Chapter 5: Sneaking Around

Disclaimer: I do not own GSD or any characters.

I'm sorry for not updating in a while, so hopefully this chapter will make up for the delay! Enjoy and please review!

"What do you mean you can't find her!?" Kira asked him.

"Like I said, she wasn't at the Inn; maybe she went to The Archangel." Athrun offered. He looked as worried as Kira did, and he also felt guilty for not checking everywhere first before telling his Captain the news.

"Then go check there, if she isn't there we'll all look for her, alright lads?" Kira said, looking at Athrun and Shinn. "Aye, Cap'n!" they said.

"Oh dear, I wonder where she is, but maybe she is at The Archangel." Lacus said. "Let us hope, dear Lacus." Kira said. Shinn saw that his Captain was worried about his sister, and felt guilty for harboring anger towards him over a selfish thing.

"Well, let's not worry; I'm sure she's safe, wherever she is." Shinn told them, giving a rare smile. Kira smiled back at him and said, "Aye, that she is."

In a pub somewhere Downtown

"So, your brother is here, is he?" he asked her.

"Aye, that he is, maybe I can join his crew, ya think?" she asked.

"Nay, child, I doubt he'd let you go on such a dangerous adventure, you know how protective he is of you." He said.

Cagalli sighed. "True, but still, he knows I can take care o' meself. Besides, nothin' ever happens 'ere since it's a neutral nation. I want some action and adventure!" she said loudly, slamming her fists on the table and getting a few heads turned her way.

She gave a sheepish grin and Ulan chuckled at her. "You must control yourself first, daughter, before you go on such a challenging path. But whatever you and your brother do, I will always be there for you, you know that, right?" he asked. He had a deep look in his eyes, as if he was pouring his heart out to her.

"Of course, I've always known that! I'm glad you care so much for us, even though you've never met Kira-kun." Cagalli told him. "In fact, I want you to meet 'em afore he leaves." She added.

"Oh I don't know, Cagalli, what if he wants nothing to do with me?" Ulan asked, now with a sad look.

"Nonsense! Of course 'e wants to meet ya! I've been meanin' for you two to meet for a while anyways!" Cagalli said and grabbed his hand. "C'mon, let's go now, I know where he is." and before he could protest she dragged him out of the pub and towards the dock.

A man looked up to where they left. He had light blue hair, and a smirk on his face. 'So, the Captain of the Freedom is here. This shall be interesting, I will win her heart, as well as his brother's favor, then that Zala won't have a choice but to giver her up to me. Then I shall finally have control of ORB.' He thought and continued smirking.

With Athrun

Athrun walked briskly towards The Archangel, hoping that Cagalli was inside, having lunch. As he walked in, he looked around and tried to find the blonde, but she was nowhere in sight.

"Looking for someone?" Murrue asked him. "Yes, have you seen Cagalli Yula Attha? We can't find her; she was still sleeping when we came for breakfast." Athrun told her. "No, I haven't, but I bet I know where she is." She said and gave him directions to a local pub near downtown.

He thanked her and then went on his way to find Cagalli; he hoped she was still there. 'This is turning into a wild goose chase' he thought and chuckled to himself. 'I wonder why she would be here and not tell us, although it is the kind of place I'd most likely find her, still, it's weird that she'd go alone without at least tellin' Kira so he could worry and fret his little heart out about it.' He mused.

As he turned the last corner his emerald eyes met with amber, and a sigh of relief escaped his lips as he saw Cagalli with her "Father" Ulan Attha.

"Athrun? What are you doing here?" she asked him as they closed the distance. "Looking for you, you weren't at the Inn, so I checked back at The Archangel, but you weren't there either, so Murrue-san gave me the directions for this place; and well, 'ere ye are!" He told her and they hugged.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot to tell Kira-kun, well, we're on our way to the ship so Father can meet 'em, join us, will you?" she asked and stuck an arm out for him to take. "Gladly, Madame." He said like the gentleman he is and nodded to Ulan.

"I was wondering when I'd get to see you again." He told him. "Yes, 'tis been a while, Athrun, how have you and the rest of the crew been? Cagalli told me what happened to the boy, Shinn, is he ok?" Ulan asked.

"Oh, I'm not sure, he's with Kira right now, supervisin' the work bein' done on the ship. But we've been pretty good so far, except for the little scrap we got into before we made port." Athrun told him.

"Oh, well, that can be expected, I guess. Cagalli here was just telling me that she would like to join you and Kira on your quest for fortune." Ulan said and chuckled.

"Really? You didn't tell me that." Athrun said to Cagalli. "Well, I was going to ask Kira later on tonight. But yes, I would like to come along when ye leave. There's nothin' 'ere for me, Athrun. I want to be part of the action. Besides, I can't let my brother have all the fun, can I?" She said and they chuckled.

