JC: Woah! I'm so sorry for the late update. I can't seem to spend time in front of my computer these days. My second semester just started and it's pretty hectic. Damn it! I've also done some editing to my previous stories. Let's get on with this story then.

Disclaimer: You already know what I'll write here, right?

Entwined Hearts

Phase 14: An Accidental Trigger to Love

"I didn't realize Kira turned into a complete idiot of love," Cagalli sarcastically said when she phoned Miriallia early the next morning.

At the sound of her voice, Miriallia felt like laughing. It was so like Cagalli to insult her brother like that. "Go easy on him, Cagalli," she said. "It's been tough on him."

"Are you sure his head is still in the right place?"

"Yeah, I'm sure." Miriallia had given out a lot of advices to Kira yesterday. She wasn't sure those advices were good enough to solve his problematic love life.

"That Alster has gone back to Josh-A for some important business with her father," Cagalli said, tapping her finger on the phone. "Only the pink-haired girl will be left."

"Kira does seem to be attracted to Lacus Clyne as well," Miriallia said as she sat down on her bed. When she looked at the time she realized that she needed to dress up for work. "We'll discuss this later, Cagalli, okay?"

"Okay, see you soon." Cagalli grunted as she hung up the phone. "Kira should make up his mind soon."

She settled into the seat of her car, turned on the engine, and buckled up. She was about to accelerate when a familiar pink-haired girl came into view. The said girl was running towards Cagalli. "What do you want, Clyne-san?"

It felt strange and a little awkward facing the sister of the man you loved. Lacus had always been an approachable and friendly person; so why was she nervous? She tried to speak up, to ask Cagalli about Kira, but no words came out of her mouth. She lowered her head and sighed.

"I-It's nothing…" Lacus said. "I'm sorry for bothering you."

Before Cagalli could reply, Lacus spun on her heels and ran off. "What's wrong with her?" she asked herself, raising a brow. It was her first time to see such a sad expression on Lacus' face. Something was up, and it had something to do with her brother.

Lacus wandered around the garden while she pondered on her thoughts about Kira and Fllay. She had developed true feelings for Kira. But knowing the fact that Kira was interested in Fllay broke her heart. Kira looked like the kind of guy who would fall for a girl like Fllay instead of a cheerful girl like her.

"What are you doing here all by yourself?"

Lacus looked up at her person who spoke. Her crystal blue eyes widened as she met the gaze of Kira Yamato. "G-Good morning, Kira…" she said, trying to be cheerful. She should be happy for Kira, right? If she loved Kira, she should be happy if he loves Fllay.

He smiled at her. "Good morning, Lacus," he greeted. He walked over to Lacus and stood by her side. "It's a nice day, huh?"

"Yes."

"Fllay left early this morning. I'm going to miss her."

"Me too." Lacus' throat tightened, and she swallowed hard. She glanced at the flower bush, which was full of red roses.

"So this is the first time we'll have a date together," Kira said, setting his amethyst eyes on her. "You and me only…"

She could feel her lips curving into a smile when he said that. Going on a date alone with Kira would be wonderful. But she still wondered about Kira's feelings for Fllay. He did kiss her. "What do you have in mind?" she asked.

"Hmm… I don't know…" Kira cupped his chin and started thinking of a place perfect enough for a date.

Lacus was struck by the ease she felt with Kira. This date, she thought, was maybe the way to find out about Kira's feelings for Fllay. She stood on her toes, leaning forward, and placed one innocent kiss on Kira's cheeks. "I'm sure I'm going to enjoy my time with you again," she said, and then turned towards the door.

Kira watched her going into the mansion, his hand on the cheek she had just kissed. He never expected a kiss from her, so he was really surprised. That simple act made his heart pound so fast.

Military HQ

Jean Zala was stunned at Kai's rudeness that she couldn't react for a moment when he carried her. His arms were wrapped around the back of her legs, and her world was literally upside down. "Put me down, idiot!" She punched him in the middle of the back.

"That's so unlady-like, Jean," Kai said sarcastically. The truth was that her punched really hurt him.

