Ohaiyo! I'm back i'm back i'm back in business! WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! :D
Anyway, I want to start off saying that I have missed you all, you guys rock my socks off and that you deserve magical chocolate chip cookies that look like Haros.
IMPORTANT! Read the below stuff in bold please D:
Two important polls I would love to hear your reviews on -
1. I have two different plots for Blame the Dog. One of them is just the other plot but with a lot more to it. A lot. Not to mention slightly more serious in the end and a bit more drama.
2. I'm debating about giving Lacus a pet ( I have a story for that if i do) should I? And what kind of pet?
Also guys, if ever you feel like the incidents with Chewie are over doing it I want you to know that just about everything that Chewie does my dog has also done. For example. The events in this chapter ARE based off true stories.
Sadly.
Anyway, now on to my chapterly replies (feel free to skip ahead ^_^ )
Sandyx5- Omg, I really can't wait to portray a jealous Dearka. I don't know why but I have a few things planned for that happening. Hopefully It will be fun for everyone, if not Dearka. XD And I wouldn't dare give up this fic! And I really love what I've got planned for Shin. I mean the whole 'delinquent' thing is stereo typical but I can't help it. And yes, Meer is a Junior.
Cagallifan- hahahhahahahha, omg, I was so tempted to write that into the story "Oh God, what's wrong with MEEEEE?" at the one part he finds out but I couldn't go through to it (partially cuz I was laughing to hard and partially cuz if Athrun was a real person I'm sure he would hunt me down and hang me by my toes). And LunaXTolle. Yeah...that was random to me to. I still don't know where I came up with that... O.o
Sakehime- Athrun think's she's a junior cuz,,,um.,,, cuz I said so. :P :D
Fate Camiswhil - awww, thank you :) And I have actually checked out the Asucaga fanpage a long time ago when I first started reading your "Flock of feathers" (can't remember the new title -.- ) And now i'm just really curious as to what the controversial issues are that would have fanfiction to delete it... I met someone who fell asleep with their eyes open - it was hilarious! As to the pokemon thing- I grew up watching pokemon, digimon, beyblades and all that fluff with my brothers so I tend to know more the average norm. lol And over protective brothers are terrifying- i have five! And would you believe that i had to reread the 'Athrun going jelly" comment over and over again until I realized that 'jelly' stood for Jealous. omg,,,, I so stupid! Oh and the lovely lady comment was intended. By the way, thanks for updating the "flock of feathers" story (or whatever it's titled now) as soon as I upload this I'm heading over their to check out the newest chapters :3 Oh and Puzzlepuzzle needs to come back and finish his/her sequel to 'The Isle' :D i wish we had like some sorta bat signal except one addressed to Puzzlepuzzle XD
WritingKnightmare- Why is there an asshole on your back O.o that's awkward... XD hahahahhahahahaha jkjkjk bah, i'll ttyl lol XD
StubbornHeroine- Ahhhh, I would love to tell you why it means so much to Athrun... But I'll just settle for telling you that it has to do with how he was raised. Normally i try and avoid pointing out my own little story gigs, but if you noticed you really don't know too much about Athrun's past as to why he moved there or where his parents are...
xoxodork- YES I DID AND THE TEST WAS ABSOLUTE HELL! XD The things we had to do -.- I will never have the horror of doing again. Ever eat a raw egg straight from the shell? Yeah,,, don't... It's gross.
Meyrin-X-Zaftgirl - Thank you :) and since you seem like a Meyrin fan (call it a lucky guess xD) I would love to hear your thoughts on a character people tend to hate. I plan to include her at some point but sadly my own understanding of her character is depressingly lacking...
Ignighted- Thanks :D Question- when is homecoming normally done? Lol, I have no flipping clue as to when the homecoming dance, cuz I'm a homeschooler, except that it's sometime soon after school starts? If you know and could add that in your review that would be fantastic!
ESP- Dude, that man owned! I feel so bad for him about what happened within his family :( And yes the carcrash was veeeery important :P Yes, -.- omg i don't know how other school fic writers do it... I can hardly keep track of everyone it's ridiculous. It's like having a ton of bunnies that all look the same and trying to sort them to their name... lol, that rhymed.
elgnis rekresreb - Man, I have felt awful for leaving y'all hanging. and thx for letting me know about the name change- though I have to ask, what inspired the new screen name?
THANKS EVERYONE FOR R&Ring, it means the world :) Also, super sorry for the delay.
I must also apologize, this chapter is not as funny as my previous :( it has some more seriousness to it, I believe...
Also, remember, everything that chewie does, my dog has probably done as well ...
This chapter is dedicated to Yennefer and her fish which are hopefully still alive :D
ENJOY!
Chapter 4: In which Tutoring Goes Astray Part 1
With fifteen minutes to spare before five, Cagalli hopped out of the shower, running her fingers through her wet hair. Steam flooded the little bathroom from her hot shower and her skin tingled warmly.
She had gotten home hardly ten minutes ago covered in paint thanks to Ahmed. The two of them, after splitting from their other friends and making a goofy scene in a craft store, had put together two creative signs for their hospitalized friends. Thinking about it, Cagalli felt her cheeks warm and she hurriedly wrapped a towel around herself. Kira still wasn't home and her mom was outside in the garden so when she exited the bathroom she couldn't stop herself from doing a happy dance up and down the hall way. Drops of water flicked from her damp hair, sliding down her face.
She closed her eyes for a brief second, feeling her heart thrum under her warm skin.
Her time with her friends. Joking and laughing harder then she thought she ever could.
Chasing Ahmed around a craftstore only to get soaked with glitter when Ahmed accidently tipped a bottle over her head (He thought it was on the 'sprinkle' side, not the completely open side). Then heading over to Ahmed's house where she met his parents and they had spent an hour or so laughing and splattering eachother with paint in his garage as they put together two huge signs that looked more like paintball gun targets then get-well cards. Er, she and Ahmed. Not her and his parents.
Oh well.
Just as she was doing a twirl, feeling rather girlish, a wary notion popped inside her head.
The house…it was quiet… Too quiet.
She paused, feeling a chill run down her spine and for a moment it felt as if the walls on either side of her were looming closer.
There was no sound. Nothing…
What could this mean?
