CHAPTER 16: New combined Mission
Outskirts of Iga: Top of hill
"The sunset here is beautiful" Kira broke the long silence.
"I agree" Lacus said as she lay her head on Kira's right shoulder. "If only time can freeze at this time"
"It will. We can come here and look at the sunset everyday after the dispute has been settled.
"Sorry to disturb you guys" Shinn appeared behind them.
"Has the meeting ended?" Lacus asked immediately.
"Not yet, Athrun's getting really impatient outside the meeting room"
"He's been like that since young" Kira said understandingly.
"It's strange … for them to take this long" Shinn pondered.
"But it's fine for me" Lacus answered. "So I can stay with Kira like this for as long as possible" She smiled at Kira, who smiled back at her.
"Erm … I'll come back and inform you guys when the meeting's over" Shinn told them as he walked away.
Iga village: Outside Council meeting room
"Athrun, can you stop walking up and down the corridor? You're making me dizzy" Cagalli said as she rested her eyes when she sits on the bench next to the entrance of the meeting room.
"It's only our first meeting with Iga for so many years and they took this long?"
"Stellar is more interested to find out what took Shinn so long" Stellar said in boredom as Shinn appeared around the corner of the corridor. "Speak of the devil!"
"Speak of what?" Shinn said in confusion.
"Never mind about that" Cagalli said before Stellar could explain. "How's their situation?"
"Do I need to explain?" Shinn sat down on the bench next to Cagalli. "They're obviously enjoying themselves and I really feel like a huge light bulb when I go take a look"
"He's shy now" Athrun teased.
"Anyone would feel embarrassed! Won't you?!"
"Cool it … it's just a joke"
The doors of the meeting room opened and Lenore Zala, as well as a few Kouga shinobi walked out, heading down the corridor towards the exit. Feeling curious, Athun and Cagalli followed her while Shinn and Stellar went into the meeting room to see the Hokage.
Iga Village: Meeting Room
Siegel seems exhausted after the long discussion as if it's been a battle he is fighting for the past few hours. He was speaking to Yunna and did not notice Shinn and Stellar until Shinn spoke.
"Hokage-sama"
"Have you guys been waiting for long?" Siegel asked as he sits on his chair.
"It's fine but may we know the results?"
"We've decided to investigate the government before deciding on what to do"
"Hokage-sama took so long to decide that?" Stellar asked.
"Not just that" Yunna said at last. "We've chosen to act according to what the outcome is. If the worst were to happen, we've got no choice but to go to war"
"You may leave for now, Yunna. I need to talk to the both of them in private"
"Understood, Hokage-sama" Yunna bowed as he took his leave.
Siegel waited till he closed the doors and was a distance from the room before speaking again. "I hope the two of you can help me watch over Kira"
"Do you still doubt him, Hokage-sama?" Shinn asked seriously.
"I wish I could trust my daughter with whom she chooses to be with. However, I can't take anymore risks"
"Other than that, Lenore and I have decided to let the six of you go to the capital as undercovers"
"The 6 of us?!" Shinn was taken back by surprise. "So both villages are working together now?"
"We need to find out what the government is planning and in the meantime, both villages will act as we used to treat each other in the past to avoid suspicision, just in case they have any spies in the area. Your Kouga friends will be informed of this mission from Lenore. The 6 of you need to dress like the people there and we've some dressers to help out in that area. You guys will leave by tomorrow morning if possible"
"Okay, we shall inform Kira and Lacus about it"
"No need, I shall inform them personally later"
"Anyway, did Hokage-sama tell Yunna about Kira and Lacus?" Stellar asked in curiosity.
"Not yet" Siegel said as he sipped his coffee. "I'm sure he'll ask me for an explanation and I'm not prepared to answer that yet"
"Pardon my rudeness, but can't you just tell him that Lacus is in love with Kira?"
"I can't. He might wonder why I could trust Kira so easily compared to him"
"He spent a long time persuading you?"
"No, it's not that. The reason is private"
"Stellar understands Hokage-sama's privacy"
"I see" Shinn replied right after Stellar.
"I thank you both for understanding"
Iga Village: Inn
Athrun and Cagalli were waiting at the inn when Shinn and Stellar enters. Athrun stood up immediately.
"Did Hokage-sama tell you guys about the mission?"
"Yes" Shinn answered as he took a seat. "He did"
"And?"
"We're going on this mission"
"See! I told you that they will accept the mission like we did, Athrun!"
"Whatever, so what about Kira and Lacus? Do they know about it?"
"Not yet I guess, Hokage-sama intended to inform them after Stellar and I got briefed on it"
"I see" Athrun looked into the ceiling. "I wonder what will be their reactions"
"As long as the situation can be solved, we don't mind going on this mission" A voice interrupted Athrun's thoughts as the couple entered the inn.
"So Kira is in too. So the 6 of us makes a good team!" Shinn exclaimed.
