Chapter Nine: Auel Neider is an alien?
Zala Resident, Night
"Among us, the humanity, there are aliens, who was wearing the masks to fool us with their real appearances and intentions. Actually, they aliens who seek experimental on us human, since we human, much better than them. They will disgusts themselves as we, human, have our looks, body, behaviors, and even the way we talks, will exactly, like us. BUT! Remember their main mission down on earth is to destroy and rule the world. They will make us as their slave. Be careful people, they're everywhere," said the narrator of History Channel with full of rage about alien invasion.
Cagalli watch the documentary with curious all over her face, even she does believe in ghost, but she never believes in alien. She just frowned, her blonde eyebrows show that she in deep into the thought. She stares at the television in front of her, with suspicious look all over her face with what the narrator had told about what really aliens wanted with the human species, they want us human to be their slaves?
"Come on! First of all there no such thing as aliens!" Yelled Cagalli at the television.
"Well princess, so as ghost. There no such thing as ghost invasion." Said Athrun, who is coming out from his attached bathroom with his bedroom, while both his hands dry his midnight blue haired with a towel.
Cagalli stared at him dangerously, she gets up from where she seating and smack hard on his left shoulder.
"Awk! What was that for, princess?" Winced Athrun while rubbing his left shoulder, the spot that Cagalli had whack.
"Then explain to me, what had happened to me last time that I had been possessed by some knight ghost of the past?!" Frowned Cagalli while looking dangerously into his jades.
"Well….. That just one time things, I still not believe in ghost or anything that's beyond human mind reach." With that Athrun left Cagalli, who is still angry at him, while Athrun packs his stuff into his sport bag.
Tomorrow is the beginning of qualified of the summer swimming tournament, he can't leave anything behind. Everything must be in order and perfect. Athrun Zala is known as, "Mr Perfect" by his fan club. He got prefect scored in exams, good in sports, good in cooking, charming, but one thing that he lack of, is a social skill. He is not good in social with people other than his childhood friend, Cagalli and a new friend that he just met one month ago, Nicol.
"What about God?" Don't you believe in Him?" A sudden question from Cagalli after a long awkward silence, while walking toward him.
Athrun stops whatever he was doing, he turns his head with furious in his jades. Everything he does will make no sense to Cagalli. That frustrate him the most, but he doesn't have time to argue with her, he need be fresh tomorrow for the qualified.
Rather than fight with his childhood friend with the topic that see no end, Athrun just reply, "Fine! You won. Okay. Satisfied!" Surrendered Athrun, to let the topic off.
Of course he believes in God, his parents taught him about the belief of God and they also brought him to the church every Sunday when he was small, so that they can get closer to God and bind them as one family. But that also still can't reach by superiority of human mind, how God exists.
Does he still believe in God? Cagalli always told him that everything that he see and feel in this universal is a creator of God, even a ghost. How come he's not believing in ghost, but God?
Athrun let his mind took over him, until he feels that someone dry his wet hair.
"Athrun, your hair still soaking wet, you will catch cold if you dint dry it properly. And my majestic…. I hate to admit it, but I'm sorry. Please forgive me and forget what I had said earlier. Is just that, you're my best friend, I want you to have a same passion as I do with the thing I believe. I know it must be hard for you to believe, since your brain spin in one direction, like a hamster on a wheel. It's hard for you to open your pee brain to accept the thing that beyond reach. But we have been friends, like forever and I can't make you believe what I believe." Said Cagalli with her ambers close while resting her forehead against her majestic.
Athrun smile at her remarked that his brain spin like a hamster on the wheel, he put both of his hands on top of her, where her hands were, together they dry his soaking wet midnight blue.
"It's okay, princess. We both still find our own personalities, which that personalities lead us in our own world, even though I don't believe in ghost or alien, but I still love being around you and give you half of my strength. Which makes me wonder, do you my princess, and by any chance believe in alien?" Asked Athrun, he can smell her lovely lemon scent when her near him like this.
Cagalli chuckle at him, she gets up and went to the bathroom to change. Before her close the bathroom door, she stuck her tongue out at Athrun.
Athrun just watches her childish behavior, his smile never fades from his handsome features.
Cagalli sleep beside her majestic while cuddle him. His body so warm, which make her calm. She drifts to the dream about herself, when she was three years old. She smiles at herself, she really misses old her. She saw her dad reading newspaper on the bench that not far from her. She was wondering, why does she dream about her?
She saw that three years old herself were playing by herself in the sand box. She happily built a sandcastle and pout when it falls down. She heard her dad chuckled when her sandcastles fall, she stares at her dad dangerously, but her dad just gives her a warm smile. She smiles back at him and determine to build the new one. When she ready to build another sandcastle, her eyes drift to a boy who's looking a little bit older than her. Her amber widened with surprise, when she realizes that he has bruises and blood all over his slim body, the boy just walks pass her sand box.
"Why are you looking horrible? Do you need help?" Asked Cagalli who is running toward the boy.
The boy who's heard her footsteps, turn his head to face Cagalli. The boy smile at her, which Cagalli found it odd. The boy still can smile in that condition?
"You can see me?" Asked the boy in a gentle voice, his smile never left his face, "If you don't mind, can you go tell my mother that I'm sorry for not listen at her warning, that I need be careful when I crossing the road. She's right there." Pointed the boy to his mother were.
Cagalli confused, but she looks at the direction that the boy pointed at. When she turns her head to the boy to ask him another question, but the boy is not there. She looks around the park, but she could not find him around.
She runs to the lady, who look in her late twenties. When she approached the lady, just then she realizes there a lot of people surrounded her. She wonders why many people surrounded the boy's mother, but she put that aside.
She near the lady, and pull her red shirt, to gain her attention. The lady turns her head toward the source. Cagalli saw that her pretty face were stained with tears. She has been crying, but why?
"Miss, your son asked me to let you know that he is sorry for not listening to your warning when crossing the road. Then he disappears, I tried to look for him, but I can't find him. I wanted to ask him why he can't say those words by himself." Said Cagalli, then her ambers shift to the lady's arm. Her ambers widened and her mouth slightly hung open.
