CHAPTER 8: The Banquet

The next few days passed and Kira finally completed his punishment of cleaning up the training hall. He reported to the Mizukage for a second apology before heading home and the sun was already setting.

Upon reaching home, he found Tori hopping around on his desk, with a new message on its leg. Feeling happy that Lacus has replied to his previous letter, he quickly untied the letter and offered a bowl of bird food for him. As Tori is eating gratefully, Kira was pleased with what was written on the letter.

The next morning, before sunrise, Kira went to Athrun's house and knocked on his room window. Athrun saw him and got up sleepily to open his room window.

"Athrun, good news"

"Good news? Is it really that urgent that you can't wait to tell me?" Athrun yawned and rubbed his eyes that are half closed.

"Quite … I'm meeting Lacus in 3 days from now, so I need you and Cagalli to help me out during my absence"

"Oh that … I thought it was something more urgent than that. Alright, I'll talk to Cagalli about it first thing in the morning" Athrun yawned and went back to bed.

"Thanks Athrun" Kira smiled and went out of the room through the window.

At the Iga Village

It was late morning and Lacus was combing her hair when her father entered the room.

"Good Morning, Father!"

"You seemed really happy this morning dear, did something good happen?"

"Well, you can say that, what's wrong?"

"I have arranged that you and Yunna are to marry in 3 days from now, all the villagers are really happy for you and I suggest that you start your preparations today"

Lacus dropped her comb as the information wiped the smile off her face.

"What?! But father!"

"It's alright dear, Yunna is a fine gentleman and will guarantee you a good life ahead"

Their conversation was interrupted by a knock on the door.

"Hokage-sama, it's time for your meeting with sir Yunna's family"

"Ok, help Lacus in her preparations"

"Yes-sir!"

Lacus was devastated. She never believed that her most beloved father would ever do such a thing to her.

At the meantime, Shinn and Stellar heard about the wedding and were pondering over what to do.

"Lacus hates Yunna! How could Hokage-sama let him marry her?"

"Calm down, Stellar! Getting upset won't get us anywhere. Let's think of a plan to help Lacus"

"Stellar was wondering if Shinn and Stellar should tell Kira about this"

Shinn paused before continuing. "Well … that doesn't seem to be a bad idea but what I'm worried about what Kira would plan to do"

Shinn and Stellar went to Lacus' house after completing their work.

"Lacus seemed really disappointed" Stellar broke the silence.

"Well, I'm not really …"

"You don't have to hide it Lacus, after all, it's not that you liked Yunna"

"Shinn …"

"Come on, your looks gave it away already. The one that you truly love is Kira and not Yunna"

Lacus simply smiled at her friends.

Shinn continued. "Couldn't you tell your father that you don't love Yunna? It's not really right for him to force you to marry someone that you don't have feelings for"

"He's busy all day and I don't wish to bother him with things like that. Besides, if I tell him that I refuse to marry Yunna, there's a high possibility that he'll get mad at me"

"But this concerns your future! Your future will be ruined if you really marry him"

"It's too late Shinn, all wedding preparations are done and my father has already met up with Yunna's family"

"Stellar says that Lacus should tell Kira about this"

"I guess … I guess … that we should not tell him"

Shinn and Stellar stared at Lacus in shock. Lacus can tell what they are thinking.

"If we tell him, he might be rash and do things that offend my father. And if my father realizes that he is a Kouga shinobi, he may declare war with the Kouga tribe and if that happens …" Lacus held both of her hands together tightly. "There would unnecessary bloodshed"

2 days later at the Kouga Village

Kira woke up early in the morning and was feeling really excited that he's going to meet Lacus that night. Little does he know about Lacus' wedding … He was passing by the shinobi training school and recalled the past.

It was late afternoon and 3 children, aged 8 years old are playing in the field.

"Watch out!" One of them shouted as the ball he kicked hit another child at the back of the head.

"WWWWAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH" The girl who got hit started crying as she placed her hand on her head.

"What did you do that for Athrun?! It hurts!" The younger version of Cagalli shouted.

"Sorry, I didn't mean for that to happen"

The younger version of Kira ran over to Cagalli's side and placed his hand onto her head. "It's alright, nothing serious"

"Kira!" A voice snapped Kira out of his thoughts and he turned back to find Athrun running towards him.

"Morning Athrun!"

"Kira, bad news"

"Huh? What is it, Athrun?"

"I just found out … … Lacus … She's …"

"Relax Athrun, you seem to be out of breath. Take a rest and slowly tell me what's wrong"

"I'm fine" Athrun wiped off the sweat on his forehead and continued. "Lacus' getting married!"

"What?! Married?!"

"Yes, I heard it. The entire Iga village is now excited about the news and it's taking place tomorrow morning"

Kira stood in silence and ran off on his own after awhile.

"Kira! Kira! Wait!" Athrun shouted to his friend but Kira paid no attention to him.

"This is bad, what if he's going to …I don't even dare to think about it!" Athrun thought. He panicked and ran after him.

At the Iga village

Lacus was sitting before her dressing table while the maids were helping her with the makeup. She was already in her wedding dress. Shinn and Stellar watched her at her room door, standing on duty, since security was tight on this 'auspicious' day.

