Hiiii =3 I'm alive
Kira and Cagalli- to all those who were wondering:
Is Kira the brother of the Princess of ORB?
Hmmm…
Yes =3
But just like in the anime, Cagalli has to find out the truth for herself. And… *evil laugh* it might not turn out quite the way every one is expecting it too so I wouldn't assume things right off the bat now ^_^. The fun is just beginning (well, for me anyway lol)
Anyway, kudos to Princess1421 for the idea of a punishment =D you brought on the beginning of this chapter. lol
-Memeylupht- Yuna a good guy... i'm half wondering that too ;) And i wouldn't count your chickens before they hatch ^_^ but here's an amazingly LONG chapter
-precious1421- i completely blame the beginning of this chapter on you =P ahhahaha enjoy and thanks for the idea of a punishment =)
Falconrukichi- We shall see =) and thanks for reading =))))
the3PleA- prepare yourself... I was almost worried that i was going to have to split this chapter in half if it
was any longer. But then i was like, what the heck, they can take it. hahaha so enjoy it =D
WritingKnightmare- well you got my pm so bla bla bla bla, but once again, thanks for reviewing and catching the mistakes i'm too dumb to notice LOL XD
THANKS EVERYONE FOR READING/AND REVIEWING =)
Alright readers *sighs* this has been a long chapter too write so y'all better review. =P and if you don't find the beginning of this chapter weird or even remotely funny in a super bizarre way... then you don't have a little a brother like i do. ahhaha I swear, my little brother's zany humor inspired the start of this chapter and I was like, what the hey, if i can live with it then they can read it!
X) if not, just skip the beginning to when she goes to lunch, but it is rather important, you get to meet Misa =D yay.
Oh right, apologies for any OOC, especially considering Yzak, Dearka and Shiho- three characters i've never been positive of how to write. Apologies for anyother mistakes, crap i pull and i'm super sorry if this chapter is stupid or boring =(
*Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed
Chapter six.
CAGLALLI POV
Squeak! Squeak!
Let it be known…
Squeak! Squeak!
That in the course of a few hours…
Squeak! Squeak!
I have discovered which sinks don't work; which stall doors don't have locks; and which toilets that must be-
"ARRRGGHHH!"
-Avoided at all costs…
"Excuse me, are you alr-EEP!"
BAM!
"Ooooh." I groaned, sitting up, rubbing my aching, damp shoulder where I had slammed it against the side of the toilet.
Across from me in the cramped stall, sitting in a puddle of water was a black-haired girl who seemed to be only a few years older then me. One of her hands was rubbing her butt which she had fallen on when she had slipped and slid into me, and her other was messaging the back of her head where she had banged it on the stall door.
Wincing, she looked up at me, then she looked down at the lake of water we were sitting in.
We sat there for a long moment, trading a horrified silence.
"Iew. Do I even want to ask?" She at last spoke, straightening her jagged-cut thick black hair that hung a bit past her shoulders, framing her tan face. A flop of sharply-pointed black hair hung over her right eye, hiding it from sight and trailing down past her chin, covering most of the right side of her face. For fashion or did she have a scar? Her one visible green eye gleamed at me with intelligence and adventure. She wore a green ZAFT uniform that seemed slightly too big for her, draping off her smaller form slightly.
"Did you know that this toilet would explode when flushed? I didn't know but oh you can bet there will be hell to pay for this!" I snarled, to angry to stay quiet as I glared at my mortal enemy, the parceling toilet. I threw the cleaning rag I held in my hand at it and it hit it with a wet thock before sliding down to the floor. Damn punishments and damn prank toilets!
"Toilet exploded it's…water?" The girl's eyes swept the sopping floor and she stared in astonishment for a moment. Then she bent over.
"Ar-are you alright?" I asked, worried, wondering if she had hit her head harder then I thought when I saw her shoulders shaking.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAH!" she threw her head back, laughter bursting from her and if the wind could laugh I was sure it would sound like hers. Her rippling mirth reminded me of wind chimes yet, working up the scale from a low bass to a barely hearable soprano.
She wiped her eyes. "Oh yuck," she giggled. "But honestly, who thinks of these stupid things?"
I made a face, sighing. "I don't know, but for their sake, you better hope I never find out. I do not like flushing a toilet only to have the water flying up at me."
The girl checked the water again as if something suddenly had occurred to her. "Um, so the water is…?" she trailed off.
I gritted my teeth. "Nope, I'm here for cleaning."
The girl's expression flitted from relief to amusement. "Sucks to be you." She snorted.
As of that moment, yes it did. It really did. All I got in trouble was coming home five minutes late, but did I know that my taxi driver had a thing for going ten miles below the limit? Nooo! And it was only five minutes!
Of all the stupid injustice.
I stood up, resisting the urge to kick the toilet- a feat which would probably prove painful for my toes- wringing my soaked shirt.
"Oh!" the girl's eyes widened slightly and she tried to cover her snicker. "Your… your shirt…is wet."
"Thanks genius." I helped her to her feet (turns out she was pretty short, only coming up to my shoulder) before walking past her until I then realized what she meant. A quick glance in the mirror told me that I would be in the girl's bathroom for ZAFT dormitory 2 for a long time. At least until my shirt dried.
She laughed. "Maybe I should go get you a change of clothes?"
I nodded, slightly red. It could be worse, I comforted myself. Imagine if I wasn't wearing a bra?
Oh yes, that's right. The pale blue shirt I had worn to clean the bathrooms was rather see-through when wet, and it happened to be stuck to my skin… and everything else.
"I hate you," I told the shirt once the girl had left. The shirt, of course, didn't respond but yelling at it in an empty bathroom had soothed my temper slightly.
I rubbed at my tired eyes. I was exhausted, went to bed at 12:30 and woke up at 4:00 to clean all the bathrooms in dormitories 6, 12, and 2. A gruesomely tiring job and don't even get me started on the men's bathroom- whatever dumbass that had fixed the toilets in Dormitory 12's bathroom to sing Constipated by Weird Al truly had a sick mind and waaaay too much time on their hands.
"Where's the mop?" I mumbled, yawning as I looked around the bathroom. "Oh right," I walked to the bathroom door, hoping that no one was in the hall, and then sneakily popped my head through a crack in the door. Spotting my mop and bucket sitting across from the hall, I took a deep breath and darted across, hands outstretched.
"Akiiraaa!" sang a voice and my hoped plummeted to the ground at the familiar voice.
I grabbed the mop and the bucket spinning around back towards the bathroom when I slipped on a puddle my shoes had left walking across the slick aluminum ground.
"Eeyaah!" My butt hit the floor with a thud and the mop swung down with a crack on my head, the bucket clattering against the floor. Stars sparked in front of my eyes for a split second and I groaned in defeat.
Biting my lip in pain, I looked up bewildered at an amused pair of eyes.
"Hi Akira!" Dearka grinned and I stared horror struck at the foursome before me.
Dearka, highly entertained by the comical relief I was providing, Yzak smirking, haughty as ever, a boy who I did not recognize with green hair and sweet blue eyes and…
My face paled.
Athrun Zala.
Oh fudge it.
Hurriedly, I covered my chest, very well aware of my hair that was still dripping water onto my already soaked clothes. My face got hot, and I looked down, embarrassed. Peeking through my dark lashes I noticed that Dearka had an even bigger grin, Yzak look disgusted, Nicole looked sympathetic, and Athrun still wore that expression of mild surprise, his cheeks slightly pink and growing redder, his green eyes wide to the point that they were about to fall out.
"Rrrrright, I'm gonna step back in." I jumped up, swiping up my tools and making a dash for the door, slamming into it and yanking it open, my heart making a sprint with me in my chest.
