A/N: My fingers hurt… from playing the piano for two hours straight. I really should know better.
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam SEED.
Chapter 7 – Reunited
Fllay stood on the beach, facing the sea and kicking sand into the air aimlessly. It was in the early afternoon, and the sun was a blazing sphere beaming down on her skin, but she couldn't stay cooped up in the small wooden building any longer. She imagined that if she had to hear children fighting one more time, she would go crazy.
Staring out at the clear blue water, she could almost fool herself into thinking that she was alone. Almost. Because she knew that all she had to do was turn and she'd probably see Sakiya standing a mere hundred metres away from her, watching her surroundings for any threat. A hundred metres away in another direction was Kenji, similarly watching for any threat against her. All this security felt stifling, but she would rather not try to talk Sakiya out of following her around all the time. The older woman had only reluctantly allowed Fllay to go out without her disguise.
With her red hair tied up loosely, Fllay watched the seagulls wheeling across the water, but her mind was really elsewhere. Ever since she arrived at the orphanage, Kira hadn't returned even once. She knew that it wasn't normal, because she overheard Lacus talking to Athrun over the phone about how Kira was overworking himself by taking on extra shifts over the last three days. It didn't take a genius to put two and two together. Kira was obviously trying to avoid her.
She sighed out loud. If her bodyguards heard, they gave no sign of it. The sun was getting hot enough that Fllay was beginning to long for the shade of the orphanage. Sighing again, she trudged through the sand, making her way back. As though drawn by a string, Sakiya and Kenji followed, always on the lookout for anything out of the ordinary.
Lacus had been nice to her, as expected, Fllay mused as she left a trail of footprints leading to the building. More than she deserved, really. She could tell that Lacus really loved Kira, and with how kind and caring she was, they would make a perfect match.
And what about me? That thought rose unbidden into her head. Resolutely, Fllay pushed that thought away. She didn't have the space to think about it now.
Then there was the Reverend, who was about as nice as Lacus. Fllay felt slightly embarrassed that he seemed to be able to tell that she didn't enjoy having kids run in and out of her room, even though she technically had no right to keep them out. But he knew, and he made an effort to keep her from being bothered by them too often. And for that, she was grateful.
And finally there was Mr Brown, a middle-aged professional lawyer who came down to the orphanage every day to work with Lacus and her on her impending trial. Fllay didn't know his full name; he only introduced himself as Mr Brown, and Lacus addressed him by that, so Fllay followed suit. Mr Brown was inquisitive, and apparently patient enough to be civil even when half her answers to his questions were along the lines of "I don't know" or "I'm sorry, I can't remember."
What she did know and remember wasn't very comforting either. For one, there was no witnesses to testify that Le Creuset had told her that the disc was the key to ending the war, so she couldn't prove that she had been misled. There was no closed-circuit TV in his quarters either, so even if there was an salvageable footage, they wouldn't have any to prove her innocence anyway.
On the other hand, there was a whole bunch of Earth Alliance soldiers who could testify that she had parroted Le Creuset's words, and that the whole N-Jammer fiasco started after she handed the disc over to Azreal, so things didn't look too good on that front either. Mr Brown and Lacus had been nice enough to keep it from her, but she knew that if the PLANTs called on those soldiers, she could kiss her case – and her life – goodbye.
Fllay sighed again, and this time Sakiya did turn to give her a look. She responded by shaking her head to indicate that nothing was wrong, nothing that the lieutenant could fix anyway. She sort of felt sorry for the two ORB soldiers, they didn't ask to be here. Kenji, in particular, had been especially vocal about being stuck in the middle of nowhere with no buddies to joke and fool around with. Fllay's first instinct was to apologise for his plight, but before she could say a word, Sakiya had told him to be a man and suck it up before she sent him to joke and fool around with the sharks.
