Hi y'all, so, sorry... I'M SORRY! =( i know i just completely disappear (sorta a talent of mine) but anyhoo, i'm actually EXHAUSTED from a dance so A/N is gonna be short (yay, right?)
Lol now to respond to my awesome readers =)
Sake-hime : Hmmm, it's a mystery =3 Gracias =) and here's your update =)
WritingKnightmare : Oh fooie, you're not supposed to like Nariat D= lol, hahahaha, well then again, i don't like him just cuz i already have Kitalla's past figured out... *cough* lol and i know i normally make longer replies but sadly i'm too tired to think so, THANK yous! and yes, all grammar credit goes to my recently acquired awesome beta =)
mrs. Zala- guesss whatt! so um, okay, wait i forgot, okay no i remember, anyway, Athrun and Cagalli will meet up again chapter after this one! HECK YES =D (wow, i suck at the whole surprise thingy, lol) And i'm thrilled to have been able to portray Cagalli's feelings =)
Yuriski-1st- yeah, someone caught me on the purple eyes thing- thanks =) i'm sorta ditz, lol
Cagalli-fan- your wish for Athrun and Cagalli to meet will be granted chapter after this one, this is the intro to the whole 'HOLY CRAP- CRAP IS ABOUT TO GO FLYING!" sorta thing lol =)
13uttafly-Awwww, thanks and i intend too =) THANKYOUUU
Azettafan- you really think i'm going to answer those questions? =P lol, i know i suck at keeping secrets concerning my story but i can't give it all away, lol
THANK YOU GUYS FOR YOUR REVIEWS! AND A HUGE THANKS FOR XxWeixX who has been ever so awesomely editing my recent chapters- (it must be hell...) lol thanks =)
*disclaimer, i do not own Gundam Seed, and I do not own the song 'One World' by Celtic Woman
Enjoy =)
"It's been a long time…" Kitalla murmured to herself while standing before a full length mirror in her Blue Cosmos uniform. It was an engineer's green coat complete with sown on fabric badges, and apparently, it was hers.
It fit her snugly, slightly tight around her chest and hips (can she help it that she grew?), and as she stared at her self in the mirror, a strong feeling of nostalgia swept through her. Slowly, rhythmically and methodically, she brushed her hair, as if trying to keep the memories at bay with every stroke of the brush.
She was trying to pin it up when Nariat walked in. Shock rippled through her as he reached up and began to aid her in combing her hair. His mouth was drawn in a tight line, showing just how displeased he was with what she was doing.
Kitalla opened her mouth to protest but he silenced her with a look, and she, Kitalla, who never bent her pride to anyone, sighed in defeat and closed her eyes. Her crew didn't hate her, but to say that they loved this new-found identity of their captain would be over kill.
"Do you think they will ever forgive me?", she whispered. She had never felt so vulnerable and she opened her eyes to watch Nariat's reaction.
For he had opposed her decision to go after the princess and Yuna by herself. "They are more upset at finding out that there were Blue Cosmos soldiers among us than ex-Blue Cosmos soldiers."
"Your words don't comfort me." She told him stiffly, watching him pin her hair into a sleek black bun. He then picked up a small baseball cap that Kitalla had laid out on the bed next to them. "How did you get so good at this anyway?" she asked, pointing at her streaks of hair that was hanging of out the cap.
He shrugged. "I have three sisters at home- I guess I picked up some tricks."
She snorted. "Better then I could ever do."
He smoothed the sides of her hair and she couldn't stop but shiver as it sent rippled through her. It was a shiver of longing. Longing for touch. It was a shiver of discomfort, because the longing wasn't for his touch.
Years could pass and yet, Kitalla was unchanged. She always had been. Stubborn to her core- her inability to move on was her own undoing. Her own pain.
There was a small clinking sound and Kitalla watched him, frozen, as he tugged the chain around her neck free from it's hiding place beneath her collar.
"This ring… what exactly does it mean to you?"
"It's very important." Kitalla's voice was quiet.
"Are you sure it's not just you holding on to the past."
"I thought we already had this conversation, Nariat."
"Kitalla, in a few hours you are going to be riding off alone in Chaos to… to face everything that you swore off. If it really means so much to you…" Nariat took a deep breath. "If the person who gave this to you really means so much to you that you would keep it, then why did you leave him?"
Kitalla's eyes flashed. "Do not presume, Nariat, that I keep this ring for mere sentimental value!"
"I don't know whether to be happy or sad." Nariat drawled.
