Chapter Seven: Naps
Over time, Kira managed to slip away into unconsciousness with much more ease. They eventually became something that he no longer needed to concentrate on, something that he did not need to physically think about and force himself to do.
It was becoming a more acceptable sight to those in the mansion, to see a particular brown-haired Coordinator breathing heavily as he slept, either slumped at the sofa, or resting against a table, or mumbling under the shade of a tree... Kira slept, and Lacus always watched him from afar during those times, sometimes coming near to examine him.
The nightmares still haunted him, but they usually came at night, like the frightful monsters they were, haunting a broken and frightened child. As Kira's nap time increases, Lacus worried that perhaps he hadn't been sleeping at all during the night. She had often found herself unable to sleep at nights, her ears perked for any sounds that might confirm her suspicions, but there were none. A small part of her felt deep sorrow that the fact that Kira was sleeping more might have been caused due to other reasons... negative reasons.
When Lacus approached Athrun about it, the blue-haired Coordinator had shook his head, his emerald eyes gleaming knowingly as he gazed at his former fiancee. "Don't worry, Lacus... Kira is fine," he had said, but Lacus doubted it, and she was sad that she did.
Sometimes, especially when Kira nodded off in the orphanage, Lacus would hover near, doing odd jobs or even just standing by the window, humming to herself or singing softly. She knew that Kira liked to hear her sing, and she found herself doing so increasingly over the passing days. Anything to make him happier... Anything to take away his pain...
A song came to her mind one afternoon, when she had entered her study and found Kira napping tiredly on the sofa, a closed book covering his face. She walked over to him and held his hand, her calm azure eyes gazing deeply at the tranquil face in front of her, and she found herself hopeful... hopeful that he was truly recovering, that he was truly fine as Athrun had said he was... A song formed in her head, and over the next few days, she hummed to herself and sang bits and pieces of the song that was beginning to come to her.
The full song came to her one night. When Lacus began to sing, a strong pair of arms circled her from behind and she leaned into them, her eyes cast on the glittering sky.
"konna ni tsumetai tobari no fukaku de
anata wa hitori de nemutteru"
Beneath a veil so cold,
You deeply sleep, all alone
In truth, Lacus had been frightened ever since Kira began to nap continuously, mostly because she felt as if she was losing him. She could no longer truly tell whether his dreams were haunted or peaceful. She could no longer easily read the tell-tale signs of restlessness. She no longer knew if Kira was truly recovering, or if he was trying to appear so for her sake, because Kira was always, always, so kind...
"anata no yume wo miteta
kodomo no you ni waratteta
natsukashiku mada tooku
sore wa mirai no yakusoku"
I watched as you dreamed
You laughed like a child
So dear, and yet so far -
That is the promise of our future
It hurt her to know that he slept right in front of her, but she could only worry and hope for the best. Silently, Lacus wondered if such a thing made her cruel. She didn't want him to suffer... yet when he appeared to be recovering, she found herself doubtful...
"ima wa tada kono mune de
anata wo atatametai
natsukashiku mada tooi
yasuragi no tame ni"
Now, within my own heart,
I want to keep you warm
So dear, and yet so far -
In the name of peace
"It's a beautiful song," Kira whispered into her hair as she sang. She could hear the smile in his voice, and she turned to face him, her blue eyes searching his calm amethyst ones. "What is it called?" Kira asked.
Lacus answered before she even had the time to really think; "Fields of Hope".
Author's Note: I honestly love writing these one-shots. They usually take no more than a few minutes, acting on pure impulsiveness, and it's just awesome. I feel like making fics like these for all pairings if possible. XD Anyway, thanks for reading! :D Thanks to jj for the review as well! I really appreciate it, and I'm glad you like the last chapter. I'm starting to love writing these from Lacus's view now. XD