HotaruZala here with chapter 3 of The Zala Files. This is the chapter that really sets things up for the rest of the story. Sorry...that's all I'm going to tell you...but trust me when I say that all will be revealed in due time. To my friend Dearka Elsman ...I now bring you the Lacus happiness you ask for. And to Steshin...I bring you a surprise as well...but you'll have to read to find out.

Disclaimer: I do not own GS, GSD, or the Athrunliciousness that is Athrun Zala...(sighs) Again...much to my dismay.

The Zala Files: Chapter 3 – The Wheels of Fate

-That same day 3pm. Location: Approaching the outside of the Athha Estate

Athrun and Meyrin sat quietly in his black Porsche convertible, the wind whipping through his blue locks while Meyrin's pigtails flew about getting in her face. They slowly pulled up to the giant gate...behind it stood a house equal in size to Athrun's childhood home back in December city...almost like a castle in fact. Athrun identified himself and drove up to park where one of the house valets was pointing. The pair quickly exited the car, since they had arrived later than Athrun had intended because he had to pry Miss Campbell off his arm before he left the house earlier.

As they now stood at the front door, Athrun brushed off his green dress shirt and black pants, his black jacket casually draped over his shoulder. Meyrin busied herself by smoothing out her white peasant top and pink knee length skirt, then clutched her pink purse tightly to her side. Athrun rang the doorbell and waited. A butler finally answered the door and let the pair inside the large grand foyer. Once inside, Athrun heard a voice call from the top of the stairs: "Kisaka-san?"... "Who's there?"

Kisaka addressed Kira formally: "Lord Athrun Zala here to see you as you requested Master Yamato."

Kira walked down the steps and directly up to his friend...desperately trying his best to look cool and calm in front of him: "It's been awhile hasn't it?" He stuck out his hand for Athrun to shake.

Athrun nodded and returned the handshake with a small, yet solemn smile: "Yes...it has...I'm very sorry about your father Kira."

Kira smiled weakly: "Thank you Athrun."

Athrun turned to Meyrin and gently nudged the nervous girl forward: "This is my partner...Miss Meyrin Hawke of May city." Meyrin bowed in Kira's direction.

Kira waved his hands and smiled in an embarrassed fashion: "You don't have to bow...it's okay...I'm not big on formalities...and you may call me Kira also Miss Meyrin."

Athrun chuckled at Meyrin's awkwardness and then got directly to the point: "So...who was here when this happened?"... "Besides you I mean?"

Kira replied: " My fiancée Fllay Allster...Yuuna Roma Seran...a...(Kira coughs)...family friend, Sai Argyle, a school friend of mine, Lady Lacus Clyne of Aprilius city..."

Athrun noticed his friend blush as he mentioned Lady Lacus's name.

Kira continued: "...Kisaka our bodyguard and butler, and my twin sister."

Athrun's eyes widened in shock: "You have a twin sister?"... "And you're engaged?"

Kira chuckled a bit: "I said that at the beginning Mr. Delayed Reaction Man."

Athrun blushed embarrassed at his own stupidity. Suddenly...a fiery voice bombed form the top of the stairs: " What's going on down there Kira?"

Athrun turned at the sound of the voice. Emerald eyes widened in shock once again as he felt himself lose the grip he had on his coat, which then fell to the floor. His heartbeat began to quicken with every step she took down the long staircase...all the while tripping over the red heel she most likely didn't want to wear...the strapless red satin gown bringing out the bright amber color of her eyes. Her short golden hair fell loosely around her face as she wore around her neck a necklace with a pink stone in the center.

A lady in waiting chased after her shouting anxiously: "My Lady...we haven't finished your makeup yet!"

Cagalli bellowed loudly: "I told you...no more makeup!"... "I won't look like a clown!"

Kira chuckled: "Athrun, Miss Meyrin...meet my sister...Lady Cagalli Yula Athha."

Cagalli's angry gaze shifted as soon as her brother mentioned the name Athrun. Her eyes widened and she suddenly grew quiet before muttering: "Pleased to meet you Miss Meyrin...Lord Zala." She curtsied politely as she now glared at him.

Athrun, still in a state of shock managed to get out: "Cagalli..." "I mean...likewise...Miss Athha." He bowed to show his respect as he continued: "I'm sorry about your father."

Meyrin bowed and eyed the pair suspiciously as she did so, then quickly shrugged it off.