Taking a deep breath to ease her wary conscious, Cagalli called out. "Chewie? Cheeeewie?"
For a moment there was nothing and her heart boomed rather loudly in her head as newspaper headlines flashed through her mind along the lines of 'Young girl found murdered along with dead dog carcass' and then… oh wait… 'dead dog carcass'…that's an oxymoron isn't it?
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Paws thudded on the wood floor of the hall way as a brown blur shot out of her room past her, around the corner and then down the stairs to the first floor.
Cagalli groaned into the palm of her hand. "Idiot." She called herself before skipping back to her room, her towel tightly secure around her body.
Before hopping in the shower she had set out a new clean pair of clothes on her bed and as she walked into her room, she put her hands on her hips.
"What the pug?" she muttered, her brow furrowing.
There were her jeans, her shirt, her undies but where the heck was her…
Her eyes widened in realization and her fists clenched. "Chewie."
OOOOO (A/N: Events kinda like this have happened to me…)
Being a promptly early fellow that he was, Athrun arrived five minutes early to Cagalli's house. Walking up the drive he saw a dark-haired lady, her face lined with a few wrinkles but other wise smooth and glowing with health and happiness. Spotting him, she tipped up her sun-hat and smiled at him, her eyes sparkling. Dirt was smeared over her knees where she kneeled amongst the flower beds, and also on her gloved-hands.
"Hi there! You must be the gentleman that Cagalli was talking about."
"I suppose Ma'am." Athrun had been raised with a strict set of manners and he ducked his head respectfully as she straightened up, a gardening shovel in one hand.
"Ahmed, right?"
Athrun flushed darkly, glad she couldn't quite see his face and he felt a tiny tinge of disappointment and resentment. Shaking his head and forcing a small chuckle he told her. "No. I'm Athrun Zala; I came to tutor her."
"You are a brave soul." Val Hibiki said with a knowing nod of her head. "Not many live after seeing a Cagalli-sized math tantrum."
Athrun bit his bottom lip, his amusement helped dim the sting of her previous words.
"Well, you're not here to talk to me. Go right on in and feel at home." She kneeled back down into the narrow lane of flowers that bordered each side of the brick-walk way leading up to the front door.
Athrun nodded his hand and walked past her, hesitating for only a minute before opening the front door, taking a deep breath.
"Caga-"
Hardly had he said her name when she appeared, chasing a brown bullet.
And she was wearing a pink towel. And that was it.
Some things people wish they could forget. And some things you know you should forget but deep down inside you wish you could burn the image into your retinas so you never forget it. Ever.
Athrun's eyes went wide as he took in the sight of the red-faced Cagalli stumbling after Chewie down the hall.
Chewie's eyes seemed to light up as he spotted Athrun and with a burst of speed he leapt at Athrun just as Cagalli gave a roar of out rage.
Athrun didn't know who collided first. Chewie and him? Or Cagalli and Chewie.
Next thing he knew though, he was flat on his back, half way in the house with a dog ontop of him and a…towel-clothed girl on top of the dog.
Is this what they call a threesome these days? 'Cause that's just gross. An idle and sarcastic part of his brain wondered as he tried to keep his eyes trained on anything but the partially clothed chest above him. And he wasn't talking about the dog's.
"Athrun!" squeaked Cagalli, her face blushing beet red as she looked down at him, her fingers locked around Chewie's mouth. "What are you doing- I mean…What…" and then in an undertone she hissed something that sounded like: Son of an anchovy!
Athrun hesitantly looked up at her, seeing her wide amber eyes, her blonde hair still damp and sticking to her skin and her bare shoulders and her…
He snapped his head to the side, a warmth rising in his skin as he struggled not to smile. "Um, normally I don't mind people throwing themselves at me- but…"
With a start, Cagalli scrambled back, clutching her pink towel to her but the damage was done- and even worse so as she stood still above him. The fluffy, big towel only covered from half way down her chest to just some down her thighs. It would have been appropriate as a dress length but as a towel- no sirree. Everything else was just bare, cream-colored skin.
Thank God Kira wasn't here because if he saw Athrun sta-
"Are you staring?" Cagalli demanded, her anger seeming to battle with her embarrassment. Chewie got up, sitting beside Cagalli and looking down at Athrun like a judge on their podium. Taking Athrun's prolonged silence as an answer, Cagalli took one menacing step forward, her arms starting to lift up only to snap back down in front of her chest as she instantly changed her mind. Instead of an offensive approach, she scurried back, glowering indignantly at him from a few feet away.
Athrun scrambled up right. "No!" he hurriedly lied, looking else where once again, searching for something else to say. "I'm here for the-"
"Oh my God! Cagalli!" shrieked a voice and both Cagalli's and Athrun's head snapped around at the sound of her mother's voice.
Cagalli winced as Val gaped openly at Cagalli.
"What are you doing in a towel in front of a young man!" screamed her mother.
"I just got out of the shower!" Cagalli yelled back, her face red in embarrassment and anger.
"That's no reason!"
"Chewie-"
"I don't want to hear it!" Val put her hand to her head as if to calm herself and Athrun could of sworn she muttered something like 'you gotta watch kids these days. From tomboy to tramp. It's almost over night…'. Louder she said. "Please just go dress before you have the entire neighborhood ogling at you."
Athrun went red at her implication. "Ma'am," he began only to hear Chewie yelp as Cagalli ripped a pink cloth-object from his mouth. It kinda looked like a bra…
"I'll take that, thank you very much!" she snarled at her dog before stomping up the stairs. With every foot clomp she snarled. "I." Clomp! "Hate." Clomp. "My." Clomp. "Darn." Clomp. "Dog!" and repeat.
Feeling Mrs. Hibiki's glower on him and trying to break the ice Athrun said timidly. "Never a dull moment here, eh?"
That seemed to do it as Mrs. Hibiki made a cross against her chest as if to ward of evil. "Try living here." She snorted and walked away.
A minute passed and a fully clothed Cagalli came whizzing down the stairs once again, a blush still frozen on her face as she shooed Chewie out through the hall, kitchen and out the back door. "And stay out there, you stupid mutt!" she shouted after Chewie, scowling murderously before heading into a small family room where a pile of school books had been stacked on the floor.
