CHAPTER 9: Sweet Dream
A/N This chapter contains…very awkward contents, nothing TOO…you know but in case you don't even want to read it, don't read Cagalli's POV when it comes up. Just be warned.
Kira POV
Kira: Athrun!
Athrun: -smiles awkwardly-
Kira: -whispers to Lacus- Do you think he'll be…shocked?
Lacus: -whispers back- Very. –smiles at Athrun as well-
The two of them then walked slowly towards Athrun who was heading in their direction as well. After a moment or two however, Athrun stopped in his tracks to look at Cagalli. Kira felt Lacus's arm grip his tighter. He could practically see her squirming with excitement.
Athrun: Kira, Lacus…Cagalli.
He and Lacus both shook Athrun's hand while Kira watched as he and Cagalli had the most awkward encounter. Both of them were trying to look anywhere but each other. Then Cagalli quickly left to greet other guests and to get ready for her opening speech which she was meant to deliver 5 minutes ago.
Kira: Nice night –winks at Athrun-
Athrun: -grudgingly- Kira…
Lacus: I'd love to stay and chat but I should really greet other people, it's been a long time since I've last seen any of them. It's only polite. Sorry Athrun, I'll catch up at during the dinner.
She spun around and her pink hair disappeared within the jungle of people.
Athrun: I saw Miriallia, Yzak and Dearka just before you walked in. Miriallia's getting big.
Kira: Yeah, she sent a few pictures to us earlier this year. She and Dearka look like they're having fun. I was just surprised that Dearka proposed.
Athrun: Seems like he finally gave in.
Kira: -pauses- So have you heard from Meyrin at all since you two…
Athrun: No. I think she's coming here tonight though. Speak of the devil.
Meyrin: Hello Kira, it's been too long. Athrun! You're here too!
Kira: Hey Meyrin.
Athrun: Are you here alone?
Meyrin: Oh! No, I'm here with someone. You don't know him. He's not with the army or anything. Just a normal businessman. I met him in the beginning of the year. I think he was rather surprised when I asked him to come here with me today. Shocked really when he found out I used to be a CIC for the ZAFT army and even served aboard the Eternal. He just thought I was a normal girl working with communications on the news channel. –laughs then takes Athrun's hands- I'm happy. More happy than I've ever been in my life before. I've never said this to you before Athrun but, thank you. Thank you for making me realize that I wasn't my sister's shadow. You made me see who I was for the first time. So, thank you.
Athrun: Uhh…-looks at Kira then back at Meyrin-
Meyrin: It was nice seeing you two again. See you later!
Lacus POV
Murrue: Lacus!
Lacus: -looks around to see who called her then spots Murrue linking arms with Mu- Captain! Commander!
Murrue: We're not so much anymore. –smiles gently-
Mu: It's been a while since we've retired Pink Princess.
Lacus: -giggles- Has your life been going well? I heard you two got married!
Mu: Proposed to her at the beach where the orphanage was.
Lacus: I'm very sorry that Kira and I were not in attendance. We had duties to fulfill, but I wish I'd been there. It would have been beautiful.
Murrue: -blushes- Where is Kira anyway?
Lacus: He's with Athrun.
Mu: The kid from ZAFT? I remember him.
Lacus: It was very nice seeing the both of you again. We really must catch up some time soon while our family is still in ORB. I have to go get ready for my commemoration speech now.
Murrue: Oh, of course. Goodbye, we'll see you up on stage later.
Mu: -salutes Lacus in a friendly manner-
Now where was Cagalli? Lacus had to find her as they were giving their speeches together. At last she spotted a blonde head in the crowd. Cagalli had been talking with Miriallia and Dearka while Yzak looked as if he had mostly been sulking. Lacus grinned and tapped Cagalli on the shoulder to remind her of the speech. She greeted the other three warmly but she ushered Cagalli to the stage.
Lacus: Come on, we have a speech to give.
Cagalli: But my part is after your performance.
Lacus: It's more polite to be early.