"Stellar sense that Lacus is heartbroken"

"I suppose … That's how one will feel if one is marrying to someone whom one doesn't love" Shinn said without looking at Stellar.

"Shinn should've help Stellar convince Lacus to tell Kira"

"Ssshhhhhh!" Shinn immediately signaled to tell her to soften her voice. He looked around making sure no one is watching before he continued "If someone heard that …"

"This is a matter between life and death!" Stellar interrupted him. "Stellar is scared that Lacus might do something foolish later; at least if Stellar and Shinn tell Kira, Kira might be able to do something!"

"Like what, Stellar? Give Yunna a party bash?" Shinn joked.

Stellar smiled "That's nice. Lacus would like that, Stellar is sure about that"

"Oh well … Even if we tried to stop her I think it won't work"

Minutes later, Lacus was ready for the wedding and headed to the village centre, where their wedding is about to take place. As she ascended the steps to the top of the platform where Yunna was waiting, in his best suit, tears flowed out of her eyes. When she was reaching the top of the stairs, she closed her eyes and said softly in her heart "Kira … I'm sorry". After that, she opened her eyes and took the last step at the top of the platform.

"Today, we shall witness the marriage of a blissful couple, who …"

Lacus wasn't listening to what the man was saying; she was deep in thoughts, wondering what Kira would say about this incident.

"Yunna Roma Saran, are you willing to take this lady, Lacus Clyne, as your life long partner and love her for eternity?"

Yunna looked at Lacus, whom is not paying much attention to him "I will"

"Lacus Clyne, are you willing to take this gentleman, Yunna Roma Saran, as your husband and love him forever?"

Lacus paused and was about to say, "I will", when the noises of some fellow shinobi interrupted. Both herself and Yunna turned to face the crowd where there were many shinobi seemed to be on red alert.

Frustrated, Siegel stood up "What's going on?!"

One of the shinobi went up to him "Hokage-sama, a Koga shinobi seemed to have entered our village"

"Who dares to attack our village on the day of my daughter's marriage?!"

Following, an explosion occurred and the entire village centre was filled with grey, choking smoke. Lacus covered her nose to prevent herself from inhaling the smoke when someone grabbed her from the back and covered her face with a cloth. That person then jumped out of the smoky area and ran off. Yunna saw what had happened and shouted out to the nearby ninjas.

"The intruder had captured Lacus! All of you after him!"

All the ninjas obeyed and ran after Lacus. The remaining shinobi tried to get as many people out of the smoke as possible. Siegel got out of the smoke and ordered that only some ninjas are needed to get the people to safety, the others were to chase after the intruder and take Lacus back.

Lacus was knocked out by all the smoke she inhaled into her lungs, but after some time, she felt better and opened her eyes. She saw that someone was carrying her and that person had placed covered her face with a cloth. That person was dressed fully in black and had half of his face covered with a black cloth but she recognized him by his eyes.

"Kira?" She said weakly.

He looked at her "I'm glad that you're alright, sorry about the smoke, I didn't mean to make you to numb"

"Numb? You mean that smoke …"

"Yes, it also has such an effect"

"But why? Why did you come?"

"I …" Kira was interrupted by a sharp pain that he felt on his back.

"Kira!"

"I'm alright Lacus" Kira assured her "I've totally forgotten that they're still pursuing me"

Kira jumped away from the direction he was running in and headed towards the forest. Shinn and Stellar happened to see them passing by and they both ran towards the woods, also ensuring that no one noticed what they were doing. Kira entered the woods and tried to lose the pursuing ninjas on his tail by running in many different directions but they were well-trained and were able to stay on his trail. Kira tried to think of something fast to escape when suddenly, the ninjas after him stopped running towards him. He wondered why when the thick tree branch he stood on broke. Upon reaching the forest floor, he noticed that someone was there waiting for him.

"Father" Lacus said softly beside Kira.

"Return me my daughter and I'll let you leave alive"

Lacus looked at her father and back at Kira. Kira looked at her and replied "If I return her to you, will you not force her to marry?"

"What?!"

"You made her marry someone who she doesn't have feelings for, that's something I cannot forgive, but if you are willing to cancel the marriage …"

"Shut up! How dare you speak to me like that?"

"If you disagree with my terms, I will not return her!" Kira said firmly.

"You shall die talking to me like this, and what's more, with those eyes!" Siegel drew out his katana.

Lacus panicked and went in front of Kira.

"Don't! You cannot defeat my father!"

Kira closed his eyes and opened them "Dying is better than letting you live the rest of your life with regrets"

Lacus looked at him, with her eyes watering. "Kira …"

Kira looked at her once again, before drawing his kunai "I believed this day would come ever since I met you Lacus"

Lacus looked back at him.

"I knew that someday, I would have to fight your father like this"

Kira and Siegel then ran towards each other and started to engage in a battle.

Thanks for all the new reviews, especially those readers who liked my story, I'll try my best to make this story a great one ... Though I think the storyline is kind of strange ... I don't know if you guys find it weird or anything ...

For some people, like my sister, hoped that I have more romance scenes between other Gundam Seed Destiny couples, such as ShinnXStellar and AthrunXCagalli. I'll try to add them in but pls take note that this story is more dedicated to KiraXLacus, as I'm a big fan of theirs.