"Don't forget to clean the men's bathroom, too, Akira." Yzak called mockingly from the otherside and I shuddered, sinking to the floor unsteadily, leaning against the wooden door, glad that it separated me from the hyenas I imagined pacing on the otherside of the door.
"I never wanted to sink through the floor so much." I mumbled.
A slight knock resounded from the door and I jumped slightly. A hyena approached!
"Akira?" stammered a worried-sounding voice. "Are you alright?"
I got rained on by a toilet- yeah I'm just peachy, Athrun.
"Um, yeah." I responded after a minute.
"I have…a towel for you…to dry off with."
I let the door slide open slightly and Athrun's hand stuck around the corner, a fluffy white towel in his hands. I bit my lip, warring with myself over taking it. I had already let down my guard too much this morning.
But it was just a freaking towel, and I was cold!
Once I had snatched it from him, his hand withdrew, the door closing silently.
"Well…I'll see ya later." Athrun mumbled and pressing my ear against the wooden door I heard multiple footsteps pad away getting softer and softer till I couldn't hear it.
I sighed gratefully, standing up slowly. Wrapping the towel around me cape style, I started mopping the water up.
Of all my luck. No sleep, no breakfast, bathroom-cleaning punishment, a stupid prank toilet, and now this?
Finished, the floor dry, the offending toilet now gleaming innocently in wait for it's next victim, I plunked the mop back into the bucket.
The door opened and I spun around, my teeth bared.
"Oh, it's you."
"Well don't say thankyou." The black-haired girl from earlier responded sarcastically, folded over one arm was a red ZAFT uniform which she proffered to me gingerly.
I grabbed the clothes from her and she chuckled, her hands moving to her hips.
Hurriedly I got dressed in a stall, stepping out to find that she was still standing there, quietly cleaning up some spots in the bathroom I had missed,
"Um…" I flushed. "Thanks."
"No problem." She smiled cheerfully. "It's not every day I get a bath from a toilet."
"Right, thanks for reminding me." I replied sourly, wringing out my golden hair.
She reached into her back pocket of her green ZAFT uniform, pulling out a folded piece of white paper, a black marker and tape. Whistling to herself she unfolded the paper, uncapped the marker and drew three large bold words.
"Out of Order." She read once she was done with a proud nod before taping it to the stall door.
"You would think it would already have one." I grimaced.
She laughed. "Once you're here for a while, I'm sure you just become used to these things and learn to avoid it."
"Are you from here?" I asked, combing my now damp hair, watching her curiously.
She hopped up to sit onto the sinks counter, her legs swinging like a little kid. "Nope," she grinned, tossing her longer locks of hair over her shoulder. "Just a visit."
"Oh, you work on a ship?"
Her smile grew. "You could say that."
I raised my eyebrow, wondering if she was trying to confuse me on purpose and her expression grew even more amused.
"My name is Misa." I waited, but when the girl offered no last name, I bowed at the waist.
"Thank you, Misa-sama." I provided the respectful honorific used to address someone higher up in ranks… or in respect.
She didn't remark anything on the last word, but her grin grew and I chewed my lip trying to figure out if she seemed amused…or cunning. Noticing my confused she giggled and I relaxed, though I was unsure of what she was finding so funny.
"My name is Akira Yamato." I added politely.
She hopped off the counter, slowly walking towards the door, her eyes watching me in speculation. "And here I thought you were a modern Cinderella." She laughed, opening the door. "And is your prince coming to save you, princess?"
My mouth dropped and I stared at the closed door, trying to figure out her last comment. Okay, breathe, Cagalli. She only meant that as a joke, can't you tell she's a goofy person like that?
But 'prince coming to save you, princess?' that was… scary. If you considered Kira the prince anyway. But no, it couldn't be that. She was just kidding around.
As if proving that thought her voice spoke again.
"Akira?"
My head snapped up. Misa's head was poking around the corner, looking as if she was struggling to contain a roar of laughter.
"Your…your shoe… you have toilet paper stuck to your shoe!" she clapped her hands over her mouth, disappearing from sight again and I gaped.
All worry and paranoia over her previous words flew from my mind as I checked my ankle-height hiking boots I always wore. "Aw hell!" I cringed, peeling a piece of toilet paper off my shoe. Emotionless spy or not, exploding toilet and toiletpaper on the bottom of my shoe was waay to much. The moment I got back to ORB it was going to be all vacation for a month or so before i showed my face.
A smile split my face and I beamed, standing up. ORB… Just the name was making me excited.
"Poor poor princess." The haunting words flashed echoed in my ears all feelings of hope vanished and I clutched my side with one hand, straining to prevent the memories from returning. I was going to be happy that I was returning, no, I was going to be thrilled. I can't face my past, but for now, for ORB and yes, for me, I will ignore it. I can't… I can't think about it now. That night… so many years ago…
I gripped the collars of my red uniform, glaring at myself in the mirror. And it was only then that something peculiar occurred to me. Misa had gotten me a girl's red uniform, one that only the ace mobile suit pilots wore.
And I hadn't even told her that I was a pilot.
I spun towards the door, intrigued and starting to feel nervous, yanking it open. But when I peered out into the long hall, there was nothing but another mop and bucket- the puddles on the floor were gone. And so was Misa…
OOOOOO
(Headsup. Athrun was sent to ZAFT early thanks to his father. He was a senior –little prodigy that he was- when Dearka, Yzak, and Azetta joined as freshman. He never noticed Azetta because she was quiet, and hung out with no one. Nicole Armandf went to a different training base Oh. But don't worry, there will be a story or two from back then concerning these people =3 lol)
Narrator's POV
A clean-looking, lilac-smelling Akira flopped down in the cafeteria, looking surly. It was obvious that she had gotten a shower for the sight of her golden hair and her skin –curly from her lilac shampoo and fluffy from the hairdryer and her skin tinged a light rosy pink from the hot water- was one Athrun had come to recognize.
He had learned a few things while rooming with her. Never move or even touch a girl's stuff. Akira kept a case by the sink- probably full of her girl essentials- and when Athrun had started to move it she flipped.
And it was a good thing that he was a clean person, because surprisingly so, Akira was not. Though she insisted in being organized, Athrun was glad they didn't run inspections on the room or he would die of embarrassment. Akira's side of the room was always littered with papers, and clothing- he couldn't get to the door with out tripping over something!
And of course there was a 'my side, your side'. Akira insisted that the rooms be split down the middle and Athrun wasn't to come on to her side and she had promised to flay Athrun to the bone if he ever- EVER- walked into the room or the bathroom without knocking.
Which reminded him of the memory of that morning event and Athrun's cheeks burned again as he remembered how Akira had looked like a startled filly (young female horse) with her eyes wide, her limbs splayed about her, her hair curling up at the ends and her shirt clinging to her skin in a rather defining way. Not that she looked like a horse, of course. Even now, for the sake of privacy and respect, Athrun was struggling not to think about it but he hoped that Akira wouldn't be able to tell what the slight smile on his face was for.
Dearka had enjoyed it waaaay too much for Athrun's liking. Not that it mattered to him or anything.
Athrun's brow furrowed and he brooded over his food. Searching for a distraction he found one in Akira's scowl.
Athrun chuckled. "Somebody stole your usual spot?" he guessed, jerking his jaw to the block-like vents that were perched beneath a window. Normally at meal times, Akira would sit there in the light shining through the window to eat her meal alone. But now a crowd of ZAFT soldiers had gathered around.
"It wouldn't hurt to socialize." He told her helpfully, though truthfully, he was rather delighted with the fact that instead of eating her food outside of the cafeteria alone, Akira had actually decided to join him. To him it was a sign of her- whether conscious or subconscious- preference of who she would rather eat beside.
She stirred her ramen absentmindedly, biting her lip, a habit, he had noticed, she did most when she was irritated, confused or upset. "Been there, done that, if you don't remember." She growled.