Everyone had obligingly laughed at that, but privately Fllay could understand where Kenji was coming from. She felt pretty lonely herself, what with having no friends around to talk to. Lacus was the only girl of her age around, and while she was pleasant enough, Fllay couldn't hold a decent conversation with her without feeling horribly uncomfortable and guilty. It was at times like this that she missed Miriallia and Tolle and Kuzzey and Sai. Then she would feel sorry that she volunteered back then and made all of them volunteer with her, because if they didn't, Tolle would still be alive, and Sai… she would still be dating Sai.
Even though it would have been horribly unfair to him, because she now knew that she never really loved Sai, she was just flattered by his attention and saw him as an anchor during the war. In fact, she probably never loved anyone genuinely until Kira. But even if Kira hadn't been in the picture, she and Sai would have fallen apart eventually. She just didn't like him in the same way he liked her.
Still, she wanted to meet him anyway. The way they had ended things was less than perfect, and she should probably at least apologise to him for the way she treated him on the Archangel.
Despite that, she didn't breath a word about her thoughts to anyone. She felt that she was enough of a burden as it is, and she had no right to be asking for favours.
Fllay sighed a third time, this time in relief, as she stepped into the cool shade that the orphanage building offered. The sun had become a killer, a blazing ball too bright to even think of looking at, and Fllay hadn't put on any sunscreen or worn a cap. Now she was slightly sunburned, and as she looked enviously at Sakiya, she admired the woman's foresight in wearing a cap and sunglasses.
Kicking her shoes lightly against the steps, she removed most of the sand that clung to them before stepping into the building proper. A couple of kids were playing on the porch, but they didn't approach her or the two guards accompanying her. When she first arrived, she had been pestered every hour or so to play some game or other with them, all of which she politely declined, much to the children's disappointment. Kenji had agreed on and off, depending on his mood, and Sakiya had given off such a murderous aura that none of the kids dared to approach her.
Fllay stepped into the main hall, wondering if Mr Brown had already arrived. He hadn't, apparently, but Lacus was sitting at the table, speaking on the phone to someone. Fllay pulled out a chair and waited for her to be done. Sakiya and Kenji wordlessly split up, one to the window and the other to the door. She could feel Sakiya watching her with one eye even though she was technically supposed to be looking out of the window for suspicious activity. It made her feel uncomfortable, but she was somewhat used to it. The lieutenant seemed to make a hobby out of glaring at people.
"Yes, she won't be here today," Lacus was saying pleasantly to whoever it was on the other end of the line. "I'm sure that we'll be fine, since Miss Allster has already told us everything she knows. Would that be alright with you, Mr Brown?"
So Lacus was talking to Mr Brown about her. Fllay traced the grain of the wood. Who wouldn't be here today? From the sound of it, it was probably herself, but she wasn't allowed to leave the orphanage… was she?
"Yes, yes, thank you very much. I'll see you later then," Lacus said cheerfully before hanging up. Fllay was curious. Just what had they been talking about?
"Was that Mr Brown?" asked Fllay, her hands still tracing over the table.
The pink-haired girl smiled brilliantly at her. "Yes, it was. I was telling him that you wouldn't be around today, you have to go somewhere."
"Oh," Fllay replied automatically. Her mind ran through the possibilities, none of which seemed very good. "Where am I going?"
Lacus' smile turned mysterious, though it was as broad as ever. Placing a finger on her lips, she said conspiratorially, "You'll find out soon. Lieutenant and Sergeant Mizuno will be taking you there, and you'll have to disguise yourself again. But I'm sure you'll have a good time."
Fllay cast an eye at the two Lacus mentioned. Sakiya was now conscientiously looking out of the sole window, and deliberately not meeting her eyes, which was worrying. When Sakiya wasn't being straightforward and downright scary, it probably meant that something was wrong. She turned to Kenji, who was leaning in boredom against the doorframe. He, on the other hand, met her gaze with a sardonic smile, a roll of his eyes, and affirmed what Lacus had said. "Yeah, princess, we have orders to take you somewhere. We're supposed to take you to some godforsaken forest to shoot you in the head and hide the corpse, so take your own sweet time to get ready, will you?"