Cagalli nodded calmly: "Thank you Lord Zala, Miss Meyrin... now if you'll excuse me...I'm going to go for a small walk on the terrace. She walked slowly past Athrun and as her shoulder brushed against his, he eyed her.

Athrun chuckled and whispered: "Nice dress."

Cagalli turned to him and hissed in a whisper: "Meet me out back in ten minutes...we're talking." Athrun nodded and shook himself back into reality as she walked outside the back door. He turned to address everyone in the room: "Alright...I'll need to have everyone in the sitting room in about a half an hour...until then..." He looked over his shoulder quickly: "Until then, I'll take a quick look around the house...starting out back...there may be something out there the police may have overlooked." He left Meyrin and Kira to gather up all the house guests for the time being.

Meanwhile...out back on the terrace:

Cagalli's red high heel tapped impatiently on the concrete of the porch out back: "Where is he?" She nearly fell over when she heard the door close from behind her and the sound of footsteps slowly approaching filled the quiet afternoon air. She pleaded to herself: "Please don't let it be Yuuna...!"

Instead of the shrill voice she was expecting to hear that would ultimately ruin her day, a soft, gentle voice interrupted her thoughts: "Cagalli?" She felt the hair on the back of her neck stand up, proving the affect the voice obviously had on her insides, she finally spoke in as calm a tone that she could muster: "Athrun."

Athrun scuffed his shoes awkwardly on the ground, and stared at it in a futile attempt to avoid her devastating gaze: "It's been a long time."

Cagalli muttered: "Yeah...I guess."

Athrun, through mischievous, yet pained eyes asked jokingly: "So...where's your husband?"

Cagalli hissed: "You know very well he's not my husband...if I had my way I'd have nothing to do with him...it was father's idea...and now..." Her voice trailed off. She promised herself she wouldn't cry again.

Athrun countered her argument: "You say you'd have nothing to do with him...but he's still slithering around here right?"... "If this isn't what you want, you should just speak up...tell Kira what you want!"

Cagalli exclaimed: "I've told Kira how I felt and what I wanted!"

Athrun anxiously asked: "And...?"

Cagalli sighed heavily in frustration at having to play fifty questions: "He agrees that I should drop him...but I promised father..."

Athrun replied in his usual gentle tone this time: "This can't be what Lord Uzumi would've wanted for you."

Cagalli hissed, her amber orbs burning furiously: "You didn't even know father...how could you possibly know what he was thinking!"

Athrun began to grow exceedingly frustrated as could be seen through the glowing anger within his emerald eyes: "Obviously!"... "You never told me that Lord Uzumi was your father...you just said your last name was Yula when I asked!"... He clenched his fist in anger as he continued: " And now I find out that my best friend since childhood is your twin brother!"... "Forgive me for being so surprised!"... His frustrated tone now taking total control: "If you actually believe that your father wanted this for you...maybe you didn't know his thoughts either...Miss Yula!"

Cagalli growled, tears beginning to well up in her eyes: "I knew it would be pointless trying to talk to you!"... She screamed as loud as she could: "I HATE YOU ATHRUN ZALA!" She turned abruptly on her heels as she was about to stalk away.

Athrun grabbed her wrist and whirled her around to face him once again. Just above a whisper, he managed a soft: "That's a lie."

Cagalli shook with anger and longing at the same time as she stammered angrily: "I-I do hate you!"... "Now let me go!"

Ignoring her as he usually did, Athrun wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her close in a tight hug: "No...you don't...just like I could never hate you...Cagalli."

Cagalli's heartbeat quickened at his all too familiar embrace: "A-Athrun...stop."

Athrun, enjoying the warmth of their embrace, smiled slightly and whispered in her ear : "Just tell me one thing...is he..I mean...have you?"

Cagalli blushed embarrassed and mumbled against his shoulder: "Hell no."

Athrun chuckled: "I see...so...um..." He blushed slightly before finally asking: "That automatically means I'm better than him...right?"

Cagalli rolled her eyes, trying really hard to keep from laughing hysterically: "As far as those matters are concerned... even if I had...you know...with Yuuna..." She gagged at the thought and continued: "I'd still have to say...you were a lot more satisfying...that's a given..." She noticed him smirk out of the corner of her eye: "But that is never to leave this terrace...you got that!" She blushed embarrassed and growled: "Okay!"... "There!"... "Are you happy now!"

