JC: It's been slow for me. I don't get much inspiration these days for this fanfic. But I still managed to finish this. This will be the last chapter for Entwined Hearts. I'm sure you're all excited to find out which girl will Kira choose in the end. And let's find out if Miriallia and Dearka will be a couple. How about Athrun and Cagalli? Of course, they will be having some moments here.
Disclaimer: I only own Jean Zala and Kai Kazuya here. I don't own any of the official GSD characters.
Entwined Hearts
Phase 15: A Love mix with Surprises
On the next day, Cagalli came thundering down the stairs to find her brother in the dining room. She had a little talk with Lacus yesterday after they came home from their date. She found out that Kira seemed to be quite distant from Lacus ever since she gave him the necklace and the ring. Cagalli had thought of the possibility of a misunderstanding, and she wanted to fix things up for Kira. She took a seat beside him and eyed him with concern. It was irritating to see Kira so down in the dumps as he stared at his breakfast.
"What the hell is wrong with you now?" Cagalli asked, looking like a mature woman, and Kira faintly smiled at her. She cocked up a brow and slammed a fist on the table. "Don't give me that stupid look, Kira!"
"Lacus doesn't have feelings for me," Kira said after he dropped his fork and spoon. He had no appetite to eat breakfast. "Yesterday, I realized that I probably love her." He stared at his sister as he pursed his lips. For him, dealing with love was like dealing with an army of mobile suits. Lacus' kiss, her smile, and her gentleness had great impacts on him. If it weren't for yesterday, he wouldn't have guessed his true feelings for the pink-haired girl. What he had for Fllay was simply admiration. Nothing more and nothing less, just admiration, he thought.
"Probably?" Cagalli shrugged and crossed her arms. "Can't you be more specific or do I have to hit you hard on the head? Do you really love Lacus Clyne? Tell me right now or else…" She showed him a fist as a threat. Trust Cagalli Yula Athha to be so demanding all the time. That was her nature. Cagalli was always the violent twin, while Kira was the peaceful one.
Kira stood up then, and there was a blank look on his face as he walked out of the room. His feelings were mixed up in a whirlpool of confusion. Cagalli followed him to next room, grabbed his wrist, and forced him to look at her. Kira had no guts to look straight into her amber orbs, because he felt rather pathetic at the moment. He stayed quiet for a long time, with Cagalli staring at him, getting more worried.
"Answer me, Kira," Cagalli demanded. "I mean it."
"I-I… Lacus is like…" Kira took a deep breath. He didn't know what to say. He thought back of the wonderful times he spent with Lacus. The pink-haired girl had the talent of making people smile. There were no dull moments when you're with Lacus. And with her angelic face in his head, his lips curved into a genuine smile. He faced Cagalli more sincerely now. "I do love her. I love Lacus Clyne."
"Are you sure about that?" Cagalli asked with a look of amusement.
Kira nodded. "Definitely…" With that answer, he earned a good slap on the back by Cagalli. He coughed out twice before he turned to his sister again. "What did you do that for?" He seemed to be pouting like a little cute boy, and Cagalli couldn't help but laugh. Of course, Kira got annoyed, but not angry.
"Did you hear that?" Cagalli said, looking at some person behind Kira. "I bet you're happy now." She winked an eye and placed her hands on her hips.
"What the—who is it?" As the brunette representative turned around, he saw the teary-eyed expression of the songstress. "L-Lacus?" he gasped with a surprised look on his face. He couldn't believe his eyes. Lacus Clyne was there and she probably heard his words a while ago. Because of this, Kira got so embarrassed that his cheeks turned red in an instant. Why wasn't he able to sense her presence there? He was careless at that point.
Cagalli let out a soft giggle. "I'll leave you two to chat, okay?" She walked out of the room after she patted Kira's shoulder for good luck.
"Kira, is it true that you—" Lacus swallowed hard, taking a step forward. Her crystal blue eyes were searching his keenly. She tried telling herself to calm down, but her heart was pounding so fast. "Tell me, Kira…" Her eyes were near tears.
Kira didn't know what to do. After all, he practically and indirectly expressed his feelings for her. "I…Well…" It wasn't the good time to stutter or to make excuses to her. He needed this time to be frank with her. "I love you," he finally said it. And he could tell that he must've looked pretty stupid to her.
"Oh…my…" Lacus whispered, a soft sob broke from her, and she pushed herself to him with such force that it left Kira breathless, and then she pulled slowly away from him and looked up at him, smiling. "I love you too, Kira." Her cheeks were slightly pink and her crystal blue eyes were shimmering brightly.
