Thank you guys for the reviews. I really appreciate every bit of it.. And thank you for the support also. Uhm.. what else. Oh, I'm really, really glad you liked the last chapter. Thank you so much.
Feedback list, here we go! In no particular order:
Animeboy-12 – hehe.. oo.. madami na tayo dito. Anlakas ng dugo natin e. hehe
3fi-pina3 – Thank you. Ooh.. I can't have them kissing again. I have to torture them first before I do that. Hahahaha (sadistic/evil laugh)
Kagally – Athrun… fortunately (or unfortunately?) for him.. he doesn't have the triggering moment yet. Guess what action will trigger it? Hehe Thanks again, and I'm glad you liked it.
Cari-Akira – hehe. I'm glad you adored it. Thanks. Yep, Athrun's pretty slow in the remembering department. And Cagalli? She's just too full of it that's why hers is too early. The skating thing happens to be a very good thing that Cagalli should not know how to do. If she did, there won't be something fun out of her plus the fluff, we can't forget about the fluff that comes with it. Hehe
Hades.Throne.Heiress – Ooh.. you're guessing kinda right(?) hehehe It's a surprise. (What surprise? I was practically screaming out clues on what's on that canvass!) Haha. Ignore my inner self. Thanks for the review. I'm glad you liked it.
HotaruZala – Hello! You have a top ten? Wow. I never expected that. Now, I'm curious. I'm glad you liked it. It was pretty funny when Athrun flaps his smart mouth. Even I can't get enough of it. Thanks for the review.
gwgrmRPGNM– here's what will happen next. Scroll down. Hehe
cagalliyulaathha- hehe. Stupid and immature is them denying their feelings about each other. Haha! Shouting was sensible enough.
Simply-v- very close indeed. Thanks for the review. And I hope you enjoy this chapter too.
Mrs. Radcliffe 13 – haha. Like that term awkward turtle situations.----------------------------
The Art of Love – chapter 24
Recap:
"Hey Athrun. Athrun… there's an artificial tree ahead! Athrun!" Cagalli yelled.
Athrun snapped back to reality. "Shoot!"
He made a rough turn, taking both of them in a series of spin. Cagalli cursed, bursting with colorful language she could muster, Athrun tried focusing so they can land softly and not having their skulls bashed on the clear ice they are stepping on.
He found an opening, good, the artificial grass… might not be soft like the real thing but it will do.
He skidded roughly and turned around so when he dropped, Cagalli would be on top and she won't be crushed.
They fell down instantly, and Cagalli stopped yelling profanities and closed her eyes.
Soon, they had stopped, indicating that they were now safely on the ground and their head not smashed like Cagalli predicted it to be. Athrun sighed, his warm breath making its way on Cagalli's flustered face.
He opened his eyes to see cagalli on top of him, eyes still closed and he whispered a relief that she was okay.
Cagalli opened her eyes, as soon as she heard Athrun whisper something. She wasn't completely paying attention for her brain still spluttered series of profanities after her mouth had stopped doing so.
She looked up in front of her, and soon found herself staring straight at Athrun's emerald and oh so sexy eyes.
She whimpered, and did not realize the flashback that was coming her way.
ENTER FLASHBACK
"Athrun, you have such nice beautiful eyes you know that? And I love that about you." She purred. Athrun smiled back at her. "You know another thing? That's not the only thing I love." She inched her face close to him, their lips almost brushing.
"What?" Athrun did the same.
"I really, really love you." Cagalli sighed and Athrun closed their gap. She felt his lips brush up against her. Soon after, he felt his tongue exploring her mouth. It gave her a rather tingling sensation.
Athrun moaned against her lips. Murmuring an 'I love you' in his ragged breath. They kissed each other like there's no tomorrow, their hands caressing each other's back and neck.
They broke apart, panting.
"Hey Athrun…" Cagalli smiled. "Goodnight." She slurred as she fell back on the couch and fast asleep.
EXIT FLASHBACK
"Oh god, oh god… oh god… no… no…" She chanted inside her head, a terrified look on her face, a painful but colorful truth.
SHE, IN HER DRUNKEN STATE, JUST MADE OUT WITH ATHRUN, AND HIM BACK!