Jean punched him a second time, determined to free herself. She struggled, but the orange-haired soldier held her securely. She swore to kill him once she gets down to her feet. She already plotted an evil scheme to humiliate Kai. She insulted him, punched him a couple of times, and wriggled like a worm. Try as she might, though, she couldn't budge him. She had to admit that Kai was strong.

Rather than turning toward the lounge, he headed in the opposite direction, away from the crowd. A few soldiers lingered in the hallway. Surely they would think that he was some kind of pervert.

"This is so embarrassing!" Jean shouted. "Put me down!"

When they reached the parking lot for the military vehicles, she put her down in an ungentlemanly manner, like say, dropping her just like that on the ground. Jean was really frustrated. She stood up and glared dangerously at Kai. "You moron! What's your problem? I was working peacefully until you showed up and dragged me away. Care to explain before I'll kill you!"

Kai didn't respond to her complaints. He just grunted and turned his head to a certain direction. He pointed his finger at something.

Narrowing her emerald-green eyes, she turned to the direction Kai was pointing at. She nearly shrieked when she saw Dearka and Miriallia talking. "When did he get here?" she asked.

"An hour ago," Kai replied.

"If he's here, then it means that Chairman Za Burrel is here too?"

Kai shook his head. He had the chance to talk to Dearka a while ago. Dearka had said that chairman sent him in ORB in advance. The chairman was going to visit ORB the next day.

"They're getting pretty close," Jean said. She could definitely see that Dearka likes Miriallia, but she wasn't sure about Miriallia's feelings. A girl's feelings can be so complicated at times, Jean thought.

Kai grinned. "Of course," he assured. "It won't be long now until those two are officially a couple."

Miriallia, observing Dearka's nervous expression, couldn't help feeling just a little skeptical. Dearka was asking her to go out with him, but he doesn't seem to be happy about it. He couldn't even look at her in the eye. Miriallia didn't want him to feel so jumpy around her all the time.

"So, can you?" Dearka asked, flushing red.

She would love to go out with him. There was no doubt in her mind. "Sure… Don't be late, understand?"

Dearka stood in silence for several seconds, thinking about what Miriallia had just said when it hit him. She was going out with him! Dearka took hold of her hands and shook them up and down. "Thanks! Oh, yeah, I have a surprise for you. It's going to be really special!"

"A surprise, huh?" Miriallia muttered, observing Dearka's enthusiasm. "Then I'll be looking forward to it." She flashed him a genuine smile, which made his heart beat go crazy. Then Miriallia looked at her hands and raised a brow.

Dearka noticed this and quickly released her hands. He laughed nervously and said, "Sorry about that…" He scratched the back of his head. "I better go now…" He spun on his heels and dashed off in a blink of an eye.

When Miriallia turned around, she found Kai and Jean standing side by side while looking at her keenly. Just by looking at her faces Miriallia could tell that they've been eavesdropping on her conversation with Dearka. She folded her arms in front of her chest and shrugged. "What are you two doing here?" she asked sternly.

"Oh, you're going on a date with him!" Jean said happily, flailing her arms up high. "I'm so happy for you, Miriallia-san!"

"I bet that guy is going to confess to you," Kai added, cupping his chin with his right hand.

"I know!" Miriallia moaned. "And I can't wait." She flushed red when she said that. She wasn't dense, so she could clearly tell what Dearka was planning. All along, she knew about Dearka's feelings for her and she was just waiting for Dearka to tell it to her personally.

Kai and Jean stared at her in disbelief. "You know?!"

Miriallia sighed in frustration. "And I'm planning to tell him too," she said, forming a small smile on her pretty face.

Amusement Park

"Oh, please, Kira." Lacus smiled sweetly at the brunette representative. She wanted to ride on the Ferris wheel, but Kira didn't want to. He seemed nervous when she kept pleading him like a child. Truth to be known, Kira didn't want to ride the big spinning wheel alone with her, because he felt so darn nervous around her.

