Shout out to those who reviewed, liked, favored, and followed this fic. Thank you

Read and Review

Check back every week...ENJOY

Long ago the two countries-before they came together to form the now Seed Republic-were in great turmoil. PLANT and the Atlantic Federation. Long ago when everything was different. PLANT was rich. Rich in land, food, money, and more. The Atlantic Federation was not, but the emperor and his family was. And though they were well off they wanted more.

Envious of PLANT being prosperous as a country the Atlantic Federation's emperor set up an espionage in order to establish a coup d'etat on the PLANT's imperial power. That's when war began. And for a one long year the two countries stole, cheated, and battled each other.

Thousands died that year. The streets of each country's villages were blood stained. Bones, and debris covered the roads; sad, angry faces walked them. They say it was a witch who stopped it. That she had lost all seven of her sons, and was fed up by the unnecessary blood shed. She is said to be the one who killed both emperors (they had both died on the same day).

It is believed she is the one who awakened the souls on the day of the emperor's deaths. The souls of all the innocent dead tormented the emperors. One was found on the ground beneath his bedroom window. Blood splattered about, glass scattered about. The other drowned in a bath of blood.

The witch was locked away for murder by officials. Angry she called upon the souls to curse the people who locked her away. They were bound to the land, so that they suffer as the souls did.

"May you and your children to come feel the pain that we felt," is what she said.

They hung her at night during a full moon near the fall equinox. Some people protested, but some thought she was crazy, a murderer, or the cause of the war, which angered her more. When the plank dropped, and the noose snapped her neck, cries and moans floated through the air. The people panicked as red, transparent silhouettes surrounded them. Many of the figures moved toward the hanging woman, and disappeared inside of her. They screamed when her eyes flew open, and glowed red, along with her body. The light so strong it shot up into the sky, painting it. That was the first blood moon.

Her body changed that night, and she began to kill...blindly. She was the first, and the people realized (after 100 years) when the sky went red, and the blood moon appeared, that someone else would suffer the same fate. The fear is what brought them together to form a new nation. A bigger, better one. One that they, or their children to come, couldn't escape.

….

Sometimes I can hear moans and cries through the wind. I was told it's because this town is by the border. The border is a stream, and during the blood moon the water turns to blood. It scares me hearing the voices. I hear children crying, men groaning, and women sobbing.

I wonder if my birth parents' voices are among those in the sea of sorrow, though they didn't die here. My birth parents, Via and Ulen Hibiki, were doctors. When Kira and I were five they left the country to help sick children in a nearby country. It was suppose to only be several hours, but it went over a day. Being a close friend, the then councilman of Seed Republic, Uzumi Nara Atha, adopted us.

I feel helpless. I've been sitting up with my knees pressed into my chest and my head buried into them since I arrived back to this cottage. When we returned Athrun scolded me for leaving out so late, and for confronting my brother, Kira. I asked him what he was doing out so late, but he didn't answer. He paused before scolding me some more, but then, to my surprise, he wrapped his arms around me in a warm-very nice-embrace. I curse myself for crying on his shoulders...all night.

It's now morning, and I can hear him talking to the man...I keep forgetting his name...outside of the door.

"Would she like coffee instead?"

"No. She prefers tea."

I lift my head as Athrun enters the room. He hands me a steaming cup of tea.

"Drink it, Cagalli."

I don't, and I don't say anything.

He sighs, and sits next to me. He's holding a steaming cup in his hand as well, and by the smell I know it's coffee. He thinks it helps him focus. I think tea helps with relaxation, so I decide to take a sip.

For an eternity, it seems, we sit in silence. I look over at him. His eyes seem focused, his brow furrowed, and his lips slightly poked out. I want to cheer him up, but he saw what I saw last night, and there's no cheering up after that. It hurts him too, Kira's his best friend.

I remember when I first met Athrun. It was four years ago, back in Orb, the city me and Kira are from-the capital of Seed Republic. Kira use to go away to Junius city, where Athrun is from, for summer camp between the ages twelve and fourteen. That's where they met. The last year he went, and he was returning, he asked father could he bring home a friend.

Even then Athrun was reserved. I thought him to be shy, but he's just quiet and polite. For the rest of the summer he and Kira worked on little projects: model planes, small robots, boat figurines. It was alright for Athrun to stay because his father, and our father were acquainted. Our's being the President of the Republic, and Athrun's being the mayor of Junius.

As the years went by their friendship extended beyond summer. I became jealous because I didn't have a friend like that. Kira was my friend. In the beginning, hanging around them, I felt like a third wheel. I had some friends, but not close, and no one was-or ever will be-Kira.