How stupid could she get? And how stupid that she did not seem to remember it until now… Shit!
"Does Athrun also know? Oh my G—This is total embarrassment. I wish I had smashed my skull earlier from the fall!" Cagalli paled and was squirming on top of Athrun.
Athrun looked at her inquisitively. "Cagalli… are you okay?"
Cagalli was bolted out of her nightmarish realization and when she saw those inquisitive/concerned emerald orbs of Athrun again, she did the most intelligent and mature thing to do in this kind of situation.
"EEEEAAARRRGGGGHHHHHH!"
She screamed.
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The Horror and embarrassment
Athrun had no idea what happened. It never occurred to him that THAT will happen. But he was so sure that the look on Cagalli's face before she ran off shouting was that of embarrassment, and with a mixture of intense fright.
What made her face like that? Was it him? It's not that he was groping her. Last time he checked, he was just supporting the two of them, not groping her or some kind.
But what's with the horror look?
And where the hell is she?
Athrun dusted off his coat; this is not the time to think about the reason for Cagalli's sudden outburst. He looked from left to right, trying to look in his memory in which direction the blonde haired woman went. A series of crashes was heard and now he knew where she is.
He sprinted towards it and saw her, frantically running away, bumping on to other skaters. She bumped onto them when she was taking off her skates, in which she succeeded and was now running barefoot.
"Hey Cagalli! Hey!" Athrun called out. What was she running from? He asked himself.
By the mere mention of her name, the blonde looked back and saw the emerald eyed young man. Her face paled and her pace became faster.
Athrun caught sight of her face paling and her scared expression when she saw him. "You have got to be kidding me." Athrun gaped.
"She's running away from me? What the hell… what did I do?" Athrun growled and took off his skates also, taking along with him his shoes and her shoes.
"Hey Cagalli! Come on. What's wrong with you?" He yelled, but the blonde did not stop, running much faster now if possible.
She made a quick turn towards the crowd and sighed in relief as she finally lost him. She didn't know what she was suppose to do, she knew she can't face him after that flashback she got, but she mentally slapped herself for running away too. "Idiot. Some genius you are."
She muttered, but knew that this is one situation in where she can't turn back now.
Athrun scratched his head. "Great, I lost her… just great. What the heck was that all about? Geez…" He sighed and held on to Cagalli's shoes and bag. He figured she'd get home to Kira's so he decided to drive there.
And was he right, as if on cue, there she was, standing in front of Kira's door, feet aching from running barefoot and panting hard from all that running.
She knocked.
Kira opened the door; Lacus peeked in to see who it was. The brunette's eyes widened at the sight.
"What the heck… Cagalli! What happened to you?" Her brother yelled and let her in. "Nothing… just thought I would run barefoot in this wonderful night." Cagalli said with sarcasm in her tone.
"Oh my… I'll get a hot bath ready for you, while you rest." Lacus stood up and went directly towards the bathroom. "No.. Lacus its okay really I'm fine." Cagalli sat down on the sofa, Kira on the other hand, took a glass of water for her.
"Nonsense. You looked disheveled." Lacus shook her head and disappeared from the hallway.
"Now… what went inside that mind of yours and you just had to do your little barefoot marathon?" Kira placed his hand on his waist after he had given Cagalli her glass of water. "Nothing… geez… I like to do weird stuff.. you should know that by now." Cagalli pouted and placed down the empty glass after draining its contents.
"I believe you were with Athrun tonight. Where is he? What has he done?" Kira interrogated some more.
"Yes.. I was… but he has nothing to do with the weird things I did tonight. Okay… so quit it. I have a lot in mind please." Cagalli scoffed. Kira wasn't satisfied and was about to retort when he heard a car park outside.
Cagalli's eyes widened.
Kira peeked at the window. "Oh good, Athrun's here. Perhaps he'll shed me some light on what's going on around here." Cagalli almost squeaked.
'Great… I manage to lose him but since I'm so damn predictable, he's here.' Cagalli wanted to dig a hole and hide there up until—forever!
She looked at both her sides when she heard a knock coming from the door and Kira standing up to open it.