"Only too well!" chirped a new voice and Athrun's head snapped up to see Dearka, a fellow ZAFT pilot that Athrun had gone to the Academy with for a year, slide into the seat next to Akira.
Akira gripped her utensils tightly in her clenched hands, her teeth gritted. Athrun's lips twitched slightly at the corners, torn between amusement at Akira's reaction and irritation at Dearka's lazy smile.
Uhoh, rabid tiger alert. Athrun thought, alarmed and pleased at the same time as Akira cracked her right index knuckle with her thumb.
Yzak, a platinum blonde and Nicole, a gentle-tempered green-haired boy sat down across from them. Oddly, Yzak h looked distracted, his eyes constantly flickering across the room.
Athrun smirked at his friend, following his gaze to a certain group of girls. "Which one is the lucky one?" he teased his friend whose temper could rival Akira's.
Yzak shot him a dirty look that contained all the nasty words he was struggling to refrain from saying aloud.
"I'm speedily losing my appetite." Akira mumbled and Athrun's eyes flashed around in time to see the young, irritated pilot leaning as far away from Dearka that she could with out touching Athrun. Dearka, on her other side was purposely leaning towards her, sensing her discomfort, a huge grin on his face.
Athrun sighed. "Dearka…" he warned his friend, unaware that his friend knew Akira better then anyone else at the table did- which really wasn't saying much.
"Relax, Akira, you're going to ruin your face if you keep frowning like that." And just like that, Dearka threw his arm over the girl's slim shoulders, his other hand coming up to bop her in the nose lightly with the back of his fist.
Athrun gritted his teeth, feeling annoyed. He wasn't sure which part was bugging him though- Dearka's sexual harassment, or the fact that the victim this time was Akira who was always, Athrun had noticed, polite until driven over the edge. Which would be any second. Sit still, he told himself, Akira will throw him off any second.
But Akira didn't and his eyes widened in surprise. Was she and Dearka…?
And yet, Dearka look just as astonished with Akira's lack of violent response.
Akira, off in her own world, brooded over her food, not eating.
"A-Akira?" Athrun asked unsurely.
"Hmmmm…" Akira responded absentmindedly, not paying attention. Her brow was furrowed and she looked as if she was having a mental debate within herself. At last her violet eyes came up to glance at Dearka's uncertain eyes and then Athrun's startled green ones. "Oh…right. I have to throw this out."
"Huh?" Dearka and Athrun said in unison as the girl stood up, shrugging Dearka's arm off her shoulders before dazedly walking towards the door of the cafeteria, tossing her lunch tray out as she did.
Athrun exchanged a bewildered glance with Dearka and Dearka shrugged turning back to his food with a single word of explanation.
"Girls."
"Girls." Agreed Athrun then shook his head, standing up. "But not Akira." Ruffling his dark blue hair he followed Akira with a mental sigh of exasperation. What was going on with that girl? He had only seen her for one hour this morning where she had informed him not to tick her off cause she was pissed about missing breakfast but even then he had seen the strange gleam of excitement in her eyes. And yet now she was acting as she carried a world's worth of choices on her shoulders. But that wasn't normal for her, he could already tell.
Besides, she was skipping her second meal of the day! That was definitely not Akira not to mention the fact that Dearka was still alive after half-hugging her.
He dumped his food out, chasing her into the hall where she was walking in a zig-zag way down the hall.
"Yo, Akira. What's wrong?" he called, grabbing her lightly by the forearm and tugging her to a halt.
"Huh?" her blank violet eyes looked up slowly, not looking directly at his and he snapped his fingers in his face.
"Hey, wake up! What, are you high off of detergent fumes?" he prodded her gently in the shoulder.
She blinked slowly. Then again. And again. And then-
"Hey- owww!" Athrun rubbed his arm, glaring at the suddenly alert blonde who was staring at him furiously.
"I have to go back and kill him!" she snarled, spinning around back towards the cafeteria" her eyes narrowed, looking positively blood-thirsty.
Athrun rolled his eyes. Yup, her first sign of recovery. "That was no reason to punch me though- wait, Akira!"
She paused half-heartedly, turning slightly to glance at him. "Yes, lieutenant?"
He hesitated, feeling as if he was teetering on the edge of a pit that was filled with sharp spikes at the bottom- the only way across was to jump and he couldn't see the other side. Oh well. He jumped. "Are you alright?" he asked, his brow furrowing in concern. Seeing her cock her head in confusion he hastily stammered. "I mean, I have to have my pilots fit and you are a rookie and…" he trailed off, feeling flustered.
Her violet eyes blinked again, not a trace of thought in them. "I'm fine." Her calm voice said clearly, not betraying a flicker of feeling.
"Are you sure? You seemed pretty out of it back there."
"I was tired… that's all."
Athrun winced. "Yeah, cleaning the bathrooms will do that to you. What were you doing out so late anyway?"
Her gaze hardened slightly. "Nothing."
"Yamato." He crossed his arms, standing straight, tapping one foot.
"Nothing." Her voice contained just barest hint of a steely tone and she abruptly turned about, striding towards the cafeteria, shoulders stiff.
Athrun snorted. This is what I get for being nice. He frowned, irritated with the fact that the girl wasn't willing to share anything with him. Not that he should expect her to on a friend term, but he was a lieutenenit. And she was his underling.
Of course, that reasoning didn't make a whole lot of sense either.
OOOOO
Cagalli POV
Today just wasn't my day.
From cleaning to partially drowning and now this?
I was surrounded by a group of girls who had swarmed on me the moment I had left
The cafeteria.
The alpha girl, a taller, bigger-chest girl with thick dark lashes and curly scarlet hair swaggered up. "The name's Uzui Pei. So what's yours?"
I glanced around me, finding my bearings. If the girls were here to give a warm ZAFT welcome wagon I really just wasn't feeling it and I found myself backing up against cold metal lockers in the empty hall they had herded me into. My body was tense and I glanced back and forth between them all watchfully, ready to dodge at the slightest inclination of a punch.
"Akira Yamato. Nice ta meetcha." I replied hurriedly, trying to slip past her only to find her hand on my shoulder shoving me back.
"Nu-uh. I don't think so, blonde." She shook her head slowly. "You think you're better then us in your red suit, your secret mission and all the guys around you."
I stared at her incredulously. "Oh yeah, my life is the dream. And I have no idea what you're talking about. Yzak, and Dearka I went to Academy with and Zala is my lieutenant." I rolled my eyes and finished silently. Idiots.
"They were talking to you during lunch." Another girl with short light blue hair and silver eyes stated. She wrinkled her nose. "Dearka put his arm around you!"
I grimaced. Obviously they didn't see the price Dearka paid for that otherwise they surely wouldn't be standing there in front of me whining about my 'love life with their guys' (or lack there of). "They do that now and then you'll notice. Here, want to take my place. Fine take it. I don't care. Just let me get pass already!" I raised my clenched fists and the girls, the Coordinators in front of me shifted as well, closing in tighter like a noose.
Too say I was afraid would be utter bull- to say that I was overconfident in myself would be utter bull as well. I'm not stupid but neither am I a coward.
Things were going to get ugly and if they attacked me – all four Coordinators against me with my back up against the wall- then I was going to be mash potatoes and ketchup.
Simultaneously, they attacked, Uzui the only one who remained still as her three comrades started punching me in the Coordinator style of fighting.
Immediately I dropped down into a crouch, blocking two punches while wincing at the kick that hammered into my gut, knocking some air from me.
Offensive was useless when there were three faster, stronger opponents. All of my energy, skill and knowledge barely covered defensive in this utterly crappy situation.
