CHAPTER 11: The other couples

Iga Village – On the streets

Serious training for the upcoming war has begun and most shinobi, especially those who never learnt elemental attacks are struggling to keep up with what their teacher is teaching. The element that every shinobi specializes in is chosen by their teachers. It is no different for Shinn and Stellar, who spent most of their first five days learning how to unleash at least a bit of their abilities.

"Man! This sure is tough" Shinn, who was sweating profusely, was speaking to Stellar the evening when they finally manage to unleash their power. Stellar was making fast progress and Shinn had to struggle to catch up with her.

"If Shinn needs more practice, Stellar is more than willing to help Shinn"

"That's nice of you, Stellar. But not today, Gilbert sensei's training's so tough that I had to forgo about 3 nights of sleep nowadays just to train"

"Stellar knows that Shinn is going through a lot of hardship. Why don't Stellar treat Shinn to dinner tonight"

"Oh really?! Thanks Stellar, anyways I'm starving"

Shinn pulls Stellar to the nearest food shop.

Iga Village – Shop

"So what are you going to treat me today?" Shinn asked.

"Anything you liked. Stellar's treat!" Stellar smiled sweetly at him. Shinn kind of blushed but he tried to look normal.

"I won't stand on ceremony then!" Shinn signaled to a waiter nearby to take the order.

"I would like to have 2 Oyako Domburi, 4 Miso Ramen, 5 Yakitori …"

"Shinn" Stellar interrupted him "Isn't that a lot already? I don't think Shinn and Stellar can finish that much food"

"Oh ok, just one more dish ok?" Shinn replied and turned back to the waiter. "And 2 plates of Nigiri"

After the waiter moved off to the kitchen, Stellar turned to Shinn and spoke to him in a whisper.

"Shinn, Stellar feels that Shinn and Stellar should tell Athrun and Cagalli about the upcoming war"

"About that Stellar, it's true that we should tell them but how? Sending a letter with all the details seems risky, if someone in this village finds and reads it. We'll both be in a lot of trouble"

"Stellar suggest that Shinn and Stellar go meet Athrun and Cagalli at the Spring of Hope. There Shinn and Stellar can explain everything to Athrun and Cagalli"

"The Spring of Hope? Where's that?"

"The place where Shinn first saw Kira when Shinn's mission is to rescue Lacus, remember?"

"Oh that place! I didn't know it has such a name"

"Stellar can later write a letter to meet Athrun and Cagalli there"

Shinn nodded as the waiter came to their table carrying two trays. "Your Miso Ramen and Yakitori, sir"

Koga Village - Outskirts

Cagalli was sitting on a huge rock by the riverbank, daydreaming and only snapped out of her thoughts when Mwu called her.

"What's wrong with you today, Cagalli? It's not like you to daydream during training times"

"Sorry, sensei. It's nothing, perhaps I didn't get enough sleep last night" She got to her feet and continued to train. Athrun was training too but he stopped to take a glance at Cagalli. He knew that she was not focused nowadays from the very first day of training after the wedding incident, being so preoccupied with thoughts of her elder brother and future sister-in-law. Cagalli did not smile for a couple of days already and it worries Athrun a lot as he knew that Kira would expect him to take care of her in his absence.

"That's enough for today" Mwu's voice broke Athrun out of his thoughts. "Cagalli, I hope you could be more focused from tomorrow onwards"

"Understood, sensei!"

"Training tomorrow, same time same place" Mwu finished and went off back home.

"Cagalli" Athrun approached her and placed his right hand over her left shoulder. "I know that you're worried about Kira and Lacus but can you please don't make it too obvious?"

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"If Kira really did go away to train alone, sensei will not expect you to look so worried. Or I guessed, he's already begun to suspect us"

"Ok fine, I'll try to do better tomorrow" Cagalli walked off for a few steps before turning back to face Athrun. "About what your mother said …"

She was interrupted by a bird landing on her shoulder, carrying a letter on its left leg. Cagalli immediately untied it as Athrun went forward, and they both read its contents together.

