Ok everyone wanted me to update this first so here it is. To those reading Entwined Souls, I promise I will try to update it next. And I'm sorry for my fickle mindedness. It's Shinn and not Shiho here. I already corrected the previous chapter.
And special thanks to trulyanimelover06 for your endless ideas, help and support.
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Dedications in alphabetical: .CriMsonxLadY., Aihsire Atha, Alice, AyameRose, Blackcat8794, Byron Lancaster, cagallifangurl, colourfulgurl, Dhevz, eternalasucaga, Fii aka Ficchan, hellopanda23, Jodeist, Joker Oak, Katina Uchiha, kamille murasame, KazumiSakura, Litari Hatake, Lynca Blanchard, Miyu Nanami, mokonamodoki93, mrs. zala, patzie24, ren, sakurayamato1, SaKuRaYukIe, Sandyx5, Sawagi-chan, stubbornheroine, The Blue Mask-cara, The Only Love For Soujiro Seta, trulyanimelover06, VamyMeth, yuki001, Yuniee
Disclaimer: I do not own gundam seed.
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Previously...
Shinn looked at his watch. It was half past nine in the evening. He had been hiding in the shadows for about half an hour, waiting for the person to show up. Suddenly, he heard footsteps. His long wait was not in vain after all.
"So it's you."
... ... ...
Chapter 18
Shinn suddenly appeared out of nowhere, surprising the other party.
The magenta haired girl froze and attempted to make a run for it. But Shinn quickly jumped in and blocked her from escaping.
"You're not going anywhere just yet," Shinn said.
"W-What do you w-want f-from me?" the magenta haired girl whimpered.
"I really didn't expect it to be you," Shinn said. "I always thought it would be someone like Campbell."
"I-I don't know what you're talking about," the girl replied.
"I guess it's always the quiet one you have to be most wary of. It actually makes sense if you think about it," Shinn continued. Moving closer to the frightened girl, Shinn grabbed her hand and with his other hand, he pulled a piece of paper from the girl's grasp.
Flashback
Shinn was walking alone in the hallway when he noticed a suspicious student lurking around Cagalli's locker.
"Hey you!" Shinn shouted pointing a finger to the boy.
The boy jumped in surprise and when he saw Shinn making his way towards him, he panicked and made a run for it.
"Come back here, you!" Shinn yelled as he dashed after the boy, skilfully dodging the students who were in his way.
The boy ran out of the school building and continued running across the field. The soccer team was having their practice there at that time. "Watch out!" one of the soccer members yelled. At that moment, the boy turned around to see the ball flying towards him. Attempting to dodge the ball, the boy staggered and tripped over his own feet, landing heavily with a thud on the grass.
Before the poor boy could get up, Shinn jumped in and pounced on him.
Holding the boy by his collar, Shinn yelled at the poor boy. "Who are you and what were you trying to do?"
The boy stared in fright and the intimidating Shinn.
"What's your name?" Shinn asked again.
"K-Kuzzey," the boy stammered.
"And what were you thinking of doing?" Shinn asked.
The boy, known as Kuzzey quavered. "I-I was only t-trying t-to give t-this to C-C-Cagalli," he said as he pulled a piece of paper out from his pocket.
Shinn snatched the paper and read its contents. "A lover letter?" Shinn questioned.
"Y-Yes," the boy said terrified.
Shinn then got off the poor Kuzzey as he straightened his uniform. "Stop wasting your time," Shinn told him as he walked away from the Kuzzey who was still lying on the grass.
Shinn couldn't believe that he had just wasted his time and energy on some boy with a crush on his best friend. Just then, someone called out his name and a magenta haired girl ran towards him.
"Shinn, we need to talk," the girl said. "There's something I have to tell you."
"What is it Luna?" Shinn asked the girl.
End of flashback
"You are going stop your nonsense and apologise to Cagalli," Shinn said.
"Why should I?" the girl shot back with a new found courage. "She doesn't deserve to be with Athrun!"
"And you think you do?" Shinn spat out. "You are nothing compared to Cagalli! Nothing! Cagalli is the most eligible girl in this world. It's Zala that doesn't deserve her!"
"Why?" the girl cried.
Shinn watched the magenta haired girl break down. Though what she did was unacceptable, Shinn felt pity for the poor girl.
"But it's not fair," she sobbed.
"It's never fair, Meyrin," Shinn said softer this time. "Life's never fair."
... ... ...