And at that sweet moment, a new couple was born and it was a love between the Head Representative of ORB and the pink-haired princess of Scandinavia. Kira had made up his mind and heart and chose Lacus in the end. This marked the end of the gamble between Vice-Foreign Minister Alster and Siegel Clyne.
Doughnut Shop
Miriallia perched on a bar stool and watched Dearka sipped his drink. She just felt like observing the blonde guy. She wondered what kind of surprise he had in store for her. She hoped it wouldn't be disappointing. She definitely didn't want any mishaps on their special day either. But being with Dearka was always fun. Well, one thing for sure, Dearka Elthman was a funny guy, and he never fails to crack up a joke. Miriallia liked that part about him.
Suddenly something flew through the air and hit Dearka smack on the head. "What the hell?" he groaned. He looked down and saw a doughnut hole on the floor. He figured that it was the thing that hit his head. Then he turned around to see who threw it. "You? What the hell are you doing here, Yzak?" He pointed a finger at his silver-haired best friend.
"Don't trust this guy," Yzak said, looking at Miriallia seriously. "He's a nutcase, believe me." He was always the sarcastic type and his hot temper was completely compatible with Dearka's carefree attitude.
Dearka shook his head vigorously. He was not a nutcase. "I don't have time for your insults, Yzak," he said, keeping his cool as usual. "And why don't you go away? If you must know, we're dating here." He took a doughnut and stuffed it into his mouth.
"I can see that, stupid." Yzak shrugged. "You don't have to tell me."
Miriallia had always known about Yzak Joule. Dearka has the knack of bringing his best friend up during their conversations. Even though they didn't get along, Miriallia knew how much they care for each other. Men were not frank with their own feelings and they tend to hide it especially from girls.
After Yzak placed his take-out order, he shot one deadly glare at Dearka and turned to Miriallia. "I'm warning you. Don't get too cozy with this guy. He's a complete idiot." His voice was harsh and cold. It was hard to believe that Yzak was Dearka's friend. And after he said that, Dearka just pouted silently without making anymore comebacks. Smirking, Yzak left the doughnut shop.
"That Yzak…" Dearka grumbled before he sighed in relief. It was a good thing that Yzak was gone. Now he could resume his date with Miriallia. He finished his doughnuts and drink in a split second, and bolted up from his seat, feeling excited. "We've got a long day ahead of us. I'll try not to bore the hell out of you."
She smiled at him. "All right," she replied and stood up as well. But before she could take a step forward, she saw Dearka offering his hand to her. Miriallia looked up at him and saw the blush on his face. She couldn't help giggling, but she was really flattered with his simple act of a gentleman. She gladly took his hand and pulled herself closer to him. It was not the time to be shy around him. Truly she has feelings for the blonde dude, but she wanted Dearka to be the first one to confess.
Oh, yeah, Dearka was blushing madly, but he didn't care. He was, in fact, happy that the girl of his dreams was so close to him. He tried to look composed as much as possible. "Let's go," he said, almost stiffly.
Dearka and Miriallia walked out to his car, and Miriallia climbed into the passenger seat. She buckled up as he started the car. She looked at him with enthusiasm, knowing how nervous he felt around her. "Try to relax… I'm not going to bite," she murmured, smiling at him.
Dearka didn't know what to say; he was glad that he was driving so he could stare straight ahead. He felt shy and awkward now. He wasn't being his usual outgoing self. Miriallia was the girl of his dreams after all, and he loved her dearly. He had planned a big surprise for her later. "So… Have you gone out with others guys before?" he asked suddenly just to ease the tension.
"Do you mean, 'out' as in leaving the house with a guy or as in dating?" Miriallia pointed out.
"As in dating."
"No. But I have gone out with Kira lots of time since he is my close friend. We've been together for such a long time. I never thought of dating guys before. I didn't have the time. I was too focused on work." Miriallia was a hard worker. She was always organized and collected, and she never seemed to give up. She brightened up each day with a smile on her face. She was also a friend that Kira could count on. Miriallia was definitely a sweet girl with unique qualities.
For the rest of the ride, Dearka kept stealing glances at Miriallia. He turned the car into the parking lot of the mall so they could go window shopping at the mall.
Hotel
"What happened to Stellar Loussier?" Rey Za Burrel, PLANT Supreme Chairman, asked his bodyguard who was standing idly by the window. Rey was currently sitting on a couch with a novel in his hands. "I haven't seen her for a while."
"She's at Josh-A right now," Shinn answered, placing a hand against the window. "She was assigned to escort Fllay Alster back for an important meeting with Vice-Foreign Minister George Alster." Rey motioned over to his side, but Shinn didn't budge or even look at him.