Kitalla looked like she wanted to punch him squarely in the jaw, but she only made a huff and sat down on the edge of the bed. "Fool. This ring…" her voice was full of pain. "Means so much more then just sentimental value…" she paused and then continued
again. "I left him… because to stay would have been wrong." She looked up at him, her golden eyes hard. "Cagalli… I understand her feelings quite well. I've been in her place before… but slightly different seeing as I am no princess."
"Did you love him?" Nariat asked, his voice hushed as he studied the tense woman before him. How he wished that she would open up, open her heart to him as he would gladly give her his. He had only known her for a couple of years but during those few years, he had come to respect the cool, intelligent and fiery attitude of hers. He had even come to love her.
Kitalla's eyes widened and she laughed, a cold, empty sound. "Did I love him? But I guess he loved me." Her words weren't taunting but merely a statement of fact. "But I was not worth his love… because I left him. Because my sense of right and wrong… my morals were more important then simply just belonging."
She glanced at her watch and sighed. "When we get back, I will tell you the full story of who I really am. But for now, please run some final checkups on the Chaos. I need to… think by myself."
Nariat stared at the top of his shoes for a moment before nodding and saluting. He walked out and Kitalla sighed. Standing up, she took one last glance at herself and swallowed tightly at the person in the mirror. The person who she thought she would never see again.
Misaki.
OOOOOO
Aboard the Archangel
Captain Murrue stood, hands behind her back in front of a small assemble of her crew, awaiting orders that would soon to come.
A small green escape pod had traveled its way through space stood in front of them, bearing a very precious cargo.
The crewmembers behind her were whispering, all of them excited to be there at that moment- the moment when she would appear.
The door of the pod slid open and a stately, pretty blonde with shrewd amber eyes stepped out, her gaze traveling over the crew, a curious, and shy smile spread across her face.
The Captain bowed, and the crew of the Archangel followed her actions. "Welcome," she said warmly, relief in her voice. "Daughter of Uzumi- Princess Cagalli Yula Attha."
The blonde studied them before returning the bow, her voice was grave when she spoke again. "I regret to report the M.I.A. of Yuna Roma and Kira Yamato. By misfortune, we were separated and by luck, my escape pod was guided to your ship."
Raimus froze, her mouth slightly open. "Oh." The shock in her voice rippled through the crew at the news of deaths of Kira and Yuna. Her fists clenched slightly, and all she said was. "I'm just happy that you're alive, Princess. We…Orb has been waiting for this day for years. Your father will be overjoyed to see you!"
Kimi-hime smile turned cold. "As have I, Captian Raimus. As have I."
The plan was in motion. Her brethren were moving. Blue Cosmos was on the rise.
OOOOOOO
Aboard the Avenger.
Yzak gathered his pilots before him, "It's time to put this battle plan into action."
"I'm still not sure we should be doing this…" Shiho mumbled and Nicol nodded in agreement.
Yzak glared at them. "Commander Le Creuset himself gave the order to destroy the unknown vessel."
Shiho nodded and sighed.
"If you're going to whine about it-" Yzak started in a warning voice.
"Ok already! I just feel that we should be more useful on the battlefield instead of going after some loner." Shiho grumped as she felt Nicole shift uncomfortably next to her.
Yzak glared at her and she met his gaze steadily, the only one ever known to never quake at the famous silver glare Yzak could bestow.
"Are we all ready?" Yzak asked.
"Aye, aye Captain," Shiho yelled over the others, giving Yzak her famous one-fingered salute. Yzak narrowed his eyes, glaring at her darkly.
"Well…then..." Dearka murmured, rubbing his palms together. "The sooner we get rid of this troublesome fly, the sooner we face the mosquitos." He wrapped an arm snugly around the bristled brunette girl. "Shall we, my dear?" he asked the pilot, leading her to her mobile suit.
Yzak gritted his teeth, unable to understand why his irritation with the brunette subordinate had suddenly gotten redirected to his friend, Dearka. Why is he hugging her? Damn, of course. He probably plans to have a 'victory celebration' later tonight, I wouldn't be surprised. Yzak snorted. She wouldn't. eased by his own confidence in Shiho. Yzak headed to his GUNDAM, all aware of the brunette and blonde whispering across the docking bay. All too aware of the monster named 'jealousy' that had finally raised it's head to sniff the air, checking for rivals.
He was no good at the whole frivolous shit called courtship. Couldn't even deal with his own feelings, let alone wondering about someone else's. He liked his prickly nature, purposely keeping himself surrounded by a thicket of thorns; simply to keep people from getting in, and now, he was trying to figure out how to get out.