The den room was brightly lit by floor lamps, a small, empty fire place stood opposite a tiny, beat-up leather couch and an unused dog bed lay in a corner littered in shoes and random objects including what seemed to be a shirt, a half-chewed plunger and a tire jack.
"Is that a-" Athrun asked, his eyes wide as he sat on the edge of the brown couch, his jeans grazing the edges of a clear-glass table that was framed with dark wood.
"Don't ask." Cagalli hissed, taking a seat on the floor across from him. "When it comes to Chewie- just don't ask."
"Hm. Gotcha." Trying to switch her focus from thoughts of first-degree murder he gestured to her school book. "What are you having trouble with?"
Cagalli blinked, momentarily distracted as she pulled her school book onto the table. Gnawing on her lip she glanced at him hesitantly from the corners of her eyes. "All of it?" Absentmindedly she reached up and began combing tangles of her wet hair with her fingers, still looking anywhere else but him. A tear-drop of water clung stubbornly to a strand of hair and with a huff of irritation she shook her head like a dog ridding it's self of water and Athrun couldn't help but laugh softly as he fended off a spray of tiny droplets.
When she stopped- her hair a frizzy cloud about her face, she began the task of combing it once again, a scowl across her face, her eyes cast to one side and a blush growing darker on her skin.
God, she is cute. Athrun shook himself slightly but was unable to resist the slight tug on his mind that she had.
As if she knew what he was thinking about, Cagalli frowned and glared at him. "You're going to forget that ever happened, right?"
Athrun looked up at her blazing amber eyes, noticing the subtle hint of girlish embarrassment sparkling in her eyes. "What happened?" he said slowly with a casual shrug. He probably would have gotten away with that statement and a 'case-closed' if only he hadn't smirked. Could he help that he smirks? No.
Cagalli's eyes went wide once again and she scowled. "If you can't keep your mind out of the gutter then I don't want you to tutor me." Her cheeks were flaming now and she glared at the tire jack as if it had let her down some how.
"I'm good." Athrun laughed, raising his right hand in the air. "Scout's honor."
"Wish Chewie had half that decency." She muttered, crossing her arms over her chest.
Athrun sighed, realizing that they were never going to get over that moment any time soon at the way they were tackling it. "Okay, let's restart." He held out his hand and she raised her eyebrow. "Hi, I'm Athrun Zala."
She remained frozen and for a moment Athrun wondered if she was really angry. And then she snorted, snickering slightly. "Athrun, you're way too much of a gentleman." She giggled, shaking his hand promptly. "Hi, I'm Cagalli and I'm about to make your life hell."
And with that cheery thought in mind…
"Okay." She straightened up, recovering her cheerfulness as she flipped through pages of the algebra book.
Athrun frowned, watching as she pointed out examples of what she was struggling with in class. "You're only in Algebra?"
She glanced at him and rolled her eyes. "Duh. I'm a freshman, doofus. I think you had a sniff too many of my dog's breath."
"Daaaang." Athrun whispered, his eyes widening slightly.
"Hm?" she watched him curiously. "You say something?"
"Uh...I…uh…" he scrambled madly for a reply. "You think I'm high?"
Cagalli looked at him in exasperation. "You want to teach me algebra; how can you not be high?"
Athrun shrugged and grinned. "I look at it as a challenge. Plus I'm sure it will look nice on my résumé. 'The Taming of The Lioness.'."
Cagalli glared at him. "Ha. Ha. You're hilarious- now why don't you take that little bundle of humor and shove it-wait…did you just call me a lioness?" she cocked her head to the side, considering it and then looking pleased.
"Merely pointing out your ability to tear people's faces off."
Cagalli narrowed her eyes to gleaming slits. "Whatever Kira told you isn't true. If you want to leave with your face intact I suggest you choose another subject to talk about or shut up."
"Now, now, don't be modest." Athrun grinned.
Cagalli studied her nails for before replying sweetly. "Athrun, this is your last chance. I suggest you use it wisely."
"Oh really?"
"I have the power to kill you and make it look like an accident. Do not tempt me."
Athrun tried to disguise his laugh as a cough.
Cagalli shot him a poisonous look before saying slowly. "Actually, I have a question."
Trying to keep a straight face, Athrun asked. "Yes?"
"Did Kira put you up to this?"
At Kira's name Athrun's face went pale. Anything but! He thought. "Sure…" he said, tugging on his collar. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, I'm just still trying to figure out why you would want to help me. I mean, nobody in there right mind ever offers to help me with math. It's just a major Don't; like, you Don't mix mustard and ketchup and you Don't let your brother be the one to choose the family pet."
Athrun shrugged. "Out of the kindness of my heart?"
"You don't have a heart. No one who drives like you has a heart." Cagalli retorted, her expression smooth.
Athrun grinned. "Glad to see it's still on your mind."
"Sad to see you don't have a mind."
Athrun raised an eyebrow. "That's all you got."
Cagalli raised her fist threateningly into the air. "No- why? Did you want more? 'Cause I can give you a Chewbacca-sized-"
"Cagalli!" called Miss. Hibiki as she stepped into the kitchen, peeling her garden gloves off her hands. "Glad to see you dressed."
Cagalli went red and glared furiously at Athrun as he smirked back at her.
"Have you been a good hostess, Cagalli?" her mother asked as she examined something on the table. (A/N: My mom does that to me all the time "Have you been a good hostess? Huh? Have you?" )
Athrun grinned slightly as Cagalli scowled.
"I would like some water." Athrun told her cheerfully and she made a gesture at him as if to throttle him.
"Well, you heard him, Cagalli. Get him some water." Mumbled her mother as she walking back out. A moment later the front door slammed close.
Cagalli slowly stood up. "Temptation is telling me to pour some cleaning chemicals in your water."
"But you wouldn't do that because it would reflect badly on your hostess abilities."
Cagalli frowned. "Plus it's not painful enough. You deserve better." Better?
"Thanks…I think."
As Cagalli darted from the room, Athrun let out a long breath before grinding his face into his palm, the thoughts that had been clamoring to be heard exploding in his mind.
Holy shoefly- what the heck? She's a Freshman?
