Tsubame: Hehehehe…sorry for not updating for so long…I decided to make a new chapter instead of waiting for my computer to be fixed. The original I have top admit is better but due to public demand, I will comply. I will post the original when I finally get my monitor fixed.

I can't remember much of the plot anymore so I'm just going to have to make stuff up along the way…WwhhhheeeEEE…I'm trying to remember as much of the story as I can.

I hope you guys don't hate me for such a LONG wait! I hope you haven't given up on me yet. How many months has it been again? Thanks AGAIN, Garowyn! You're the best!

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Seed or Gundam Seed Destiny…

"Double Identities"

By Tsubame Ongaku

Beta-read and editted by: Garowyn

Chapter 4: Cagalli Yula Athha

Athrun tugged on his tie one last time as he gave one last inspection in front of the full-length mirror of his room. He didn't know if he should like what he saw, but he at least knew that he didn't look that bad. His father insisted that he buy a new suit for the occasion. He couldn't understand what the big deal was. Why should he spend $5000 dollars on a suit that he'd just wear for one night?

"I don't look that bad, do I?" he asked the two maids behind him. The Representative insisted that he should be served and treated like royalty. No matter how much Athrun insisted that he shouldn't bother, Mr. Athha shrugged it off and sent him about a half dozen maids. That was too many, so Athrun kindly excused four and left two.

One was a plump, middle-aged looking and had a maternal air around her that Athrun was comfortable with. She treated Athrun like a son, scolded him, scolded him when needed made sure that he slept and didn't work through the night. She said that she was Mana, the princess's personal maid. She was assigned to assist him temporarily. Athrun didn't understand why the representative sent her but decided that it was none of his business.

The other was young, acted quite timid and nervous. She mumbled when replying and Athrun had trouble understanding the things she wanted to say.

"Huh?" The younger maid sighed. The older jabbed her on the ribs to get her out of her daydream. Athrun didn't notice. He was still scowling at himself in the mirror.

"You look simply regal, Mr. Zala," the older maid replied. "Her highness will be thrilled."

The younger was speechless to be frank. She had heard of Athrun Zala of Zaft before, but never thought she'd ever get a chance to see him in person. She didn't care at first to be honest. She felt indifferent when they announced that he was to be the tomboyish princess's fiancé. Now that she saw him, she was shocked to find that he was a gorgeous man, especially now in a black suit and tie ensemble.

"Ah." Athrun wasn't really looking for approval from the mysterious princess…or was he? "I will be going down in a few minutes. Please tell Kira that. You may go."

The maids bow respectfully and made their exits. They closed the door behind them, leaving Athrun utterly alone. He dropped onto the couch and sighed tiredly. He'd been busy touring the city all of yesterday and that day with Kira. For some reason, he had a feeling that his bestfriend was trying to keep him away from the house.

"Kira, would you mind telling me why this place has a tennis court, basketball court, ice rink, baseball field and who knows what else…" Athrun grumbled. They were playing tennis in the Attha estates' tennis court.

"There is also wall climbing, bungee jumping…" Kira grinned and then shrugged. "There is a reason for all this. This is an attempt to keep that mischievous sister of mine inside and out of trouble."

"What?" Athrun couldn't understand what he meant. The princess was a lady, right? What did he mean by out of trouble?

"No. Forget I said that." Kira picked up his racket. He was supposed to keep Athrun entertained until the ball. He invited Athrun for a little game of tennis.

It proved to be interesting to watch two coordinators fight against one another. Both were equal in speed, agility and strength. In the end they tied 2-2 after two hours. Finally they had to call it quits when they noticed that they were attracting attention, specifically the female kind. What did you expect from two sexily sweaty, very good-looking guys?

Before Athrun left, though, he took a peek around the crowd. He saw lots of blondes but none of them looked like the one he was looking for.

"You won't find her there." Kira noticed his searching and could tell immediately what he was looking for.

"What do you mean?" Athrun replied innocently. He followed Kira back into the changing rooms.

"You won't find my sister among them," Kira told him. "She's preparing for the ball and she will never get out of that room until Mana says so. Mana is very picky and particular." He wiped the sweat from his brows. "I feel sorry for her already She's going to be there all day."