A knee rammed towards my torso, and I blocked it with my arm feeling it pound into my flesh. Ouch! I winced, feeling it start to swell up.
A girl slipped behind me, her hands reaching up to headlock me from behind and I grabbed her arms, yanking them forward over my shoulders, leaning over and throwing her over my back. Using her arms first to pull her and then flip her over down on to her back.
For that I got boxed twice in the head and I felt the world spin as stars danced in front of my dazed eyes. Come on, Cagalli. Come on. Pull it together!
Uzui, seeing her moment to pounce in triumph stalked forward smiling and I gritted my teeth against the pain and the thudding sound of my blood pusling in my aching head. My fists clenched and I waited, determined to fight this out.
"MOVE!" ordered another female voice and all of our heads snapped up to meet a pair of angry brown eyes that were glaring at us from beneath swooped brown bangs.
"Hahnenfuss!" squeaked Pei, her blue eyes widening in terror at the bigger female who stood wearing a strong commanding aura.
"So, picking on the new pilot, Pei? Why? Because she's on better terms with the best looking guys you can sniff out in the cafeteria. Can't stand it when someone else might have friends outside of you? Puh-leeze." Like my own uniform, the brunette newcomer also had her own red uniform tailored and altered into a guy suit with a few feminine curves to it- pronouncing her figure and her personality all at once.
Hahnenfuss, shoved the girls out of the way, her broad shoulders brought up, portraying her sturdy build and tall body.
The girls glanced at each other their shoulders hunching slightly as they conferred over what to do.
Uzui shot me a nasty look, before glaring at Hahnenfuss once. Like bunnies, the group of girls bolted from the hall, scurrying out of sight, promising that I would regret this day.
Hahnenfuss glanced at me. "Woof." She rubbed her brow slightly. "Honestly, I'm really not much of a hero-save-the-victim person but that was fun." The corner of her mouth quirked up slightly in a small grin.
I bristled. "I wasn't a victim."
Hahnenfus bopped herself on the forehead with her palm. "Oh of course not! I forgot, you're all bffs, isn't that right?" her tone dripped in sarcasm as she turned to stride away. "Gee, well don't mind me breaking up the 'Sisterhood of black and blue and I hate you'."
I made a face, rubbing my still aching right upper arm with my other hand "You're too funny for words." I sped-walked to keep up with her long legs, hating how I just came up to her shoulder. Damn being short!
"But really, why did you help me back out there?"
Hahnenfus glanced at me, her arms swinging at her sides. She shrugged. "Well, their accusations were downright stupid. Four against one- they're full of cowardice along with many other things… and it disgusts me. ZAFT has no room for cowards. And," she hesitated then shot me a smirk. "You're a friend of a friend."
"So you did it as a favor for your friend?"
She hesitated then laughed. "Well, actually no. I did it as a favor for ticking my other friend off."
"Oh?" I raised an eyebrow. "Now how did I do that? Who?"
She smiled at my bewildered expression. "It seems you can talk a lot after all."
I flushed. It wasn't like I meant to yet despite her rather antsy and stiff aura, I felt oddly comfortable around this new girl. At least, I thought it was because of her.
Ever since I had started this stupid mission I had found my lines being crossed.
It didn't even make sense to me anymore what I was thinking?
"Yzak." Her smile grew slightly. "And Dearka."
Oh. "You know them?" I murmured then I stopped thinking back hard, racking my brains. Hahnenfus. Hahnenfus. "Tiho!" I clapped my hands over my mouth then as the word burst from my mouth and the girl winced.
"Actually it's Shiho, numbskull." She laughed. "Not that I can talk cause I have no freaking clue who the hell you are."
I winced at her coarser way of talking. "Akira Yamato. I am a year below you."
"Ah, that made sense." She smiled.
I didn't have the fondest memories of Shiho from the Academy, she wasn't a bully, but I plain didn't really remember her interacting much with anyone outsides a few, Yzak and Dearka included. Then again, I didn't have fond memories of any Coordinator outside's Kira.
"Now I remember. You're the girl who kicked that guy's ass in fencing and made the academy's talk for a week. Not like anyone knew what to say about you."
I grinned at the memory. Fed up with how the arrogant the guys were acting I randomly challenged one of them to a match in fencing. Surprsingly enough- even to me- I won. "Akira Yamato. Hah, everyone tried to say they knew something about me-"
"But nobody really did." Shiho turned to face me, studying me with a sharp brown stare. She walked a circle about me and I felt my fists start to clench. She was curious.
And then she stopped, her expression pained. "But it's really not that fair. Now is it, Akira. For those who choose to live on the outside to be picked on." She held out her arm and I stared at her confused.
Sighing, she linked her arm through mine- a gesture that was less of a sign of friendship and more of a challenge. She wasn't offering to be a friend and I grinned, walking comfortably besides her. An truce was made.
It was like an alliance between two rather fiendish countries. We'll work together- fight together- but never trade secrets. Never ask more then we ourselves can give. And never doubt for a moment that at any time that alliance might end.
Melodramatic. Yeah, but we respected each other's privacy. I could work with that.
"Lets go shopping!" Shiho beamed.
I stared at her incredulously then chuckled. "Hell, why not?"
OOOOOOOOOOOO
Narrator POV
When did my life become so empty? The thought flickered through Athrun's head as he slid into the cockpit of his inactive GUNDAM, Aegis.
He pulled the keyboards out in front, booting up the GUNDAM; already constructing a mental list of things flaws in the machine he needed to correct. His fingers blurred over the keyboard. Adjusting, tweaking and improving.
Is this all I have to do in my spare time? It's rather pitiful. He sighed. I worry over other people's lives when I can't even do anything for my own.
Absentmindedly, his hand skimmed the trigger-joystick that operated his gunning systems. An endless cycle. Fight. Kill. Live. Fight. Kill. Live.
But when does the cycle end? When it's my opponent who gets the upper hand? When it's my opponent whose is the more skilled and advanced?
Fight. Kill. Live. Fight. Fall. Die.
And the cycle stops.
He swallowed tightly, forcing his hand to return to the keyboard. That's why I must be strong. Be fast. Be more advanced otherwise I'll die.
But why does this cycle keep going? When will there be a break? When will there be more to my life then to serve my father? When will I become more?
Fight. Kill. Live.
Was that my only option? Could there never be another way sometimes? A change? A peace even if it's for one moment?
Time seemed to fly swiftly with every click of a key as Athrun brooded.
Athrun paused then, his brow furrowing at a message that had popped up on a private line. An email with an anonymous sender.
Curious and suspicious, he went to open it, only to be interrupted by…
"Oi, Athrun. You workaholic, get out of there!"
Athrun blinked, peering out from under the cock pit's lip ( the door hatch) at his three friends. This would be their only day to hang out together- he remembered- since the Demi-god was disembarking the next morning.
He climbed out, glancing one last time at the message, promising himself that he would get to it the moment he got back.
"So we were thinking of hitting a bar- Nicole has already agreed to be our designated driver- as always." Dearke grinned, his hands behind his head. In Dearka's world, there was never a need to worry.
Athrun hesitated, debating about it before nodding, ruffling his blue hair. "Sure," he agreed while at the same time trying to erase all memories of the last time they had went to a bar. Yzak and Dearka- neither of them having good self-control when it came to drinking- becoming so drunk that they caused lot of trouble for poor designated driver Athrun. Yzak had started fights, and Dearka had flirted with the women. In the end they both came home black and blue, heads bowed in shame- though Dearka was still grinning to himself at whatever he had accomplished.
They headed to the bar in the town, a small bar with low lights and a more solemn atmosphere inside. More of a place to brood and forget then to drink and party.
But that's how it tended to be at bars near military bases. Soldiers right out of battle would come here and stare idly, lost in their own battlefields that took place in their heads.