Lacus' smile faded, and she looked down at her feet. "Is it because you're afraid of heights?" she muttered, clasping her hands together. "If that's the case, then I won't force you…"

Kira vigorously shook his head. No, he wasn't afraid of heights. He was just afraid of being totally alone with Lacus. Now she might think I'm a coward… How pathetic, Kira…

"Let's try the other rides, Kira," Lacus suggested, turning to the bumper cars right across the Ferris wheel.

"Um… Let's take the Ferris wheel," Kira said.

Lacus turned her head back at him and presented a smile. "Are you serious?" Her crystal blue eyes sparkled with amusement.

Kira held his breath and nodded his head. "Yes, I am," he replied.

Hands entwined with one another, Kira and Lacus walked casually up to the Ferris wheel. When one of the operators there opened the door for their cart, the two went in and sat on each side. Lacus was pretty excited about the ride, while Kira was feeling awkward. His cheeks were burning in crimson.

And when the ride was starting, Kira felt like his heart jumped out of its place. He shifted his gaze from his lap to the pink-haired girl before him. He almost gasped when he realized that she was looking straight at him. "Erm… What is it?" he managed to ask.

"Kira, thank you for taking me to the amusement park," Lacus said. "I've never been to one, so this is my first time." She reached for a small box inside her pocket and handed it to Kira.

"A present?" Kira looked doubtfully at the pink box wrapped in blue ribbon before he shifted his amethyst eyes at Lacus. "What for?" he asked. It was definitely not his birthday and it wasn't Valentines Day either. Why was Lacus giving him a present?

"I just want to say thanks by giving you this present," she said, reaching for his hand. "I hope you like it, Kira." She took his hand and placed the box on his palm.

Kira accepted the present. While Lacus watched him, he untied the blue ribbon and opened the box. Inside was a beautiful ring with a silver chain necklace. "This is…" He glanced at the pink-haired girl. "You shouldn't have, Lacus."

Lacus slightly frowned at his nonchalant reaction. Wasn't he supposed to be happy with the gift? From what she had heard, the necklace with a ring hanging from it was a popular accessory for close friends and relatives in ORB. "Don't you like it?" she asked.

Kira gave her a significant look and smiled. "I like it very much," he said. But the accessory made him think about Lacus' feelings for him. The ring and the necklace were signs of friendship in ORB. So does this mean that I'm only a friend to her?

Lacus could see that there was something bothering Kira and she hoped it wasn't her present. The accessory was just an innocent present, and she didn't mean to upset him. But then she wondered if Kira was thinking about Fllay. Lacus' heart sank as she remembered the kiss between Kira and Fllay.

After the Ferris wheel ride, Kira hardly spoke to Lacus, but they still went on rides like the roller coaster, the merry-go-round, and bumper cars. Lacus tried to look cheerful as much as possible for Kira. But she wished Kira would lighten up. She was starting to feel guilty for giving him the present.

The two of them sat down on a bench near an ice cream stand. They were a bit tired from walking around, and Lacus wanted to have some ice cream. She bought two strawberry ice creams for Kira and herself from the stand and handed one to Kira.

"Lacus, what do you think of the promises and the bet our parents made?" Kira asked all of the sudden.

Finally, Kira was talking to her, but she didn't expect him to ask such a question. "I don't know," she answered. She licked the ice cream and stared at the sky. "I was surprised to hear about that from my father. It's like our relationship is just one big game."

"What will you do if I..." Kira looked so uncomfortable. "What will you do if I choose Fllay in the end?" He pursed his lips and clenched his free hand tight.

Lacus throat tightened. "I-I…" She lowered her head and licked a bit of her ice cream. "I'll be very happy for you and Fllay," she finally answered, showing him a well-toothed smile. Even though it hurts inside, even though she might cry, she still smiled at him like it was nothing.

Kira pursed his lips and sighed. "I see…" He sounded disappointed. Lacus doesn't have feelings for me after all… He twitched at the thought.

To be continued…

JC: This is the second to the last chapter, people! The next one is the final one! There will be couple moments there, understand? And you'll finally find out who will Kira choose in the end. I'm sorry if there weren't so much Cagalli or Athrun here. Please review and no flaming!