There is a boy that she met not long ago, he's already dead.
Cagalli eyes shot open from the nightmare that she dreamt, she sat up trying to calm herself down while touching her heart, her heartbeat increasing every second her breath. She looks on the wall, the clock shows five in the morning. Her mind full of questions, did she ever experience that situation before? Why can't she remember about it? Why she dreamt about it now? She snaps from the thought when she hear her best friend stirred from his slumber, she held her breath. She don't want Athrun wake up, if he wake up and look her fragile state he will ask her what's wrong, which she don't want talk about and also she know that today is his big day. She doesn't want his district because of her. When she sees no sigh that her best friend going to wake up from his peaceful land, she let her breath again. She slowly gets up from queen size bed, and went to the kitchen to get herself something cold to drink and clear her messy mind.
On her way down to the kitchen, she saw the kitchen bright with light. She smiles at herself, she know that Mana the one who's in the kitchen preparing the breakfast and bento for both of them. As she the one volunteering to prepare the food for them, when Cagalli had said its okay that she make them. But no, the lady insist to make it. First, because she is a guest in the house, she can't let her do all the cooking stuff. And second, the "young master" need gained energy to performance better in that stupid qualified thingy, she never once found swimming relaxing. Athrun always makes fun of her, since she can't swim at all. She once had drown, when she was 10 years old, it's all thanks to that stupid best friend of hers. Drag her to the water park, saying it will be so much fun to play water in summer. She tries to catch up Athrun speed of swimming, but her legs give up when she tried to get to Athrun. She ends up drown, one thing that she remembers when she drown was Athrun's worried face. Well it's all his fault to begin with, he should be worried about her safety, and after all he did promise to her father that he will take good care of her before he died. When she remembers about Uzumi, tears start to fall. She rubs away the tears, she needs to be strong, she still has Athrun and Uncle Mwu, and everything will be just fine.
She enters the kitchen, and smile at the sight of Mana, "Good morning, Mana. It's really lovely morning, don't you think?" Greeted Cagalli while tying the apron strings.
"Cagalli! Good morning to you too. Did I make noise while I'm preparing the breakfast and bento?" Asked Mana with a worried expression.
Cagalli just smile warmly at the lady, "Mana, you make noise? The only noise that I can hear is that "young master" snores." Replied Cagalli while putting the quote sign when she emphasize young master.
Mana chuckled at her remarked, "I don't think young master snore that loud, my dear. Be honest with me, why you wake up early dear? It's only 5:15 in the morning." Asked the lady in a motherly voice.
"Well, Mana I can't sleep well, rather than I stay in that room with Athrun, its better I'm here help you out with the cooking. I hope I'm not in the way, while you making the food." Said Cagalli with a sparkle in her amber, she really loves to cook with Mana. She feels the motherly love, whenever she nears with her, since she never once experienced the mother love at all. She never met and know her mother.
Mana saw her sad features, walks near her and get hold her shoulders, "I would love too, if you can help me out, but I more prefer you not too, since you the guest in the house."
"Mana you still consider me as a guest, when most of the time I spend here?" Laughs Cagalli and help the lady with the breakfast and their bento.
Shiyu Swimming Arena, Morning
Cagalli yawns, while scratching the back of her head. Who she to be kidding at, she still sleepy, but she chooses to not sleep back after that awful nightmare. What does that dreamt about? What does the boy try to say to her? Is he not in peace? Is the boy's mother killing herself, so the boy playback that situation for her, so that she can bring his mother at peace? But most importantly, that does circumstances really happened, when she was three years old? Does it do, why she can't remember any of it?
She rough ruffle her blonde haired, then her ears pick up something interesting for her to eavesdrop. Is not like her to overheard pointless gossip, but this one really piqued her interest. She hides herself in the corner of the wall, make herself shrink so that the person that she intend to eavesdropping dint notice her present.
She peeks behind the wall, to see who that person is. She saw that person haired is light blue, she has that frustrated face when her mind register who is was, Auel, the swimming captain. Why in hell she interesting with what the dude talking about with whoever he talk to.
"Yes, today we will destroy all the population, and make them as our personal slaves. After we make them as slaves, then we can celebrate." Said Auel in an evil voice of his.
Cagalli eyes widened, "Slave? Yesterday the narrator said that the alien wanted us, human to be their slaves. Don't tell me that Auel is an alien? Ohhhh…. No, I need to tell this new discovering to Athrun."
Without wasting any time, she turns her heel and dash to look for Athrun. She runs too fast, without warning, she bumps on someone. She and that someone stumble back hard on the concrete floor, in an awkward position. She on top of that someone, her face buried in her strong chest. Her ambers shoot open, and support her weight with both of her arms and slowly lift up her upper body from that someone's body.
"Athrun!" Yelled Cagalli at the person that she bumped with a moment ago.
"Princess, you don't need to yell right in front of my face. Are you hurt?" Asked Athrun while looking at Cagalli features to spot any injuries. His face heat up when he saw Cagalli wearing his clothes, she wears red shirt with image of a big round smiley face and his brown shirt.
"Why everytimes I see her wearing my clothes, my face will heat up? She just looks pretty on those clothes, even I can't look better any of those clothes of mine." Though Athrun.
"My majestic, do you plan to stay on the floor all day long? Here grab my hand." With that Cagalli offered her hand to let Athrun on his feet. Athrun smiles at her, and accepted her hand. He grabs it and in no time he on his feet.
"Athrun"
"Yes, princess?"
"What do you know about Auel?" Asked Cagalli while staring deep into his jades.
Athrun frowned, his eyebrows knit together while thinking why on earth Cagalli interested on Auel? His swimming captain! Not she hates the guy and always argued all the times. Then he remembers one manga book that his sister like to read, the hero and the heroic hate each other at the first sight, and they can't stand on each other even for a second. Slowly their feeling change from enemies to lovers.
"Don't tell me, Cagalli like Auel?" Athrun roughly shooks his head, he put both of his hands on Cagalli shoulder and look deeply into her amber, "Princess, be frank with me, do you like Auel?"