"You miss her a lot," Rey mumbled, smirking. He knew very well that Shinn and Stellar already became a couple. He was happy for Shinn, since he knew the importance of love. He had once loved Cagalli more than a friend. But those feelings now are nothing more than friendship. Of course, his friendship with Cagalli was one of his treasured things in life and he would never give it up.
Shinn merely nodded his head. Yes, he missed Stellar a lot, even though she had been gone for only a day. As he slumped down on the couch, his cell phone rang all of a sudden. Shinn jumped off from his seat, flipped his phone open and answered it. "Hello. This is Shinn Asuka speaking."
"Shinn?" an innocent and girly voice spoke at the other end. Shinn recognized that voice so well. That voice belonged to none other than his girlfriend, Stellar Loussier. "Hey, Shinn! I really miss you!"
The young coordinator blushed at her voice as Rey smirked widely, amused at the sight of his bodyguard's face. Shinn grasped his phone tightly and said, "Stellar, how are you?" It felt so good to be talking to her. How he wished he could hold her in his arms at the moment. But it was fairly impossible, considering that Stellar was in Josh-A and Shinn was in ORB for vacation.
"I'm fine! I'll be going back way earlier than expected."
"Really?" Shinn beamed with excitement. "When?"
"Tomorrow," Stellar said cheerfully.
And the smile on Shinn's face became wider. "Then I'll be picking you up. I'll wait for you, okay?"
"Sure. I'll see you tomorrow, Shinn! Love you!" With those words, she hung up the phone.
Shinn pressed a button his phone and flipped it closed. He then placed it back in his pocket. "I can see her again!" he uttered, his hands balling into a fist. He turned to the blonde chairman, with his crimson eyes shimmering. Shinn Asuka may be a bodyguard and a top elite soldier of ZAFT, but he can sometimes act childish and brash.
Rey laughed lightly. "Good for you, Shinn." He then sat back on the couch and placed the book on his lap. He flipped the book open to the page where he stopped. "Tell me more about Miss Loussier, Shinn. She seems to be an interesting girl." Rey had met Stellar Loussier before, but he never got the chance to get acquainted.
An awkward moment of silence followed. Shinn slipped his hands into his jean's pockets, pretending to look composed. What can he say about Stellar? One thing for sure, he can say a lot of good things about her. He doesn't know where to start. But since Rey wanted to know, he figured that he should start with her personality. For a little while he stared at the buildings through the window. Then he turned to face Rey. "She's really sweet and innocent. But don't be deceived by her appearance. She's stronger than she looks, and I mean it." Shinn had once witnessed Stellar beating the crap out of five men who were trying to molest her at the park. Sure, he had seen female soldiers that can fight, but he had never seen a girl who can viciously hurt her opponents in one snap. He was really impressed with Stellar's fighting skills. Maybe she was physically stronger than him and he hoped it wasn't true.
Rey listened carefully as Shinn continued his talk about Stellar. Every word that Shinn muttered was evidently true about Stellar, and Rey could see how sincere he looked. It was true love. Shinn was dedicated to love Stellar forever. Rey wondered if he could ever find a girl to love as well. He already lost his love for Cagalli. Who knows? Maybe there is a girl waiting for him somewhere. He hoped he could meet her soon.
"Shinn, why don't you go buy a gift for her?" Rey suggested who started reading his book again.
"A gift?" Shinn raised a brow at him. "You know, it's kinda strange of you to be suggesting this kind of thing. Are you sick or something?" There was sarcasm in his voice, but Rey didn't care.
"Girls love getting presents. I'm sure Stellar would love a stuffed toy or an accessory."
Shinn cupped his chin and started imagining Stellar with a cute teddy bear in her arms. "It's not a bad idea at all." And when he pictured Stellar's adorable smile, he suddenly blushed and shook his head in dismay. "Okay then…" He marched over to the door and held the knob.
"Make sure you buy a good one," Rey said, without taking his sapphire eyes from the book.
"Don't worry about it," Shinn assured, tapping his fist against his chest. "I know the perfect gift for Stellar." After saying that, he left the hotel room to buy the gift for his beloved one.
Downtown
After shopping at the mall, they drove in Dearka's car to the movie theater, where they saw a Walt Disney Romantic Comedy Movie. Miriallia and Dearka laughed so hard their stomach ached.
"Let's get something to eat," Dearka suggested as they were leaving the theater.
"If my stomach can handle it," Miriallia said.