"Don't I get to see my fiancée?" Athrun was curious. He wanted to know the princess personally and not just through the articles he read.

"No!" Kira cried almost frantically. "I mean…not right now. She's busy." Kira wanted to kill himself. He was being too obvious. "You'll see her at the ball instead. Wouldn't that be better?"

"Is this ball such a big deal?" Athrun was used to these kinds of parties. He'd been receiving invitations like those since he turned eighteen. All of them had one thing in common. It was like a popularity contest. Even though the cause was supposed to be for good, there was no getting away from the fact that it was there.

"It is to her father." Kira looked up to the sky and admire the clouds and the birds flying freely. He always loved the sky. It was so peaceful like this. "Cagalli would do anything to not disappoint her father." He turned towards his sister's closed window. He knew she was there getting ready. "Even take another identity entirely," he thought.

After that was the grand tour of the city and by the time they returned to the Attha manse it was late and Athrun was so tired he dropped on his bed and fell instantly to sleep with clothes and all.

Athrun got up. It was time to go. There were no more excuses now. Tonight, he was going to see his fiancée for the first time. He picked up his room keys, invitation and wallet, which were on top of the bed's side table. Well, it was now or never because he was now ready to go.

Upon reaching the ballroom, the first thing he heard was the familiar voice of Lacus Clyne singing a popular favorite, "Mizu no Akashi." She was praised as a goddess, an angel and siren. She had very long pink hair that flowed like a pink waterfall with each movement she made and lovely lavender eyes. There was nobody in either the PLANTS or Earth who didn't know her name and reputation. Well, with the exception of Kira, but this guy was usually clueless so it would be no wonder.

Athrun smiled warmly at the young woman singing on stage. She saw him and returned his smile but continued to sing her song. It was amazing that that woman not long ago was his fiancée. They were engaged to each other when she was just sixteen. Lacus broke their engagement knowing that they would never be anything but friends. Athrun was relieved. Being with Lacus Clyne was like being around his little sister. He doted and spoiled her like one. When he brought roses to her, it was strange.

Siegel Clyne, her father, understood. He broke the engagement immediately, but Patrick Zala was furious. He commanded Athrun to never to have anything to do with the Clynes ever again. He stopped visiting her, but they still remained friends. He still listened and watched her perform once in a while.

He tried to search the crowd for a familiar face, but unfortunately found none. He wondered where Kira was. He was supposed to be there. Then Athrun remembered that his bestfriend was the Head of Security. Kira was probably doing his job.

As soon as the last note of Lacus's song finished, there was a thunderous applause. Lacus never ceased to amaze him. She certainly had a lot of fans. She bowed politely and descended from the stage. She walked gracefully towards him with her pink Haro bouncing behind her. Athrun chuckled knowing that he gave that little ball to her. She had about a dozen more in different colors, which she left at home. He spoiled her rotten with those inventions of his.

"How are you, Athrun?" she asked as soon as she reached him. "I never thought that I'd find you here."

The pink Haro bounced up and down and flapped its little wing like arms. "Haro! Haro! Haro!" it said. "Athrun! Athrun!"

Lacus giggled. "I think Mr. Pink has missed you."

Athrun chuckled. "That's good because I've missed Mr. Pink, too." The little ball jumped into Athrun's arms. "I can see that he's in very good condition. I'm glad you took very good care of him, Lacus."

"Of course I took care of him." Lacus took Haro from Athrun and tried to settle the squirming ball in her arms. "I love him very much, Athrun."

Like a little sister… That was what Athrun always thought of her. Looking at her at that moment, he saw his little sister playing with a little toy that he just got her. It was strange. No matter how much people told them they were such a cute couple, the thought gave him the shivers. Great, he was going to marry his sister.

Mr. Pink suddenly took off. Lacus tried to follow it. "Mr. Pink, where are you going? Come back here." She was giggling as she chased after the round object. Athrun could see that she cared deeply for the little guy and was glad.