Host: And now esteemed ladies and gentlemen, we have Lacus Clyne who I might add, is also the Chairwoman of the PLANTS to give us a special performance tonight. May I ask to give her a hand folks?
Lacus took in deep breaths as she nervously waited for the crowd to start clapping. She heard the smatter of applause and a few whoops and whistles as she headed onto the bright lights of the stage. The lights were shining a little too brightly but suddenly all the lights in the room switched off leaving her to be standing in a single spotlight. She began to sing.
The night time fills the sky
Stars alive, go floating by
So still the evening air
So warm and soft
Peace everywhere
I see a world in harmony
A world of peace and humanity
Where people walk free
Like water in a stream
Flowing on, forever more
The breeze that softly blows
Crisping warm, so sweet I know
Upon my cheek I can feel
Tenderly a kiss serene
Like the brush of a hand that I cannot see
The sound of a voice
Deep inside of my heart
So I dream of a new day coming
For all the world
To see
Lift your eyes and
See a new day dawning
A dream that will soon come true,
The day we waited for
Lift your heart and
See a future for us all
The river is our witness
As it flows forever more
As it flows,
As it flows forever more.
She let the last note ring and stopped to have the crowd clapping wildly and whoops and cheers were heard all around the room. The lights came back on and she placed the microphone back on the podium's microphone holder. The host came back up on stage and shushed the crowd in order to listen to our joint speech. The audience was immediately silenced as Cagalli came from backstage in her stunning green dress. She had the air of confidence radiating from her and Lacus felt that power coming from her stronger than ever.
Athrun POV
He couldn't bear to watch it. It was Cagalli. Up on stage. He did have a reason to look at her now but…He just couldn't. Sometimes she was too beautiful for her own good. Of course, he hadn't always felt this way. Especially since their first meeting was when she had been trying to kill him. He shook his head. Those days were over. They were over. He kept telling himself to keep their relationship strictly to a professional level but every once in a while his thoughts would go back to the girl he had once given his heart to. He focused back in on Cagalli and Lacus's speech.
Cagalli: …differences in the past. But here we are today. United. I'm sure all of you remember. You were all part of it. Part of a horror. Part of a destruction. These days, no one but us knows what the true terror of the battlefield was like. The blood that was spilt. The comrades we lost. Innocent people, dying. A battle that would last a lifetime to us. Some of us were children who lost their own innocence in the midst of war. We are not to blame for this, but yet, we are to blame. All of us had our own faults. The destruction of the Alaska base in the first bloody valentine war because it was a 'sacrifice made for the greater good' and who can forget the Destiny Plan that the now deceased Chairman Durandal created. The threat he made to destroy ORB simply because the nation would not comply with his wishes. Those people that died, didn't deserve to. That is why we are here tonight to commemorate all those that died in the war whether they had fought or were simply killed in the midst of a battle. They gave their lives to protect what was important to them. What was precious to them.
Lacus: 'Lift your eyes and see a new day dawning'. And we certainly have seen one. We've managed to create a peaceful future 5 years after the war stopped. 'A future for us all.' This world, has seen too much fighting and not enough peace and love. For all of us, we know we can't take for granted those small moments we have with each other. Because that's all we'll get. I would tell you to forget the war. Forget the fighting but I can't because once we forget, we forget the happiness that's been in front of us all along. Before we know it, we've let it slip from our grasp and that tiny bit of happiness is gone and you can't get it back. So we need to remember, I ask all of you now to close your eyes and give a moment's silence to commemorate the comrades and loved ones we've lost.
Athrun looked up at the podium and he met Cagalli's eyes. The firey amber eyes he saw shocked him and he felt electricity pulse through his body. It was for a fraction of a second but it was long enough. He closed his eyes and bowed his head along with everyone else.
A minute or so later…
Lacus: Thank you all for coming here tonight! I ask all of you now to head to your assigned table to be served with dinner. Have a lovely night everyone!