"Cheers." Dearka clinked his glass to the others, winking as he did so at an attractive blonde waitress and Athrun fidgeted slightly in his seat, remembering the last blonde encounter with Dearka.
As if reading what he was thinking Dearka pulled down his sleeve. "You're going to have your hands full with Akira, Athrun." A slightly bluish fist-sized bruise was swelled up on his upper arm and Athrun found himself grinning at the sight of it.
"Oh?"
Yzak laughed. "Yeah, good luck with that witch."
Athrun paused, taking a sip of his drink, growing slightly confused at the rather more friendly way they were talking about her. Well, Dearka was friendly at least….
Nicole smiled at him from across the table, his arms folded behind his head. "They were school mates with Akira back in ZAFT academy."
Athrun's eyebrows went up. "I didn't know that. But how come I never saw her?"
"She was there half way through your senior year." Grunted Yzak.
Dearka laughed. "But you did meet her before!"
"When?"
"She was the girl who kicked your ass in fencing!"
Athrun's eyes widened as he remembered. Oh that had been rather embarrassing for him! "Well that doesn't count- we weren't introduced and the whole time we were wearing masks." His respect for Yamato increased.
"The look on your face when you pulled off your mask later." Dearka cracked up laughing. "Oh it was so worth it!"
Athrun sighed. Knowing that once Dearka started- there was just no stopping him. The only way was to distract.
But he didn't need to as Dearka suddenly sat bolt up right, a huge sly grin on his face. He leaned forward, beckoning Athrun closer as if he was about to whisper to him.
"So, Athrun. I heard you're rooming with Akira. Now how has that been?" he smirked, his eyebrows raising and Athrun flushed, struggling to remind himself that despite Dearka's lewd comments towards women, he was still a friend.
Athrun had been raised in a very polite and respective manner, especially considering who he was betrothed to.
"Nothing like that has happened." He snapped, feeling his face grow red at the thought of… of…
Dearka looked surprised. "You mean, you don't like her?"
"What do you mean I don't like her?" Athrun snapped before he realized that he was playing right into Dearka's hands and he gritted his teeth, snarling into his drink.
"So you do?"
"Hullo, engaged?" Athrun waved a hand in front of Dearka's face. "And I'm a lieutenant!" as if that was the answer to everything. He shook his head. "We're not even friends. Just comrades."
Nicole tugged Dearka back. "Leave him be, Dearka. He has some decency unlike you."
Dearka shrugged. "I just meant as a fling, idiot!"
Irritation sparked in Athrun now that his initial embarrassment was over.
But before he could say anything cutting to Dearka, Dearka turned to him with the face of one doing another a great favor.
"Seriously, I thought Akira was a stiff person but I'm starting to have my doubts!"
Athrun's mouth shut with a snap.
Yzak- who once again was watching something that was taking place outside with apt interest- looked over. "What do you mean?"
"I had some- ah- business in a section of town."
"Dearka, with you, I never want to know just what exactly you are up to." Nicole said dryly, taking a sip of his water.
Dearka grinned, his eyes sparkling. "Guys, I'm not kidding, this girl was ama-"
"Just finish your story!" Yzak snapped and as always Dearka obliged. Yzak was the only one Dearka ever ended up listening to half the time.
"Well anyway, so I happened to be looking outside from the place where I was at and what did I see? But our gorgeous blonde hugging some guy… Numerous times. From what I saw, they seemed pretty close."
Athrun's fists were starting to clench under the table when he realized what he was doing and he swallowed tightly, trying to understand this cold feeling in the pit of his stomach. Feeling slightly miserable, he realized that that would explain why she left Lacus's early and got back late. Not to mention that when he asked her what she had been doing she wouldn't relent any information.
After all, it was her personal life. And if she made plans before Lacus's dinner then she had every right to leave early to see a lover.
Athrun had no right to expect that Akira didn't know anybody!
But that crumbling sensation. He didn't expect to feel that and he couldn't even begin to understand it.
Glum, he reached up and took a long swig of his drink, feeling the cold liquor run down his throat. Not at all satisfying him.
He had come out with his friends in hopes to forget things that were bothering him- after all, this might be the last time he ever saw them again, war was filled with chance, you could die any second- and yet, he felt worse.
Nicole sighed. "So let me get this straight, Dearka. You think that you saw Akira, Akira Yamato, with a lover late last night?"
Dearka nodded insistently. "Yes!"
Nicole stared at him then snorted, shaking his head. "No, no, no way. I may not know Akira at all, but from I learned of her that's just not her style. Chances are that last night you were being the cheap drunk you always are and mistook another blonde for her."
Dearka glared at him. "It was her!"
Athrun rubbed his forehead, taking a deep breath, siding with Nicole in the matter. Dearka was as cheap drunk.
"Sure."
"Really!"
Before Nicole could respond, Yzak cut in, looking annoyed as Athrun felt.
"If you want to find out, then how about you ask her?" he nodded in the direction of the bar entrance.
Just as he wanted them to, all of their heads snapped around to look through the bar's window to see a blonde girl and a brunette girl chattering lightly as they walked down the street, shopping bags on their arms.
Nicole grinned Yzak. "By the way, Yzak. I know what was distracting you."
Yzak scowled at him. "Yeah? Well just keep on talking, Nicole and you won't find me so distracted!" he rose slightly from his seat, the muscles in his arms flexing slightly.
"Calm down!" Athrun tugged on Yzak's pale arm- he looked for Dearka's help in restraining Yzak in case Yzak blew it like he always did over the stupid thigns.
"Dearka?"
Dearka's chair sat empty.
"There he is." Nicole pointed to the window and their heads swiveled around again.
Cocky looking as ever, Dearka stood in front of Akira and Shiho Hahnenfus, a huge grin on his face.
Whatever he said made the girl's raise their eyebrows, Akira's shooting up coolly as she gazed at Dearka in dislike.
Dearka nodded back to his friends in the bar and Shiho's eyes met Yzak. She smiled slightly and tugged Akira, pulling her reluctant comrade into the bar.
Nicole pulled up two seats, one on each side of Athrun.
Shiho's features softened slightly as she settled into the chair between on Athrun and Yzak, putting her bags on the ground.
"You can sit too, lovely." Dearka nodded, patting the chair between Athrun and himself and Athrun shifted in his seat, trying to relax.
The girl glanced at her watch once, her foot slightly tapping and she shook her head. "No thanks, Dearka. I'm not up for your badgery today."
Dearka made a face as Akira turned to go. "Wait," he grabbed her right arm and she winced slightly as if it hurt.
Athrun's and Dearka's eyebrows raised and they exchanged a glance.
"So, Akira." Dearka looked straight-face as ever. "Do you have a lover?"
Nicole smacked himself in the face, Yzak rolled his eyes, Shiho sighed and Athrun's eyes stared stead fast at Akira's startled ones.
"Wha?" she gaped impolitely.
"A lover?" Dearka repeated slowly. "You know someone who you-"
Shiho started coughing rather coincidently and Dearka finished. "A brunette lover?"
Akira's eyes became vague. "A brunette lover." She murmured as if she thought the words would sum up a memory or a name. She glanced at Athrun and it was as if something hit her and she jumped.
"Hell with it all, Dearka!" she snarled. "You don't just ask someone that." She punched him with her left hand and he dodged, laughing.
"Is that a yes?"
Was it a yes, Athrun wondered, feeling slightly lost. It had never occurred to him that Akira, despite her private and cold nature, might have someone she missed and loved and spent days and nights with.
"That is most certainly not a yes!" she snapped. "Never ever dare to ask me anything again!"
"But!"
She clenched her fists, glaring at him and then Athrun as if he encouraged it all. "My life is none of your business so butt the hell out!" she turned to stomp away. "See ya, Shiho." She called, her voice filled with anger.