"All those funny scenes can be dangerous to your health." Dearka laced his fingers through hers. The movie had put them both in good moods. "The prince sure does a great impression. He's like a nutcase in love," commented Dearka.
"Yeah, just like you," replied Miriallia, slightly giggling.
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Dearka asked, a bit pouting though he managed to stay cool.
Miriallia slowly shook her head. "No, sorry… Forget what I said… Teehee…" She giggled sweetly again, and Dearka simply blushed at the sight of her smiles and laughter.
They lingered at the ice-cream parlor, recalling some of the funnier scenes of the movie. As they drove back to Miriallia's home, Miriallia was glad that the date turned out well. Dearka was such a funny guy and she certainly enjoyed her time with him. But it seemed that Dearka had no intentions of confessing his feelings to her. Miriallia felt a little disappointed. Of course, she knew it was foolish to think that way. She wanted Dearka to take it easy. She was asking for much. Guys also know how to do it slowly and carefully, so she shouldn't be selfish when it comes to love and desires. Although she can read Dearka like an open book, she was still willing to wait for him until the right time.
Dearka stopped his car in the parking lot. After they got out of the car, he turned to her. For the first time that day, his face was serious. He traced her nose with his finger and moved it along her cheekbone to stroke her brown locks. He cleared his throat, and Miriallia knew he was going to say something important. Perhaps he would finally confess.
"Oh yeah, what about the surprise, Dearka?" she asked, looking curiously at him.
"I love you, Miriallia." That was his surprise—a confession!
Her heart skipped a beat. She was actually ready to hear that, but she still seemed shocked. She had been expecting some dilly-dallying with his words and not 'I love you' right away. It was too unbelievable that Dearka, without a doubt, confessed!
"You do?" she responded, pretending not to know anything.
"Yes…" He stroked her hair more and gazed into her aqua blue eyes deeply. "How do you feel about me?"
Her skin turned cold under his stare. How did she feel? Well, that was obvious for her. "I do—too…" she muttered softly.
"What? What did you say?" Dearka leaned a little forward, since she spoke in a low voice.
Miriallia was silent for a moment. "I love you too, Dearka," she said in a firm voice this time.
He jumped up and down like a little boy and whirled around a couple of times before he faced Miriallia again. "T-That's… That's great! Woah! You love me back! I can't believe this!" He kissed her forehead, and they stared into each other's eyes for a long time. Dearka had one big goofy smile on his handsome face, while Miriallia had one shy smile.
"Dearka, promise me that that you'll be a good boyfriend, okay?" Miriallia said, touching his cheek with her soft hand. "If you betray me, there will be consequences." She spoke with a cute face, but her aura was really threatening for Dearka he unintentionally swallowed hard.
Like an obedient dog, he nodded his head. "I will never do that." Then he squeezed her shoulder gently. "I won't hurt you. I promise." He grinned and kissed her on the lips. She deepened the kiss even more as she closed her eyes, shocking Dearka to the fullest. He had to admit that his new girlfriend was an awesome kisser.
ORB Military HQ
It was a quiet plane ride. Fllay Alster talked for a while to the blonde girl next to her, who happened to be her bodyguard, Stellar Loussier, and read some fashion magazines. As they drew closer to ORB, Fllay turned to the window to gaze down at the magnificent headquarters of the neutral nation. During the flight Kira's and Lacus' faces surfaced in her thoughts every few minutes. She could hear their voices as plainly as if they were right beside her.
The plane landed swiftly and as soon as it came to a stop, soldiers marched up to the plane in a straight line and positioned themselves before the staircase. It was only proper to greet the daughter of the Vice-Foreign Minister. Kira, Lacus, and Cagalli were there, as well, waiting for Fllay to come out.
Fllay felt bitter as soon as she started walking from her seat. She shouldn't have eaten that pudding, which was served to her during the plane ride. Her stomach was churning. Despite the rumblings of her stomach, she stood with composure and walked out of the plane. Stellar followed her, as Fllay descended the stairs looking beautiful and sophisticated as ever.
"It's nice to have you back, Fllay Alster," Kira said, taking hold of Lacus' hand. He was ready to tell Fllay the big news about him and Lacus. He hoped that Fllay wouldn't take it personally.
The red-haired girl stared at him in astonishment the second she saw their hands intertwined. A small smile crept on her face as she placed a hand on her hips. "My… It seems like a lot has happened while I was gone." She motioned over to Lacus and placed her hands on her shoulder. "Lacus Clyne, congratulations. You're in good hands with Kira here." She winked a playful eye at the pink-haired girl.
"Y-you're not mad?" Kira said, swallowing hard.
"I thought you like Kira too," Lacus added.