Cagalli narrowed and her mouth drop, where does Athrun get the idea that she like Aue? Even he the last standing guy on this earth, she will never liking the guy. He just not her type that she wanted to spend with, but again, what is her type of guy. She shakes her head, "Athrun! Please don't be stupid, I never like the guy. The reason I asked about him, because…." Cagalli head turns to left and right, there were a lot of people passing by, she near her face to Athrun and talk lowly, so that only Athrun can hear what she going to say "I think he's an alien." Finished Cagalli while looking into his jades in serious looks.
Athrun wanted burst into a laugh, but he doesn't want to hurt Cagalli feeling when he looks her serious ambers, he just let the laugh into his mind, "Cagalli, what made you think that Auel is an alien?"
"I overhear him, when he answered the phone. He said he will destroy them and make them as his personal slaves. That exact words, what the narrator from History channel said. I think my majestic, the alien does exist in this universe. So tell me about the guy." Plead Cagalli, she needs to stop Auel from making human kinds as his personal slaves, and she will not allow it.
"Princess, don't you think maybe what you think is way different to what he talk about? I can see that you insist to know about him, what I can say about him?" Said Athrun with his index on his chin, Cagalli watch him dearly, like her life depended on Athrun.
"Well, for started, his one outstanding swimmer that I have never known." Said Athrun with a bright smile on his face, he never sees any incredible swimmer in his life, the reason why he enrolls into Archangel is because he want to win the tournament with him. Cagalli dint wants to enroll into Archangel at first, one because she need push up her grade to get into that prestige's school, which lead one thing that she hate the most, STUDY. Second, she never wants to see Mia, since she is going to that school. She brags about how smart she was, when she got accepted into Archangel that pissed her the most. Athrun chuckled with his own world, Cagalli rolled her ambers in annoyed. She smacked behind his big head.
"Other than that?"
Athrun winced at the pain while rubbing his head, "Other than that, I can't think anything about him. He only talks about the tournament and how we can improve our tactics."
"I need to dig into his personal life, that mean one thing, need mingles with people in the school." Though Cagalli, she really hates to talk with her schoolmates, they all annoying her the most.
"Don't you dare to mess with his personal life, princess? I'm sure he's not an alien." Ensured Athrun, honestly, he didn't want Cagalli put herself into danger, last time she almost lost her life when she has been possessed by that James guy. How dare he used Cagalli for his own benefit? With that thought, with his unnoticed, he clenched his right hand into one big ball, that's ready to punch.
Cagalli noticed that his clenched his right hand hard, she can see blood dripping from it.
"Athrun, stopping will ya!" Said Cagalli while grabbing his right hand, "See, what had you done my majestic?!" She pulls out her blue handkerchief from her pant pocket and wipe off the blood off his hand. "I don't know what your problem is, but don't hurt yourself." Stared Cagalli in dangerous, even so her stare can kill you on the spot, there still kindness in her ambers.
Athrun smile, "Then promise me that you will not investigate about alien thingy, and watch me qualified, so that I can compete in the next stage and win the tournament."
Cagalli let short sigh and nodded.
Athrun brings out his picky so that her promise will be sealed, he knows Cagalli better than anyone, she will keep her promise for a while then break it when she finds something interesting, to lead her to investigate the method deep. When she investigated, she ends up involved in a big mess, which he will clear up for her.
Cagalli look away, she doesn't want seal picky promise with Athrun. If she seal her promise, she can't sneak to investigate about Auel. Cagalli smirk when she think how to break the promise, she faces Athrun with her bright smile that she could put on her face, and bring her right picky while her left hand crossed her fingers behind the back. Athrun happily seals the promise and kiss her on the cheek.
"Watch me, and I will win this qualified." Yelled Athrun while running to his swimming team, while Cagalli smirk at his retreat.
"Sorry, my majestic, I can't keep the promise since I dint seal the promise properly. I need safe human race yes that what is right to do." With that, she flips open her phone and call for back-up.
Cagalli waiting patient from the watcher stand while waiting her back-up to arrive. She watches Athrun won his first trial of the 100 meters freestyle. He really amazing, which make Cagalli smile at him, but that smile fades too quickly when his fan girl's yells hysterically beside her. Those girls, need find their own life to be spared at, rather than screaming at him. The girls became more insane when Athrun turns his head in their direction, he flashes his genuine smile at them and waved his hand at Cagalli. Cagalli waved back with annoying on her face, "Freak! Don't you have something else to do rather be here? With you're here, just spoil the peaceful serenity of our one and only gorgeous Athrun-Sama!" Said one of the girls from his fan club with annoying in her voice. Cagalli just rolled her ambers, like in hell she wanted to be here with them. They just give her a headache. She just pretends that she didn't hear those words and continue watching the next event, which brought her attention, its Auel 1500 meter butterfly. She watches dearly at his style of swimming. It's different from the Athrun tactic of swimming, his speed is incredibly fast compared to Athrun. Is he really an alien? If he is, no doubt about it, since he is different from any ordinary swimmers that she known off.
Her trail disturbed, when she heard the footsteps approaching her in a hurry, she smiles at the sight. Her back-up is here.
The person tries to gain his breath, he runs right after Cagalli called him that she needs his help to investigating something interesting that he will not miss.
"C….agalli. What's wrong?" Said the person who is still trying to catch normal breath out of his system.
"Nicol! How happy I am seeing you here." Smile Cagalli at her back-up.
"Well, you said it between life and death, which make me worry. I don't want to lose you and Athrun, sine you both my best friends which I cherish the most, even we just met but I feel easy when I'm around you guys. So what's wrong?" Replied Nicol infirm, he really wants to stay friends with them throughout high school life, his junior high what people can call as boring. He always with his piano stuff, which he can make any memory of it. He wanted a good memory so that he can share with his children in the future.
Cagalli walks closely to him, to close the gap, "Not here, let's take the walk. We better go somewhere place that we can discuss about it. Human race's life depends on us, Nicol." Said Cagalli which caused Nicol curiosity about what Cagalli wanted talk about. He follows Cagalli, without Cagalli noticed, Athrun saw she walks away with Nicol, which made him worry with what she up too, he just pushes the thought away, since she trust her promise that she will not cause any problem.