He looked around again, trying to search for Kira. It wasn't like him to be late. Even in their youth, Kira was a punctual kid. Finally, he saw him practically running down the stairs with his communicator in hand and glancing at his watch every few minutes.

He chuckled. Kira didn't like it when he was late. "Kira, over here!" he called, waving his arms.

Kira looked up and saw him. He smiled and walked through the crowd towards him.

"You're late. What took you so long?" Athrun asked after shaking his friend's hand.

Kira rolled his eyes. "My sister and I got into a little disagreement with what she should wear tonight." He sighed. "It took longer than expected." He glanced at his watch again and then the servants' entrance. Why would Kira be looking there? "She is really stubborn and won't wear the dress finally picked for her."

"Oh." Athrun patted his friend in the back. "I understand how you feel. Girls these days want to wear revealing dresses."

"Dresses? I'd be lucky to get her in a skirt," Kira mumbled.

"What do you mean by that, Kira?" Athrun heard. He had the coordinators' great hearing.

Kira shrugged. He had a nervous grin on his face that made Athrun wonder if anything was wrong. For some reason, Kira acted nervous and jumpy. Every few seconds, Kira glanced at the servants' entrance. Athrun wondered whom he was waiting for? Or what? He began to suspect that Kira was worried about something and from the nervous way he acted while they were still talking about his sister, the problem must have something to do with his sister.

Athrun pushed those feelings away. Whatever it was had nothing to do with him, right? Why should he worry about it? "So where is she?" Athrun asked, trying not to sound so eager, but failing. Athrun had never been much of an actor.

Kira shrugged. For some reason, he was not able to detect Athrun's eagerness. Whether it was because he was distracted or Kira was not a keen observer, Athrun was relieved. "My sister likes coming unnoticed," Kira told Athrun. "If you want to see her, you're going to have to find her."

Athrun's arched his brows. "Kira, I've never met her before. So how am I supposed to know it's her?"

Kira didn't look troubled at all. "You'll know."

Athrun scanned the ballroom. There certainly were a lot of blondes around. How was Kira so sure about that?" For a few minutes, Athrun looked around but finally understood. "She's going to come through the servants' entrance, isn't she?"

Kira froze then gulped. Was he being that obvious? Earlier, he and Cagalli had a fight. She refused to wear the dress chosen for her. She wanted to wear the white Orb uniform. Now he was afraid that she'd come running down the servant's entrance in that infernal uniform. Cagalli was a rebel and she might actually do it, especially now that Mana was busy with Athrun.

Kira chuckled nervously. "My sister likes to make an…ummm…unique entrance, I suppose.

"So, I'm right?" Athrun turned to the servant's entrance again. "I'd like to meet your sister, Kira." He started to walk towards it, but Kira grabbed his arm.

"Athrun, wait!" Kira couldn't let Athrun see her yet. Not until he was sure that she was dressed appropriately. There was nothing much he could do actually even if he did try to stop her. She wouldn't listen to him anyway. He was, after all, the little brother. "That's the servants' entrance and no place for you."

"Ah. Then that means that it is also no place for a princess." He pulled his arm away and started to go again but again Kira blocked him. Athrun groaned. "Out of my way, Kira."

"Why in such a hurry?" Kira tried to push him back to the crowd. "I'll introduce her to you later."

"Yes, why are you in such a hurry, Athrun?" a musical voice said. It sounded like it was right behind them.

Athrun smiled. "Lacus. I see you caught Mr. Pink now."

Lacus giggled and nodded. "Yes, he is so frisky." The Haro flapped its wings again and screamed, "Haro! Haro!" The little thing jumped from Lacus arms again and bounced towards Athrun. It landed in his arms and he tried to control him.

"I think he truly misses you, Athrun," Lacus said coming towards them. "Do you want to keep him for a while? He keeps trying to get away from me lately."

"Ummm…sure?" Athrun studied the little Haro. Maybe it was broken. "Hey, Kira. Did you bring Tori?" No reply. "Kira? Oi, Kira?" He turned to his bestfriend and Kira wasn't exactly listening. He had his head turned away and his cheeks were flushed.

"Kira, what is wrong with you?" Athrun whispered to him.