"Are you okay Cagalli?" Lacus asked as she placed a hand on her shoulder, they were a little wet considering she just prepared a bath for her. "Lacus… help please?" She begged, and the pink haired woman understood and smiled, dragging her as quickly as possible inside the bathroom.
"Hey! Where are you two going?" Kira yelled.
"Girl talk honey. Now, if you don't mind… I'll let you take care of business here." Lacus chirped, with a bit of command in it that her usual one. And Kira had no choice but to say yes since she just used the commanding tone on him.
"Women." Kira sighed and opened the door.
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"Now.. what exactly happened? You're looking quite helpless today if I may add." Lacus giggled. She gently sat Cagalli down on the covered toilet bowl and started brushing her golden locks.
"You promise you won't tell anyone, especially Athrun and that annoying brother of mine?" Cagalli looked up at her.
Lacus smiled again; somehow, she thinks she knows where this conversation is going. "I promise."
"It's a mess Lacus… remember that night where Athrun and me celebrated and got here the next day reeking of alcohol and stuff?" She began biting her nails; Lacus grabbed her hand to stop her.
"Yes… I remember that… That was a nice memory right? Why would you be all nervous about it?" The blue-eyed woman inquired.
"It was… I mean… not until I had this major flashback at the skating rink." Cagalli almost whimpered.
"Do tell." Lacus brushed Cagalli's locks again.
"I… For some reason… I mean… of course it was the alcohol! I… Athrun and I… got drunk and… you know we sorta… kissed." Cagalli groaned.
Lacus almost laughed at the revelation. "Isn't that supposed to be like… good?"
Cagalli flushed. "No.. I mean.. yeah.. but not that kind. I mean.. Come on, we were drunk. What if he remembers it too? Or maybe he knows and just couldn't say it? Because it's freakin' embarrassing! No one wants their first kiss to happen when they are drunk! I'm so ruined! I can't face him anymore without remembering that. And what if he doesn't want me to aargh!" Cagalli pulled her hair in frustration, making Lacus' hard work gone in a matter of seconds.
"You think too much." Lacus sighed and placed down the brush. "Now, I think you just need a little soaking. Off with it."
"Ha?" Cagalli raised an eyebrow. "Take of your shirt and dump yourself in the bath. It's getting cold." Lacus pointed at her, her usual smiling face still not faltering.
"Lacus are you crazy? I can't.." Cagalli's cheeks went pink. Sometimes, she swears Kira's girlfriend is too cheerful and weird.
"Cagalli Yula Athha… I'm not crazy, and come on, it's not like I don't have the same parts as you do. You'll feel more relaxed when you talk to me about Ath—erm.. HIM when you're soaked in warm water." The pink haired woman commanded, gone is the fluttering voice.
Cagalli nodded and did as she was told.
"Now, where were we? Ah yes… I don't think Athrun remembers either. Knowing him, he'll be all flushed up to even ask you out if he remembers…" Lacus sat down at the edge of the bathtub and again fiddled with Cagalli's hair like a mother does when bathing her daughter.
"But, but… I can't wait for him to remember too! He might think I was taking advantage of him that I didn't tell him earlier or anything…. I'm so ruined. This is just too embarrassing." Cagalli dipped herself deeper in the water, the bubbles covering her body and face.
"You just think too much. Even if he does remember, you could get away with saying you were too drunk and so on and so forth. Look, I thought you were the one who said you would confess to him and accept his decision be it positive or not?" Lacus shampooed her hair, she was acting like a mother to Cagalli now and Cagalli secretly liked it.
Great job Kira, great Job… she thought and smiled.
"I did… But that was scheduled to happen weeks after. Not now." Cagalli scrambled.
"Why don't you try not scheduling it and do it when you feel like it?" Lacus beamed. Cagalli kept quite for a few minutes.
"Yeah… Yeah I think I should stop thinking about that. But I swear… It'll be embarrassing. Oh, and what would I tell him about tonight? I mean… I kinda screamed and ran off when I had that flashback. The poor guy's probably all confused and stuff." Cagalli smiled back.
"Why don't you just tell him the truth?" Lacus finally answered.