"Athrun, come here. I need your help for a while." Yelled Auel, to gain his attention.
"Yes! Coming." Replied Athrun and walks toward Auel.
"Athrun, can you handle the first year students for a while? I need to go somewhere. Don't worry, even you're first year yourself, but they know your ability. Just give them encourage to win this qualifier, since your princess makes us to fulfilled head coach position with that stupid teacher, Miguel Aiman. He dint know anything about swimming at all, before we can find any suitable replacement, he will be our head couch temporarily." Auel clenches his fists, he respects Neo. He is one respectable head coach, so what he's a drug addict, everyone has their weakness and they deserve to get a second chance in their life.
Athrun face twitching at his captain bold remarked about his princess. Well the guy took someone else life for started, then he can't control his need. What if he turns whole team to become drug followers? He doesn't want to become drug addicted, his parents will be disappointed at their only son and heir of Zala.
Before Auel walks away from the scene, Athrun spoke out of his mind, "Auel, Cagalli isn't that bad. I know what the school said about her, but she is my best friend, she is precious in my life, what had she done is a good for us and give peace to the Miss Harada soul. Mr Neo need help, but he too afraid to ask one, that made him a murderer. He doesn't need to kill anyone, all he need to do is tell the truth to Principal Kisaki."
Auel turns his heel and face Athrun, "You know what? Someday that best friend of yours will make you suffer." With that, he proceeds to his direction.
Even Athrun respect Auel, but when he talked bad about his princess, he will lose his mind and fight to defense Cagalli. Cagalli weird? Yes, but she is Cagalli, nobody can replace her attitude even the alien. He chuckled when he thought that the alien will copy her. Only an insane person will copy her. With that he went to first year standing, to cool them off and not be nervous about this qualified. Just keep faith that you can do it, and do your best. That's what Cagalli told him when he first went to qualify during elementary years. She always watches him swim and praise him that he is awesome great, that no one can beat him. When he thinks about Cagalli, his face change to worries. He just saw Cagalli went off with Nicole. Why she didn't stay and watch him in action. Suddenly his jade widened, "Don't tell me, she like Nicol?! But she just knows the guy like one month ago, how possible they're feeling can develop so fast. Even him, know that he wanted Cagalli more than a friend when he was 12 years old." Thought Athrun and shook his head, that impossible that Cagalli and Nicol likes each other.
"Athrun-San. Are you okay?" Asked Aikawa Serrah, the assistance of a swimming club.
Athrun smile at her, to ensure her that he's okay and give long encourage speak to his swimming mates.
"Nicol, it's really important that I need to know about your belief." Whispered Cagalli to the person in front of her.
"What belief that you talking about?" Confused Nicol at the blonde.
Cagali looks area around her, she near her face to Nicol and start whisper, "Alien?"
Nicol frowned slightly, he clears his throat, "Wait! Don't you believe in ghost Cagalli, what have to do with alien?"
"You will laugh at me, just like that "Young Master"!" Said Cagalli in frustration while bringing her fist up into thin air.
Nicol sweat drop with Cagalli sudden action, "There Cagalli, I will not laugh at you, I promise." Calmed Nicol at the blonde.
Her eyes were glazed slightly, and her amber were sparkled and shined, "really, while… Cagalli clear her throat and start her story, "Yesterday I was watching a documentary about Alien Invasion…" Before Cagalli could finish her sentence, Nicol cut her.
"You meant that Alien Invasion, Human in Danger on History Channel?" Asked Nicol with sparkled in his eyes.
Cagalli merely nodded at the response.
"Cagalli, I also watched it yesterday, well to tell the truth after I saw what you had done with my cousin, it makes me became more curious about our surroundings. Even we can't see them, but we know about their existing in this world, if you believe in existence of ghost why make alien any different right." Said Nicol in enthusiasm.
"Well Nicol I don't really believe in alien at first, but now I have a reason to believe in it." Reply Cagalli shyly while scratching back of her head. "You know what make me believe in alien, it's because I think Auel is one of them. I overheard, well, technically I'm eavesdropping his conversation. That's not the point, the point is we need stop him before he make us as their slaves." Said Cagalli in determining.
"Actually what you heard?"
"Well, I heard that he wants to destroy human population and make us as their personal slaves."
Nicol nodded several times, then his face Cagalli with frightening face, "We need to stop him."
"But first we know about the guy first. We need dig his personal life, then only we can make a plan and confront him." Cagalli grab both Nicol hands and get hold of it, "Together, Nicol, we can stop them from destroying us. Are you with me, Nicol?" Asked Cagalli with bright in her ambers.
Nicol happily nodded, he never felt excited like this in his life. All his life, all he does is playing piano, never in his life, having fun, but now he met a wonderful person that can teach him that it's not too late to create memories. It's not a mistake that he asked her help and be her friends.
"What we are waiting for, let's go." Said Cagalli while pulling him, in the direction of the source that they need to know about Auel.
"Attention to the next event, 500 meters backstroke. Please be ready." Said the announcer in the loud speaker.
Athrun looks around, he let short sign when he can't find the blonde anywhere. All he can see are his fan club. He really wants Cagalli to watch and cheer him like she always does.
"Athrun-San, you need be ready, your event is next." Said Serrah while patting his back to gain his attention. Athrun just smiles at her and proceed to the auditorium swimming.
He has lined up, behind the contesters with sad expression.
"So, Nicol since you're a guy and I'm a girl, which is obvious. I need you to go inside and grab Auel planner. I saw him, a couple of times that he always writes something in it and carry it everywhere, except when he need be in the water, he will keep it safe in his bag." Instructed Cagalli.
"Which is his bag?" Puzzled Nicol, he never meets this Auel guy, but know him from his classmate, since he's really famous among junior.