To some people, that wouldn't mean much. To Athrun, who was raised with the belief that certain age groups should stay with certain age groups it was like a nuke had been dropped on him. A Chewbacca-sized one.
This was grade D for Disaster.
A freaking freshman? I could of sworn she was older! Not that that means anything. No. I can still tutor her. Nothing's changed. She's just two years younger then I thought she was- nothing big. Nothing- HOLY FRICK, I saw her practically naked! Thank God Kira wasn't here 'cause I totally saw her almost naked. I mean she's pretty, totally normal if someone stares, right? What the heck am I talking about- she's a friggen freshman. I'm only here to tutor her…for Kira's sake… Yeaaaah, that's all. Just some friendly concern for her…grades…
Some rational part of his brain chuckled and mused. Dang, you're screwed.
"Oh my God. What is he doing?"
"What? I mean, nothing!" Athrun snapped, his head jerking around at Cagalli's voice.
She raised her eyebrow at him, giving him a strange look before shrugging and walking towards him. "Nah, just saw Chewie acting weird. Probably just sniffing his own poop or something equally stupid." She hesitated, taking her seat. "Speaking of people acting weird…" she handed a glass full of water to Athrun before raising her own to her lips.
Athrun forced himself to relax before saying all…casually. "I didn't know you were a freshman. I thought you were a Junior."
Cagalli snorted into her drink, choking on the water. "Wh-what?" she coughed, laughing. "Me? A Junior?"
"You just seem…older." Was that an appropriate thing to say to a girl three years younger?
She brightened. "Thanks! And you're not as big as a pervert as I thought you were."
"Oh…thanks…" Athrun grimaced, making Cagalli laugh. "Are you always this blunt."
"Mhmm." She nodded, chewing on her bottom lip. "Mom says it's a gift and a curse."
"I have yet to see the good part of it yet." Athrun teased.
Cagalli rolled her eyes as she twirled a pencil in her hands. "You're just not listening hard enough." She looked down at the book and sighed before standing up, walking around the small coffee table to sit down beside Athrun. "There, so we're not trying to read things upside down." She spun the book around for them to read.
Athrun ducked his head, smiling slightly. Yes- there was some good aspects to her bluntness after all.
Scents of kiwi shampoo drifted off Cagalli's hair, distracting Athrun as they bent- hair brushing- over her school book.
"Okay, so you see this…how does this get from here to there?" Cagalli asked, pointing the pencil at various equations.
Athrun blinked and then settled down into explaining things to her.
Twenty minutes passed through which Cagalli had sworn continuously, threw her pencil in disgust and had threatened to feed the mathbook to the fireplace.
"Cagalli, calm down." Athrun felt torn between exasperation and amusement as he struggled to keep Cagalli sitting down as she yelled obscenities at her mathbook.
"No I won't, Mr. Pervert! This…this…unnecessary crap is taunting me! I can feel it! And why? It's not like I'll ever need it? Do these people think I'm not smart enough to live with out it?"
"Um…Actually I think they think you're smart enough to figure this out." Athrun tried not to laugh at her antics but Cagalli seemed to realize that he was getting more out of the tutoring then she was.
"You know." She pointed at him. "Laugh it up! Karma will get you though and then you'll have noone to feel sorry for you but yourself."
"You're ridiculous. And you're not making sense." Giving up on holding her still by her wrist, Athrun reached up and gave a slight squeeze to the sides of her neck.
It was almost as effective as the Vulcan Squeeze. (A/N: If any of you readers are Trekkies, then please correct me if I'm wrong.)
Athrun's mom had always done it to him when he was getting excited about something and it had always worked like magic. The slight pressure point seemed to instantly relax all the muscles.
And like Athrun had been, Cagalli was putty on the couch.
Her eyes looked up wondrously at him. "Whoa. How did you do that?" she gasped, rubbing her neck in awe, her emotions having done 180 spin. "That felt sooo good! Are you a professional massager?"
Athrun grimaced. "Just a trick my Mom taught me."
"Oh well, screw math." Cagalli hopped about so that her back was facing him and she tugged her blonde hair to the side. "Do it again!"
Athrun chuckled. "Cagalli- has anyone ever told you that you're just downright strange."
"Mhmm." She said, barely listening and with a sigh Athrun hesitantly reached forward to place one hand on the side of her neck.
"What are you waiting for?" Cagalli asked as a moment passed and Athrun had still not done anything.
"Are you like this with everyone?" Athrun wondered to himself quietly but Cagalli had heard.
She laughed. "Yeah. Pretty much. I'm blunt, remember?"
And that's not really a bad thing after all… well, most of the time it isn't. Athrun mused to himself.
Giving up and hoping like heck that Kira wouldn't appear, Athrun scooted forward and raised a second hand and began massaging her shoulders and neck lightly.
He felt a shiver ripple down her spine as she straightened up under his touch. "Mmmm, you're really good. That feel's amazing." She said dozily, leaning back slightly.
Athrun smiled. "Thanks. I guess."
"Is this how you pick up girls?"
He chuckled softly. "Usually, but normally I already have them won over by the car ride."
"If by 'won over' you mean 'about ready to puke' then you would be right. I'll guard my heart carefully." She laughed back.
"Against me? Surely not. My intentions are all brother-approved." Athrun said slowly, glad she couldn't see the slight grimace on his face.
"Kira. Kira. Kira." She sighed. "My chances of getting a boyfriend these days are zilch thanks to him."
He prodded her in the back and she jumped slightly. "Is that all you think about?"
"No." she turned back to face him, her legs crisscrossed. "I was just stating a fact. How about you?"
"Me? No, I must say I don't normally spend my time thinking about getting a boyfriend." Athrun rolled his eyes.
She paused in mid-breath to snort. "No, you doofus. I meant this." The blonde gestured to the math book and Athrun gave her a look of horror.
Her pink lips spread in a grin. "Kiiiidding. Kidding."
"Well anyway, you're doing a lot better. I mean, you figured out…how…to solve one type of problem."
Cagalli made a face at him. "I'm trying to pass, remember?"
Athrun smirked, shouldering her slightly. "We'll get there hotshot- don't worry."
"right." She sighed. "Baby steps. Dang baby steps."
