JC: In the previous chapter, Kira and Cagalli finally met! The down side is that Cagalli doesn't remember her own brother! Before starting, I want to thank all the reviewers for their support! Thank you so much.
Disclaimer: I don't own Cagalli/Freya, Kira/Freyr, Shinn/Loki, and all the other GS characters. I only own Jean Corda here!
Gundam Seed: Mythical Legends
Phase 18: A Brother's Love
Athrun went downstairs and found Stellar and Fllay in the living room. "Hey…" he said weakly as he sat down on a couch located next to Fllay.
"Hello Athrun-san!" greeted Stellar, looking lively. "How is Cagalli-san and Kira-san?"
"I don't know. I didn't stay to watch them." He slumped down and heaved a sigh. His face had the word down written on it. Surely he was still thinking about Shinn's relationship with Cagalli in the past.
But his feelings were rather visible to Fllay. Without even using her powers, she sensed a solemn aura coming from him. "You're in love, right?"
Athrun nodded his head without a doubt.
"And the girl is Cagalli-san, am I wrong?" Stellar butted in, giving Athrun a cheery smile.
The mention of Cagalli's name made his heart go wild. His cheeks turned red in a split second, giving away all his hidden emotions. He tried to hide it by lowering his head, but the girls already saw it and they were already giggling.
"Oh my gosh!" exclaimed Fllay, placing a hand on Athrun's shoulder. "You're in love with Cagalli-san! That's big news!"
"I have to agree with Fllay here. Athrun-san, why didn't you tell?" Stellar added.
"Well…err…I-I was…" he stuttered, feeling kinda embarrassed. He wouldn't usually act so shy, but when it comes to love he becomes different.
"Stellar, isn't it obvious!" Fllay stood and glared at the blonde goddess, as she placed her hands on her waist. "Guys, especially mortal ones, don't usually tell other people about their feelings for a girl!"
"Oh, I didn't know that," Stellar replied, turning to look at Athrun. "So, Athrun-san, have you told Cagalli-san about this?"
"Eh!" shouted Athrun, shaking his head vigorously.
"What are you, stupid!" Fllay bellowed, pointing her index finger at Stellar. "Confessing to a girl is a tough job for guys!"
Stellar's eyes grew wide in surprise. "So that means you haven't told her? Not even a hint?"
Sadly, Athrun nodded his head in reply.
"When are you planning to tell her?"
"Never… I think…" Athrun's face darkened.
"Never!" gasped Fllay, her face appalled. "But why Athrun-san?"
Athrun heaved a sigh. "I think Cagalli's in love with someone else."
"What makes you say that?" Fllay asked, examining Athrun carefully.
"Your father," replied Athrun, looking up at Fllay. "I don't stand a chance against him."
"You think Cagalli-san is in love with Oto-sama! Is that right!"
"No, that can't be…" Stellar said in a low voice, thinking if Cagalli-san is in love with Shinn, then Shinn must be too… She gripped onto her skirt, trying to control the tears from coming out of her eyes.
"The two of them share a deep bond and I have no place between them." Athrun was talking like it was the end of the world for him. He lowered his head, giving up all his hopes and feelings for Cagalli.
But he suddenly heard laughter.
"What the!" he muttered, looking at Fllay who was laughing out loud. "What's so funny?"
"Athrun-san, you're so funny!" Fllay held her stomach, because it was starting to hurt from all that laughing. She hit Athrun hard on the back several times, which annoyed him a bit.
"Fllay, what are you doing?" Athrun questioned after getting hit like a punching bag.
"Sorry about that… He he… I couldn't help it." She straightened up and cleared her throat. "How should I say this? Hmm…" She stared hard at Athrun. "You are totally wrong. Cagalli-san and Oto-sama are best friends. They can never be anything but friends."
Stellar finally snapped from her gloomy thoughts and joined Fllay. "That's right. Cagalli-san and Shinn only treat each other mutually."
"How can you two be sure about that?" Athrun didn't seem to be convinced.
"Trust me on this one, Athrun-san." Fllay clasped her hands together and giggled. "I've known Oto-sama and Freya all my life!" she said proudly.
With that, Athrun felt revitalized. "Okay, I trust you." He showed a smile.
Stellar also felt the same way. I still have a chance with Shinn… she thought quietly.