"Wait, Akira!" Dearka called.
"WHAT?" she roared, turning around with all the fire of a demon in her eyes.
"Are you aware that you have a bruise that looks like a turtle on your arm?" Dearka grinned up at her angelically and Akira's expression blazed.
Absentmindedly, Athrun got to his feet, ready to step in if need be, and Akira's violet eyes met his and her shoulders went down slightly. She tossed her hair over her shoulder and it was then that Athrun realized that Dearka was right.
Akira did have a bruise- in fact she had many light ones mottling the edges of her jaw as if she had gotten boxed.
"Akira!" Athrun murmured, coming forward, brushing some of his darker hair out of his eyes. Trying not to think about Akira having a lover- it just didn't seem right? Maybe because it was Akira, cold-hearted Akira, that Dearka was talking about- he reached forward to examine Akira's face.
She stepped back, looking down. He could feel her resentment and yet embarrassment rolling off of her in waves. "It's nothing. Don't bother yourself over a waste of time." She shook herself and then turned to walk out, her shoulders down.
Athrun stared after her for a moment, wondering if he should chase after when he felt a prodding on his back.
"Help her,"
"Nicole?"
His close friend smiled at him. "If you're wondering something then don't make assumptions find out for yourself! Go talk with her. You're good at helping people out! Maybe you can help Akira."
Shiho, already helping herself to some drinks added. "Yo, Nicole. I did as you asked and took the rookie out for a bit." She hesitated, her brow furrowing. "It might seem like it's easy to get along with Akira. But it's not like the girl is shy. She just goes out of her way not to make conversation. It's as if she's afraid of people in general. Or at least, being friends with them."
Yzak groaned. "All I've heard so far is 'Akira this and that' seriously. Do our lives revolve around her?"
Shiho glanced at him and shrugged. "Sure thing, Yzak. Let talk about our upcoming wedding."
"Huh?" Yzak choked on his drink and Dearka howled with laughter at the sight of his friend's bewildered and furious expression. Shiho chortled.
Athrun hesitated. "But, I came out here to be with you guys."
Nicole considered it for a moment then sat back down. "Then don't worry about her anymore. Either you want to make up your mind to help her or not."
Athrun remembered the blonde's expressions of desolation that he had seen. Despair and pain.
Then he remembered her practically bolting from the dinner, then coming back late, and her irritation at him when he asked her what she had been doing.
"Well, it's not like I won't see her later." He forced an eye roll and resumed his seat, taking a sip of his drink. Trying not to think about Akira at all and jumping back into the conversation as he and his friends exchanged old tales and jokes while deep down they all wondered if the next time they got together- whose face might be missing.
And whose was never there to begin with.
OOOOO
Cagalli POV
Walking down the street, I chewed on my nails anxiously. "Damn. Damn. Damn!" I growled, furious at myself. "I'm so freaking lucky I'll be gone by tonight, cuz, if I slip up one more time… I'm gonna do something drastic."
Oh well, I prefer them think I have some lover over actually digging into it.
But Athrun's expression. It was almost insulting the look of astonishment.
I frowned. As if I couldn't have a lover or something!
I could very well have one if I actually cared enough about a person. "Annoying butthead!" I punted a rock with the toe of my boot and it flew forward to bang against a stuffed metal trashcan, ricotcheing to land back on the street.
Oh, but don't even get me started on Dearka. If I hadn't remembered Athrun's warning about my temper I might have ripped him in two right then!
"Buttheads!" I amended, kicking another rock. I checked my watch and sighed- I had just enough time to head back to the base and pack some stuff
I shoved my hands into my pockets and changed directions, my eyes on the ground as I walked through the busy streets of both the town and my mind.
I'm finally going home. After years and years I was finally going to be in my proper place. I would forget my past and live my life for the future. Kimi-hime had become a nightmare and it was me who was letting her to continue to plague my mind.
"Hello!"
A pink ball whizzed at my face and I stiffened, catching it with one hand. "What the?"
"Haro! Haro! How do you do?" pink flaps like round ears opened and closes as the pink machine blinked it's black eyes
A… pet?
"And who do you belong to?" I murmured as the creature-machine-…thing danced in the palm of my hand before springing out of it onto the ground.
I sighed, rubbing the back of my head in exasperation. "Alright, let's find your owner."
After going through numerous shops and asking numerous amounts of people if they recognized the 'pink thing' I finally gave up, flopping down onto a park bench and glaring at the 'pink thing'. "You…are a nuisance!" I growled at the nuisance and it gave a happy twirl of delight.
"Haro!" sang a familiar voice and my head snapped up to meet a pair of azure blue ones.
The 'pink thing' jumped into the girl's outstretched hands and I sighed, too lazy to salute.
"Lady Lacus." I bowed my head.
Lacus Clyne cuddled her Haro for a second before looking up curiously at the sound of her name. A smile spread across her face. "Akira!" Happily she spun about to sit down next to me. "How wonderful that I could run into you."
Yup. Super. "Yeah, what are you doing down here so close to base?" I looked around the less-cleaner settlement.
"Athrun is meeting me in a bit." She informed me and I nodded. "Were you just with him?" she asked, looking up as if she thought she would see the Lieutenant standing over my shoulder.
"Funnily enough." I mumbled and then sighed. "Yeah, he's at the bar."
"the bar." Repeated Lacus and she made a slight face and I grinned at her expression.
"Not a fan of drinking?"
"I have seen too many proud men make fools of themselves from the drink's sway to get into it myself."
"Indeed."
"And how about you?"
"Huh? Oh, well actually I came down here with a…" I paused, trying to think of a word for Shiho. "With another pilot and we were shopping and ran into Athrun and some of his friends." I finished lamely.
"Hmm." Lacus murmured, studying her still-dancing haro. "Thank you for finding Haro." She added and I shrugged.
"No problem."
"So today is your last night in PLANT, I suppose?"
My body ran cold. "Um," I hesitated, , my heart thumping hard in my chest.
"Well tomorrow your ship is disembarking." Lacus clarified, her pink-framed head cocked to one side as she watched me.
I sighed. "Yeah, that would be right."
"Are you busy tonight? Perhaps we can have dinner together again?" though she made the offer I wondered if she actually meant it- the tone of her voice was…flat sounding.
"Afraid not, I have other matters I must attend to."
"Ah, well it was rather short notice." Lacus smiled.
"But thank you." I added hastily, realizing how rude I was being.
The princess of ZAFT sighed. "I hope your mission goes well, Akira."
I sighed, thinking about Kira and the escape we had planned for tonight. "Me too, Lacus-san. Me too."
OOOOO
Narrator POV
"Hah! You lose, Dearka!" Nicole slapped his hand down gleefully and Dearka groaned, glaring dizzily at the pile of cards as if it would miraculously change suits in his favor.
"You're full of…" he swayed slightly in his seat, unable to think up an ending and Shiho barked a laugh.
Athrun chuckled. "I'm afraid, Nicole, but it is you who lose." He slid his cards- a royal flush- onto the table for everyone to stare at.
Yzak slammed his drink down. "You're cheating!" he accused, sparks practically flying from his eyes.
"No- you're drunk. Idiot." Athrun sighed. "If you want to play poker and win, it's better if you retain your focus." He shook his drink slightly. "I'm only on my second- and what's that? Your eighth?"
Yzak made a face and stared at his drink.
Shiho sighed. "You all are cheap drunks in my opinion, Dearka, Yzak." She crossed her arms over her chest loosely, leaning back in her chair. "Honestly, you both were down on your third sip practically. What happened to being big boys."
"Um, Shiho." Athrun murmured to the amused brunette. "I would greatly appreciate it if you didn't enrage them- I would like to leave the bar in one piece."