"Are you going to start cursing again?"
"Only if it means you'll give me another message?" she replied back cheerfully.
Athrun laughed. "Nice try- back to work."
They worked for another hour, with repetitive Cagalli fits that only made Athrun shake his head in wonder. There was no hint of restraint about Cagalli. She thinks, therefore she does. If she had something to say then she said it.
For instance.
"Why the hell is your hair blue anyway? Not that it looks bad but I would definitely put it under 'unusual'."
"Cagalli…the math… focus on the math."
Or.
"God, the way you talk about math it's almost as if you're in a relationship with- my God, this explains everything! You moved here because you're in a relation ship with one of the math teachers!"
They were just reaching a difficult moment when Cagalli suddenly sat bolt up right, her head nearly smacking Athrun's in the process because they had been so close.
"Cagalli." Athrun warned, preparing himself mentally for another fit.
"Shhh…" she waved her hand at him, frowning as she gazed distractedly around the room. "Do you hear that?"
"What? I don't hear anything."
"Exactly." Her eyebrows furrowed and after a short pause she shook herself. "Never mind it's probably-"
"Cagalli!"
This time they both jumped as Mrs. Hibiki ran into the room, a cell phone in one hand.
"You know Janet Gibrowski?"
"Crazy lady who lives four blocks down? Yeah?"
"Well, you know how she hangs her clothes out to dry in her back yard?"
"I do now- yeah?"
Mrs. Hibiki took a deep breath, red splotches in her cheeks. "Well, some of her clothing is missing and she swore they were there a few moments ago."
Her words made no sense to Athrun but they apparently meant a lot to Cagalli as she shot up right from the couch and out the back door.
Mrs. Hibiki and Athrun winced as a howl echoed from outside.
"THAT STUPID SON OF A BEAGLE!" shrieked Cagalli storming back in, the door slamming close behind her.
"Chewie?" Athrun asked confused, standing up with the realization that the tutoring session was about to end.
"No! Kira!" she stomped her foot. "He said he had filled in that hole under the fence but oh-no-he-didn't!" Every footstep thudding, she slammed about the room, collecting a pair of shoes and a jacket.
"Oh good. So it was Chewie. That explains all the other calls about missing artifacts and the baby." Mrs. Hibiki slumped in an armchair by the fireplace, rubbing her forehead.
"Frigging going to kill- baby?" Cagalli paused in jerking her arm through a sleeve. Her jaw dropped slightly as she stared at her mother.
"Mrs. Collin's daughter is missing. She said she had only turned her back on her baby for a moment and the next both Shelia and the stroller she was in was gone."
Cagalli groaned. "My dog kidnapped someone… My dog is a criminal! We're sooooo dead."
"Do you need help?" Athrun asked, standing up, unsure if he should be smiling or not. "We can take my car and check around the houses."
Cagalli looked up at him, relief spilling out across her face. "Would you really?" to his surprise she hugged him. "That would be great, thank you."
Glancing at Mrs. Hibiki as if for approval, Athrun tentatively hugged her back.
I just met her. I just met her. She's a freshman. She's Kira's little sister. I should not be hugging her. This a totally professional relationship, at the most a friendship.
Cagalli craned her neck back to look up at Athrun and she grinned. "Are you ready to hop fences, dive through hedges and chase the smartest and stupidest canine in the world?"
Oh the hell with it. "Ready when you are." Athrun said, flicking a chain of keys from his pocket.
OOO
An hour later a sleek black car pulled up in front of the Hibiki house, a sodden wet dog running along beside it. The riders in the car were scowling darkly as they got out of the car, dripping with water as they followed a happy pooch up the walk way.
"Oh my." Mrs. Hibiki said with out a hint of panic. "Chewie really got you guys."
Cagalli nodded, glaring at Chewie as he happily shook himself.
"I needed to water the garden anyway." Mrs. Hibiki admitted as she watched drops of water spray out from his thick coat. "Let me get you both towels- Athrun, your car isn't water-damaged in anyway is it?"
"No, Ma'am." Athrun mumbled accepting the towel she proffered two minutes later. He wiped his face and hair on it before handing it back. He only lived a few houses down so he wasn't in extravagant need of it.
After doing a quick dry-down of herself, Cagalli burst into a summary of their events, finishing with: "So we had just gotten the leash hooked up on him, right? And we were standing in Mr. Kessels back yard by his inground pool, right? Anyway, I was the one holding the leash when Chewie just ran circles with us, tying us up."
Boy did Athrun remember that moment well. Though they had only been back to back, he had been disarmingly aware of her small presence besides him.
"Well that stupid dog yanked us like a top and spun us into the pool! It was horrible!" she sighed. "Plus we got Mr. Gibrowski's bra wet."
"You mean, 'Misses', right?" Mrs. Hibiki raised her eyebrows.
"Nope." Athrun shook his head.
"I'm guessing the diet didn't work then." Mrs. Hibiki mused to herself, tucking the towel Cagalli handed her under her arm.
"Holy crap, what happened to you guys?"
Athrun jerked around at hearing Kira's voice, alarm bells ringing in his mind.
But to his surprise, Kira was walking up besides Lacus who looked equally mystified.
Cagalli raised her eyebrows at Lacus for a moment before glaring at Kira. "You idiot!"
"Oh dear." Mrs. Hibiki murmured, watching as Cagalli stomped forward. "This would be your chance to get away, Athrun. Use it well." And just like that she called "Dinner in an hour!" before scurrying into her home.
Lacus had already disappeared and Kira and Cagalli were already face to face yelling at eachother.
Inching around the quarreling siblings Athrun waved at Cagalli. "You did really good, we'll do this again, right?"
Cagalli's mouth froze in place and she stared at him in shock. Even Kira paused (which wasn't what Athrun had intended at all) to look at him.
"You still want to tutor me?" Cagalli gazed at him wide-eyed in disbelief.
"You survived tutoring my sister and you want to come back for more?" Kira echoed in the same tone.
Feeling uncomfortable with their attentions zoned in on him Athrun shrugged. "Sure, why not. I really don't mind."
Cagalli scowled. "Dammit! How do nice people like you end up with idiots like my brothers for friends? The world is just not fair!"