It was the next day and Athrun and Cagalli were making their way to the cafeteria for lunch.
"Cagalli! Athrun!" Shinn called out as he ran to catch up with the couple. "You guys have to know something!"
Cagalli and Athrun stopped and turned around to wait for their friend. "What's up Shinn?" Cagalli asked.
"I found..." Shinn started.
Just then, Dearka and Miriallia appeared and interrupted Shinn.
"There you are Cagalli! Come on! The other girls are waiting for you!" Miriallia said as she pulled Cagalli away to the other end of the cafeteria.
"Huh? What's going on?" Cagalli asked puzzled as she watched Dearka ushering Athrun and Shinn to another table where Kira and a grumpy Yzak was sitting.
"It's the annual fund raising competition," Shiho told the confused blonde.
"I thought fund raising is all about charity. How does competition fit in exactly?" Cagalli asked.
"Well it's actually a fund raising festival. But we compete to see who raises the most funds, boys versus girls. The losers become slaves for the week for our gang," Miriallia explained to Cagalli.
... ... ...
"Alright girls! Let's show the guys what we're really made of!" Lacus said as clenched her fist, raising her arm up. The gentle and sweet girl was no longer recognisable as she and her girl friends prepared for 'battle'.
"It's war!" Yzak declared. "Be prepared to get pulverised woman!" Yzak pointed to Shiho.
"Look who's talking," Shiho replied smugly. "Last time I checked, you guys were the ones who got your sorry ass kicked."
"Not this time girls!" Kira said. "We're going to take back what's ours."
"We would like to see you try little bro," Cagalli joined in. "Just don't go crying home to Tori."
"You'll be the one to cry sis!" Kira replied. "No more me being nice brother."
It was the day of the fund raising event. After much insistence and pushing from Meer Campbell, a compromised decision was made.
"Welcome to Bikini Bottom Cafe!" Meer, wearing an extremely short pair of blue denim shorts and a yellow bikini top exposing much of her giant breasts, greeted the students.
"One fish and chips," Cagalli gave the order to Lacus who was cooking in the outdoor kitchen. Cagalli was wearing a pair of white shorts and a red tank top. Unlike Lacus who was wearing a pink sundress, Cagalli violently objected to wearing one.
"Oh my gosh! Girls!" Miriallia came running in.
"What is it Milly?" Shiho asked while she was cleaning a table.
"Bad news! The boys' club/bar is doing very well! If they keep it up, we are goners!" Miriallia told them.
"Looks like we'll win after all," a voice suddenly said from behind. The girls turned around and saw that the boys were approaching them.
"Not so fast boys," Cagalli said. "It's still too early to tell. We have a few tricks up our sleeves. We are just getting started."
"Oh really?" Kira countered.
"Ok girls," Lacus said. "It's time for Plan B."
Suddenly, half of the girls in the school yard started to scamper about, leaving the boys to wonder what was going on.
"Finally! It's about time!" Meer said as she lost her shorts to an even skimpier matching yellow bikini bottom. Some other girls followed suit.
"Welcome boys to Bikini Bottom's carwash," Cagalli said.
Dearka asked eagerly, "Aren't you girls going to strip too?"
"In your dreams pervert!" Miriallia replied. "We are in charge of the cafe, not the carwash!"
"Oh what a bummer!" Dearka pouted.
"Hey where are we going?" Dearka asked when he was pulled away by the other boys. "Don't you want to stay and watch?"
"Of course not!" Yzak snapped. "Can't you see we're going to lose if we don't think of something fast?"
"Yzak's right Dearka," Kira said. "We have to think of a Plan B."
"Well I'm out of ideas..." Dearka said plainly. "What about you Athrun? You haven't said anything from the start."
"I have nothing too," Athrun replied dryly. Truth be told, Athrun was not really into the whole competition. He only went along to make his friends happy.
The boys watched as their business started to fall. Most of their customers were now flocking to Bikini Bottom Cafe/Carwash.
"Ok! Time for Plan C!" Lacus announced.
All the boys were looking at the girls again, wondering what they were up to now.
Just then, two girls in bikinis walked in carrying a large banner saying: Free picture with model of choice with every $20 spent.
... ... ...
"Oh no! We have bad news!" Miriallia came running to the girls again. "Our cash machine is down!"
"What? Why? What happened to Meer?" Shiho asked.
"She apparently broke a nail. She's now flooding the girls' toilet," Miriallia replied.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Shiho said smacking her hand on her forehead.