Cagalli smack his back head, how stupid can he be. Nicol winced at the pain, but remained silent, "Nicol! All swimming teams have the same sport bag, except each of their bags has yellow embroidery of their name on it. So go search Auel name, then take his planner. Go fast, I cover you." Push Cagalli at poor Nicol.
Nicol hands tremble because of his anxiety, this is his first time to do something dangerous. He turns the knob lock and enter the changing room that the organizer had prepared.
Inside the changing room, there no one there. Well, it's too obvious that they in the auditorium. Nicol head spins, when his eyes land to many, many sport bags. There're a lot of sport bags, and he only has little time to search Auel. It's like finding needles in the hay, "Get a grip, Nicol. Think about what will happen if Auel is really an alien, there is not future for many generations to come." Thought Nicol while slap both of his cheeks.
He began searching the item, with patient. Outside, Cagalli try her best to not look suspicious with the surroundings. When people look at her, she just flashes smile at them. Who she is kidding at, this is after all, men swimming state qualifying, and first of all, why in hell is she in men changing room? Then her trail be disturbed by the voice that she recognizes for a far. Is Archangel swimming team! "Are they done with the event?" Cagalli look at her yellow wrist watch, its show 12 in the afternoon. She slaps her forehead, "Of course, its lunch break. OHHH… no, Nicol still inside. I need to distract them from entering the changing room. Think fast, Cagalli." A light bulb pop above her head.
Even she hates it as much she hates Meer, but she needs to do this, for human.
Cagalli take a very long breath and scream on top of her lungs, "OHHHHH…. MY GOD! IT'S ATHRUN ZALA, HALF NAKED. I CAN JUST DIE WITH HIS PEARLY WHITE SKIN!"
Athrun who's heard the screaming voice, distinguish it from his princess. "What the hell, is she trying to put! First of all, I'm not half naked, I put a dense T-shirt!" Screaming Athrun in his head, he just hates to run just to avoid his crazy fan girl's.
Everyone in the area, look at Athrun direction and the girl's from all over school start giggling and chase after him. Athrun feet just drag him far away from there.
Nicol who's inside heard that Cagalli scream as a cue for him to double his pace. He looks around the place, then his smile bright. There's Auel bag, on top of second year bags. He went to the bag, grab it, zip open and dig deep into the bag. After he got what he's looking for, he takes out from Auel bag, he zips close and put back where it belong.
Nicol walks toward the door and exit himself from the changing room. He grabs Cagalli arm and run from the "Crime Scene".
When they in a safe place, Cagalli has an eager to ask him, "How was it?"
Nicol just gives her a thumb up. Cagalli brilliant smile at his successes.
Nicol hand over the planner to Cagalli, Cagalli happily accept it and together the partner in crime reads it carefully.
Inside the planner, there written in number codes. From the first page until the very last page. To crack the number, it will take time, which they don't have.
"That's such a waste. It's impossible to crack the codes in a day, or more precisely less than 5 hours." Grumpy Cagalli.
"So Cagalli, is this can proof that Auel is an alien?" Asked Nicol while observe the codes.
Cagalli ambers shoot open, "That's a proof that he is an alien. Athrun can't say that he is not now. Can't he?" Laughs Cagalli evilly, which make Nicol a little bit scare of her sudden mood changes.
"Yes, its proof that Auel is an alien, because yesterday in that documentary had told that alien like to use code when they communicate. Most probably in numbers. With this planner, we need to crack the codes, even few of it, it's enough than nothing right?" Said Cagalli while flipping the pages randomly.
Nicol flips open his phone and browse the web, maybe Mr Google can help them to crack the codes.
The couple's attention has been disturbed by the sound of a person breathing heavily. Like that person, had been running in marathon. They both look at the direction, they both shook at the sight of that person, Cagalli bite her lower lip. She knows that, she the one whose cause the chaos.
She near that person, while pat his back. That person jumps from that sudden touch, and ready to run again. Before he can run, Cagalli grab his shoulder, "Athrun!"
Athrun turns his head to the voice, Cagalli smiling wryly at him.
Athrun face heated up with anger, "Cagalli! What the hell you try to do back there? Don't tell me that is not you screaming that saying that I looking super-Hot! Now I need to run from them, when I don't need one!" Yelled Athrun at his best friend.
Cagalli pout at his absurd, "First of all I didn't call you super-hot, Mr Zala! Stop exaggeration!"
Nicol just watches the childhood friends argue. He feels slightly guilty, because of his slowness to find Auel bag, Cagalli need use proper measure to avoid people suspect what they actually do.
"Athrun, it's all my fault. Please don't blame and be mad at Cagalli. I'm really sorry." Bow Nicol at Athrun as gestures apologies.
Athrun face Nicol and near the guy, "What actually you did, that you need apology at me?" Puzzled Athrun while at the same time glares at Cagalli which she avoid the glares.
"Well, you see…" before he can finish the sentence Cagalli hand cover his mouth.
"It's nothing, my majestic. He just pities me that you always yell at me. That's why his apology at you." Said Cagalli and whispers to Nicol so that Athrun could not hear them.
"You can't tell him that you went inside the changing room and steal Auel planner, he will go ballistic. And I dint tell you this, Athrun dint believe that Auel is an alien. So for now we keep our finding to ourselves. Okay Nicol?"
Nicol nodded and smile shyly at Athrun while scratching behind his head, "Yea, that's right. I don't like you guys fighting over something that we don't know why."
Athrun raised an eyebrow, he a little bit didn't believe with what he heard from them. They must keep something from him, then he hears Cagalli stomach rumble.
The two guys look at her, Cagalli blush, "Well, I didn't eat well during breakfast! Stop looking at me."
The boys chuckled at her, "Come on, we all taking lunch together." Athrun tracks stop and he looks at Nicol. "Nicol, can you be nice to me. Can you take my bento in my sport bag in the changing room? I can't possibly go there. I bet the girls still waiting me there, then again, I need to run from them. My stamina will be exhausted from running." Pleaded Athrun with puppy dog eyes.
Cagalli just rolled her ambers, "Stop that disgusting puppy dog eyes look!" Screaming Cagalli into her head.