"Who are you calling an idiot?" Kira demanded.
"Obviously you! I told you ages ago to fill in that stupid hole Chewie dug under the fence, you stupid, numbskulled, peanut-brained, lazy-butt, son-of-a-jackle bumpkin!"
Athrun sighed, giving up and getting into his car.
He was wet. The tutoring hadn't gone quite at all the way he expected. He had seen Cagalli in a towel. And all he could still think was: A freshman? Cagalli is a freshman?
Not that he cared. Not. At. All.
Only as he was driving his car back across the street to his house did he hear Cagalli call out.
"See ya later!"
He smirked despite himself. Okay. Maybe just a bit.
OOOOOO
Lacus collapsed on her bed, burying her face into her pillows as she smiled. Her day had been fantastic. Beyond fantastic! As long as she lived she would never forget this!
How long had she had a crush on Kira? How long had she dreamed of spending time with him without Cagalli (who she loved like a sister) around?
She could remember the afternoon clearly and she giggled to herself in delight.
"Wow, you really know your cars." Kira said admiringly as Lacus pointed out all the flaws of owning certain cars.
She grinned. "Thanks, really. It means a lot."
The two of them were bent over the open hood of a used truck. Lacus's hair was pulled back into a neat pony tail and she had stolen Kira's extra ball-cap a while ago, wearing it back wards to keep her bangs out of her face.
She leaned her elbows on the sun-warmed metal of the dark blue truck and gestured about explaining random facts that popped into her head. Kira, himself, was rather knowledgeable with cars (weren't all boys?) but even he didn't know as much as Lacus.
"So is this what you want to do?" Kira asked a few minutes later as they walked away from the truck- he shot it one last longing look that Lacus noticed with amusement.
"Yes? Well…No…" Lacus smiled in embarrassment. "I mean, I guess."
Kira smiled back at her, not needing to say anything but silently asking her to explain herself.
For the first time in her life, Lacus found herself gazing up at him, deeply up at him into his violet eyes. How long has it been since he became more then 'Cagalli's older brother'? "Well…" she hesitated. "It was always my mom's dream for me to open up a car-fixing business with her." She laughed softly, shaking her head. "But then…" she heaved a breath. "Well, anyway… I just kinda wanted to carry on her dream…I mean, our dream."
Turning to face her fully, Kira leaned back against a car behind him, his head cocked to one side. "Is that really what you want to do?" he asked curiously, gently probing.
Lacus turned her head to the side, tugging slightly on a stray lock of hair. "I don't know… Right now it doesn't seem like I have a choice." She shuddered slightly, remembering her father had told her a few days ago.
"What do you mean?"
Lacus shook her self slightly. "Uh, nothing. I do love cars- more then anything."
"But?"
"But…if I could be anything in the world… I would love to be a singer." She shyly looked back at Kira who was watching her in return with a gentle look.
For a moment she felt as if she could tell him everything, even the things she hadn't told Cagalli who she trusted so much with.
Kira snapped his fingers. "Rrrright! You're in that band with my little sister!"
Something became cold inside of Lacus and feeling slightly disappointed she nodded. The way he spoke to her then reminded her that she was three years younger… Forget that, he probably only views me as his sister's friend. She sighed before looking around. "Well, I think we looked over this entire lot."
"Yeah," Kira nodded in agreement. "It is getting late."
She glanced up at him with a small smile. "Anything call out to you?"
His violet eyes hesitated for a moment on the truck then he shook his head. "No…actually. Is car searching always this annoying?"
"I wouldn't know really… well," she shrugged. "Most people already have a car in mind which makes it easier."
Kira looked at her blankly. "I just want a form of transport."
Lacus sighed, shaking her head in exasperation. "Goodness, Kira, how are we ever-" then something occurred to her. "Wait! I have an idea!" and she grabbed by the hand and proceeded to pull him to a separate lot across the street that was owned by the same business.
"Motorcycles?" Kira blinked in surprise when she gestured to the vehicles before them."
"Yes." Lacus smiled up at him. "Wind in your hair."
"Bugs in your teeth." He murmured back and she laughed.
Though they both had to get back to their homes soon, Kira took a short ride on one of the bikes.
"This really isn't hard to drive at all." Kira grinned as he pulled up to a stop besides one of the worker's and Lacus.
The man who had helped them pick out a motorcycle to test and had explained how it worked smiled.
Kira glanced at Lacus. "Want to try?"
Lacus's eyes widened in surprise. "I…I…"
"Come on, Lass," he grinned at her, his eyes sparkling in the sunlight.
Lacus blushed slightly at his nickname for her. "I guess." Timidly, after glancing up at the worker to check if it was okay- it was- Lacus threw a leg over the motorcycle's leather seat, nervously wrapping her arms around Kira's chest. A blush stained her face as she felt Kira's heart beat distinctly through his skin and the warmth of his body graze hers.
If Kira minded he didn't say anything.
Her heart skipped a beat but it wasn't just because of how close, how wonderfully close she was to Kira, but because…of that day.
Motorcycles. It had taken her along time to get over her hatred for them. And even now she felt a sweat breaking out on her skin. It was years ago, I mustn't think of it. She thought, and hoping he wouldn't pay it much attention, as Kira set the bike in motion, driving swiftly about, she pressed her face against his back. The wind tugged at her long hair as she struggled to hold on to Kira and to herself. Trying not relive her memories.
She couldn't move on… So she had to ignore them. Ignore them or they would all come back and she could end up like her dad.
The wind tugged on the cap above her head and with a startled yelp of surprise, Lacus jerked her head up in time to see the wind carry Kira's cap off her head and into the sky.
Lacus sighed, feeling slightly depressed at that note. She rolled over in her bed and gazed sadly at the picture of her mother on her nightstand, whispering the words that ran through her mind every day of her life since that moment so long ago. "Mom… I wish you were here."
OOOOOOO
"Hold on a second, dude," Dearka laughed, shoving Yzak slightly in the shoulder. They had just got done football practice and the two had been making their way down the empty hall way when Dearka had spotted something.
"Idiot- where are you going?" Yzak shouted at his friend, looking annoyed which was nothing new nor something to be concerned about.
"Relax, I'm not cheating on you." Dearka snickered. "Just going to go check on something."