"Stellar pleased to know that Stellar can get to see Kira in action"
"You're overestimating me, Stellar" Kira said humbly.
"No no, Stellar believes in Kira's abilities of a Sannin. That, Stellar must see!"
"Sorry about that" Shinn whispers into Kira's ears.
"It's alright" Kira whispers back as he follows Lacus upstairs to the room where he stayed during the stay in Iga. Cagalli watched them go as Athrun spoke.
"Don't worry too much about him Cagalli"
"It's not about that"
"Oh really? You got a strong big sister look"
"Oh shut up! You're the one that's thinking out of the ordinary"
Inn Room
"What's wrong Lacus" Kira asked he closes the door
"I was just wondering, what's the exact truth that's waiting for us in the capital. It sounds as if something really serious and dangerous is happening"
"Everything's going to be fine" Kira replied as he sat on the bed beside the pink-haired girl.
"No, that's not what I meant" She gave him a worried look. "I've heard that that Sannin, Rau Le Creusset, he's not an easy opponent and I'm scared that he's so strong that even with all 6 of us combining powers …"
"You're being too worried Lacus"
"I was afraid" She began to tear now. "That I'll lose you"
Kira stared into her blue eyes and held her hands tightly. "I won't, I promise"
Lacus stared back into his purple eyes and whispered, "Kira"
Kira smiled back at her. "I won't want to lose you either, but I shall protect you with my life"
"Kira, please don't. If you die, I don't want to live either"
"But then, if I don't protect you and you died, I won't want to live too. And if I can't die, I won't forgive myself for the rest of my life"
"Kira, don't say that"
Kira held her hand to his chest. "I meant it from deep within my heart"
A sudden banging of the door made Kira released his grip from Lacus' hands as he stood up stunned. Shinn came into view and looked shocked.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to rush in without knocking or … perhaps I should've knocked … sorry"
"It's okay Shinn" Lacus said as she quickly wiped away her tears. "What is it?"
"Erm, I'm just to inform you guys that we'll be leaving tomorrow. So you guys should start packing now"
"Okay" Kira answered as he sat back down on the bed slowly.
"That's all" Shinn quickly leave the room after all.
Outside Inn room
Shinn heaved a sign of relief as he shut the door and saw Athrun, Cagalli and Stellar.
"What're you guys doing here?!"
"SHHHHHH!!!" Stellar immediately signaled to him to keep quiet.
"You guys made me interrupt their private moment for the second time and now you guys are going to tell me to …"
"Oh shush!" Cagalli said softly. "Told you to keep it down! We're just wondering what they're talking about"
"That's their own problem"
"No, it isn't!" Cagalli exclaimed. "We're now a team"
"Okay whatever. But next time, don't ever call me to interrupt their private moments together again" Shinn exclaimed.
"Okay okay, so shush it already"
"What're you guys doing here?" Kira's voice behind the door surprised them. The 3 of them stared at each other in shock as Shinn stood back.
"Can you 3 hear me?" Kira asked before he opened the door and stared at them. "Judging by your looks, you guys did hear me loud and clear alright"
"Erm …" Athrun started but Cagalli interrupted. "We ... we were just heading back to our room down the corridor"
"Oh really? Then why do you guys need to stay here for so long?" Kira asked suspiciously.
"Oh, we've dropped something and were looking for it" Cagalli answered quickly as Athrun and Stellar nodded quickly.
"Shinn? You tell me the truth"
"Erm" Shinn started but changed his mind on what he was about to say when he saw the faces of Athrun, Cagalli and Stellar staring at him. "Er yeah, they were indeed looking for something, though I don't know what it is"
Next morning: Iga Entrance
Siegel and Lenore were at the entrance of the village waiting with Athrun, Cagalli, Shinn and Stellar as Kira and Lacus approached the gates.
"We're going now, Mizukage-sama" Cagalli said.
"We're going too, Hokage-sama" Shinn said.
"Kira" Siegel called out as he approached the brown-haired teen. "I'm putting my only daughter in your care now. If I hear a word about you doing anything to her from Shinn or Stellar, I'm not going to let you go so easily"
"Father …" Lacus frowned slightly at her father.
"Even if he indeed do something to Lacus, I'm going to get at him before the news even reaches Hokage-sama" Shinn whispered to Stellar, who merely laughed upon listening.
"I won't" Kira replied confidently. "I shall protect her with my life"
"Trust him, Siegel" Lenore said. "Kira has never gone back on his word before"
"I do hope so" He replied as he stood back.
"Inform us of anything you guys find out immediately. Do not act recklessly; one wrong move may cause any of you your life. Keep a low profile also while you're there"
"Understood" The 6 of them answered as they leave the village towards the capital.
I'm now in the middle of the exams, but anyways, I did get this chapter done during my break times. Next chapter might take some time, although it's the holidays once I finish exams in a few days time, I've got some post-exams activities, but I shall get the next one up soon! So stay tuned!
As always, reviews are welcomed!