Hey there!...HotaruZala back again with a new chappie for everyone! This chappie contains AsuCaga flashback and present time happiness..so all AsuCaga fans like me...get ready for some happy awkward moments. (smiles) Gotta love those cute moments!

Disclaimer: I do not own GS, GSD, or the Athrunliciousness that is Athrun Zala...which makes me sad. (cries)

The Zala Files- Chapter 6: Days of Wine and Roses:Part 1

-The country of Orb, Athha Estate, 10: 50pm that same night. Location: Just outside Cagalli's room-

Before the two friends parted ways for the night, Athrun pulled Kira aside.

Athrun yawned and then spoke: "Kira?"... "I know this is going to sound weird, but...do you know any eligible bachelors around here?"

Kira eyed his friend and snickered: "Why?"... "You thinking about switching teams?"

Athrun blushed bright red in embarrassment and hissed: "Not for me!"... "For Miss Hawke..." He shifted from foot to foot awkwardly. "I'm worried about her."

Kira blinked in confusion: "Why?"... "She seems fine."

Athrun sighed heavily: "She's been giving me weird looks lately...and sometimes she blushes when she does."

Kira chuckled: "Ahh...now I understand."

Athrun eyed his friend, a desperate look in his emerald eyes: "I..I think she likes me."

Kira sighed and chuckled again as he shook his head at his friend's often oblivious nature: "Well duh Athrun...I've only just met her and I can tell." He eyed Athrun curiously: "Wait...do you li..?"

Athrun blushed embarrassed and shook his head as he cut his friend off: "That's just it...I feel that if she hangs around me too much, she'll end up disappointed. I just don't think she could fathom the hurt of someone she trusts and admires telling her..." He paused before he said: "Telling her...I'm sorry Miss Hawke, but I'm locked in a warped love triangle with an engaged princess and her half wit fiancée. I just want her to be happy, and not disappointed because I fall short of her expectations."

Kira smiled and nodded: "Okay...Okay...I get it. I'll introduce her to my friend Sai...he seemed to be staring quite intently at her during the questioning anyway."

Athrun smiled and sighed with relief at the prospect of not having to confront the issue as he'd planned: "Thank you Kira...I appreciate that."

Kira grinned and chuckled: "I just brought you a step closer to fulfilling your secret fantasies with Cagalli...didn't I?"

Athrun blushed slightly as a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth: "I'll have to get back to you on that...night Kira." He waved goodnight to his friend and then proceeded to enter the "lioness's" room.

Once inside, he looked about the room only to find the fiery blonde absent. He heard the water running in the bathroom and sighed with relief, grateful that she was safe. He noticed piles of books on her desk, which appeared to be school work for the college she was attending. He thumbed through her British Lit book and noticed that she had stopped on a particular page. He thought to himself: "Hmm...she's in the middle of this story..." He paused and looked around to make sure she was still in the bathroom before reading the passage quietly: "Yet I know that our Knight and the noble Lady...were accorded so closely in company there, with the seemly solace of their secret words, with speeches well-sped, spotless, and pure, That each Prince's pastime their pleasures far outshone. Sweet pipes beguile their cares, And the trumpet of martial tone; Each tends to his affairs...And these two tend their own."

-Flashback to October 29th, CE 72, Main Zala Estate, Athrun's 17th Birthday Party. Location: December City. Time: 10pm -

Athrun sighed heavily. As expected, this party turned out to be a huge drag. He hadn't been asked to dance once...by his escort Miss Yula...or by anyone else...as he'd expected. Miss Yula had made it extremely clear that she was definitely not interested in dancing or anything else that required her to touch or come within fifty feet of him. He had to say...Miss Yula's temper was proving to be quite a disturbing trait...yet, he found it strangely intriguing at the same time. Her mood might be devilish, but from her angelic appearance, she seemed to have everyone fooled...everyone except him that is.

Mrs. Almalfi, his friend Nicol's mother, approached the sullen looking birthday boy and asked him why he was so down on his special day.

Athrun shook his head and forced out a small smile: "It's okay...it's nothing."

Mrs. Almalfi eyed the boy carefully: "Really?"... "It doesn't look like nothing Athrun."

Athrun sighed heavily. His mother's friends knew him all too well: "These parties are always a bust...my birthday's just an excuse for father to parade his new ideas around to the council...it's his version of a dog and pony show."