Yzak muttered something as he turned away that sounded strangely like. "Go screw yourself." Which, knowing Yzak, it probably was.
Grinning widely, Dearka trotted happily down the hall way, heading to the school's tiny news room where he would happily bet his next Mystery Meat lunch that Miraillia would be. And sure enough she was there, but surprisingly, not alone.
Dearka hesitated at charging into the room at the unfamiliar sight of another boy in the room.
He must be the transfer. Dearka hesitated, feeling strangely uncomfortable at the sight of Milly and the boy working so closely together over something. For a moment he felt awkward, as if he was looking into their private world of journalism where he didn't belong.
The two were obviously getting along well. Dearka wasn't dense, he knew chemistry between people when he saw it. Heck, he started chemistry quite often with people- a fact he was quite proud of. But this…unsettled him.
They were chattering, a warm blush on Milly's face as she seemed to laugh at whatever the boy was saying.
Dearka released the door knob in his hands and he felt torn, conflicted and not quite sure why.
"Dearka!"
He blinked, spinning around to see Lunamaria jogging up. Since Meer was in the hospital, Lunamaria had offered to sub in for her during cheerleading practice.
"Oh, hey Luna."
She came to a stop, giving him a strange look. "Are you alright?"
Dearka blinked. "What do you mean?"
"I don't know…" she stared at him looking confused. "You're just…acting normal…that's all."
Dearka stared at her, not comprehending and then a grin broke out across his face. "I knew it! I knew you liked it when I hit on you!"
As he knew she would, Luna snorted. "Come on, Yzak's waiting for you- what are you doing over here anyway?"
"Er," Dearka opened his mouth but it was too late as Luna peered over his shoulder into the news room.
Instead of looking faintly surprised, to his bewilderment, Luna's face seemed to darken slightly. "What is he doing there?" she demanded sharply.
Dearka raised his eyebrows slightly. "Are you jealous?" he grinned.
"Shut up," she snapped, crossing her arms over her chest.
Dearka frowned. "Hey- I don't know what's bothering you but-"
She sighed, cutting him off. "Sorry, I'm sorry. Okay? I just…wanted to know."
"Well, he's the transfer from the other highschool's news team or whatever." I'm not exactly happy about him either.
Luna glared hard at the boy for only moment longer before tossing her head and walking away. "Come on. We've got bigger fish to fry."
"Yeah whatever that means," Dearka snorted, reluctantly following her down the hallway towards Yzak…and away from Milly.
OOOO
A/N: I know this isn't the spot for an authors note but in the up coming scene I make a reference to someone as a 'Yank'. I was once told that delinquents or just tough people in general are blonde and depicted as 'Yanks' in mangas/animes. So in other words when someone calls someone a 'Yank' they are pretty much calling them a delinquent. This may not be true, I have no idea and I'm probably totally wrong but that was what I figured so, please, if I'm wrong, pm me so I don't feel like a doofus… :D Okay, keep reading :D
Shiho couldn't stand Meer. Couldn't. Simply. Could. Not.
It wasn't a prejudice, really. Ever since fifth grade when Meer had pantsed her in front of the entire school she knew they wouldn't really get along. Since then they had grown up of course- but still there was an undertone of dislike between them.
A dislike that didn't stop Meer from chattering on about the new, hot senior.
"And he's soooo cool! I can't get over the fact that he pulled me from the car."
Shiho resisted the urge to groan. Whosever idea it was to put them in a hospital room together was going to pay dearly.
Okay, if she was to be honest, Meer really had grown up to be a really nice person. But, some people get along better with some people and others not at all.
Shiho and Meer would be example 'A' of 'not at all'.
"Just suffocate her with my pillow, that's all." Shiho muttered.
"OMG." Meer gasped and Shiho looked over to see the pink-haired girl examining her cellphone.
"What?"
"This picture is terrible!"
"What picture?"
"Milly took a few pictures of the car crash and just sent them to me to ask for our permission to use them in the newspaper."
Shiho rolled her eyes. "That chick is fast."
"Too fast. She didn't give me time to fix myself one bit." Meer looked broken hearted and Shiho snorted rudely.
"Meer. Of all the things to be worried about you chose your appearance? Ditz."
"Butch!" Meer snapped back instantly and Shiho hissed.
"I'm not a butch, bitch!"
"Yank!"
Shiho felt her skin flush in anger- that one had hit home.
Shiho had grown up in a rather…well… trashed up home. Dad had hit the trails. Mom was supposed to be recovering from addiction but Shiho knew she still did drugs and got drunk at bars. Not to mention gambled what little she made working at a convenience store. It was why most of their bills weren't paid and Shiho's beloved car was probably not going to be fixed for a long time. Which was bad because if Shiho couldn't drive then she couldn't drive to the near by juvenile detention center where she did odd jobs for money.
Pathetic as it sounded, she knew the juvenile detention center and it's residents almost as well as her own home and family having spent years attending punishment there before her sophomore year. She hadn't done anything so-so bad but she had been there enough that all the workers knew her history and her name and many of the youth were friends.
She was the legendary Shiho there. Respected and loved. She probably was paid more attention there then by her own mom.
Shiho used to be into a little bit of everything, drinking, stealing, fighting- whatever. People had suggested it was because of her parents. Of her upraising. They tried to sort her into a category- tried to find a justifiable way to explain her actions and pity her.
Poor Shiho. Stuck with a dead beat mom and no father. Stuck having to meet the bills by working super hard and attend school and get As. Poor Shiho. No wonder she acts so out of hand.
She hated it. She hated being categorized. Hated having adults cluck their tongues in sympathy and point her out to their children and tell them to be super nice to her.
Acting out, doing whatever she wanted no matter the punishment. She had loved it. Loved it because it made her feel like she could effect things and not just be 'the effected'.
That had changed in her sophomore year when she had gotten a taste of salvation. Yup, bad ass Shiho was really just a tough-hided Jesus-lover. Hardly a good one, but one who tried none the less.
Okay and she got distracted and violent and her temper could match Yzak's but she still tried her darndest to be good. Underline tried.
Oh well. Anyway.
"Chuck that to me…" Shiho hesitated before relenting. "Please?"