It didn't sound very comforting, and it certainly wasn't funny, but Fllay smiled uncertainly anyway. She was sweaty and sunburned from spending too much time under the sun, and she still had to disguise herself. "Well, if I'm going to die, I want to die pretty," she ventured, and revelled in the look of shock on the everyone's' faces. Emboldened, she stood up and swept out of the room, sure that this time, nobody would be following her.
A full hour later, Fllay was ready. She had showered, arranged her black wig to hide her own red hair, hastily applied some aloe-vera cream to her sunburns, and had packed a small bag to take along with her. She thought she was fast, but like the last time, Sakiya and Kenji ended up waiting for her. They were at the front road, standing by a car that Fllay hadn't seen before. Although all it meant was that it wasn't Athrun's car.
"Finally," Sakiya said without her usual snappishness, which Fllay found to be strange. She gathered that her 'older sister' wasn't looking forward to this trip.
On the other hand, Kenji was practically glowing with happiness. "Took you long enough, princess," he said, and reached for the driver's door, obviously intending to drive.
At this, Sakiya raised an eyebrow. "Who said you could drive?"
"Who said I couldn't?" Kenji shot back, getting into the car. "Besides, I have the keys."
His sister rolled her eyes. "I bet he just forgot to specify," she commented as she went around to ride shotgun. Fllay ignored their banter and got into the back, settling herself just behind the driver's seat. She still didn't know where they were going, and if they weren't going to enlighten her, so be it. All she knew was that they weren't going to a random forest.
She didn't know who was the "he" that they were talking about either, but she had a pretty good idea. Her heart, responding to her thoughts, beat just a little faster. Were they going where she thought they were going? Was everything going to be alright?
"You should stop giving him more to worry about." Fllay was jolted out of her thoughts by Sakiya's scolding voice. The car started up smoothly, and sped up until they were quickly leaving the orphanage behind. "Quit giving him all those crap reports," Sakiya continued.
"But that's the only fun I ever get around here," Kenji whined as he sped along the highway. Now she knew why Athrun didn't want to let him drive, Fllay thought as she hung on to the armrest to steady herself. He was obviously speeding, and speeding far above the speed limit while he was at it.
"You can play with the kids more often if you need fun," Sakiya snapped, seemingly undisturbed by the speed at which the vehicle was going. Fllay felt like asking him to slow down, but if Sakiya wasn't bothered, then there probably wasn't anything life-threatening to worry about. Probably.
"That's not fun, that's a chore." The car was still accelerating.
"Not my problem." Was it even possible to reach this kind of speed on the road?
"Excuse me," interrupted Fllay. "Where are we going? Also, this car seems to be going… extraordinarily fast."
Kenji let out a gleeful cackle at Fllay's words. Sakiya glared at him. "Stop laughing and keep your eyes on the road, or I'll take over." She craned her neck to look at Fllay. "That's the way he drives. Don't worry, he hasn't gotten into any accidents… yet."
Which was no guarantee he wouldn't get into one now. Fllay cast a nervous look outside the window, and was even more perturbed to discover how fast the trees seemed to be flashing by.
"As for where we're going, you'll find out later," Sakiya continued. "Though one reason that Kenji's driving is that if we stick to the speed limit, we'll won't make it there in time. If it bothers you, don't look out. It helps a little."
Good advice, but it would hardly make a difference. Fllay stared down at her lap. According to Sakiya, at this rate, they would reach soon. She could get out of this speeding vehicle soon. For now, she should just concentrate on not getting carsick. It wouldn't do if she were to throw up just when she finally got to their destination.
Athrun watched as a obviously important diplomat was escorted along the hallway to Cagalli's office. He nudged Kisaka, who was standing right beside him. "Who is that?" he whispered.
