say anything that it came out.
"I am a girl, jackass!" She yelled at him
"No…it's just…"
"NO? I'm telling you I am a girl!" she once again held him by the collar, her hand folded into a fist.
"Wait, I'm sorry, okay?" he removed her hand from his collar again. "I need to talk to you."
"You are talking to me, you blurt out one more nonsense, I will…hmm…punch you."
"Okay, fine…I—" he was gonna say it, after all he had already mustered all his courage and was ready to take a leap of faith. He wanted her, he wanted to be near her, he loves her
"Cagalli-sama what are you going to do with this situation?" an elder interrupted. Athrun sighed, great, now his courage was falling. He was just suppose to say it out loud. Now what was he gonna do?
"What situation? There is no situation anymore."
"The press, rulers, citizens, they're all waiting for a wedding." They expplained
"But—"
"But, nothing. Athrun-san since you somehow destroyed the wedding, I need you to be her groom."
Athrun and Cagalli's mouth hung open. Athrun was able to muster a "What?"
"After all, you have a history together. And I'm sure what you wanted to say was 'I love you' , right? We may be old, but we know stuff."
"Well…it's too sudden…and…I…uhh…" he stammered
"Well, if you don't want to then think of a way to end this." Cagalli grinned at him, "You have some work to do…" she smirked
"Yeah, yeah…" he walked to a reporter, grabbed the mike, walked in front of the camera and… "I'm sorry, you must have waited for this beloved princess' wedding," he looked at Cagalli who was shooting daggers at him, "but, we must never force another to marry someone they are not in love with."
Everyone was listening intently to what he was going to say. Kira was beaming at his actions. Miriallia was busy taking pictures, Dearka was laughing his head off while Yzak simply put on a smirk. Shiho was proud of him like an older sister, Meyrin and Luna were teary from his speech, Shinn and Sai just gave each other high fives. Cagalli was clinging onto his every word.
"I may not give you another wedding here today, but I have come to ask, the hand of marriage of the Princess of Orb, Cagalli." He smiled at the camera, cool and composed. "What will you say Princess Cagalli?" he made his way to her, bending down, as he slipped on the same ring. The ring that was special to them both. Red and Silver, it shone brightly. He glanced up to see her, she was blushing really hard, tears stinging her eye. The crowd held their breath waiting for her answer. They did not dare blink, as if, if they did everything will be gone.
'Don't cry now, I'm so dead if I let you cry in a crowd.'Athrun hoped
Instead she smiled and pulled him up, "Yes" she whispered as she gave him a hug. He hugged her back, "I love you."
"I love you too, Athrun…Alex has no chance." She pulled back. Athrun put on a frown, "Well, you know that I am—"
"I know, that is why I'd rather be with Athrun Zala, a man who just stood up for himself than a man who hides himself from the crowd." She explained
"When did you…remember?"
"Some time ago…Images of you were forming, but I was afraid to admit it since it would be awkward. What the hell." She smirked "By the way…"she smacked him in the head, "You called me princess."
Athrun laughed out loud, "Whatever happens, you are my princess." He pushed her chin up as his mouth caught hers. A cheer erupted from the crowd. Happy cheers as well as cries of fans. They pulled back, "Whatever happens, you are my princess." He repeated.
"Hey Athrun, don't hog her all by yourself will you?" Kira pushed him away as he gave Cagalli a hug. "Kira, you're squeezing me." She gasped out.
"I love you, sis." He whispered on her ear, "I love you, too, bro." she said as she hugged him back. Kira burst out crying, chibi style, "Aww…Kira, your soaking my wedding dress." He wiped his tears, "Athrun take care of her okay?" he sniffed
"Of course." He extended his hand for a shake. But Kira gave him a hug, "You hurt her again, I'm gonna kill you" he muttered. Athrun shook his head, "Sometimes I wonder if we really are best friends."
"We are…take good care of her…I want a nephew. A nephew!" he yelled at him
"Kira!" Cagalli pulled his cheeks, "Was that necessary to scream that you want kids from us?!" He placed his arm around Lacus' shoulders. "Yeah! That's what you did to us," Lacus giggled
"Athrun, you owe us a lot." The gang was behind him. "Yeah, thanks guys."
"Not enough, Zala…I have a few favors, you will help me won't you?" Yzak smirked. Dearka backed him up, "Come on, Athrun. We went through a lot."
"What have I gotten myself into?" he whispered to himself.
"Chairman Zala, I have a question" a reporter said in the press conference
"What is it?"
"Did you just propose on the spot or did you teo know each other intimately?"
"Stop with all the quest—" Cagalli was cut off by Athrun before she would have told them to mind their own business
"We knew each other from a…uh…time ago…" he said
"Chairman Zala, where were you after the 1st war? You disappeared for two years."
"I was with someone important to me." He stated, sneaking a peek at Cagalli who was blushing hard.
"Who was that?"
Athrun just smiled at them offering no answer
"Was it Princess Cagalli?"
"Se-cr-et" he grinned as he winked at them
"Athrun, you pompous ass, you could at least told them to mind their own business."
"It was a press conference, Cags, what do you think they do in a conference?" he reasoned with her.
"Well, you could have…hmph!!" she was cut off by a pair of lips on top of her own. She closed her eyes and returned the kiss. He brought her closer to his chest. A hand slip up his broad shoulders, then around his neck. When he pulled back, he rested his forehead against hers. "We have a lot of catching up to do…"
"Don't worry we have all the time."
"So what's the plan?"
"We just play it out. Cagalli remembers about Athrun. She gave me this" Yzak held a ring. Cagalli's ring. "So what do you propose?" Lacus asked.
"I've already talked to Yuuta, and he's already agreed. He just wants a few things."
"Yuuta? Cagalli's fiancé? What things?" Kira asked confused
"Maya-chan"
"My secretary?" Lacus asked in disbelief, "Who would have thought that he had a thing for Maya-chan?" she giggled, "It's a deal, I'll tell Maya-chan, she was actually obsessing over Yuuta-kun."
"How do you know Yuuta and Maya, by the way, Yzak?" Shiho asked
"I have my sources" he smirked
"What made you decide t help them?" they looked questioningly at him
"I'm tired of waiting. Besides I'm not all that bad, I…uh…care? Anyway, after all they both are too predictable." Yzak smirked, "They're meant for each other."
OWARI
Thanks to Housenka, cagalliyulathha, Canadain-Girl, Hades.Throne.Heiress, Xer0SHadoW, yuuri13, Latias 24, digi-gal-rox, simply -v-, akidarchangelprincess, Yuri Xyza, Kokoro Onee chan, Prophecy 's Illusion, TinhThuyVan, suna-girl, wewewewewe, Wraven2590, cagalli20, animeboy-12 for the reviews. Some were positive and some were negative but at least it made me finish this fic. Even though it may be sucky…hehehe…