Nicole laughed. "Leave the bar in one piece, or did you mean you your self in one piece?"
Dearka snickered though Athrun doubted that the guy had been following the joke.
"Anyway," Athrun grinned, scooping up the rewards for having an excellent hand at poker. "Another round perhaps?"
Yzak looked annoyed. "You and Nicole have been the only ones that are winning. I don't get it." He swayed slightly towards Shiho and Shiho froze uncertainly before prodding him gently- and rather reluctantly- back into his seat.
"You don't have to. Just continue conjuring money from your pocket and trust me, nothing will have to make sense." Nicole laughed, patting his own small pile of cash and he and Athrun exchanged high fives.
"Athruuun."
Athrun froze at the sound of a familiar voice and his face flushed at a recent memory.
Dearka looked from Athrun's face to the person who was now wrapping her arms around Athrun's chest from behind. A grin split his face. "Pretty lady!" he exclaimed. "Pretty lady play with us?"
Shiho threw an empty bottle at Dearka and it bounced off his chest. "Shut up, you pitiful excuse for a man!" she laughed rowdily and Dearka pouted.
"Meer." Athrun unwinded the girl from him, wondering if his face was as red looking as it felt. He directed the beaming girl into the empty seat next to him that had been intended for Akira.
He flushed a darker color as the memory zoomed back through his mind of the yesterday morning.
First Meer's performance and then Akira leaning over, batting her eyes at him, her voice a husky purr and the lack of light nearly making her eyes a pink-tinged amber.
Athrun shook his head and took a longer sip from his drink.
"Guys, this is Meer. Meer this is Shiho Hahnenfus, Yzak Joule, Nicole Armandf, and Dearka Elseman."
Meer's eyes glanced over at them and she waved a quick hello before turning back to gaze at Athrun. "You guys are playing cards?" she confirmed. "Do you need some luck, Athrun?" she leaned forward in what Athrun was realizing was a rather suggestive way. Her smashing red short dress snug to every curve drew the eyes.
Athrun edged slightly back in his seat. "I'm fine, Meer."
Meer looked as if she was about to disagree when her eyes connected with somebody else's.
"Oh, it's you."
Athrun turned and froze at the sight of the rookie pilot and his fiancé. Both of them looking at him with their eyebrows raised.
"Holy-" Shiho murmured, her eyes widening at the presence of Lacus Clyne.
"Oooh, more pretty lady!" shouted Dearka and Shiho slapped her hand over his mouth, looking panicked.
"Numbskull!" she whispered. "Do you realize who that is?" she jumped up and saluted. "Lady Clyne."
Lacus's expressionless face broke into a smile and she greeted them warmly. Her gaze resting for a long moment on Meer.
"Guys, this is Lacus Clyne." Athrun said slowly, getting to his feet.
Akira looked irritated and she ignored the glares from Meer that she seemed to be getting. She checked her watch. "Well, I really have to go." She turned to Lacus. "You'll be alright then?"
Lacus beamed. "Yes, thank you, Akira, for taking me here. Good luck."
Good luck? Athrun thought, confused and he watched Akira's expression, curiously.
Akira stared at Lacus for one long hard moment, her expression unreadable before she nodded. "Thank you." And turned to leave.
"Akira!" Athrun exclaimed, receiving a flash of annoyance from Meer.
She glanced at him, obviously irate. "What?" she snapped.
Athrun raised an eyebrow and she sighed, relaxing. "What?" she repeated, her tone cooler but more calm.
"Better, but…" he hesitated, on the verge of asking her where she was going.
"I'm heading back to the base, Athrun." She crossly. "I'll see ya." She turned away to stride out.
Lacus turned to Athrun, an expression of uncertainty on her face. "Would you…" she paused and Athrun winced as he felt Meer's angry gaze sweep over them.
He had a lot to explain and make up for. "Yes. Let's take a walk. Lacus." He glanced at the rest of his guys. "You can split my winnings. Bye."
Lacus smiled. "You're not drunk right?"
"Lacus, I'm insulted."
"Just checking." She glanced after Akira, her bottom lip trembled slightly.
"What's wrong?"
"I was just wondering… if we would ever see her again."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Lacus shook her head. "Come on,"
"Haro! Haro!" The pink ball danced around their feet and Athrun smiled. Not happy, but content.
OOOOO
My fingers grazed the cold metal rail of the cat walk as I strode over the hangar where Athrun's and mine GUNDAMs were.
I headed for mine first, the Huntress, sliding into her sleek cockpit, a cd in one hand.
I had packed a small bag with some of my things and now, with only an hour or so left, I had one last task. To down load the technology from the Huntress and Aegis onto a CD.
I inserted the CD into the GUNDAM, booting up the software and copying everything onto the CD.
Any moment, I was sure somebody would point a gun at my head, catch me in what I was doing. But nobody did. Be calm, Cags, to them. You're a Coordinator Pilot checking up on your GUNDAMs. Breathe. Distract yourself at least, think about something- an image of Meer popped into my head, her coy smile glaring bright and I scowled- okay, something else.
Blue oceans. Real soil. The ORB national zoo with zebras and lions and bears!
I grinned.
The machine gave a small beep and my CD slid out. I picked it up and climbed out of the cockpit, my fingers grazing the shiny new console. I would miss using it, that's for sure.
I headed to the other GUNDAM, the Aegis, Athrun's, putting the first full CD into it's case and pulling out another blank disc.
Sliding into Athrun's cockpit I felt like I was violating his privacy- the cockpit smelled of his musky warm scent and I wondered for a split second what crossed Athrun's mind every time he climbed into this pilot seat.
I sighed, turning on the system.
An unread email popped up and I paused in sliding the CD in. "Hullo." I debated for a moment then clicked it open, biting my bottom lip nervously.
To Athrun Zala. Pilot. ZAFT.
As we speak there is an ORB scout ship hiding in the docking systems. They are spies and are planning to depart tonight. You must find them and stop them! You'll thank me later.
sincerely
NewRising.
My heart almost stopped. Time seemed to freeze as I reread that message again. No. "No… No." I bolted out of the cockpit, stumbling. I grabbed my pack, slinging it over my shoulder before bursting into a sprint. I…I had to get there! I had to warn Kira! Warn him that…That ZAFT was coming.
Kira! Kira!
My heart squeezed painfully, and a sweat grew on my skin as I ran through halls, shoving and pushing my way past people. I ran down the ship's plank onto the military base ground, heading to the street. I had to get there first! I had to! I had to!
I doubted Athrun was the only one who received that email from the 'NewRising'. Kira was in trouble! I had to save him before it was too late! Tell him to leave with out me!
Cause if ZAFT got there first. If ZAFT found their ship. Found him. Then…then.
"No." I growled through my gritted teeth, stumbling over something. I glanced down at what had tripped me, not sparing a moment to be puzzled at the discareded eye-contact case on the ground. It looked like mine, but I knew it wasn't…
My head turned back up and I resumed my run. Kira… Kira… Don't die. Don't leave me.
OOOO
Narrator POV
Athrun was in the middle of debating whether or not to kiss Lacus goodbye when it happened. Saved from having to press his suit upon the girl, he pulled out his vibrating cell phone.
Lacus looked at her feet and he winced, stroking her arm slightly with his fingers in his way of an apology.
"Athrun speaking."
"Lieutenant Zala." Barked the familiar voice of his captain.
"Captain?"
"We need you to return here immediately! We have received a message informing us that there is an ORB scout ship hiding in our docking system!"
Athrun's eyes widened. "A spy!"
"We believe so! We need you to head down there in the Aegis, now!"
"Yes Captain!"
"Also, do you know where the blazes that rookie pilot is?"
A cold trickle ran down Athrun's back. "What do you mean?" he asked.