"Nope!" Fllay replied right away. "I'm actually happy. Finally this stupid bet is over! I can't wait to tell my father about this."
Kira and Lacus looked at her with confusion. Why was Fllay talking like she didn't care at all? Didn't she and Kira kiss before? So, that kiss meant nothing to her? And Kira thought she had feelings for him. He was wrong about that.
"I had no intentions of winning in the first place," Fllay said, crossing her arms. "And that kiss? Well… I only did that to make her jealous." She pointed at Lacus, who clearly was shocked. Kira was a good friend and a nice guy, but she can never learn to love him. Her heart wasn't ready to tackle romance yet. She still had a lot of things to do before settling down and have kids.
"You played this little matchmaker just for them, right?" Stellar asked, clasping her hands together.
Fllay nodded. "Yeah… And it's because these two are too darn slow. I had to do something." She grabbed Lacus' and Kira's hands. "Besides, you two look good together." She plainly smiled and entwined her hands together to prove her point.
Stellar and Cagalli giggled as Lacus and Kira lightly blushed. Fllay had a triumphant look on her face, contented that the twosome were a couple at last. And thanks to that, she was free from the bet. No more engagement! No more fiancé! No more deals!
Beach
It was a cold night in May. The full moon was glowing beautifully, emitting its radiance upon the earth. The deep blue sea water held its reflection making the sea picture perfect. Athrun and Cagalli had reached the beach house occupied by Captain Murrue Ramius, and Cagalli sank down to the steps and sat. She took several deep breaths. She and Athrun, by the way, went out for a long jog near the shore. It was a good exercise, which they fairly needed since they were always working with papers and reports. Cagalli was the one who suggested the jog, and Athrun had no choice but to come along. He was pretty tired too, but not as tired as Cagalli.
Athrun sat beside her and held her hand. "You okay?"
Cagalli nodded. "Yeah… I haven't jog for a long time." She shifted her eyes at the dazzling deep blue sea and smiled. "Being here is just great." She closed her eyes as she felt the cool sea breeze passing by. Her blonde hair swayed elegantly with the wind. She was wearing short shorts and a sky-blue tank top, along with a pair of white sneakers.
The blue-haired coordinator relaxed. He was clad in a simple red shirt, blue shorts, and black strapped sandals. He stroked Cagalli's hand and looked down at the sand. He then noticed a little crab coming out of the sand. Athrun picked it up careful not to let it pinch him and showed it to Cagalli. "Hey, look at this…"
"What?" Cagalli turned her head and looked at the crab on Athrun's palm. Her lips quickly curved into one simple smile. The little crab was definitely adorable. "It's cute."
"Yah, like you," Athrun said, giggling, and Cagalli turned red instantly. "What I'm saying is true, Cagalli."
Cagalli spoke quickly, her voice tense. "Stop messing with me. I know you're only forced to say that." She tried to stand up, but she was pulled back by Athrun. "What's the big idea?!" she uttered, shooting a dagger glare at him. She was going to spout more words at him when Athrun suddenly cupped her chin and kissed her lips. She was so stunned that she couldn't even react. She just stared at him with a shocked look in her amber eyes.
After a few seconds, Athrun broke the kiss and pulled his face away from her. He gazed upon the blonde with love and compassion, feeling so lucky to have her by his side. He wanted to laugh at her adorable and blushing face, but he held it back, knowing how bad-tempered Cagalli can be. "You want another?" he asked.
Swallowing hard, she shook her head vigorously and turned away from him. "IDIOT!" she grumbled, folding her arms. "Can you stop surprising me by kissing me? It's giving me a heart attack!" And she was right about that. Her heart wanted to jump out because of the kiss—a very sweet kiss.
He bravely leaned forward and encircled his arms around her petite waist. He placed his mouth near her ear and released one hot breath against her skin. Cagalli could feel her hair standing up due to his breath. "Cagalli, I know you like it." He just loved teasing her, and Cagalli was prone to such sweet moments.
Cagalli pinched his nose and pushed his face back. "Shut up. Things are getting itchy for me." She scratched the tip of her nose with her finger.
"Okay," he said, pulling something out of his pocket. He stood with his back facing her, his face flushed with happiness. In his right hand he held a golden necklace with a heart-shaped pendant with an amber gem in the middle. He just happened to see the pendant while he was out doing a stroll around downtown. He figured it would look good on Cagalli, so he bought it at a high price. Money wasn't important to him, because he wanted to make Cagalli happy. "Here…" He carefully placed the necklace around Cagalli's neck.