Nicol swallows a lump in his throat, he never knows that Athrun can be pushy. He just nodded as the response.
Athrun smile, "Well, we will wait here, just tell them that you need to take something from my bag. They know."
With that Nicol run to the changing room.
There leave Athrun and Cagalli all alone. Its long pause, just the spring breeze can be felt.
"Princess…." Cagalli look at him when he called her, "Why I didn't see you during my 500 meters backstroke trial?" Asked Athrun while looking at the ground.
Cagalli sweat drop, "Oohhh… that time I need go to the toilet. Sorry my majestic, I promise you that I will be there on your next trial."
Athrun knows that she is lying, does she need used the facilities that long. He saw that she and Nicol left from the watcher standing 45 minutes before his trial begin.
He let short sign, he went to Cagalli and ruffled her hair. Cagalli look up to meet his jades.
"Then promise that you will watch me for 2000 meter breaststroke and relay 400 meters freestyle. I really need you there for me, princess. You know I barely make it for qualifies for 500 meters backstroke. Please I really need you there, princess." Said Athrun, Cagalli silently nodded, she can't say no with that sad eyes of him. Somehow she, knew that Athrun knew that she is lying about she went to the toilet earlier. She really needs to act fast.
Nicol knocks the door of the changing room, and turn the door knob. He let himself in, inside of the changing room, everyone staring at him. He swallows a lump of his throat, "I'm Nicol, I'm here to get Athrun Zala belonging, and may I have it?"
"Nicol? Wait not you in the same class as me?" Asked a girl with short black haired.
Nicol stares at the girl, he not really mingles with his classmates that well. He stares hard at her, then the girl name pop up in his head, "Ms Aikawa. Well, yes, I was in the same class as you."
"I never know that you and Athrun were friends?"
"Well, Miss Aikawa, I know Athrun from Cagalli." With the mention of Cagalli name the girl winced at annoying, for her how come that rough tomboy can be Athrun best friend?
"Miss Aikawa? Is there something wrong?" Asked Nicol when the girl trail in her own thought.
"No, just wait a minute, I will get Athrun sport bag for you." With that she went to where Athrun bag was.
"Is anyone see my planner? I swear that I put it in my bag, now it's gone." Nicol eyes widened when Auel asked about his planner. His planner currently with Cagalli.
"I need to keep cool, if not Auel-senpai will suspect me or maybe he will?"
"Auel, I think you have misplaced your planner. No worries about it." Ensured one of his teammates.
"That planner really important to me, okay?! Don't tell me what to do with my emotion okay? I'm out of here!" With that, he went outside.
"Boy, what's wrong with our captain, is that planner really important as his life depends on it?"
Every single one in the room shrugged.
"Nicol?"
"Yes?"
"Here is Athrun belonging."
"Thank you, Miss Aikawa." With that, he went where Athrun and Cagalli at.
"That's really nice lunch. I can't remember when the last time I ate such nice and delicious homemade meals." Said Nicol while rubbing his full stomach.
"Don't your mom cook for you Nicol?" Asked Cagalli in confused.
Nicol looks down on the ground, "Well, my mom died a long time ago, because of breast cancer. It's just me and my dad. He barely at home, he buried himself with works, so I always eat dinner with takeout foods, it's not delicious, but as long it can fill my stomach, it's okay with me."
"That's, set. We will make you bento for every school days." Said Cagalli while wagging her index finger, showing at herself and Athrun. "With that your stomach will fill with love of our homemade cooking. Is not that's hard to make one additional bento. Right my majestic?" Said Cagalli proudly then look at Athrun with a sparkle in her ambers while her hands intertwined each other's, as plead gestures so that Athrun will agree with her crazy idea.
Athrun narrowed at her manners, then he chuckled softly which make Cagalli pout. Athrun pat her head, "Sure princess, as long you remember to make them, since you have short term memory loss." With he that get up from where he sat at, and brush dirts on his pant. He looks at Cagalli and offer his hand while smile at her.
Cagalli smile at him and accepted his offered, Athrun help her get up, and brush dirt from her pant, "You will stay watch my trial, right Cagalli?"
Cagalli swallow lump in her throat, there somehow dark in his voice that make her hard to break the promise, she knows that Athrun will murder her alive. Wait Athrun will not murder her, but he will not talk to her until he breaks his promise to her. She let short sigh.
"Yes Athrun, I will watch your trial, until you win that stupid tournament. Like I have any better job to spare my precious time." Sarcastic Cagalli.
Athrun just smiles and bow as gesture thank you.
Cagalli smile at his gesture and she also bow as well.
"Attentions to all participations, please be ready at the auditorium in five minutes." Said the announcer in the loud speaker.
"Shall we go, princess?" Asked Athrun while offering his arm, which Cagalli happily accepted it.
"Nicol, let's go." Which makes Nicol snap out of his trail, when Cagalli called his name out. He had watched them for the past one month with amusing.
"They will be the cutest couple that I have ever seen in my life. If they were a couple." Though Nicol and run toward the couple who is linked with each other arms, he just smiles at the sight.
"Nicol, do you have any idea what those numbers represent?" Asked Cagalli while looking at Auel planner. She and Nicol currently at watcher stand.
"No, Cagalli. Ever Uncle Google can't make any sense with those codes. What do you think about how to break the codes?" Asked Nicol with frustrated all over his face. It's really hard to crack the codes and safe the human kinds from alien invasion.
Cagalli cocking her head to the side, with her ambers focus on Auel arm. She jerks her head to look what it was on his arm.
"Nicol, do you have binocular?" Asked Cagalli which her ambers still stick to Auel arm.
"I don't have, but I can ask those girl's." Replied Nicol while pointed to Athrun fan club. Each one of them has binocular that hanging around their neck.
"Just ask them that you want to borrow, don't you dare mention my name!" Slightly dangerously glances towards Nicol, then back her attention at Auel that warm up at his podium.
Nicol walks to nearest girl, "Excuse me, miss. May I borrow your binocular for a moment, if you may?" Asked Nicol in a polite manner, the girl smiles at his innocent. She giggled, "I may, but in one condition. Can you kiss on my cheek?"