Mrs. Almalfi nodded and chuckled: "Yes, I'm well aware of that...but from what I see, that's not you're only problem." She eyed the fiery blonde girl going for her fourth cup of punch, then turned her attention back to him: "You seem to be lacking a dance partner."

Athrun sighed heavily again and managed a small smile: "She doesn't like to dance."

Mrs. Almalfi grinned and giggled at the whole scene in front of her: "Maybe she just doesn't know how...maybe all she needs is a good teacher." She winked in his direction.

Athrun blushed in an embarrassed fashion: "I-I don't really think I'm good enough to be giving lessons just yet...besides, I get the impression that she doesn't take me very seriously."

Mrs. Almalfi giggled again: "Well, that's because of that outfit of yours. It's alright for formal affairs like meetings and such...but for tonight...it's a little too stuffy. It's your birthday...you shouldn't have to wear your ZAFT uniform tonight...it might be considered a formal affair for some of us, but for you..." She smiled warmly at him: "For you it should be a fun time, a time to let yourself go and just relax." She quickly scanned the room: "Your father doesn't appear to be here."

Athrun nodded: "I know...he told me he wasn't coming. He's meeting with the council...as I said before...this is just an excuse for him to gather them all here...they're probably all upstairs in a meeting right now."

Mrs. Almalfi nodded and smiled: "I see...so...why don't you go and change then... if anyone asks, I'll tell them you're in the restroom."

Athrun smiled warmly at his friend's kind mother: "Y-Yes. Thank you...Almalfi Oka-san."

Mrs. Almalfi smiled after his retreating form as he left.

20 minutes later... -

Athrun was walking down the hallway back towards his party. He was now clad in a pair of black pants and shoes, a white dress shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows, the top two buttons undone, a dash of Arimis cologne, and a silver bracelet with a red stone on it which was engraved to read: "Justice", a gift from his mother weeks before she died. He was just about to enter the large ballroom, when he heard a loud discussion taking place next door. He stood outside and listened in as one council member asked about the current situation in Orb, while another asked what was to be done with the resistance prisoner Miss Yula. His father replied: "The recent disturbances being caused in Orb have nothing to do with any of our current plans to rehabilitate the remaining PLANT colonies...and as for Miss Yula...we won't have to worry about her for too much longer...it's being taken care of...by the end of the night, everything will be set in motion."

Athrun's eyes widened as he remembered what he was supposed to do that night...he had to ...cause an accident for Miss Yula. The blue haired coordinator shook all other negative thoughts out of his head..he repeated to himself: "I have to do this...I need to focus...I can't let myself get distracted." He turned and was about to enter the main room once again until...

Patrick Zala spoke again: "Do I really think that naïve boy of mine is going to go all the way with this?"... He laughed wickedly: "...Of course not!"... "At the last minute, he'll make up some rotten excuse about how he was so close, but she managed to escape...he's starting to get too lenient...but she won't escape...there are multiple guards surrounding that hall just waiting for her to try it...Athrun is just here to serve as a pleasant little distraction."

Athrun growled to himself: "I knew he didn't have any confidence in me...distraction huh?"... "Since when did I become downgraded to bait!" ... "Well...this time Father...I'll prove you wrong." He patted his pants pocket where his gun was, and entered the main room once again. He slowly approached his brooding escort, and tapped her shoulder gently: "Miss Yula?"... "Would you like to dance?"

Miss Yula shook her head and whirled around angrily to face him: "I thought I already told yo..." She was shocked to find that he'd changed outfits.

Athrun noticed her staring at him far longer than usual: "What's the matter?" Curious himself, he looked at his reflection in a nearby window and felt a smirk tug at the corner of his mouth: "No good?"

Miss Yula blushed embarrassed: "I-I never said that!"

Athrun chuckled: "I see..." He handed her a single red rose he'd picked up from a vase in the hallway: "I meant to give this to you earlier...as a thank you for agreeing to come tonight."

Miss Yula's amber eyes widened in shock at first at the young Coordinator's kind gesture, then took the gift in her hand as she nodded: "I really didn't have much of a choice you know."

Athrun shrugged: "It doesn't matter...what matters is that someone is here for me to share my misery with." He smirked a bit when he said: "As they say...misery loves company."

Miss Yula sighed heavily: "You can say that again...this whole thing is a bust, I'm bored beyond recognition, and your father really seems to hate me."

Athrun shook his head: "I wouldn't worry about that...he's mad at the world...if it's any consolation...he hates me too."

