Chapter 13
Athrun is quietly sitting on my bed. I sit up in a confused daze, forgetting that I let him in. But how long ago was that? It was past six after dinner, and that is when he came knocking on my window. But, what time is it now? Athrun turns to me.
"You're awake," he says.
"And you're still here," I spit out.
He carries a poker face, but I know the animosity in my tone must've struck a nerve because for a split second he frowns.
"I wanted to check on you—-"
"After you've been ignoring me and partying with that smut."
He sighs and turns to stand, but never does. Instead he makes his way to the middle of my bed. His body is centimeters from mine and, for once, I don't want him so close. I am about to back away when his hand lays over my stomach. He's staring down at it, intently.
"I'm sorry," he whispers to it.
I quickly stand up. I'm facing him, my face burning and my hand clenched into fists. He stares at me, puzzled.
"So now you care?" I say. "You barely paid any attention to it before, but now you care, Athrun?"
"Me? Cagalli, what about you?" He begins to stand. "When did you start to care? Was it when you were going to sacrifice it to your brother?"
"I wasn't going to sacrifice it!"
"Yes you were! Because you planned on giving yourself to Kira. What did you think was going to happen to the fetus inside of you? Did you think it would live after you were devoured? No you couldn't have, so don't talk to me about caring."
"I just wanted—-" I begin, but I pause because my abdomen feels as if it is tightening. "I just wanted to help everyone…" I'm losing the will to defend myself. My lower stomach is cramping, and it's cramping bad. Totally giving up, I slowly lay back on my bed.
Athrun has fallen quiet as well. I look at him. He's just staring at the floor. I can't focus on him right now though because the cramping pain still resides. I try to breath in and out. Maybe that will help. Yet, after a moment of that the pain is still there. Now I'm scared.
"Ah," I blurt out...repeatedly.
"What's wrong?" Athrun looks concerned.
"It hurts," I say, my hand on my belly, and for the first time I notice my bulge. It's not much, but it's there. My stomach is growing. For a moment my worry sweeps away and I am floating on clouds. Until my clouds are struck with sharp lightning and I scream.
…
It's so dark and quiet out. Not a sound...well only the light chirping of some distant crickets. The moon and a few lamp posts illuminate my house, and yard, from being swallowed into the night. It is warmer than previous evenings, but the light air sends chills through me. I guess I should have brought a jacket, but there was no time; the pain was too much, and I—-or Athrun—-didn't want to wait a minute longer.
When the pain came, Athrun swiftly swooped me up and drove to the nearest hospital. The doctor said that the baby was fine. When I heard those words I felt as if 500 pound weights were lifted from my shoulders. She told me that some pain was normal due to my changing body and the baby's growth, but that it must have escalated due to extreme stress on my behalf. I have to rest more, take it easy. Easy for her to say.
I turn around, Athrun is still by his car. He looks at me, but quickly looks at the ground. I stand and wait for him. Once he is near me I don't know what to say. I'm glad he was there for me, but I am still mad at him. Father isn't home. Should I let Athrun stay the night, or should we think things through alone?
"So...what now, Athrun?"
He looks down sheepishly, stuffing his hands into his pockets. He looks like an innocent child. I find it cute.
"I don't know," he says. "Maybe I should stay here in case you try to get yourself killed again."
Suddenly his cuteness vanishes.
"Maybe you should stay here," I fold my arms, "that way you don't run off with another drunken slut."
His eye twitches, and he purses his lips together. I smirk.
"Cat got your tongue, Athrun?"
"I didn't run off...look I don't wanna argue about this. The doctor wants you to take it easy, so let bygones be bygones."
"I agree, but how am I to take it easy when things keep getting out of hand. The cursed one's identity has been revealed, there's leaks on my pregnancy and nothing's gotten better…"
He moves closer to me and soon I am enveloped in his arms. My face is pressed against his chest, and his hand soothingly rubs my head.
"I'm sorry," he whispers. "I know that everything has been really hard on you—-"
"But, Athrun—-"
"Look, I don't know what we'll do about Kira, but it won't be you sacrificing yourself or our child. I know you want to save him, and I do too, but I can't lose you in the process, because…"
He pulls me back some, his hands gripping my shoulder. Mines lay across his chest as we stare into each other's eyes. I'm lost into those beautiful emerald pools. I wanted to say something—-argue back. Tell him that I must do something to save my dear brother, but whenever I look into those eyes, like I am now, I get weak kneed. How pathetic.
"Because…," he continues, our heads inching closer to one another's. "I—-"
His sentence is cut short by his phone ringing. He grunts as he pulls it out of his pocket. His face frowns when he looks at the screen.
"Who is it?" I ask.
I look at the screen as well and MEER pops up in bold letters. I ease my way out of his arms and start walking towards my front door.
"Cagalli!" I feel him grab my arm. I try to pull away, but fail. "Cagalli, wait."
"Answer the phone, Athrun," I growl.
"I don't want to," he says.
I don't say a word. Why is she calling you? Is what I want to say, but I am too tired. Maybe it's best to gather my thoughts alone after all. Snatching my arm away from him, I open my door and shut it before Athrun can step inside, locking it behind me.
….
The young girl's body is severed in half and spread out on the road. A pool of blood lays beneath her corpse. Her eyes are wide open, looking out into the empty darkness. Suddenly, a clear thick substance falls onto her forehead, splatting as it makes contact with her skin. It slides down the bridge of her nose and across her slightly parted lips, leaving a wet trail as it goes.
Above her the beast pants with a watery, bloody mouth. Its fangs protruding. It wants more, but the people of this city haven't been out much. They're becoming more aware of its presence, and because of that it suffers. The growl in its core is growing. The beast must flee. Go where its nose takes it. Somewhere where that appetizing smell is strong.
…
I've been tossing pebbles at Cagalli's window for about an half hour now, but she refuses to come to it. I know she hears it. She has to hear it. She heard it before. Her light is off, so maybe she is sleep. But I want to be in there with her. Why does she have to be so damn difficult. Does she really think something is going on between me and Meer?
As if on cue, my phone rings again. And yet again it's Meer.
"What do you want?" I answer. "It's past midnight, why are you calling me?"
"Because I figured you'd be with the little princess," she says.
"And if I am?"
"Are you at her place or yours?"
"What does it matter, Meer," I sigh.
"I want to see her," her tone is like venom, and I don't trust it.
"No way," I say in an instant. "She's pregnant and she doesn't need any extra stress right now. I won't allow you to see her."
"I just want to have a talk with her."
"No," I say, "that's final, Meer."
Soon after I hang up. There was something about Meer's tone that I didn't like. She's up to something. I know it. And I also know she's the one who's been spreading the rumor of Cagalli's pregnancy on the internet. The truth about Kira is a toss-up; anyone could've figured that out—-Shinn did. Whatever she may want with Cagalli, I will not let them meet.
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