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"And she what?" Kira raised an eyebrow. It was all too weird, here Athrun saying to him that Cagalli ran off away from him screaming. "Are you sure you didn't do anything to trigger the said reaction?" Kira asked again.
"Wha—I didn't do anything. I was all surprised and stuff. I thought she bumped her head and I was freakin' terrified." Athrun gasped.
"I was kidding. That sister of mine is kinda weird sometimes. Maybe she's just all too tensed up with her upcoming exhibit. Having too much euphoria can sometimes backfire and give weird side effects." Kira chuckled. Athrun however was all disheveled to even laugh.
"I heard that." Cagalli spat out. She came out of the bathroom with Lacus in tow. She was all clean now and wearing a pair of pajamas with duck designs on it.
"Cagalli! Are you alright? I mean… what happened back there?" Athrun quickly approached her. Cagalli suppressed a blush and calmed herself down, chanting: Actlikeyoudon'tremember.
"Ah… I'm very sorry Athrun… It was just because…" She stopped and glanced at Lacus who mouthed a: tell him the truth.
She sighed and looked back at the azure haired boy.
"Because?" Athrun looked at her, holding her shoulders with relief.
"Because… you see I was all worked up and stuff that I sometimes freak out and look, the point of the matter is… I'm sorry it happened. But we're both fine now and it's all good." She smiled.
Athrun raised an eyebrow, but decided not to argue anymore. "Okay… That's good. Tell me in advance before you freak out again okay?" He chuckled.
Lacus slapped her hand on her forehead. 'Great… she chickened out… again.' The pink haired girl was starting to wonder if she can really confess to him after. Kira looked at his fiancée in an inquiring look. Lacus looked at him and told him she will tell about Cagalli's confessing plan… minus the drunk kissing of course.
"Why don't you stay here for the night Athrun? I've caused so much trouble for you. I'm really sorry." Cagalli offered, barely meeting his gaze. "Eh? I mean… if it's okay with Kira." He looked at his best friend.
"Bull.. If it's okay with me it's fine. I live here too." Cagalli tapped her foot. Kira was about to retort but Lacus decided to play cupid again.
"That'll be a good idea. That way Cagalli will have someone with her here and can watch over her while we two are away." The sea blue eyed girl chirped in a mischievous tone.
"Ha? Away? What are you sayin—" Cagalli and Kira chorused but was cut off by Lacus again.
"What? You two forgot already? Kira and I will be staying at my house to talk about stuff and OUR plans." She winked.
"I don't kno—" Kira was dragged outside before he could even mutter another word.
"Hey.. wait.." Cagalli followed but was answered by a slamming door.
"That was weird." Athrun coughed. "Tell me about it. And here they go telling me I'm weird." Cagalli scoffed.
She turned her head towards Athrun, avoiding his piercing eyes and focusing on his watch instead. "Anyway, you can just pull some clothes from Kira's closet. And you can use his room too... anything Kira owns here, you can use."
"So it's 'grab and abuse Kira's belongings today' with me?" Athrun chuckled.
Cagalli chuckled back but decided it best not to look at him when he chuckles like that, she might have other unwanted flashbacks, and this time, she won't know what to say to Athrun if she freak's out again.
"Being stressed-out is overrated anyway." She mumbled.
On the other hand, Athrun observed the young lady. Of course it's not that he bought her excuse awhile ago. There really is something wrong and he could see that with the way she is acting after the 'freak out and run away' incident.
She acted embarrassed and mortified. What was she thinking back then? He can't help but think it had something to do with him. Because she's avoiding his gaze, still acting like her old self but avoiding his look.
What is it?
He scratched his head as he changed into Kira's shirt. He swore, he will find out about it.
Only he doesn't have any idea what it will do to him when he does.
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End of chapter
So we have Cagalli's side, she confesses to Lacus, and we all know that she already acknowledges being in love with Athrun Zala. Only, she is mortified with the fact that she kissed him drunk… hehe. Not much of a chapter and so sorry that it is short. I just wanted to make a conclusion on what happened after that day and focus on Lacus being motherly… before we go to athrun's side… Oh he will remember all right… and it's gonna be fun. Hehehe Thanks to all those who reviewed and made this their fave story… and those who put this on alert also. Thank you, thank you.