Meer rolled her eyes and shrugged before handing her phone across.
Shiho examined the picture loaded up in the small screen.
In the back ground she could see the end of her lovely car. "Poor baby," she mumbled unhappily. "I'll get you all together, I promise."
In front of it was Athrun and Cagalli, leaning down beside her and Meer. In the back ground she could see teachers and surprisingly Yzak pushing their way through the crowd to get to them.
Feeling slightly foolish, she stared at the picture, trying to decipher something…
"You look fine for an unconscious girl." She said sarcastically handing the phone back a moment later.
Meer laughed. "I guess you have a point."
"Oh good." Shiho trailed off when she felt her elbow being tugged on fromm the other side. She turned to face a little girl who was staring up at her, grinning.
"Uh…hi there." She said confused to the girl who was standing up in tiptoe at the side of her bed.
"Hi!" the girl had chest-nut colored hair and wide, sparkling eyes. She wore a hospital gown that failed to hide the obvious unhealthy pallor of her skin and the slightly boniness to her frame. "What's your name?"
"I'm Shiho."
Meer shifted in her bed to peer around Shiho curiously at the little girl.
"Oh, that's a cool name. I'm from right down hall. My room look's just like yours but I have it all to myself." She said it proudly as if it was a huge deal and Shiho exchanged a quick glance with Meer.
"Oh, that's so cool." Meer said, taking over when she realized that Shiho seemed to not be progressing well. "And where's your mommy?"
"She had to go to be an angel and help other kids." The little girl fiddled with her gown. Shiho's heart clenched. "Daddy's with her too. They had to leave years ago."
Shiho swallowed before taking a shaky breath, her eyes focused on the girl.
"Do you guys go to highschool?"
They nodded and she peered up with curiosity in her eyes. "Is it fun?"
Truthfully it totally wasn't at times but Shiho felt compelled to say. "It's not perfect but nothing in life is…so…yeah. It can be fun."
"Elementary was a lot of fun. But then I had to leave to come here." The girl said with a shrug. "Do you got to Angel Highschool?"
They nodded understanding what she meant and surprised at her quick guess.
The girl giggled before saying. "I'm going to be an Angel too one day but I don't need to go to highschool for that." She furrowed her brow as if she was trying to solve a complex question. "Somebody special told me I'm going to be a special angel and that I'll get to take care of other kids like me…" she shrugged. "I just like the idea of being an Angel and having white wings and being all pretty."
Somebody seemed to call for her outsides the room and a moment later a nurse poked her head in. "There you are! Escaped again! Get back here!" she smiled affectionately at the little girl. "And what do you think you're doing out here?"
The little girl scuffled her feet. "I'm just bored." She said softly before turning back to Shiho and Meer. "I got to go. Come see me again! Promise!" and with out waiting for a response she darted away with the nurse leaving Meer and Shiho stunned.
"Oh." Shiho murmured. "An Angel…Do you think she meant…?"
Meer was dabbing at her eyes with her sheet. "Oh gosh, suddenly my looks don't feel so important…is my eye liner smeared?"
Shiho sighed. "Yes. All over."
Meer started to cry harder.
"That girl… I wonder." Shiho looked back at Meer and said. "Let's come back. Meer."
"Huh?" Meer stared at her in shock. "What? One kid has you coming back? You? Have you been hit on the head recently?"
Shiho glared at her.
"Oh, right, car crash. Stupid question." Meer sighed, studying her nails. "Well, if it doesn't interfere too much I guess I'll come back. That girl…she looked kinda lonely."
"Sometimes, Meer, I realize…you're not so dense after all." Shiho breathed under her breath before collapsing onto her pillows as another headache came on.
But she couldn't stop thinking about that little girl and the simple, childish words she had said.
Shiho was never one to be effected by deep philosophical things. It was the simple, endearing things that got to her. And though she had heard stories of children suffering, knew hundreds of names of suffering children this was the first time she looked an obviously dying child in the eye and realized…just how lucky she was.
Sure her parents weren't exactly all together but at least she had a chance at living a full life. That was more then that little girl could say.
And suddenly Shiho wanted to be that little girl's friend if only to make her life just a little bit fuller.
OOOOO
Cagalli's pov
"Cagalli, dear, you need to clean up the stuff in the den."
Cagalli looked up from the music scripts spilled out in front of her at the sound of her mother's voice echoing up the stairs. "Just a sec, Mom." She called as she turned back to her work, tapping her beat in a rythem. "Da, da, da." She hummed softly as smacked out a beat with her pencil on the page, marking notes here and there.
Music writing was a hobby of hers, one she never really indulged in, unless she felt inspired. Which was pretty often actually and she had a whole drawer full of half-written songs that she would start composing for the band and then never finish.
Lacus always would ask her to write something but everything she seemed to write just died on the page. She wanted to write good stuff, not half-good stuff.
Her amber eyes scanned the page as she absentmindedly sucked on the eraser end of her pencil.
It's a feeling I can't name
I know things will never be the same
Because of you
It's all on you.
I don't know why you're in my mind
Driving me crazy all the time
Since I met you
I can't stop thinking about you
You're a riddle I can't solve-
"Dammit." Cagalli cursed, unable to think up another line. She closed her eyes, trying to think of something to inspire her. She shifted through her day with Ahmed but nothing helped.
Then something flashed through her head. Tied up in a leash with Athrun before they were being dragged into the pool. The sight of Athrun's face as he choked on water, trying to stop laughing as they struggled ashore.
Erasing the last line of her poem she began again.
You've got me spinning like a top.
I don't ever want to stop
I'm all tied up in you.
It's true
I love you
Now she was getting somewhere
So yes, everyone seems to have their own back story and you're finding out Shihos. I plan to give just about everyone some kind of backstory that I will reveal through out the story.
I must apologize for not keeping facts in my story consistent. I am a scatter brained idiot, so I tend to forget minor facts that are part of important facts so if you ever catch a pothole in my plot be sure to let me know! :)
Hope you enjoyed this chapter! And I hate to say this, but tons of reviews are a huge motivator for more chapters, sooner ;) You other writers probably understand :)
So please a review- and if not, it's fine and I hope you enjoyed this chapter :)
Happy readings!
Azetta