Athrun looked back up but he was still a bit dazed from his eyes adjusting to the bright lights. He felt everyone move around him but he felt solitary and alone at that very moment until he felt is jacket being tugged by Kira who was leading him towards their dining table.
Cagalli POV
Dammit, whoever assigned the seating plan was going to get fired tomorrow morning or maybe just a work suspension for the time being. She wasn't that cruel to fire someone, after all how could they possibly know their relationship with each other? Lacus was already beside her speaking enthusiastically about her plans to develop a new inter-space transport system but she wasn't sure if the other council member would agree with her ideas. She knew Lacus knew that she wasn't really listening. Lacus was only talking to try take her mind off Athrun.
She glanced up from her lap every few seconds to see if they'd found the table yet. It seemed like forever but they finally made it. Cagalli fidgeted uncomfortably with her gloves.
Kira: Sorry, I got us lost. –takes his seat next to Lacus and kisses her on the cheek-
Cagalli: Hah! I wonder how I ever got you for a brother you know!
She started to relax a bit more as she was mainly talking to Kira. It was strange. She hadn't felt this relaxed in a long while. She took another sip of champagne while laughing hysterically at a 'joke' Kira just told the three of them. It was starting to make her feel weird. Why was it only her that was laughing? She didn't feel her cheeks getting hotter and hotter and she was getting a very painful headache. Then she started to feel a little queasy.
Cagalli: Mmm…I don't feel too good.
Lacus: Umm, you should go get some fresh air I think. You've had a little too much champagne I think.
Cagalli: Oh…-dizzily gets up and heads to a balcony in a crooked line-
The fresh air felt good. It was very refreshing. She was feeling way too hot. Her stomach started to churn and this wasn't good. She hurried to the side of the balcony and threw up into the bushes. Cagalli started to feel better immediately but she squatted down and pressed her fingers to massage her temples. She didn't know who because her vision was blurred but a guy knelt down next to her and patter her on the back. She couldn't clearly see who it was.
Cagalli: What are you doing here? –said drunkenly-
Athrun: It's me, come on, I think I should get you home. You look awful.
Cagalli: No I don't! I look fine. I'm ready to go back in. –attempts to stand but wobbles-
Athrun: You're not fine. Look let me take you home. Let's not bother Lacus and Kira tonight.
Cagalli: NO! Don't need your help.
Athrun: For once in your life let me help!
Cagalli was astounded by his sudden outburst.
Cagalli: O…kay…
He knelt down and told her to climb onto his back. He was going to carry her to his car so he could drive her home. She could feel the stares from everyone as he carried her back into the ballroom. She'd explain it later, right now, she was too drunk. Cagalli felt him placing her gently into his car and fell asleep as he drove back to her mansion. She only woke up just as he placed her on the bed. He started to head back out of the room when she spoke to him. She didn't even know what she was saying.
Cagalli: -whispers- Don't go.
Athrun: -surprised- You want me to call someone for you?
Cagalli: No. You don't go. Stay with me. Don't leave me again.
Athrun: What?
Cagalli: You left me. Don't do it again.
Athrun: That's just the alcohol talking. I have to go.
Cagalli: -starts to cry- NO! Please…don't go. –gets out of bed and runs to hug him- You can't leave me ever again! You have to stay. I missed you so much…I was so worried.
Athrun: -hugs her back and strokes her hair and whispers gently- I missed you too.
Cagalli felt herself pull away from his close embrace and go on her tiptoes to kiss him. She wasn't controlling her body anymore. What was she doing! Kissing Athrun? The thing was Athrun was kissing her back. He pushed her back and they fell on the bed. She didn't try to pull away from it. She wanted it. Cagalli felt his warm breath against the skin on her neck and she couldn't remember a single thing that happened afterward. At least now she was going to forever swear off alcohol.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed/Destiny or any of the characters.
Sorry I haven't updated in a while! I've been sick It sucked. But now mwahaha! I have given you all a new chapteeeerrrrrrrrrrr ! Enjoy it :D