Shinn's room
Not wanting Kira to know she was hurt, she kept her breath and looked calm in front of him. Only minutes ago she'd been open to giving herself to Kira. He kept asking her questions and she kept answering them. She'd also been observing Kira, examining his face, his features, and his personality. She came to a conclusion that her brother was kind-hearted and friendly.
But I still don't remember him, she thought wryly. She wondered if she will ever remember him. Cagalli felt it in her heart that she cares for Kira very much. The thing about her past with him bothered her.
"Do you have a…" Kira was saying. The word crush came loud and clear. And a few seconds later "…or a boyfriend?"
Cagalli's eyes popped wide open when she heard that.
Noticing her sister's reaction, he asked, "What's wrong? Was it something I said?"
Her heart raced. "A boyfriend!" she uttered, looking appalled. "I don't have one!" Her face turned red, which made Kira suspicious.
"Hmm… You look like you're in love with somebody." Kira gestured his hand on his face, looking knowledgeable, as he narrowed his gaze at Cagalli. "Who's the lucky guy?" He smirked.
Cagalli shook her head. "I'm not in love, okay? Get that through your head."
"I'm going to find out sooner or later…" Kira taunted her.
She jumped off the bed and faced Kira with an iron fist. "I'm telling you I'm not in love! Why don't you believe me, Kira?"
"Your face doesn't convince me at all."
"Whatever… No matter what you say, I'm still going to deny it."
Shinn also grew curious about the whole 'are you in love' thing. So, he asked, "Cagalli, are you in love with Zala?"
The mere mention of Athrun's last name gave her heart a real work-out. Her heart pounded so loudly she was certain the boys heard. A light sweat covered her.
Shinn shrugged. "Are you?"
Cagalli blinked twice before answering him, "No… Not him… I only like him as a friend and that's all." She laughed nervously. "There's no way I could fall for someone like him."
Kira and Shinn eyed her suspiciously, sending shivers to her spine.
"I'm telling you guys the truth." Cagalli insisted. Though she had to admit that Kira and Shinn were on to something, she wasn't sure herself if she has feelings for her blue-haired friend.
"Cagalli, you can tell your brother anything," Kira told her. "We shouldn't keep secrets now." Obviously, he was still trying to make Cagalli confess.
"And I'm your best friend. We swore not to keep secrets from each other, right?" Shinn pasted a smile on his face.
"You guys…" Cagalli sighed deeply, pulling a long face.
Kira and Shinn looked at each other and laughed lightly. Then they faced the blonde again. "Since you're not in the mood to tell us then let's change the topic," Kira suggested.
An idea suddenly struck Shinn and he immediately told the siblings.
"Great idea, Shinn." Kira totally agreed with Shinn's idea of taking Cagalli for a walk to the park. They could totally bond better if they went out for a while. "Let's go, Cagalli. You are okay now, right?"
She nodded her head. "Of course I am. My strength is back to normal. I was getting bored lying here anyway."
"Since that's settled," Shinn approached the window beside his bed and opened it, "you two can jump off from here."
Cagalli's face became paled. "Are you nuts? We can't jump off from there!"
"Don't forget that we're all gods here. Jumping from the 2nd floor would be a breeze for us."
"Shinn's right." Kira held her hand and squeezed it gently. "You don't have to be afraid."
"Okay, I trust you." Cagalli followed Kira to the window. She peeped out and looked down to see the height. She had to admit that it wasn't really high. She turned to face Shinn. "I'll see you later."
"Yeah, yeah… Just go already!" Shinn demanded.
Kira jumped off first and pulled Cagalli along with him. The siblings made a perfect landing on the ground, a relief for Cagalli. "I just remembered something. I used to this when I was younger."
"You did say you're athletic." Kira took note of everything Cagalli had said about herself.
"Maybe I got afraid because I fear that my legs will get numb again."
"Your legs got numb because of what Odin did, right?" He clenched his fists hard.
"Odin entered my mind and unleashed something from within me. I don't remember it much, but I feel an immense power wakening inside me. I'm afraid of it, somehow." Cagalli's hand shook in fear as she stared at the ground.
"That power must be…" Kira had a flashback about the power Cagalli was talking about. He remembered a scholar saying, "Chaos will rot the land and vengeance will prevail. Only the one with the power of pure light can bring forth peace to the land, thus saving all."
Noticing how quiet he became, Cagalli decided to break the silence by asking, "What about my power?"