Nicol narrowed at her boldness, "It's nothing right? Just her cheek."
Nicol closed his eyes and went close to the girl's cheek and kiss it. The girl giggled happy and hand over her binocular to him, "Take your time, sweetie. I will wait you here." Winked the girl at Nicol.
Nicol blush's and went to Cagalli. Hand her the binocular, which Cagalli grab it and put it on her ambers. She adjusts the binocular until she sees the image clear in her binocular lens. Her ambers widened with surprise. She repeatedly takes out the binocular out from her ambers and put it back.
"Nicol, can you do me a favor? Focus on Auel right arm, and tell me what you see?" Said Cagalli while giving the binocular toward Nicol, with confused he accepted the binocular from her and obey her instruction.
His expression was surprised, he saw on Auel's right arm there got some weird reddish ink with unidentified pattern.
He put away the binocular out from his eyes and turn to Cagalli, he saw Cagalli busy search something on her yellow phone.
"Nicol!" Yelled Cagalli to gain her back-up attention, which he closed the gap. "According to Uncle Google, when an alien almost achieves their objectives, there will appear weird pattern on their body, as a symbol to attract others aliens' attention that they need be ready to attacks the war with the human race." Cagalli face Nicol with shaking all over her face, "We really in big trouble, Nicol!"
Nicol re-read the article from Cagalli phone, his mouth drop open, "What now, Cagalli?"
"We can't crack the code, and I can't leave this stupid watcher stand, since I promise that Athrun, I will watch and cheer for him." She let short sign when she remembers Athrun plead or more to bagging her to stay. "The only thing that we can do is confront him." She looks Nicol with full of determined expression, then she get hold of his shoulders, "We can do it, Nicol. Don't be afraid, there the only way we can stop him."
Nicol merely nodded, he scared what if Auel is really an alien and wanted us as slaves or worst kill them on the spot? He is spirit light up a bit, when he remembers when Cagalli confront the ghost that possessed his cousin. Cagalli never once show any fear toward that ghost, all he need do now has believe in her.
"You can give back that binocular to the girl that you borrow from, because next is Athrun trial. I bet she wants drool all over him!" Said Cagalli in annoying, no enough these girl's seeing and drooling over him during practice, during the trial also they wanted drool over him. Get a life!
Nicol merely nodded, he really don't want see that girl. He feels uncomfortable, how does Athrun can stand these girl's?
He walks toward the girl, the flash him a genuine smile when she saw him walking toward her, "Hei." Greet the girl when Nicol reaches her.
"Hei. Here is your binocular. Thank you." Said Nicol while giving the binocular to her. "Well, I think that's all. Thanks again, see you around." With that, he turns his heel.
The girl has the sad expression when Nicol hurries walk away, she has a little crush on Nicol. That sad expression just merely, when she remembers what he had told. He said "see you around." That means she still has a chance to get to know him better. She turns her attention to the trial.
"Why did not you cheer for Athrun? This is his last trial." Asked Nicol while watching the trial, he amazes with Athrun tactic. He's really good at swimming.
Cagalli just reply lazily, "My voice can't beat those girl's. Rather I hurt my voice box, to beat theirs, I better keep quiet, furthermore, it's not like he can heard under that water." Then her ambers shoot open, like she just wake up from long slumber. She turns her head, "That is last trial right? That's mean we both need confront Auel right after that event."
"How would you do that?" Puzzled Nicol.
"He is a captain of swimming team right? In traditional, he will be the last to go back home right? Why not we wait the dude in front the changing room, and wait him there. I will message Athrun says that I got some errands to do, and ask him to go back home without me."
"Why must you message Athrun? And one more thing, Athrun also part of swimming team. Not him will be in that changing room?" Asked Nicol when he goes through the plan.
Cagalli got that annoying facial, "Well, my dear Nicol! We hide behind the wall, and in case you forgot this is the state qualifying, there will be hundreds of people in that changing room, so don't worry that Athrun will catch us. Why I need message him, is because we came here together and he wanted to treat me an ice-cream if he qualified all the trials." Cagalli drooling at the thought of Ice-cream, she really wants to have that ice-cream, but she need put her desire aside.
Without further thinking, "Are you guys' live under one roof?"
"Yes we are, well actually I live in his house. Almost every day I stay in his house, since his family in Orb and I will be lonely if I went back home."
Nicol iris raise with surprise, "You guys been friends that long?"
"Yes, since we were five." Replied Cagalli in a happy tone.
"That long and they didn't have any feelings toward each other?" Though Nicol, he thought interrupted when Cagalli grab his arm. He just let Cagalli pull him.
They both hide behind the wall, but not far from Archangel swimming team changing room. Nicol observed the situation, while Cagalli text message to Athrun. That means, tonight she will be helping her uncle at his host club.
Nicol grabs Cagalli, and hide further away when he saw a sight of Athrun.
"That was close. Have you message him yet?"
"Yes I did, who is he search for? Don't he received my message?" Mumble Cagalli, with that she message Athrun again, when she presses the sent button she looks in his direction. She sees that Athrun is fishing his phone at the back of his pant pocket. He read the message roughly then he types something on his blue phone. Suddenly her phone ringing, its Pikachu ringtone which attracts Athrun attention. Cagalli busy to shut her phone, while Athrun frowned when he heard her ringtone. He went to Cagalli, while Nicol just stays there with sweat drop, "This will be bad. I can feel it," Though Nicol.
When Cagalli managed to shut her phone, Athrun stand beside her, "Mind to elaborate why you're lying that you were off to do some errand, when clearly that you still here?" Asked Athrun in his dark voice.
Cagalli stared and turn her back, "You will mad at me, if I tell you the truth." Said Cagalli in a low voice.
"Try me."
Cagalli take a deep breath, then let it go, she face Athrun, "I investigate about Auel…" Athrun cut her before she could finish, "Even when you picky promise with me?"
Cagalli smile wryly at Athrun, "About that, I crossed my fingers behind my back with my free hand when I seal the picky promised with you."