"What the—" Cagalli held the pendant in her hand and stared at it for a while. It was really a beautiful pendant and the amber orb in the middle had the same hue as her eyes. She looked up at Athrun and threw him a smile. "Thanks… But what's this for? I mean… I don't think today is special."
As usual, Cagalli forgot what day it was, because of her endless work in ORB. But Athrun didn't seem too disappointed. He was still smiling. He gave her one peck on the cheek and pulled her to a hug. "Silly… happy birthday," he whispered softly in her ear. And when he heard her gasp, he giggled and said, "So now you remember…"
"I-I'm sorry…" She spoke back, pulling away to look at his face, which possessed the charms of a prince. "I can't believe I forgot…" For a moment she thought back of the things that happened between them. There were all such wonderful memories. Just then, the thought about her birthday made her jumpy. "AH! It's Kira's birthday too! Oh no! I don't have a present!"
"Calm down, Cagalli," Athrun said, patting her shoulders. "I'm sure Kira doesn't know what today is too."
Cagalli looked at him with amusement. "Seriously?"
"Yeah… Honestly, you twins can be so forgetful."
Cagalli shrugged and turned away. "Sorry for being forgetful," she said grumpily. She heaved a sigh. "Today is my birthday and I didn't prepare anything." A party would be nice together with a large cake and a feast fit for a king. She should've paid more attention to the dates. Forgetting your own birthday was just plain wrong. She had her work to blame.
"It's all right…" Athrun touched her hair again and pulled her gently toward him, covering her lips with his. Cagalli melted at this touch—she felt like butter in his strong arms. "Happy Birthday again, Cagalli," Athrun whispered into her hair, and she smiled.
"Thanks," she said, not wanting to part with him. She looked up, her eyes full of love, and muttered those three important words to him. Again, his mouth met hers. She was caught up with the power of his kiss over her, making her feel suddenly warm and fuzzy.
"Get a room," someone said all of the sudden.
The couple quickly parted their lips and stared to the direction of the voice. Both gasped at the sight of an irritated Kira and a smiling Lacus. Let's not forget that Kira was a protective brother.
"Kira?" Cagalli pulled herself away from Athrun and approached her brother. "What are you two doing here?"
Kira's expression changed from irritated to serene. "Lacus wanted to come here, so I brought her here," he replied, turning to Lacus. The pink-haired girl was officially his fiancée. He could imagine a whole life with her. If he was more than ready, then he'll surely marry her and have kids. For now he was happy at the fact that Lacus was his.
"The beach here is so nice," Lacus said in her usual soft and cheerful voice. The way she talked and the way she moved were all elegant. She was fitted to be a princess. Plus, the white summer dress she wore really brought out her angelic features.
"What are you guys doing here?!" Rusty interrupted the group, who suddenly popped up behind Cagalli. Where he came from? Well, that was a mystery. As always, Rusty still looked energetic and merry, and the way he smiled was breath-taking.
Athrun and Cagalli grimaced at the sight of him, while Kira and Lacus got surprised. Cagalli, especially, felt queasy with Rusty being there. She specifically didn't give information about the beach house to Rusty before, so why was he there with them? It was suspicious, so Cagalli threw him a hard glare.
"Hey, don't look at me like that, princess," Rusty said, chuckling. "It's scary."
That earned him a good smack on the head by Cagalli. "I told you not to call me princess!" she yelled at him, almost rendering him deaf.
"You didn't have to hit me," Rusty whined, rubbing his poor head in the process.
"Moron…" she grumbled, folding her arms in front of her chest.
"Anyway, why don't we go inside?" Rusty suggested, lifting a finger up. "Murrue-san prepared some hot chocolate for us."
"You know Murrue-san?" Kira asked.
"Sort of… Just met her yesterday," Rusty replied, grabbing Kira's and Cagalli's hand. "Now let's go!" He practically dragged the twins towards the door and almost pushed their faces towards the hard wood. Of course, the twins got rather annoyed for what he did. But Rusty didn't seem to be worried. He had this suspicious and cheery smile on his face. Something was up and the twins could tell.
"It's getting chilly here," Lacus said, rubbing her two hands together. "Let's hurry inside, Kira." She wrapped her arms around Kira's arm and leaned her head on his shoulder.
"Yeah… I wanna sit down," Athrun added, walking over to Cagalli.
Kira and Cagalli looked at their fiancés first before they gave each other a questioning look. Now they were really convinced that something was up. They quickly thought of 5 possibilities for their strange behavior and one of those possibilities was correct. When Kira opened the door, the twins were greeted by party poppers, ribbons, and confetti.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIRA! CAGALLI!" All of the twins' close friends were there to greet them, including Rey and his bodyguards, and the lovely Fllay Alster. They were all wearing cute party hats and some boys had party blowers in their mouth. The girls, most especially, were clothed in sexy summer outfits and they wore their best smiles for the twins.