Miss Yula eyed him as she questioned him: "I don't get it..." "Why the fancy party then?"

Athrun shook his head again: "It's all just smoke and mirrors...these affairs are just an excuse for Father to gather the council people together in one place so he can spout off his political opinions and ideas."

Miss Yula nodded: "Sounds familiar."

Athrun,with the inquisitiveness of a child asked: "Hmm?"... "What sounds familiar?"

Miss Yula shook her head quickly: "Never mind."

Athrun sighed heavily as he glanced at the clock: "There's one dance left...listen...all I ask is that I get to dance tonight...even if it's just once...I promise I'll never bother you about it again." He pleaded in an innocent, childlike tone: "Please Miss Yula...it's my birthday."

Miss Yula stifled the urge to laugh, she muttered loudly: "Alright!"... "Alright!"... "But don't cry to me if I end up crippling you."

Athrun laughed lightly and snatching her hand, dragged her out onto the dance floor, he joked: "Don't worry about me...I think I'll survive." He fumbled about awkwardly with his hands trying to remember where to put them.

Miss Yula shook her head and smirked slightly: "Don't worry...I think I should be Zala...here..." She snatched one of his wandering hands in her own: "In a waltz...this hand goes here."

Athrun's emerald eyes widened, then his mouth turned up in a wry smile: "I thought you said...and I quote...: "I don't dance!"... "And if you touch me...I'll waste you!"

Miss Yula blushed embarrassed and growled: "I don't dance!"... "I just watch a lot of t.v."

Athrun laughed out loud at that statement: "Yeah...sure...right."

Miss Yula, even more embarrassed then before, growled again: "Stop laughing!"... "I don't dance because I...because I...I don't know how...okay!"... "Are you happy now!"

Athrun stopped laughing immediately and laughed on the inside as he remembered what Mrs. Almalfi had said to him earlier, chuckled and offered Miss Yula a reassuring smile as he answered: "Neither do I...I mean...not that much. All I can do fairly well is a waltz...truth is...I really kinda suck...which is the real reason I don't go clubbing with Dearkka when he asks...but don't tell him I said that."

Miss Yula smirked and moved his other wandering hand to rest around her waist: "This hand goes here...I do know that much Zala."

Athrun's eyes widened as he blushed awkwardly: "W-Wait...what are you ...I-I don't know about this."

Miss Yula chuckled a bit at his shyness, rolled her eyes, and hissed: "C'mon!"... "You started this...now you'll finish it...show me your moves Zala."

Athrun chuckled and nodded: "Okay then..." He began to move with her gracefully across the dance floor, applying turns and dips when appropriate. He noticed lots of eyes resting on them , he whispered: "You seem to know what you're doing...I thought you just said you didn't know how."

Miss Yula whispered back, her temper starting to peak through: " For the billionth time...I don't!"... "I've just been around some parties like this...so I picked up a waltz move or two...but that's it!"... "Don't read too much into this Zala!"

Athrun laughed , his emerald eyes lighting up when he did so: "If I did, you might shoot me again."

Miss Yula noticed him touch his pants pocket briefly, as if he were reaching for something...but he'd quickly retracted his hand. She shrugged it off and smiled in his direction: " You got that right."

As the waltz music came to an end, Miss Yula turned to leave the dance floor, but the tug of Athrun's hand stopped her. He tilted his head to the side as if he were pondering something and eyed her curiously.

Miss Yula's amber eyes stared back at him, a fire burning deep within them. She whirled around frustrated: "Now what do you wa...!" Before she could finish her sentence, she felt herself being pulled in for a tight hug. Her face reddened and her eyes widened: "W-what are you..!"

Athrun smiled serenely, and closed his eyes as he hugged her, he softly replied: "Thank you...just...thank you."

Miss Yula stammered: "T-thank you!"... "For what!" ... "It was just a dance... no big deal!"

Athrun nodded firmly and smiled: "Got it... you know...you should smile more...it works for you Miss Yula."

Miss Yula blushed slightly: "Y-yeah...sure...whatever...later." She turned and started walking towards the doors that led to the garden.

Athrun was so busy staring after her, he almost failed to notice the armed guards rushing towards her at top speed. His eyes widened in horror as he yelled: "Miss Yula!"... "Look out!"