Kisaka glanced at the diplomat then turned to the boy beside him. "Lord Ferael. From what I hear, he's the new leader of the Atlantic Federation."
"He's a big-shot, then?"
"Very big-shot." Kisaka watched as the man dismissed his attendants and entered Cagalli's office alone. With his trendy hairstyle and arrogant, know-it-all expression, Athrun didn't think that he'd be a very capable leader. Not that he was in any position to criticise or judge people based on their appearances. Inconspicuously, he sidled along the hallway until he was right outside the door, so that in the event that anything happened, he'd be in the best position to strike.
From his new position, he couldn't see the approving look that Kisaka wore. More importantly, even though he was all but pressing his ear against the heavy door, he couldn't hear a thing. Infuriating, but then again, the doors in the Parliament House were designed as such for a reason. And that reason was to keep important government secrets from leaking out.
On the other side of the door, the Representative of ORB shook hands with the new Atlantic Federation leader. The man smiled easily as he acknowledged her, and they both sat down facing each other across a low coffee table.
"Congratulations on your appointment, Lord Ferael," Cagalli began. "It is a pleasure to finally meet you."
"The pleasure is all mine, Representative Athha," Ferael said, reclining into his seat. Ferael was young for someone in his position, but he was no younger than the ORB princess who sat across him. His narrow eyes turned upwards at the side as he smiled genially at the girl. "You have done a very good job in rebuilding your country. I apologise for the actions of my predecessor that have caused your people so much pain and suffering, and I offer my condolences."
"Thank you for your kind words, sir," Cagalli said, trying to smile diplomatically back. "The same for your people."
"On their behalf, I sincerely thank you."
"I'm sure that as the new head of the Federation and the Earth Alliance, you must be a very busy man," continued Cagalli, not at all swayed by his words. "Which was why I was rather surprised when I heard that you put a meeting with me as one of your top priorities. I wasn't aware that there were any urgent issues that would require my input."
Ferael's smile took on a hint of chagrin. "My my, you certainly are direct, Representative." He leaned forward slightly. "You must be tired of hearing this already, but to tell you the truth, I'm here regarding the trial of one Fllay Allster."
Immediately Cagalli's shoulders stiffened. Her next lines came out tense. "Are you here to put in a special request for her to be pardoned, Lord Ferael?"
The slight change in her demeanor did not go unnoticed. Ferael flapped his hand dismissively. "Of course not, whatever gave you that idea?" he replied easily. "To tell you the truth, I heartily disapproved of sending those officers down here to take up your valuable time, but I wasn't in any position to put a stop to it before. I'm sure that you agree with me that the life of one foot soldier isn't worth re-igniting the war between the Earth and the PLANTs."
Cagalli's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "And you are proposing…"
"A concession," Ferael promptly replied. "The Atlantic Federation will not push this matter any further. We will allow the PLANTs this one concession, if it will facilitate the rebuilding of broken ties. The Earth Alliance will provide all the witnesses that the PLANTs request for, and they will be cooperative. All you have to do on your side is to ensure that the relevant parties are… amenable to it."
Cagalli was disgusted. So this man was suggesting that the trial be rigged? What else was he thinking of? "And if I am unwilling?"
Ferael feigned a look of shock. "Why, this is the best solution to the problem at hand. I have been following reports of the defendant, and she poses substantial social risks to your country as well, does she not? I do not see what you have to disagree to."
"The law commands a fair trial!" snapped Cagalli, momentarily forgetting her image as the Representative.
"You make the laws in this country, do you not?" countered Ferael, leaning back. "You create them and uphold them. And if necessary, you change them. I am offering you a peaceful solution to your potential internal conflicts, Representative. Don't turn it down without thinking it through."
Cagalli gritted her teeth. "I will not do something so dishonourable, sir. ORB has suffered enough damage to its infrastructure; I will not have the values left behind by my father eroded as well. That would be an insult to his sacrifice," she ground out, her hands subconsciously clenching into fists.