Stellar was clinging to Shinn like a child while hugging a white teddy bear in her arm. The teddy bear was actually a gift from Shinn when she returned to ORB with Fllay. She was so pleased with the gift she didn't want to let it go. Stellar absolutely adored cute things and the teddy bear was the cutest.
Jean and Kai were standing side by side, and Jean seemed to be throwing glares at Kai. Athrun happened to notice the scary look on his sister's face and he knew it was Kai's fault again. But he decided not to intervene between the two of them. His sister can be dangerous when she's angry—much like his fiancée, Cagalli.
"A surprise party… Wow…" Kira said, blushing lightly, as he scratched the back on his head. "I-I don't know what to say."
Cagalli gave Athrun a significant look. "Did you guys plan all this?" she asked and Athrun nodded. "This is really great."
"This was Miriallia's and Rey's idea. We all just pitched in." Athrun placed his arm over her shoulders.
"It's so like you to forget your own birthday, Kira, Cagalli," Miriallia said, planting one fist on her hip. "What will you two do without me?"
The twins just blushed at her remark. Undeniably, Miriallia was right, they both thought. She always remembered the important dates of the year. It was a good thing that Miriallia was really their friend. "Thanks, Milly…" Kira and Cagalli said in unison.
Miriallia smiled. "You're welcome."
"I'm glad Miriallia-san told me about your birthday," Lacus said, holding a present wrapped in pink in her hand. "Because of her, I was able to buy a present for you in time." She gently shoved the present towards Kira's chest, wishing that he would like it.
"Thanks, Lacus," Kira said honestly.
Murrue walked out of the kitchen, carrying a two layered Black Forest birthday cake. She and Lacus personally baked the cake to perfection and they were sure that everyone would love the taste. "Let's get this party started, shall we?" She settled the cake on the table and turned to the twins. "The night's still young."
It was a memorable and amusing night for all of them. There was JPOP music, for most of the night, and Dearka and Rusty acted as deejays. The music was good, the jokes were funny, and the food was scrumptious thanks to Murrue and Lacus. Although they were mature men and women, they still played some simple party games and Cagalli practically ruled in each one of them. Kira had tried the pin the tail on the donkey, but he almost pinned it on Kai and Rusty. Everyone laughed at his mistake and Kira just blushed in embarrassment. It was a night without a mishap, and at midnight, everyone stood outside to watch the full moon.
Fllay and Rey grew a bit closer throughout the party. They had talked about politics and a little about their countries. But Fllay was beaming when she started talking about fashion and movies. Rey was attracted to her somehow, but it wasn't love or anything like that. It was simply an attraction. Rey wanted to get to know her more, so he invited Fllay to take a stroll along the shores, which she agreed.
"Those two will be a couple in no time," Dearka said, cupping his chin, as he eyed the Rey and Fllay keenly.
Miriallia could also sense something different between the two of them, so she agreed with Dearka. "They look good together," she said. "And I'll bet those two will end together sooner or later." Miriallia pointed a finger at Jean and Kai, who were arguing nonsense again.
"Oh, those brats…" Dearka placed his hand on his temple and sighed. Looking at Jean hitting Kai several times on the head made him pity the poor guy. It was fairly obvious to him that they liked each other, but they were too stubborn to admit it.
"Kai seemed to have gotten over his feelings for Cagalli," Miriallia said, leaning against Dearka for support, because she was getting a little sleepy. "And Jean has been secretly admiring Kai for a long time now."
"I'm pretty interested in their relationship," Dearka said, chuckling. "I can imagine their chaotic future together." When he laughed out loud, Miriallia pulled his ear and clamped his mouth with her hand.
"Shut up…" Miriallia said after she heard Jean shout out something important. Miriallia noticed that they have stopped arguing and she could see the faint blushes on their faces. Miriallia became suspicious of them. "Let's go inside." Before he could answer, Miriallia dragged him inside. She figured that Jean and Kai might need some private time outside.
Jean felt her face going red. She didn't mean to say it. It was an accident. She was so furious at Kai that she managed to say it. She chewed on the corner of her lip. "Forget what I said," she said, feeling nervous.
"How could I forget?" Kai stared at Jean, his blue eyes trying to search hers. "What you said was—"
"NO!" Jean immediately broke in. She didn't want to hear it. She felt so embarrassed. How could she be so careless? "I wasn't even serious when I said that." She turned away to hide her troubled expression from him.