A and C,

If it's possible, we would like to meet the both of you at the Spring of Hope tonight at midnight. We got some important issues to talk about. As for the 'missing couple', we would also like to know if you guys got any news about them. Hope to see you tonight …

PS: Please avoid being late …

S and S

"What could it be? These important issues"

"Beats me, but I guess we could go, since we're free tonight"

Koga Village – Shop (2 hours later)

"What's the deal for asking me out for supper again?" Cagalli asked as she glanced around. They are going to meet Shinn and Stellar after supper and Cagalli finds it weird that Athrun has invited her for at least one of the 4 meals for the past week. Athrun blushed, held his pants tightly and thought that it's time to do what he wanted to do since he first met her.

"Cagalli" As she looked at him, his face became serious. "I wanted to say this ever since the first time I met you but I was never able to pick up the courage to do it" Cagalli listened, at the same time, wondered since when Athrun learnt to be so brave-looking in front of her.

"But since I saw what Kira choose to go through to give Lacus happiness, even if it means he would die doing it. I've believed that I would be able to do the same … the same … to protect you, Cagalli" His voice started to become really shaky. Cagalli stared at him, dumbfounded. She has never seen him so serious during their friendship days. But still, she believed that what she thought Athrun would say next is true. "Cagalli, I wished that you can give me a chance … a chance … a chance … to be your boyfriend"

He then went over to her side, took out a ring from his pocket and put it onto her finger. She looked at him, smiling more girlish than anything that Athrun had ever seen her.

"You idiot" She said to him as she continued smiling "You don't have to go through watching what my brother did just to say something like this to me"

Athrun was relieved that Cagalli accepted him. After their supper, they found a deserted alleyway on the way to the spring and kissed for the first time.

Spring of Hope

Shinn and Stellar were waiting at the entrance to the cave, where Kira and Lacus first slept together, when Athrun and Cagalli arrived.

"It's been sometime" Athrun broke the silence in the spring.

"Yes, now we would like to tell you something … something of great importance to the Koga village" Shinn said seriously.

"What is it?" Cagalli asked.

Stellar took a step forwards. "Hokage sama is going to declare war on Koga, in about 2 more weeks time"

"WHAT?!" Athrun and Cagalli exclaimed at the same time.

Cagalli: "But … But … How's that possible?"

Athrun: "That's what Gilbert sensei told us"

"It's just like what Lenore Sama was suspecting" Athrun replied. "She told us that she felt tension arising from Iga and has the feeling that war is breaking out soon"

"What's more" Shinn interrupted. "In Hokage sama's plans, I believed that he is not only going to war, but also conquer your lands"

Cagalli: "That's not good at all. If there's going to be war, then blood will be spilled again, people were losing their families, children losing their parents …"

Stellar: "It's unavoidable, some people will say. But Stellar believe that there is a way to go around this"

Athrun: "And we shall do this without Kira"

Cagalli: "Athrun! Why do you say that?"

Athrun: "Kira has gone through a lot, and I think he will need some time for himself and Lacus. Besides, rumors about them are still spreading. If they come back, there might be more tension, especially if the Siegel Sama or Lenore Sama finds out"

"Yes I agree" Shinn agreed, siding with Athrun. "We shall not tell them then. Besides, we don't have a clue where exactly they're headed"

Cagalli: "So I guess now we need to think of ways to avoid this war"

Stellar: "Talking to the leaders won't work. That's something Stellar is sure about"

Athrun: "How about influencing the people? If their unity is strong enough, this war may be avoidable"

Shinn: "But one question, how are we going to influence them? If Hokage Sama finds out, he will begin to suspect us as perhaps spies?"

Athrun: "We cannot do anything either. If we tell Mizukage Sama, or influence the people, they may start to wonder where we get all the information from"

Cagalli: "Perhaps we can tell them that we overheard some Iga shinobi talking about it when we went to Euphoria for awhile"

Shinn: "That's not a bad idea. And remember to be ready when our side attacks. I don't want to see innocent ones being killed by an ambush"

Stellar: "And also make sure Koga don't ambush us either. Or Hokage Sama may suspect that there are spies among us"

Athrun: "Agreed then. Cagalli and I will start to make plans for the war. Then you guys have to find ways to avoid war"

Shinn: "Though I have the feeling that this war is unavoidable, we shall try"

Quite short ... I admit, this chapter is. But I really cannot think of anything else to say as I'm not that much of a AxC and SxS fan, so therefore sorry to all AxC and SxS fans! The next chapter may take a longer time to be uploaded due to a couple of reasons, I'll try my best to make it a good one.

More reviews pls! So I know which areas of my writing (typing) needs and can be improved ...