"True, but I don't think he'll let you, so be prepared. You know he's protective of you and wants you to be safe." He said. "Yes, but he also knows I can take care o' meself." She retorted.

Ulan smiled at them and thought, 'they make such a great couple, I'm glad Athrun has taken a likin' to her and her Athrun. I know that together they could do many great things.'

They continued to walk until they stood face-to-face with Kira himself and Kira hugged her and asked, "Where have ye been!?" and to Athrun, "Thanks for finding her."

"I was talkin' with me father, whom I'd like for you to meet." Cagalli said and Ulan went forward and said, "Hello, I am Ulan Attha, I raised Cagalli while Caridad raised you. I'm glad we are able to meet." and stuck out his hand for Kira to shake.

"Aye, same with me, I'm glad she has such a loving father figure in her life." Kira said and shook his hand. Shinn came up to them and Lacus hugged Cagalli and they chatted away.

"This must be Shinn, I presume." Ulan said and looked at him. "Aye sir, Shinn Asuka." He said and stuck out his hand and smiled slightly.

Ulan shook it and maintained a pleasant smile as Kira said, "He's the Second Mate, Athrun here is the First. I'm sorry you have to come aboard the ship when it's still under repair, but we ran into a bit o' trouble on the way."

"Nay, lad, no need to apologize, this is quite a beautiful ship. The Freedom is its name? It looks quite the essence of Freedom. I would think that adventurous youths were aboard if I saw it out on the sea." Ulan complimented him.

"Thank you, sir." Kira said and nodded.

"Aye, Captain Kira!" Heine called as he came toward them.

"Yes?" Kira asked.

"The repairs are coming along quite nicely, they should be done by sunset, and then you can leave tonight or maybe even tomorrow." Heine told him.

"Oh thank you, that's great, isn't it lads?" Kira said and Shinn and Athrun nodded. "Um, Kira, I would like to talk to you about something." Cagalli spoke up upon hearing the news. "Ok." Kira said and followed her.

With Cagalli and Kira

"What is it you wish to talk about, sister?" Kira asked when Cagalli stopped.

"I was wonderin' if I could come with you guys when ye leave." She told him and gave him a hopeful and pleading look.

"What!? But it's dangerous! We're pirates for Pete's sake!" Kira burst. "So, you're the Captain! Who would've expected someone as nice and caring as you to be the Captain of a pirate ship eh?" Cagalli said, raising her eyebrows.

"Cagalli, I can't let you go, we already ran into some dangerous people who want our heads on a platter. I don't want us to get in a fight and you get hurt." Kira said in a soft tone.

"Kira, I can take care of meself, ya know!" Cagalli told him, getting irritated at her brother's determination of keeping her from coming along.

"Well, yes, but I can't take any risks, you're my sister, and I'm sure Ulan wouldn't want you to go anyways, he seems as protective of you as I am." Kira told her.

"Actually, he didn't seem that angered or determined to keep me here, he said that whatever I decide to do, he'll always be with me. And besides, I'm sure Athrun will be ok with it." She said matter-o-factly.

Kira frowned. "No, I think you're wrong on that, Athrun wouldn't want you to get hurt either. The answer is no, Cagalli, end of discussion." He said darkly.

Cagalli growled and shouted, "You're so…so…SO OVERPROTECTLY STUBBORN!" and stormed off, leaving a stunned Kira Yamato that regretted his last words to the infuriated tomboy.

He sighed and went over to where Athrun and Heine were talking. He noticed that Shinn and Lacus seemed to be having a good time together, laughing and smiling. 'I knew she'd put a smile on his face.' He thought to himself.

When Heine and Athrun saw him they nodded and Heine said that he'd better get back to his work crew, sensing that Kira and Athrun needed to talk about something important.

"How'd it go with Cags?" Athrun asked. "She got mad at me when I told her no. She said that Ulan was with her whatever she decided, and said that you'd prolly be ok with it, but I said that you wouldn't want her to get hurt and prolly wouldn't let her go, and she stormed off." Kira told him with a sad look.

Athrun looked sympathetic as he said, "Don't worry Kira, she'll get over it, besides, I'll talk to her about it, it'll be ok. I mean, it's not like she'll sneak on board or get her own pirate ship and crew!" and they chuckled but then looked slightly worried, realizing that Cagalli most likely would do one or the other after a while.

Cagalli was walking hastily down the gangplank, furious with her brother for trying to keep her in ORB and not letting her go on an adventure. Then she overheard Athrun's joke, and she got an idea. She smirked as she stopped and went back up the gangplank, hands behind her and looking like a school girl trying not to get caught stealing something.

"Hey Lacus, let's go and leave these seafaring pirates alone, shall we?" she said and proceeded to drag her friend away from Shinn. He looked confused and said, "Oh, well, bye then, see you later."

