Thanks for reviewing! I hope you like this chapter! And to those who are wondering why Athrun was in the chiller room in the first place, it was because he also wanted to collect something. And of course they won't die! This is not a tragedy! =)
Dedications in alphabetical order: .CriMsonxLadY., Alice, Byron Lancaster, cagallifangurl, Dhevz, hellopanda23, Jodeist, KazumiSakura, Litari Hatake, Miyu Nanami, mokonamodoki93, patzie24, sakurayamato1, SaKuRaYukIe, The Only Love For Soujiro Seta, trulyanimelover06.
Disclaimer: I do not own gundam seed.
Chapter 7
Flashback...
"Are you sure nothing happened?" Kira questioned Cagalli as he eyed Athrun.
"Of course nothing happened! It's not as if we can do anything in that kind of situation!" Cagalli replied rolling her eyes at her over-protective brother.
Lacus gasped and Athrun turned into a bright crimson when they heard her say.
"But I saw you two hugging with my own eyes!" Kira insisted. "How can I..."
Cagalli cut him off. "Haven't you heard of sharing the heat? Or would you rather us turn into popsicles?"
"But..."
"But what? Geez Kira! You've been watching way too many dramas! Don't deny it! You're imagination is getting wilder!" Cagalli yelled in exasperation. "Besides, if something did happen, which of course did not, do you think Athrun will be standing here in one piece? Huh?"
End of flashback...
Cagalli walked home alone from school. Kira had gone home first because Cagalli needed to stay back to finish up some work.
Cagalli thought about what had happened a few days ago. She had gotten trapped inside the chiller room and not long after, Athrun got trapped in with her. She thought about being buried in Athrun's strong arms. She felt so warm and so fuzzy all over. She turned into a deep scarlet at the thought of that.
It was Kira who finally found them cuddling and rescued them. You can call it twin connection. Somehow he knew that Cagalli was in danger, though it took him quite a while to find her. However when he saw them huddled up together, he went berserk and lashed out on Athrun.
It was indeed a beautiful day. She heard the leaves of the towering trees rustle as she felt the late afternoon breeze touch her cheek. She breathed in the cool fresh air as she walked along the concrete pavement.
Suddenly, she felt a body colliding into hers. Cagalli lost her balance and fell into a nearby drain. It was a dry and shallow drain. But still, blood streaked down Cagalli's bare legs.
"Ouch! It hurts! Ow..." Cagalli cried silently in pain. She looked up to see who collided into her.
"Watch where you're going bitch!" the person shouted.
Cagalli stared in surprise at the girl with pink hair. She thought to herself, "What? Lacus? What's wrong with her? Did she just call me a bitch? Since when was she so rude? Was it all a facade?" Cagalli couldn't speak, she didn't know what to say, she was just too stunned.
"A...A...Athrun?" Cagalli heard the pink haired girl stutter his name.
"Get lost Meer if you're not going to help her," Athrun said icily as he walked over to Cagalli. His face was as cold as usual. But he was disgusted, annoyed and angry at the pink haired girl. His heart wrenched when he saw the injured blonde.
Cagalli was now even more confused. She thought, "Did he just call her Meer?" She looked over towards the pink haired girl who stomped off in a huff.
Meer was furious and humiliated. "You'll pay for this Hibiki, if it's the last thing I do! If I can't have Athrun, no one can!" she said in her mind.
"Are you ok?" Athrun's expression softened as he asked Cagalli. He held his hand out and Cagalli took it. She winced in pain as Athrun pulled her up. Athrun saw this. "Get on," Athrun said gently as he bent down.
"What? Don't be ridiculous! I can walk perfectly myself!" Cagalli insisted. But Athrun didn't take no for an answer. Before Cagalli knew it, she was up in the air with Athrun holding her legs. "Hey! Put me down!" Cagalli protested as she blushed. But Athrun just kept on walking. Giving in, Cagalli wrapped her arms on Athrun's neck and rested her head on his back.