Miss Yula whipped her head around and saw some guys running at her. She drew a gun out from a white garter she wore under her dress around her leg. She had somehow managed to steal her gun back while everybody was fussing with her makeup and clothes earlier. As she fired, she felt herself being pushed out the large doors and shoved to the ground outside. She blinked her eyes in confusion and shock as the blue haired Coordinator lay flat on top of her.

Athrun worriedly asked: "Miss Yula?"... "Are you okay!"

A slight tint colored Miss Yula's face before she growled: " I'm fine!" ... "Now get off me Zala!" ... "You're crushing me!"

Athrun, realizing how this position they were in, backed away quickly, a heavy blush staining his face. In an embarrassed tone, he managed: "I'm sorry." He eyed her gun and asked with boyish curiosity: "Where'd that gun come from?"... "And where were you hiding it?"

Miss Yula stood up and brushed herself off as she yelled: "That's none of your business!" ... "What the hell's going on here!"

Athrun noticed the guards inside scanning the crowded room for Miss Yula. He grabbed her shoulders and shoved her up against the wall, hiding her from their sight.

Miss Yula hissed: "Hey!" ... "What the hell are you...?"

Athrun abruptly cut her off: "Just past those trees, there's a car waiting for you. There will be two blonde guys , a red head, and an angry silver haired guy with a scar on his eye muttering the word "bastard" under his breath sitting in it. They're going to take you to the address I've already given them. They answer to the names Dearkka, Miguel, Rusty, and Yzak."

Miss Yula's amber orbs eyes him suspiciously: "I don't know if I should trust you...and..." She glanced down at his side where she noticed a small bleeding graze where her gun had ended up firing...her eyes widened: "Oh my god!...I'm sor..."

Athrun chuckled and winced a bit: "Looks like you ended up shooting me anyway."

Miss Yula blushed embarrassed and started to apologize: "S-Sorry about that...here...let me..." She reached her hand out to patch up the wound.

Athrun shook his head and gently brushed her hand away: "Forget it."... "It's nothing...I've had worse..." ... "But you need to get out of here..." ... "Get going!"... "I'll cover for you."

Miss Yula nodded firmly: "Um...okay...but...what are you gonna do!"

Athrun offered her a reassuring smile: "Don't worry...I'll come up with something good..." ... "Just trust me." He turned to enter the ballroom...but before he came into view completely, he softly said: "Maybe...we'll meet up again...in the future."

Miss Yula nodded again, turned and started to leave. She then stopped and quickly ran back: "Wait!"... "Take this." She pulled the necklace with the pink stone over her head and placed it carefully around his neck: "It's a Haumea talisman stone...you have a thing for getting into trouble...it'll protect you...Athrun." She flashed a small smile in his direction before making a mad dash across the yard and hopping into the silver convertible of Dearkka's which would take her to safety. She called out as they were driving away: "The name's Cagalli!"... "Don't die okay!"

Athrun chuckled and smiled serenely as he fingered the stone around his neck: "Cagalli huh?"... He kept repeating her name over and over in his head so he wouldn't forget it.

-"Athrun?"... "Athrun!"... "Hey Athrun!"... "Are you awake!"

Athrun woke up from his dream about the past and stammered tiredly: "I-I wasn't sleeping!"... "I was just resting my eyes."

Cagalli rolled her eyes and smirked: "Still the same old tired excuse I see."

Athrun slung his suitcase onto his lap: "Kira said it was okay with you for me to sleep in here...was he lying?" Athrun fiddled with his hands anxiously: "Cause if he was I swear I'll..."

Cagalli nodded tiredly: "Whatever." "It doesn't matter." "I've got mountains of work to do." She eyed the blue haired sleuth with the curiosity of a cat: "Have you been reading my English Lit homework?"

Athrun nodded and smiled guiltily: "Yeah...I was up to the part about the Knight and the Noble Lady."

Cagalli continued to eye him: "I haven't gotten to that part yet...so...tell me...how does it turn out for them?"

Athrun gave her one of his small smiles: "I don't know."... "They've haven't finished yet."

-Okies everyone...that's chappie 6! HotaruZala hopes you all enjoyed cause there's more AsuCaga happiness coming up! Oh...and in case anyone is wondering, the excerpt that Athrun was reading at the opening is from a story I read in my summer English Lit class called: "Sir Gowain and the Green Knight." When I read it, I couldn't help but have Athrun read Sir Gowain's lines since he is ...after all..the "Red Knight." AsuCaga Love!