Athrun laughed lightly: "After hearing that you think I would be..." He gently brushed her bangs from her fiery eyes, his own gazing sadly into hers: "But I'm not...probably never will be again."

Cagalli, in turn, brushed his blue bangs away from his eyes, but they fell back as they always did. She slowly shook her head: "Athrun...don't do this...please...we both know it's over."

Athrun shook his head like a stubborn child and brushed her hand away, his tone determined: "Maybe you do...but I believe in second chances." He released her from his hug and headed for the door just as Kira was coming out to fetch him.

Kira eyed the pair suspiciously: "Everyone's been gathered in the sitting room as per your request Athrun."

Athrun nodded: "Alright." He turned away from Kira and Cagalli and entered the house, the door closing softly behind his retreating form.

Only brother and sister remained on the terrace.

Kira put his arm around his sister's shoulders: "He's right you know."

Cagalli eyed her brother: "You were listening!"... "How much did you hear?"

Kira chuckled at her angry face: "Pretty much all of it...how come you never told me about you and him?"

Cagalli sighed heavily in frustration and ran her fingers through her short golden hair: "I didn't feel it was worth mentioning...what's past is past...it's time I moved forward...he's part of my past...I've got enough on my plate without having to crag my past around behind me like a pack mule."

Kira shook his head and sighed heavily along with her: "Listen...I've been thinking a lot about my life recently...a lot about how long it took for me to find you and father, and how I felt when I finally did. It was a wonderful feeling to finally know That I had a place to come home to, with people who really cared about me. I also have my friends: Sai, who's been a huge support ...even after I almost lost him as a friend when Fllay dumped him for me. He and I were a little rocky afterwards, but he's still been there for me. Then there's Athrun...I've known him for years and even after not seeing each other for three years, I like how we can just always go back to being best friends in less than minutes. And then there's Fllay. I love her very much. You'd think since I have all this, I'd be happy...right?" He eyed Cagalli seriously: "Well...truth is...lately I've been feeling as if there's a void in my life. It's as if a piece of the puzzle of my life is still unfinished. He smiled warmly at his sister: "I bet that's what Athrun feel like right now too...except...he knows what and where his missing piece is."

Cagalli nodded intently at her brother's words of wisdom..she smirked slightly: "Kira?"... "I can tell you where to find your missing piece."

Kira offered an arm and escorted her back inside as he chuckled: "Really?"... "Would you be kind enough to tell me then oh wise one?"

Cagalli grinned and elbowed him teasingly: "Just seek out Lady Lacus Clyne and I'm sure you'll find your answer."

Kira blushed bright red in embarrassment: "C-Cagalli please!"... "I'm engaged."

Cagalli shrugged and chuckled: "Oh yeah...I almost forgot...silly me." She thought to herself: "Mental note: #1: Let Kira know what you really think about Fllay. 2#: Apologize to Athrun...the last one has to be done tonight."

As everyone was waiting in the sitting room waiting to be questioned, Kira entered and motioned for Athrun to come out into the hall for a moment, which he did.

Kira, in brother mode, spoke coolly: "Before we start...somebody would like to say something to you."

Athrun turned around and came face to face with Cagalli once again. They both blushed and looked away from each other.

Kira chuckled at their awkwardness: "I'll leave you two alone." He turned to Athrun, his brother mode returning: "Don't try anything funny with your hands...I'll be watching you." He grinned: "Okay?" He turned and left to join the others in the living room.

Cagalli blushed in anger and embarrassment at her brother.

Athrun nodded quickly...afraid of what Kira could do if provoked. Then he turned his attention back to Cagalli: "Cagalli...listen...I.."

Cagalli cut him off: "No...you listen...I'm...I'm sorry I snapped at you...it's just...I've been under a lot of pressure lately...and with all that's happened..."

Athrun nodded and smiled: "That's okay...you just lost your father...and your busy...I understand."

Cagalli sighed heavily in frustration, she could tell it was one of his forced smiles, so she spoke up: "We'll talk again later...okay?"

Athrun nodded and smiled: "Yes."... "Okay."

-Okies people...that's the end of chappie 3. I hope you all enjoyed it cause...like I said...there's a lot more to come. Oh...and just so everyone knows, Athrunlicious is a term me and my girls made up one night to describe the deliciousness that it Athrun Zala. It means not only does he look good...but he tastes good too! Lol I won't tell you what that taste part means...you can use your imaginations. Lol