Athrun's heart pounded like crazy at Cagalli's actions. Hefelt his face burn. But he was happy at the same time. He wished that she would not let go. Suddenly, he heard her mumble, "You're unbelievable."
... ... ...
"Ouch! Be gentle!" Cagalli said as wacked Kira on the head.
"Ouch! You should be nicer to me you know. I'm helping you here. And it'll be a lot less painful if you stop moving," Kira said as he was treating her wound. Kira was really surprised when he saw Cagalli on Athrun's back. He wanted to scream at Athrun until he saw Cagalli's bleeding leg. Kira immediately went into a worry and fretted over Cagalli instead.
Athrun watched the exchange between the twins. They were quite entertaining. He knew Kira cared about his sister a lot. Athrun sat on the other couch beside the twins. He had explained to Cagalli earlier on about Meer, the Lacus-copy-cat, and Cagalli was immediately disgusted by her.
Athrun's mind drifted off. He was thinking about his feelings towards Cagalli. He didn't want to fall in love with her. He was waiting for someone else...
Flashback...
Reaching for the red stone that clung around her neck, the blonde girl took the necklace off and hung it on Athrun.
"This is a Haumea stone. It's a lucky charm and it's supposed to protect you. You seemed to get into trouble a lot so you probably need it more than I do," she said.
She gave him a hug and then she walked over to the men in black. Before she got into the car, she turned around one last time and waved. "Bye! I hope to see you soon! Try not to get into trouble ok? I won't be around to save your butt all the time!" she winked at him.
End of flashback...
He still wanted to wait for the other blonde, the one who gave him the Haumea necklace that now hung on his neck hidden by his uniform. But he couldn't ignore his feelings towards Cagalli. He didn't want to admit it but for someone who likes to be by himself, he was very happy to be with Cagalli. There is something about her that warms up his heart. In fact, she reminded him so much of the other blonde.
He wondered if he should just give up his childhood friend. It was probably time to move on. The other blonde probably would have forgotten about him anyway.
He sighed as he massaged his forehead. Cagalli was giving him a headache. She was making him confused. Athrun had a thousand and one feelings about Cagalli. He felt unhappy and angry every time Cagalli was interacting with other boys. Athrun reckoned it was jealousy but he did not want to admit it. He felt annoyed and irritated at the other boys who would check Cagalli out and ogle at her. He hated those who tried to hurt her. He would hurt inside as well every time Cagalli injured herself. However, every time he saw that radiant smile of hers, he could not help but to feel happy too.
... ... ...
It was now almost time for the first lesson of the day, Mathematics. Mathematics was also one of the other lessons he shared with Cagalli. Athrun smiled at the thought of the feisty blonde but that smile immediately turned into a frown when he thought about her injury yesterday.
Athrun snapped out of his thoughts when that blonde came into class and slammed an envelope on his table. He raised an eye brow at Cagalli.
"Look, I don't like to owe favours ok?" she said. "It's for the time you helped me deal with Yuna when he harassed me and for the time you lent me your jacket in the chiller room even though you needed it too (she deliberately missed out the hugging part). Also, it's for helping me yesterday when I fell down the drain."
"You counted the number of times I helped you?" Athrun looked amused.
"I told you, I don't like to owe favours ok? Just accept it, it'll make me feel better," Cagalli replied as she shoved the envelope into Athrun's hands. She then sat down beside him (she was forced to sit next to him for all the lessons).
Miss Talia Gladys entered the class and began the lesson.
"Carnival tickets?" Athrun asked Cagalli as he opened the envelope to take a look at what Cagalli had given him. It was a pair of carnival tickets.
"Yea, you can take anyone you like," Cagalli whispered back. The class had started and Miss Gladys had made it clear in the first lesson that she hated disruptions, meaning no talking during her lessons.
"Mr Zala? Miss Hibiki? Do you two have a problem?" Talia asked in a warning tone.
"No Miss Gladys," the two said in unison.
After a while, Athrun tried to return the tickets. "I can't accept it. It's too much," he said.