"Huh? Ummm…nothing."

Lacus looked at the two boys whispering, confused. "Athrun, have I said something wrong?"

Athrun diverted his attention to Lacus, who was looking at them worriedly. "No. You've done nothing wrong, Lacus." He nudged Kira forward. "Lacus, I'd like you to meet a close friend of mine, Kira Yamato. Kira, this is Lacus Clyne."

Lacus curtsied and extended her hand to Kira for a handshake. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Kira."

She took her hand and shook it. His cheeks were still flushed and his smile very nervous. "Likewise, Ms. Clyne. It is an honor to finally meet you."

"Please call me Lacus," she replied.

While Kira was still distracted and talking to Lacus, he took the opportunity to sneak to the servants' entrance. He knew this was sneaky and so unlike him. He couldn't explain why he was doing this. Did he really want to meet her this badly? She was just like all other girls, right? Then he realized that this was not just going to be some girl. This is the girl that he's going to spend the rest of his life with.

Realizing that now scared him. He was too young for marriage and here he was now, engaged to be married in most probably a year. He always believed that marriage should be for love and not political reasons. He wanted to know this Cagalli Yula Athha. He wanted to know this star behind her spotlight…

Cagalli grumbled and cursed all the way down the servants' entrance stairs. It was so close. She almost got away with wearing her uniform to the ball. On the way down though, she bumped into Kisaka. He was shocked by her choices of wear for a formal ball and he told Mana about it. Mana came running and dragged her back to her room. Mana got her dressed up somehow, but only after a lot of screaming and resistance.

She tugged on the hem of her traditional Orb evening gown. It was a long gown of pastel green with a white sash in front of it. On her head was a golden tiara. Her father once told her that it had once belonged to her lovely mother. Uzumi Athha proudly told Cagalli that her mother had been as beautiful as she is.

"So wear this crown with the pride befitting of an Athha, my daughter," her father had said as he had laid the tiara on her head earlier.

She lifted her chin up. That was exactly what she was going to do. She was an Athha, after all. When she almost reached the bottom of the stairs she slowed down and sneaked down softly. She didn't want the guests to see her coming down through this entrance. It wasn't every day that you saw a princess do that.

She looked left and right. All clear. She didn't know that somebody was already waiting for her…

Cagalli could feel somebody watching her. While scanning the crowd, her eyes met with a blue-haired man from the crowd. Even as she looked away, she could still feel his eyes following her everywhere and the intensity of his gaze.

She was no stranger to the sensation of being watched. She was a public figure after all. It shouldn't matter, right? But it did matter. It mattered to her very much that this particular man was staring at her.

It was better to ignore it. She told herself. He was nothing but a man, right? There were a lot of them around. She could just take her pick, right?

The feeling didn't go away. Even as she mingled among the quests now, she could still feel those green eyes staring behind her. It annoyed her and disturbed her to no end. She wanted to go to that man at one time and demand him exactly what he wanted of her.

She decided later that she wasn't going to give the guy the pleasure of wasting her time. She was just determined to behave that night like the lady she was supposed to be and behave.

She forced herself to forget and she almost did, but then she felt a light tap behind her. She thought at first that it would be Kira. She hadn't seen him all evening. He must have disappeared somewhere but somehow she also had a feeling that maybe he was avoiding her. He was so nervous and jumpy earlier, the reason had to be more than just her clothes. Kisaka was acting odd too. Those two were up to something.

"Kira," she giggled. "Where did you disappear to?" She was surprised to see not her brother's dark purple eyes but a stranger's dark emerald ones. They stared at her softly. She couldn't help but blush. She cursed to herself. She hated it that both; she and Kira blushed very easily.

The man never said a thing or stirred his eyes away from her. Cagalli forced a smile. She had to keep her act together. "May I help you?"

The man smiled lightly held his hand towards her and bowed his head. "May I have this dance, your highness?"

What Cagalli wanted to say was that she'd rather not, but years of etiquette training taught her that it was not a good idea. From the way this guy carried himself to his clothes, this guy screamed VIP. She felt she had no choice but to accept. Not only that, the guy was cute. She liked looking at his deep green eyes and tendrils of his long navy blue hair got in the way of his eyes. She found herself wanting to brush them out of the way. She stopped herself, though. "Act like a lady, act like a lady, act like a lady…" she repeated to herself.