"Oh no! That means you're up Cagalli!" Lacus exclaimed.
The girls drew sticks earlier on to decide who would be the replacement for anyone of the models and Cagalli was the unfortunate girl.
"Great..." Cagalli muttered. She has no choice but to do it.
"For what it's worth Cags, you are the most popular girl in school and you can easily make ten times the amount Meer is making," Miriallia tried to encourage the blonde.
... ... ...
"Kuzzey! Have you heard?" a boy said. "Cagalli's replacing Meer! Can you believe it? We're going to catch Cagalli real live in a bikini! It's a dream come true! And we can even take pictures with her!"
"Yea I heard..." Kuzzey replied. "But I also heard that the demand for her is so high, you have to spend above fifty bucks now."
Athrun was on his way to see Cagalli when he heard what the other boys said. Dropping the ice cream he got for her, he made a dash to the school yard. It wasn't long before he saw her coming out from a tent wearing an orange bikini. He could hear the cheers and the whistles of the other students as they surrounded her.
Shoving his way through the crowd, Athrun ran towards Cagalli, throwing his jacket around her as he wrapped his arms protectively around her.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?" Cagalli protested as she struggled against him.
Athrun didn't let go. Instead, he held her tighter towards him as he practically carried her back into the tent.
The students went wild and went into an uproar as Athrun took Cagalli away.
"What the hell were you thinking?" Athrun yelled angrily at Cagalli.
Cagalli stared in shock. She did not know that Athrun would act like that.
"I..." Cagalli said but she closed her mouth immediately when she saw Athrun's frightening dark eyes.
Closing her eyes, Cagalli took a step forward as she wrapped her hands around him and buried her face in his chest.
"I'm sorry," Cagalli whispered. "I was being silly."
She heard him taking a deep breath and not before long, she felt strong arms encircling around her waist. His chin was resting on the top of her head.
"It's alright. I'm sorry for yelling at you," Athrun whispered back. "I didn't mean to, I just..."
"I know," Cagalli interrupted him. "And I love you too."
The couple stayed like that for quite a while, enjoying each other's warmth and company.
"What do you say we ditch everyone and go out for some ice cream?" Cagalli suggested.
"I would like that," Athrun smiled back.
... ... ...
It was the next day and Cagalli opened her locker to return some books. There was another piece of paper. Cagalli sighed, "Another hate mail?"
"Athrun! Cagalli!" Shinn called out. Cagalli and Athrun turned around to find Shinn walking towards them alongside a girl with magenta haired tied in two ponytails. The girl looked very scared as she and Shinn approached Cagalli and Athrun.
"What is it?" Athrun asked looking at the magenta haired girl who was casting her eyes to the ground as if she was afraid to look him in the eye.
Just then Shinn gave a light nudge to the girl. "Go on. Tell them and apologise," Shinn told the girl.
"I'm sorry!" the girl blurted out, her hands by the side and her look still casted on the ground.
"Shinn, who is she? And why is she apologising?" Cagalli asked.
"She's Meyrin Hawke. The one who has been sending those hate mails to you," Shinn replied. "I would never have found out if not for her sister Lunamaria."
Cagalli did not know how to respond. Should she demand an explanation why the girl did that to her?
"It's alright. No harm done. Just don't do that again ok?" Cagalli decided to say.
Meyrin finally looked up but only to look back down again. She was looking at Athrun. He was glaring at her murderously with those hard green emerald eyes.
"Athrun," Cagalli said. She knew that he was angry with the poor girl. Athrun was actually very protective. He would hate anyone who threatened Cagalli, no matter how trivial it was.
Athrun slowly closed his eyes before looking back at Cagalli.
"She already apologised," Cagalli said.
"I know," Athrun replied solemnly.
Changing the topic, Cagalli said, "So I guess this isn't from you right?" Cagalli waved a folded piece of paper in front of Meyrin. "I just received it."
"W-What? No! It's not!" Meyrin quickly replied. "I already stopped!"
Smiling gently back at the magenta haired girl, Cagalli unfolded the paper. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
Knowing something was wrong, Shinn and Athrun rushed over to Cagalli and read the contents of the letter. It said:
I know your secret.
To be continued...
And behold! Meyrin made her appearance. She sent those hate mails! This story is ending soon... Only a few more chapters left to go. I know the previous chapter was rather rushed. I hope this chapter is not as rushed. I'm glad that I actually managed to update this earlier.