"Yes you can! Just accept it already!" Cagalli replied in a hushed whisper.
"No, I will feel bad. Please Cagalli just take it back. You can go with Kira."
"Have you thought about how I will feel then? I told you I hate owing favours!"
"You can pay me back some other ways..."
"And when will that be? When I'm old and grey?" Cagalli retorted which made Athrun chuckle inside.
"Take it back," Athrun pleaded.
"No."
"I have no one to go with; the other ticket will be a waste."
"Ask Kira."
"What? Two guys going for a carnival together? People will think we're gay!"
"What era are you in? What makes you think people will say that?"
"Fine, you go with me then." Athrun said.
"What?" Cagalli replied.
"Or else take it back."
"Alright fine! I'll go with you!"
"DETENTION MR ZALA AND MISS HIBIKI!" Miss Gladys barked.
... ... ...
Athrun was in deep thoughts. "What has gotten into me? Why did I ask her to go to the carnival with me?" Athrun wondered.
"This is your fault Zala!" Cagalli wailed. She and Athrun were in detention now. They were caught talking in Miss Gladys's class.
Cagalli's wails broke Athrun's thoughts. He turned to the blonde and realised that she was talking to him. He stared at her blankly.
"I have never gotten detention until I met you," Cagalli continued.
"This is my first time too Cagalli," Athrun said.
The two teens were now in one of the deserted blocks in school. Their detention was to clear up the area. The two entered the room and saw that it was an abandoned music room. Scores were stacked all around and an antique cherry wood baby grand piano stood forlornly in the middle. The room wasn't as dusty as they had expected. It was cleaned not too long ago.
Cagalli walked over and trailed the tip of her long slender fingers along the ivory keyboard. "What a waste..." she mumbled to herself.
Athrun with his sharp senses heard what Cagalli said. "Do you play?" he asked her.
Cagalli looked up to meet his emerald green eyes. She looked puzzled. It was a while before she answered. Casting her gaze back down to the ivory keys, she replied, "A little." She then quickly added, "But it's been a long time since I last played."
Athrun nodded. He then proceeded to his next question. "Can you play me something?"
"I told you I haven't played in a long time," Cagalli replied.
But Athrun was insistent. He really wanted to hear her play. "Please?" Athrun pleaded with a look that could melt the North Pole.
Cagalli was taken aback. She could not resist his charms. She sighed in defeat before she played a few notes on the piano; she wanted to test if it was in tune. "It sounds more or less in tune..." she said. "I suppose it can't hurt. But you better not laugh at me! If you do I'll kill you!" She showed a fist to Athrun.
Athrun smiled, "Don't worry, I won't laugh."
Cagalli stared at Athrun in surprise.
"What's wrong?" Athrun asked her.
"This is the first time I've seen you smile," she said. "You should do it more often. It looks better on you."
Her comment made Athrun blush like a little boy. He murmured back, "Thank you."
Cagalli sighed again. She sat down on the bench with the poise of a well-bred lady. Cagalli started by playing a few experimental notes. It wasn't long before she let her fingers run over the keys and they sought out a familiar tune, a somewhat warm and playful melody.
The abandoned music room that was once in a state of melancholy was now filled with life and joy. Athrun could not help but to be amazed. His whole mood was lifted up the moment he heard her play. She was good. Her eyes were burning with passion as her fingers gracefully danced along the keys.
The song soon came to an end. Cagalli's eyes met Athrun's once more.
"You're too modest Cagalli," Athrun said. "You're brilliant!"
"Thank you," Cagalli replied. "What about you? Do you play as well?"
"Not the piano," Athrun told her. "I play the violin."
"Really? I would like to hear you play then!" Cagalli smiled at him.
"If you really want to..." Athrun replied.
"Of course I want to! You heard me play! It's only fair!"
"Alright then, I'll play for you another time," Athrun said in defeat. He smiled at the blonde once more. He now had a reason to smile again, he decided.
To be continued...
Read on! I uploaded two chapters together this time! Next up, the carnival!