She took his hand and curtsied. "I would love to." What was the harm of just one dance? One dance couldn't change anything.

He led her to the dance floor. The waltz music played. Cagalli had no problems dancing because she was an accomplished dancer. It was part of the training to become a princess. Her feet ached after each lesson almost every time. At times like these, she was grateful for them. She wouldn't repeat that experience again, though.

It was only later that this guy began to creep her out. She took his one hand in hers but then he stroke his other hand in her hair before he took her hand. She decided to dismiss it. It was probably nothing. While they were dancing, he held her hand tight. Almost too tightly…

She chose to enjoy the dance instead of analyzing what this guy was trying to do. She found that he was probably as accomplished in dancing as her. It was either he also took lessons or it just might be possible for someone to be naturally graceful.

"You dance pretty well," she said, trying to strike a conversation.

"Mmmm…" was his reply. It was then that she noticed that his eyes were disconcertingly studying her. It made her nervous now. Was this guy some sort of stalker?

"May I know your name?" she asked innocently. She might tell her brother the name later to ready a restraining order.

"Is it that important to you, your highness?" he asked.

"It is only fair," she argued. "You know my name, sir, but I don't know yours." She mimicked his gaze with hers. "Don't you agree?"

"I see." He held her hand tighter.

"I wish you wouldn't hold my hand so tightly," she said. He was holding her hand too tightly for her taste but what excuse could she give? "My umm…my fiancé will see us."

The man grinned. He seemed amused for some reason. "Your fiancé? Oh, my. Would he hurt me?"

"He would if he thought you were trying to steal his fiancée," she told his as calmly as she could. Years of acting were going to be put some use now. She was going to have to lie to this guy that she was taken to get him to leave her alone.

"You think so?"

She simply nodded. Did this guy understand her just now or what? Why did he act like she said something that amused him.

"Don't you know me at all?" he asked suddenly.

She shook her head.

"Very well, your highness. My name is…"

Suddenly, the orchestra stopped playing and Cagalli noticed that Kisaka was on stage and carrying a microphone. "Attention!" The bodyguard's voice boomed in the speakers. "May I have your attention please? I have an announcement to make from his highness, Lord Uzumi Athha."

"From father?" Cagalli thought. "I wonder what it is…" Then it hit her. Oh, no. Kisaka couldn't be thinking of announcing the news, could he? She had to get out of there. She was really going to kill Kira now. He knew and he didn't tell her. No wonder he was in hiding.

"I'm going to kill that Kira," she grumbled.

"What?" The guy beside her still held her hand pretty tightly.

"I have to go…" She racked her brain for an excuse. "…to the bathroom!"

He stopped her from leaving. "Can't you stay until after the announcement?" She tried to pry her hand from his, but his grip was probably made of iron. He wouldn't move.

"No, so let go." She tugged her hand, but now she felt that it was safe to conclude that this guy was a coordinator. "What do you want from me?" she demanded. "Let me go!"

He remained quiet, but never let go.

"We are proud to inform you, good people of Orb, that our very own princess is engaged!" Two spotlights turned on began circling around the room searching. It was searching for her that was for sure. There was a chorus of oohs, ahs and congratulations. Oh, my goodness. Did they really think that she'd actually go on with it?

"She is engaged to the PLANTS Red Knight, Athrun Zala!" This caused even more applause.

Then both spotlights stopped at them. The crowd applauded and congratulated them. The person beside her had just nodded and said thank you, then it finally hit her. "No…it…can't…be…"

He nodded his head and took both hands in his. He leaned down to her ear and whispered, "Good evening, Ms. Cagalli Yula Athha. My name is Athrun Zala…"

Listening to: A variety of Anime CDs

Mood: Drained… ZzzzzZZZzzzZZZzzz

Working on: "Summer School" chapter 7 and trying to write both, "Fighting Spirits" and "His Possessive Nature." Takes so long to write…