Kira snapped back to reality and immediately answered, "Um… it's nothing." He thought of telling Cagalli about the saying, but he figured that it will only confuse her more. It can wait. Right now, I have to focus on refreshing her memories.
"We can't stand here all day. We have to get a move on." Kira started walking, hauling Cagalli behind him.
"Hey, you don't have to pull me! I can walk fine on my own!" Cagalli pulled her hand away from Kira's grip.
"I forgot that you're a grown woman now," Kira muttered, heaving a sigh of relief. "You used to hold my hand during a walk when we were still little." Remembering his childhood days with her brought a beaming smile to his face.
"Well, I'm not little anymore." Cagalli took a few steps forward away from Kira. "And I still don't remember you," she stammered.
"You'll remember your past sooner or later…"
"But for the meantime…" Cagalli held out her hand without looking at Kira. "I want to reminisce my childhood days with you."
"Cagalli…" Kira gladly took her hand. "You haven't change a bit."
"I am what I am… I think…" She giggled.
On their way to the park, the siblings encountered the red-haired Jean strolling around the streets, and Jean seemed to be looking for something or someone.
"Jean!" called Cagalli, waving her hand high.
Jean quickly turned at the ones calling her name. She smiled the instant the recognized the two persons. "Kira-san! Cagalli-san!" She ran towards them. "Fancy meeting you guys here."
"Likewise," replied Cagalli, smiling back at her. "So, where are you headed to?"
"I was heading to Shinn's house, but I don't know where it is."
"I'll be glad to take you there if you want."
"Well, I don't need to go there anymore."
"And why is that? I thought you wanted to see Shinn."
"The one I want to see is you, Cagalli-san or should I say Freya-sama?" Jean knelt down, paying her utmost respects to the blonde goddess.
"You knew about my identity?"
"That's right," answered Jean in a straight voice. "Freya-sama, I want you to know that I'm very pleased to see you again. It's been 20,000 years since I last saw you."
"I can't say the same thing since most of my memories is still a blur. I can't remember you, the other gods, and even my own brother."
Kira flinched after hearing that.
And Jean's face became depressed. "I'm sorry to hear that, my goddess."
Cagalli grimaced after hearing 'my goddess'. "Do me a favor and stop treating me like some sort of queen?"
Jean looked up at Cagalli. "I can't do that. It's only right for me to act this way in front of you, Freya-sama."
Cagalli sighed in frustration. "I am Freya, but my mortal name is Cagalli." She knelt down to Jean's level and placed both hands on her shoulders. "Just call me Cagalli, okay?" She gazed kindly into Jean's emerald-green eyes.
"If that's what you want, Fre-I mean… Cagalli-san…"
"Much better." Cagalli stood up first and helped Jean up as well. "So, you still want to head over to Shinn's?" she asked.
"Sure!"
"Then just follow me-'' Cagalli was about to walk when Jean suddenly overtook her. "Just tell me where his house is. I can manage to find it."
"This is a big neighborhood. You might get lost." Kira spoke out of concern.
"I won't get lost if Cagalli-san would give me clear instructions." Jean faced Cagalli again and winked.
Surely Cagalli knew Jean could handle herself. So, she told her the directions with the help of gestures and a couple of 'go left' and 'go right'. Jean eventually got it and she said that it would be a piece of cake.
Jean took off in hurry while waving her hand high. "I'll see ya later!" She kept running until she disappeared from the siblings' sight.
"Now let us resume our walk." Kira was about to walk when he suddenly noticed Cagalli standing idly. "Cagalli, let's go. Are you gonna keep me waiting?"
"I was just thinking… Do all the gods act so noble in front of me?" Cagalli had been thinking about this since the day she realized she was Freya. She had heard from the goddesses about their respects to Freya. She even learned that Freya was the most admired being in Asgard.
Kira thought of it as a good question and he knew what to answer. "The gods lower than our class respects us wholeheartedly. We're practically role models."
"A role model?" Cagalli thought of her school, which was prowling with her fan boys. Those boys did say something about me being a role model to them. She never did consider herself as a model.
"And you had always been admiring me." Kira showed a playful smile.
Cagalli became silent as her cheeks turned red. "Oh really? You must be so proud with yourself," she sarcastically said.
"Look, I'm not lying here. In fact, I'm not good at lying."
"Please don't state the obvious." Cagalli crossed her arms in front of her chest. "You're the kind of guy who doesn't know how to make excuses," she bolted, raising one eyebrow.