"But, Cagalli what are you, oh well, bye guys! See you later!" Lacus called to them after giving up on trying to figure out what her friend was doing. They waved, Kira looked on, puzzled and Shinn went up to him and asked, "Where do ye think they're going? And why did she leave so suddenly?"

"She's mad at me; she's prolly goin' to rant at Lacus about it." Kira told him, still watching his sister and friend walk away hurriedly.

"Mad about what?" Shinn asked again, giving his captain a confused and suspicious look.

"She wanted to go with us when we left, lad, but Kira didn't want to risk her getting hurt or captured." Athrun answered.

"But, oh bother, you know she's going to do something about it, right?" Shinn said.

The two older boys nodded and sighed in unison as the girls turned a corner.

With Cagalli and Lacus

"What was that all about then? I was actually getting Shinn to talk and smile and laugh!" Lacus said, slightly concerned and annoyed.

"Kira wouldn't let me leave with them, but 'e don't know me well! Tonight we'll sneak on board and hide out until they leave port and are well under way!" Cagalli said with a crazed look on her face.

"Are you mad!? We'll get caught for sure! Honestly Cagalli, what's so bad about staying 'ere? It's nice and peaceful, unlike the seas surrounding us, why would you want to be involved in something so dangerous!?" Lacus asked.

"Oh c'mon, Lacus! There's nothin' here for me! Yes and peaceful and all that, but I need action and adventure! I don't want to go my life without doing something fun and risky; and I can't let my brother have all the fun! Captain! Who on Earth made him Captain!? The boy is too shy, and nice, and cries too much to be Captain of a pirate ship!" Cagalli burst, throwing up her hands.

Lacus sighed. "And you expect me to come with you, then?" she asked.

"Well of course, I can't just leave you here." Cagalli said. "Besides, maybe you can knock some sense into 'em!" she added, making Lacus blush.

"But isn't it bad luck to bring women aboard a ship?" she asked.

"Oh nonsense, that's just what Captain's tell their crew so's they won't bring aboard any stray whores." Cagalli said dismissively. "Oh, well, alright then, tonight you say? Let's get packing then." Lacus said and Cagalli squealed and hugged her.

"Oh thank you so much Lacus! I'll make sure you'll be alright! Don't you worry you're pretty little head!" she said and they went to their houses and packed their things.

Cagalli told Ulan her decision and he said that he would pray for her safety and wished her luck, and then it became nighttime and they headed down towards the dock.

"So what's the plan, exactly?" Lacus asked. "Well, I'll ask Kira if he plans on leaving tonight or tomorrow mornin', an' if he's leaving tonight, we'll pretend we're leavin' after saying goodbye, hide behind the fishin' tables (you know, where they cut the fish) and then when they're about to shove off, we'll climb up the rope and hide in the Prisoner Cell area, they'll never check there." Cagalli told her.

"Oh ok, but what if we do get caught?" Lacus asked her as they neared the dock. "Then just follow my lead." Cagalli said and winked.

"Ahoy Cap'n Kira!" she called when they neared the ship. They saw Kira come to the railing and look out and then he went down the gangplank to them.

"Not mad anymore, sister?" he asked. "Not really, but don't worry, I'll be fine." She said and smiled. Lacus also smiled as Cagalli asked, "So, you're leaving tonight I see?" as she saw the boys load some barrels onto the ship.

"Aye, that we are, sorry so soon, we'll have to come back 'round to visit again." He told her with a smile.

"Aye, that ye shall. Well, we were just going to say goodbye, and wish ye good luck.' Cagalli told him and smiled as they hugged and Kira and Lacus hugged, blushing.

Athrun noticed Cagalli and Lacus and went over to them. "Saying goodbye are we?" he asked and they hugged also. Soon the others came down and either hugged them or shook their hands.

"Well, we'll e goin' now, you stay out of trouble, got it Cags?" Kira said and she smiled and said, "But of course." He didn't notice the smirk she had as she watched him go up, she turned to start to leave, looking back occasionally, and when no one was near the railing or looking to where they were, she grabbed Lacus' hand and hid behind the fish table, waiting for the best moment to grab the line and scamper up into the Prisoner cell area.

"Go, now!" she said and grabbed the line, coming up to the little window of the cell area and pulling herself in as Lacus followed behind her, nervously.

They were both in and crouched down low as they felt the ship slowly make its way out of port. 'Yes, my plan worked perfectly!' Cagalli thought and grinned to herself.

-Author's Note: Well, how'd you like? This one is longer than the others (I think) so hopefully it makes up for my slow update. I've been working on my other stories, but please tell me what you think of this one so far and of this chapter. I wanted to speed up the repair time because it was taking me too long for Cagalli to sneak on board, so that's why it's kinda rushed. Thanks to all my reviewers so far, have a great day!(And yes I know there's a lot of lines)-