"That's why Nicol is here, as your back-up. I was wandering by myself, why Nicol is here. Is because of you called him right?" Asked Athrun with one his eyebrows raise up.
"My majestic, you don't understand. We in danger, alien do exist in this universe. Let us confront the culprit and stop him." Pleaded Cagalli while getting hold of his blue shirt hard.
Athrun now officially confused, "Who's the culprit that you were talking about?"
"Auel, he really an alien and he wants us to be his personal slaves. Just let me confront him. Please my majestic." Cried Cagalli.
"Yes Athrun, I saw with my eyes. Let us." Interfered Nicol, when Athrun dint said a word from his mouth.
"Not you too, Nicol." Athrun let short sign, "Come on, we go inside the changing room, there you guys can confront him, by now the changing will left Auel alone." Said Athrun while grab Cagalli hand, and motioned Nicol to follow them.
Athrun were right, there were left Auel all alone.
Auel turns his head when he heard the door open then close, he eyebrows raise, "Athrun! Why are you still here? You should be home and rest. Even you won all the trials, it's still a long way to achieve our main goal." Said Auel while standing up from where he sat and grab his sport bag, put across his right shoulder.
"Auel! Can I have some of your time?"
Auel narrowed his eyebrows, but nodded as a response, "Make it quick, I need to go somewhere."
Before Athrun can say thank you as polite manner, Cagalli cut in, "Where you think you were going Auel, or should I call you Mr Alien?" Athrun just slaps his forehead, while Auel frowned.
"What the hell you were talking about, "Miss I'm president of freak show"?"
Cagalli laughs at his remarked, "I may be a freak in the outside, but that's who I am. But you wear that stupid mask of yours to fool us, the human race, but not me. I know who you really are, so stop the act.
"Okay, now I don't have time to play a childish game with you." Auel starts his tracks, but stop when Cagalli continue her alien theories, "I overheard your morning phone called, you were saying that you will conquer the world and make them as your personal slaves. In addition of that, we found something interesting in your planner, it's writing in number codes and lastly your right arm has that weird pattern of the tattoo, which you don't have it earlier in the morning."
Auel face goes dark, when he knows who the culprit that stole his planner, he snatches it from Cagalli. "You crazy woman, get life!" Barked Auel, he lost respect toward Cagalli. Auel try to walk away, but got stopped by Athrun.
"Then, is she telling the truth that you are an alien?"
Auel gets shook by Athrun absurd, then he laughs, "Athrun tell your friend, that I am not an alien." Again he stops by Athrun when he tries to exit the room.
Athrun look at him, "Then prove it."
Auel let a short sigh while massages his tense temple, "First the phone call, it was my cousin Sting called earlier. We were playing the World of Destruction. What I meant when I said conquer the world, it means I will play the game with him after my trials and together we both will conquer the world of the game and make them as our slaves. It's all in the game, if you don't believe me, search it in Uncle Google it by yourself later. The numeric codes that you stole from my planner is the cheat. You know the game cheat, I always write it down the cheat game during practice with the guys. They play the game, so we all exchange the codes. Lastly, this weird pattern ink is from wet paint, I am rushing to auditorium and the bunch of kids bumped into me. I've been pushing toward the wall that have been re-painted, I don't have time to clean them since I'm late for my next event. Now can I go?"
Athrun unblock his way, before his exit the changing room, "See Athrun what I had told you, that friend of yours will make you suffer eventually. Take my advice, find any normal friend then that FREAK!" With that Auel disappeared from trio sights.
Cagalli look on the floor, "I'm sorry Nicol. You came here for nothing, and at the same time I had embarrassed you. I'm really sorry."
Nicol walks toward Cagalli, "Well Cagalli to tell you the truth, today with you I had a lot of fun that I dint know when the last time I enjoy as much as this. It's not entirely your fault, it's mine too. I'm also sorry Cagalli. Will you still my friend?" Bowed Nicol.
Cagalli chuckled, "Nicol. What had you done that you need apologies? You have done nothing, and I will be your friend if you still want me in your life?'' Said Cagalli in low.
"You kidding me? Of course I want in your life, your life much colorful then my dull life."
"I warn you, my life full of craziness that bright." Grinned Cagalli.
"She right with craziness, Nicol." Smirk Athrun, which Cagalli saw it.
"Well, let's go Nicol, Athrun here treats us for ice-cream." Said Cagalli while wicked toward Athrun.
Athrun smile at her changing mood, "Come on Nicol."
Daisuki ice-cream, Evening
Cagalli enjoy her lemon parfait with frustrated all over her face, "your captain should not treat me like that, you know Athrun. I don't know how he can be captain of the swimming team." Mumble Cagalli while munching a spoonful of her parfait.
"Because he has the skills." Replied casual Athrun, he also enjoys his strawberry sundae.
Nicol chuckled, "We both really are something, when we both think that Auel is an alien." Said Nicol, he feels blessed when he licks his chocolate triple cream.
"Or he is?" Said Cagalli while wagging her spoon across Nicol face.
"Enough with that, okay Cagalli? He is not an alien, and furthermore, I already checked that game he had been talked about. It all check out that he was telling the truth."
"You know what my majestic, now I think I believe in alien. From now on I will read about alien existed." Said Cagalli in enthusiasm.
All Athrun can do is chuckled at her enthusiasm, which he impresses.
"By the way my majestic" said Cagalli while swallow her parfait, which caught Athrun attention, "I haven't congratulated you, so here it go, congratulation my majestic, hope that you can win again in the future trials, I have a faith in you. You can do it, just do your best and give it all." Said Cagalli while carrying her spoonful parfait up into the air, and fly those spoonful into her mouth.
"Yes, Athrun congratulation." Said Nicol.
Athrun smile, "You know what that's mean princess? You will be watching each of my trials."
"Like I ever miss your stupid trials!" Pouted Cagalli.
"Nope. You never in your life missed it, thanks." Said Athrun, his smile never fades from his handsome face, which caused Cagalli blushed madly. She slowly munched her treats in silence.
The trio enjoys their moment, tomorrow will be another exciting day for them.
TBC…