Kai knew that she was lying. The way she said those words a while ago were pure and sincere—even if it was out of rage. He held her shoulder and, with the use of his other hand, he tilted her chin to make her look at him. "If you're not ready, it's fine by me," he said, giving her a pleased look. "But I'm willing to wait."
"What the hell are you saying, Kazuya?!" Jean said, raising a brow. "Willing to wait? For what?" She was pretending to not know, even though it was so obvious.
"I know you're not dense, Jean," Kai said, shaking his head.
Jean pursed her lips as she fiddled with her fingers. She was getting more nervous by the minute. Then she realized that there was no use in trying to hide her exposed feelings. She might as well tell the truth to Kai. It was now or never. "All right… I admit it… I love you, Kai. There, are you happy now?" Hints of sarcasm were in her voice.
"You said it twice." Kai took hold of her hand. "And I like the sound of it." He stroked her long red hair and caressed her cheek.
Jean was becoming redder than her hair and she cursed herself for being so vulnerable in front of Kai.
Shinn and Stellar went back inside and took a seat in the living room. Shinn was exhausted from all the excitement. But, surprisingly, Stellar was still full of energy. Where does all her energy come from? Shinn wondered if he should ask her that, but he decided to keep quiet.
"Want something to drink, Shinn?" Stellar asked with a loving grin as she pat the teddy bear's head. "Beer? Coffee or Soda? Take your pick!"
"No thanks…" Shinn leaned to kiss her. "I just want you here," he whispered into her ear as he held her hand.
Stellar's smile grew wider. "Okay…" she said, blushing slightly, as she leaned her head on his shoulder. "It feels right to just sit here, with you by my side. Stellar really likes Shinn." She was imitating the voice of a child when she said that and she looked absolutely adorable and innocent.
Shinn blushed furiously. "Yeah… I feel the same way…" he said, stuttering. He wasn't used to romantic moments. Heck, Stellar was the first girlfriend he ever had and he had no experience on what to do during times like that. But Stellar didn't seem to mind his awkwardness, which was a big relief for him. He placed an arm over her shoulder and rested his cheek against her head. Being with her was like being with an angel, Shinn mused.
Kira and Lacus went upstairs to the balcony. They wanted to get a better view of the moon. They stood there for a long moment, breathing in the nice fresh air. Kira gently touched her hand, and Lacus gave him a smile.
"I love you, Kira," she whispered, and closed her eyes, as he looked at her.
"I love you too, Lacus. I always will." And then as though a force greater than him made him kiss her on the lips. It was his second kiss with a girl, but this time it was a girl he truly loved.
She felt peaceful and warm, as she deepened the kiss, and after a long time, they parted for air. Her eyes were locked onto his amethyst ones. She had the sense of joy, and when she leaned forward to peck Kira's cheek, she was smiling like an angel.
Athrun sat right next to Cagalli on the big rock near the water. And she smiled, as she turned to Athrun, thinking about their future together, and she was mesmerized when Athrun wrapped his arms around her. The love shared between the two of them was strong and passionate. The misunderstandings and arguments before were nothing more than obstacles to overcome.
"Promise me that you'll wear that pendant all the time, Cagalli," he said, in the same tone he had used when he gave her the present, filled with tenderness and love for her.
"I will. I promise." He nodded, and then looked up at the bright moon in the sky.
Cagalli sure felt lucky to have Athrun. He had always been good with her, and she liked everything about him. Every time she gazed upon his emerald orbs she could feel her heart bursting. And whenever he touches her and make her feel wanted, her face will turn into a bright Christmas bulb. Cagalli had first met Athrun as a soldier, a knight assigned by the king to protect the princess. Now Athrun was more than a knight in shining armor. He was a prince and Cagalli was the princess.
She laughed inwardly at herself. Why was she thinking about prince and princess? Didn't she hate the idea of being a princess? Well, it was a fact that was she the Princess of Orb, but she hated acting like one. She had Athrun to blame for being such a prince and a gentleman. Athrun Zala, the guy she loved so much, her fiancé and soul mate, would always be in her heart with her.
THE END
JC: The final chapter of Love Fulfilled 2: Entwined Hearts. I've finished it at last! The ending was full of lovely moments and I couldn't help adding Jean and Kai. They are my own characters, of course. The birthday surprise was a pretty random idea for me. Kira chose Lacus in the end, and Fllay was just fine with that. Well, that's about it. I want to thank all the reviewers who have supported this fic to the last. I hope you read your reviews again in my future fics.