"She should be here today," Athrun says.

He smiles and places a hand on my shoulder. I look into my tea cup, staring at my small reflection.

"I hope so," I say. It's silent as I choose my words carefully. "I'm sorry you had to see that...you know...last night."

His eyes widen. "I'm sorry you had to see it," he replies.

"It's fine. I can handle it. He's my brother after all, but a friend shouldn't-"

There's a gentle grip on my shoulder. I look at Athrun, and his eyes are low.

"But...I know it was hard for you," he says, "to see your brother-your twin-in such a way...not only that, but he's your best friend too isn't he."

Tears sting my eyes, so I shake my head; as if that helps. I let out a heavy sigh. I slowly remove Athrun's hand from my shoulder, place it on the bed, and give it a gentle squeeze. I keep my hand on his as I speak.

"He looked like he was in pain," my voice is shaky

Athrun lifts his other hand and wipes away my falling tears. His gaze is comforting, causing my cheeks to feel on fire. I avert my gaze. The touch of his soft, warm hands across my cheek sends chills up my spine.

"It's alright," he whispers. "We're going to find a way to end this. Alright,Cagalli?"

I shoo away his hand, and begin wiping my eyes.

"I'm fine," I tell him.

"Aren't you the one who told me that it's okay to cry."

Before I can say anything, we hear banging at the door. The cottage owner opens the door, and the crying wind becomes louder. Too loud. We listen intently, but I only hear mumbles. Then I hear him say 'thanks' and the door closes.

I get up, and step into the living area. Athrun follows suit. The man is going through envelopes, but stops when he reaches the third one. He stares at it with concern before opening it, which he does sloppily, having the paper ripped raggedly. I watch his eyes as he reads the letter. They're wide, and he's frowning.

"What is it!" I demand. "What does it say?"

I am about to snatch it out of his hand, but Athrun grabs my arm. I glare at him.

"Let go, Athrun."

He doesn't say anything, instead he looks over at the man. The man slowly places the letter down on an end table. I snatch my arm away. I walk over to the man; not a long distance considering the tight area. His mouth his hanging open as he stares at the ground.

"What! What is it?"

He shakes his head. I unintentionally growl. He's still silent. My hands form fists, and I walk closer to the man. I am an inch away from him. My nails dig deep with anxiety into my palm as I yell.

"What the hell did it say? Dammit, tell me-"

Athrun grabs me by the shoulders, and pulls me back. "Cagalli," he says in a chastising tone. He pulls me, a bit roughly, and shoves me behind him.

"Sir…"

"It says...uh...I'm sorry, but-"

"Just spit it out!" I shout over Athrun's shoulder. He keeps his arm out as a separator.

The man exhales deeply. "My grandmother won't be coming."

I push Athrun's arm out of the way and step forward. "Why not?" I say.I look at Athrun and can tell he's also wondering why.

"The letter is from two days ago, but it states that before she even fully left Archvill she fell out of the carriage and broke her hip. They had to take her to Heliopolis to go to the hospital. She'll be at the general hospital for a while."

He went on, but everything went silent. She's not coming. She's not coming. Kira...I need to save Kira. Heliopolis is farther than Orb. She's not coming. She's old-very. What if she dies, and we can't get her help.

I grip the middle of my chest. It hurts. It really hurts, and the room...it's spinning. I have to hold on to Athrun for I'm losing breath as well as my balance. He places his hands on my arms and steadies me. I hear him, but it comes out as mumbles. What is he saying?

"Kira…" I choke out.

They'll kill him. They'll try to kill him once he fully transforms, and starts hunting. Like the a hundred years ago. Or he'll die if we can't save him. No.

"No...no no no!" I yell. "He'll die, Athrun! He'll kill. We gotta save him." Tears are running down my cheeks. "I can't lose him, I can't"

Athrun pulls me into a tight hug. One hand is on my back, making circles, and the other holds my head. He shushes me, and repeatedly tells me it's alright, but it isn't alright, and I cry harder. His embrace tightens.

"We'll go to Heliopolis," he says. My sobs subside, and I look up at him. "We'll go to Heliopolis," he repeats staring me in the eyes.

I push back, and he lets go. I'm sniffling as I wipe my eyes. We'll go to Heliopolis. he sounded so sure, so confident that we can make the trip. "It'll be okay." I hear him say.

I nod, "Right. Let's head out."

"Just what I was thinking," he says. And I know he's been waiting (he couldn't stand it) to get out of this "third world" village ever since we arrived.

"Let's go."

REVIEW

THANX 4 READING