"I'll take that as an insult," said Kira in a low and disappointed voice. "It's just that lying is actually one of my weaknesses. I can't lie very well no matter how hard I try."
"Then we're the total opposites!" Cagalli practically shoved her finger to his face. "I guess that what makes us compatible."
"I'm the more civilized and approachable one. The other one is more creepy."
"And what do you mean by that?" Cagalli banged her fists together and made some cracking sounds of the bones. "You think I'm creepy, huh?" Her gaze narrowed, giving Kira a death glare.
"No don't…. You see, I couldn't find the right words to replace creepy."
Excuses… She remembered how Shinn always managed to get an excuse slip, detention slip, and excuse letter from his guardian. Being a delinquent student wasn't really a big thing for him, Cagalli thought, but it was always the cause of his troubles. And I mean big troubles…
Anyway, they talked and talked about a lot of things until they reached their desired place, the park. During this, they sat down on a patch of grass facing the center of the park. It was already getting a bit dark, which explained why the place was almost deserted.
"No noisy kids, no annoying nagging from old people, and no sweet couples showing off their affections, the park looks like a peaceful place." Cagalli stretched out her arms and yawned a bit.
"Are you sleepy?"
"No… I'm just tired."
"Just tell me if you want to go home."
"Stop that!" exclaimed Cagalli, looking annoyed.
"Stop what?"
"Sounding like my mom… Please stop talking like my mom."
"So this means you hate your mom when she's concern about you?"
Cagalli was caught off-guard with this question. Without having a ready answer, she just replied with a shake of her head.
"You probably have a nice mother, right?"
"She's the kindest mother I've ever known," Cagalli boasted.
"Well, I'm so sorry for talking like your mortal mother," Kira apologized. "By the way, I'm usually over protective." He patted her head, treating her like some cute cat.
"Don't do that!" demanded Cagalli, squirming away from Kira. "Not only do you sound like my mother, you also act like her." But Cagalli didn't consider it as a bad thing.
Kira motioned himself to Cagalli's side. "I can't help it coz you're so cute." He used to tease her a lot by calling her cute. He even called her a giant teddy bear, which was a rather odd name for a young girl.
"I'm not some kid, so stop treating me like one," groaned Cagalli, feeling enraged.
"You may not be a kid anymore, but you're still my little twin sister…" Kira placed his hand over her shoulders and gently pushed her head to lean against his shoulder. "I usually act mature when it comes to you. I can become very responsible."
"Is that so?" Cagalli pretended to sound unconvinced to make him feel uneasy.
But Kira remained calm as he carefully pushed her away to face her. As his eyes met hers, he smiled kindly. "Freya, you're my sister and I love you very much. I'm so glad that I've found you again." He pulled her into a warm hug, the hug he'd desired for so long.
Cagalli felt his warmness and the strong beat of his heart. The love he felt for her was flowing into her like a wild rapid. She hugged him back by wrapping her arms around him. She wanted to give him the same warmth that she felt.
This moment I'm having with you will become a very precious memory to me, my brother… A tear fell from her eye, which was a sign of her extreme joy. Deep within her heart, she sensed the love she felt for him was strong. "Kira," she whispered softly, "I love you…"
Her words brought a smile to his face. Slowly, he pushed her back and gazed hard at her. "Thank you…" he muttered, placing a light peck on her temple.
Eyes softening, she caressed his cheeks as she examined his face a lot closer. "Guess what!" she said lively.
"What?"
"I'm lucky to have a brother who is very handsome!"
Kira blushed like crazy because of her sudden compliment. And it was the first time Cagalli saw him blushed! "Oh… you look so cute, Kira!" She lightly laughed.
"Look who's talking!" retorted Kira. "You're cute as well. No wonder the boys at school love you."
"Don't remind of those annoying fan boys."
"I'm just saying…"
They looked at each other intensely for a few seconds before they burst to laughter.
Despite his laughing, he gazed at her. He reminded himself again on how lucky he was to have a sister like Cagalli. He became so devastated when she disappeared 20,000 years ago and now he was refreshed. His sister was there, looking alive and well, armed with a mysterious power, and still has the same cheerful aura. He wanted nothing more but to be with her always.
To be continued…
JC: It took me about 3 days to come up with this chapter. I had to read the previous chapters again to keep track on my plot. Hey, please let me know what you think about this chapter! Please review and no flaming. I'll update the next chapter soon!