"I've been calling her cell but she won't pick up! What is she doing?"
Athrun blinked, not really wanting to wonder about that question.
"I don't know sir."
"Well, if you see her, drag her back here! She needs to suit up as well in her GUNDAM."
"Yes, sir."
"Catch them Athrun, preferably alive, but don't let them escape! That's an order. Good bye and good luck."
"Yes sir!"
Athrun clicked his phone shut and met Lacus's curious gaze, her fingers twisting nervously in her lap.
He smiled at her, reaching up to stroke her pink hair. Giving her a swift kiss on the cheek, a blush settling on her skin he told her. "I have to leave. I'm sorry. Apparently though there is a rumored ORB scout ship in one of our docks." Excitement coursed through him.
Lacus's face went pale. "Oh dear!" Horrified thoughts ran through her head. Akira. No. No!
"It's okay." He assured. "They're just a spy ship. Not any danger. We'll take of this easily!" he patted her awkwardly in comfort and Lacus turned away.
"I'm sure." Her voice was distant and Athrun frowned, wondering was troubling her.
Meanwhile, tears were starting to grow in Lacus's eyes as she kept her back to her troubled fiancé. Her fingers touched the cheek his lips had grazed and she bit her lip. No… No…
OOOOO
Cagalli POV
I staggered, panting, into the docking system, my head whipping around furiously as I leaned over, hands on my knees. A docking system was single long strip with smaller docking lanes down it- one docking lane for three ships. Docking systems could range to holding a few hundred small ships to be as small as only holding nine ships and looking like an 'E'.
"Kira." I croaked, stumbling down past the docking lanes, looking through the crowds of faces for my friend, my dearest friend. "Kira…"
The cell phone in my right hand vibrated for what felt like the millionth time. I glanced at it reflexively, certain it was the captain. Instead it was Athrun. I ignored it, letting it go to miss call.
My mind was racing. How? How did they get found out? Who knew? Who sent that message? Someone from ORB? That man, Yuna Roma? Who?
"Akira, you're early!"
Kira strode up to me, smiling comfortably. "Ready to go?"
I pushed at his chest, struggling for an even breath. "Kira!"
"Yeah, that's my name- hey, whats wrong?" worry filled his voice.
"Kira! ZAFT! They- pant pant- they know you're here!" I cried softly, my chest heaving. "You have to go!"
Kira froze, his face going pale and he grabbed her hand pulling her with him towards a dock lane. "How did they…?" he asked through gritted teeth.
I shook my head. "I don't know! We just got a message and I…I had to get here to save you! We need…we need to leave! Before they come!"
Kira stopped, something occurring to him and he spun around. "Akira…Cagalli." His voice dropped to a soft note that only I could hear. "You are staying here. Do you understand?"
I gazed at him, struggling to talk. "Wha-what are you saying?" I gasped, my eyes wide. I tried to calm my pounding heart.
"Stay here!" he looked scared and yet certain.
"Kira! I want to go with you! I'm not letting you go up there with out me!"
"Akira, I can't risk us being shot down with you in the ship. They'll track me and Yuna down, even if we all don't leave. You have to stay. Stay and be safe." His hands formed shackles around my slimmer arms and he pushed me backwards, away from the landing zone around his ship. "Please, Cagalli… for me."
Tears grew in my eyes and I shook my head, my yellow hair smacking myself in the face. "No… don't make me stay. Don't. You can't leave me… You can't." I struggled to regain my composure and I looked desperately at Kira's equally anguished face. "You can't die! Don't… please."
"Go back… Akira Yamato." He whispered. "And live." He kissed me gently on the foerhead, hugging me tightly as if he didn't ever want to let go. "You know me." He grinned a crooked grin. "I'll be alright."
"Promise me?" I whispered but Kira turned away, letting go and running back towards his ship.
"Promise me, Kira!" I yelled, my arms hugging myself around the chest, tears threatening to run down my face. "Promise me you won't die." My heart squeezed painfully in my chest and I sank unsteadily to my knees. Once again, I couldn't do anything to help anybody. Why was I always so pathetic? Why did I always hurt people and cause problems. If he had never come for me. If only… if only I wasn't the princess.
A red gleam shot across the sky and my head snapped up to see small black scout ship, shaped like a bird with it's wings out, head outstretched, dart for the sky.
I recognized the red gleam.
"No…No… NO!" I gripped my face in both hands, horror in me.
The scout ship darted around the GUNDAM, and the GUNDAM missed it's first shot. It's laser fire hitting a docking station, bursting it into flames.
The ground rumbled, groaning beneath me at the force of the hit and I was thrown sideways with a cry.
"No Athrun!" I screamed, even though there was no way my lieutenant in his GUNDAM could hear me. "No!"
Suddenly there was an explosion as the outer layer of Octus five erupted.
BOOOOM!
Dirt filled the air and I coughed, choking. I made my eyes look up against the sucking wind and the dirt that clogged my eyes just in time to see a dark, lith shape slide through the opening it had made into Octus five.
It looked like a snake… no… a dragon!
The air began to clear slightly and I gaped in astonishment at the colossal black machine that floated thousands and thousands of feet above in the air, circling down towards the Aegis and the scout ship.
The machine had a long body, four clawed legs, a tail, and a head. It had wings that had razor blades of energy sparking from them. And as it opened it's mouth I saw a powerful energy cannon glint far back in it's throat.
Indeed, a twisted mind had made that death machine. A dragon of death circled above my comrade and my friend and though the ground was shaking from the force of explosives, and though the air was still thick with dirt, I stood up, my legs shaking.
The dragon sank closer and I saw the Aegis raise it's energy sword, swinging it at the monster.
The monster's tail whipped up like a sword, blocking it and shoving the smaller machine backward. The monster wrapped around the scout ship in a split second- it was so fast!- and it reminded me of a massive python choking it's prey to death.
"NO!" I screamed as I realized what it was doing.
A minute passed, the Aegis struggling to throw off the machine when the machine dragon tightened its body around the small scout ship.
A second explosion lit the air, blinding me and throwing me back to the ground. Tears streamed my dirty cheeks as pain engulfed me when my head cracked against the hard, rubble-covered ground. Smoke filled the air and pieces of metal rained down. A jagged sharp fragment the size of my thumb sliced into my stomach and pain blazed from the wound. But I didn't notice. I hardly even cared.
The scout ship was gone. And so was Kira.
"Kira…" I cried, collapsing. My head was throbbing from colliding with the ground and my heart felt like it was ripped into two. Blood dripped from my injury, soaking my clothes. "KIRAAAAAAA!" I screamed, sobbing.
I glared at the dragon that was now scaling back to the hole in the sky it had made. The Aegis seemed to chase it for a moment then stop as if the pilot had gotten a counter-order.
"You!" I whispered at the unkown pilot of the dragon machine, my eyes starting to close. "You I will…I will…kill you!" My body racked with pain and anguish. "Kiraaaaa." I cried as darkness consumed me… silent and suffocating. And now… I really was alone.
Not much to say. Sorta depressed feeling after writing the end of this chapter. =/
So whatcha think? I sorta wanted to have Athrun have a slight day out with the guys and Akira to meet Shiho cause in my head they're two characters who should be friends. *nod*
Did i surprise anyone with that ending? I felt like everyone thought Cagalli was returning to ORB (that didn't happen...)
Oh well, the story's still feels like it's just beginging so we'll see how things go =)
And who might be the pilot of the dragon machine? (FYI i will explain the dragon machine in greater detail when someone actually sees it up close in the story)
Guess Cagalli is stuck in ZAFT still.
well, Review or PM pleasseeee and you'll make me extremely happy over the top happy, no matter what your review is.
Your tired writer
-Azetta
Sorry folks, no Jabber Bomb today *wheezes*