Ferael remained unfazed. "Just think it through, Representative Athha." He stood up, leaving the furious girl behind as he walked to the door. His hand rested on the doorknob as he turned to look one last time at the Representative. "You may suspect that I have inner motives," he said abruptly, startling Cagalli, "but the countries under the Federation have suffered enough damage as well. I only wish for peace, just as you do." The knob turned under his hand with a barely noticeable click. "Farewell, Representative."
The door shut with another soft click, leaving Cagalli alone in the huge room. "And yet, the price that we're each willing to pay is so different," she whispered hoarsely to the empty room.
The trip back to the city from the orphanage took noticeably less time than the trip from the city did. Even though she wasn't carsick, Fllay was thoroughly sick of Kenji's driving by the time he slowed to a reasonable speed. They were winding through the roads now, and Fllay was never more grateful for the complex traffic network that lay at the heart of the city.
"We'll be there any time now, so be ready to disembark," Sakiya said, breaking the silence that had reigned for most of the trip. Fllay was half-expecting even the lieutenant to sound shaky, but she sounded perfectly in control. Which kind of irked her, but then again, it was probably a side-effect of having a driving maniac for a brother that made one immune to carsickness.
They finally pulled to a stop in front of a tall building. Fllay peered out of the window. It was a hotel, she saw. Simple enough to be affordable, but not shabby so it wouldn't attract all the wrong customers. She was wondering why they were there when Sakiya snapped at her from outside the car. "Akiko! Hurry up!"
Fllay realised that the siblings were outside waiting for her, and a valet was also patiently waiting for her to get out before parking the car. She quickly yanked on the doorknob and pushed the car door open. Grabbing her bag, she hurried out, and flanked by Sakiya and Kenji, she entered the main lobby.
The two of them hustled her past a counter where the staff studiously ignored them, past a fountain topped with exquisite statues, and into an elevator. "Which storey is the meeting room on again?" asked Kenji as his fingers hovered over the buttons.
"Fifteen," Sakiya replied curtly. Kenji's fingers pushed the correct button, and Fllay felt a familiar sinking sensation in her gut as the elevator sped upwards. Sakiya was standing ramrod straight, and the younger girl got the impression that her guard was feeling nervous. Which didn't make her feel very secure, but she was too busy preparing herself for whatever came next to worry about it then.
The elevator doors slid open, along with a mechanical tinkle of a bell. Fllay was escorted out quickly. Her feet immediately sank into thick carpets, and once again she wondered why she was here. Sakiya and Kenji led her along the corridors, turning every now and then, finally stopping at a large double-door at the end.
One of the doors was slightly ajar, and Fllay could hear the soft murmur of voices coming from within. They sounded rather familiar, although she couldn't hear clearly enough to place them. She reached out a pale hand to push open the door. The well-oiled hinges turned without a sound, and Fllay found herself in a large carpeted room, with thick curtains drawn and posh couches arranged around the centre.
But it wasn't the room itself that held Fllay's attention. It was the three people seated on the couches, chatting animatedly. There were two boys and a girl. Upon hearing her sharp intake on breath, the brown-haired girl jumped up, turned, and reached out both arms to Fllay.
"Finally," said Miriallia Haww, smiling as her arms reached around to embrace a shock-still Fllay.
A/N: Yay, I'm done. For now. I said I'd bring in Fllay's friends, and I did. I'm hoping to wrap this entire story up in another 3 chapters, but since this chapter didn't end where I planned it may go on further than I planned. Hopefully I'll finish this by September, when I go into technological hibernation. If not, then updates will only resume in December.
Also, may the people of Japan be safe, and may Japan itself recover soon.
Please leave a review, even if you hated this chapter, so that I can continue to improve. What's good, what's bad, what's boring, I'd love to hear your thoughts on them all. Thank you so much!