OOOOOOO
Aboard the Archangel
"Captain! Mobile suits approaching at six o'clock!" a brig mate shouted to the Captain, who was currently clutching at the arms of her seats.
"Damn." The brown-haired woman hissed, voicing aloud the princess's own thoughts.
That bastard! Kimi-hime thought, thinking about the First. You were supposed to follow the plan! You son of a gun! Dammit! You back-stabbing bastard!
"Captain! What do we do? We'll not even stand a chance of defeating them in battle!"
The Captain studied the coordinates in front of her, wishing for a miracle. And then it hit her. "Junius Seven." Her voice was low but everyone heard it, their eyes widening at the boldness of her statement. "We'll go there. These are ZAFT soldiers… they will not fight in the carnage of their lost…"
"Captain…"
Junius Seven was neutral land- nobody dared fight in a graveyard.
"Will we make it?" the woman demanded.
"We have a thirteen percent chance." Whispered a brig mate.
"Shit!"
Once again, the Captain and the blonde standing next to her were thinking in unison.
That asshole! He knew I was coming here! I can't just die! I came all this way! The blonde princess was livid. "Is there anyway at all?" she growled.
Raimus began to shake her head…then she paused, her mouth forming a small 'O' and she glanced at the Princess.
"What?" Kimi-hime snapped.
Raimus looked slightly taken aback but with a dip of her head she murmured. "We do…have another pilot on the ship." she sounded guilty.
What the hell? Then what are they waiting for? Kimi-hime thought to herself, shocked at their stupidity.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" she cried.
"He's part of the EA. A prisoner of war…"
"Who?"
"Mu La Flagga. We repaired his skygrasper…"
Kimi-hime gaped at the Captain, and then she smiled, a sick pleasure growing within her at the name. "Yes, please do request his help. Make sure to give his…vessel limited energy so that he'll be forced to come back to us. Make him understand that we are his only hope of survival and that we are willing to bargain anything for his help."
"Princess?" Raimus cried at the princess's willingness to bargain with a not-so-friendly hostage. Who knew what terms he might ask for!
"What are you waiting for?" Kimi demanded. "Tell him that if he wants to live he'll distract these idiot Gundams long enough for us to hit neutral land."
It was low to be using Junis Seven as a shield and even more low to have to depend on an EA pilot to get them there.
Raimus studied the firm princess uncertainly. Is this really the daughter of Uzumi? She wondered doubtfully to herself. Then she shook her head and said to her stunned crew. "What are you waiting for? The princess has given us orders!"
Her crew jumped and then instantly began relaying orders throughout the ship, and Raimus relaxed back into her seat with an uneasy sigh. Now all that was left was one hell of a job. Bargaining with the prisoner. "Bring me La Flagga."
OOOO
Mu La Flagga was surprised when they requested his presence in the brig- that was, until the situation was explained to him and then things clicked into place. They want my help… he thought, glancing sideways at the silent blonde girl who was studying him in a rather intense way.
Strange girl. He thought, with a slight frown.
"Pilot La Flagga."
His head snapped around as he met the chocolate brown eyes of the beautiful and curvy captain. On instinct, a slow smile of appreciation slid across his mouth and he grinned at her. "I remember you." He chuckled as if the Captain was a fond one-night stand.
The Captain gave him a dark look before gesturing at the screen behind her that was currently showing images of the GUNDAMs. "We do not have the time for chit-chat, Mr. La Flagga. I apologize that I haven't been able to visit you as a respected Captain should to a prisoner, but as of now, we need your help."
Mu sighed and lifted up his cuffed hands. "How about you free me before you ask for my help?"
The Captain glanced at the blonde who nodded before the she ordered unlocking of the metal cuffs from his wrists.
Interesting…So the power rests with the blonde… Mu thought, rubbing his chaffed wrists.
"Alright, we saved you once, pilot. When we didn't have to. We repaired your vessel as well."
They repaired the skygrasper? Mu's eyes widened a fraction. He hadn't seen that one coming.
"And if we die now, then you will too, I assure you." Murrue Raimus's eyes carried no threat but a simple promise. They died or they survived together.
"No." Mu said, crossing his arms over his chest. He gave the irate Captain an amused stare, raising an eyebrow in a mocking gesture of Convince me.
The woman narrowed her eyes, un-amused like the blonde who stepped forward them, annoyed with being ignored.
"Pilot!" the blonde snapped.
Mu frowned. "Children should be seen and not heard was a saying quite common when I was little." He mumbled and from the corner of his eye he noticed the Captain's lips tighten slightly, as if she was struggling with a chuckle.
He smiled.
"Your attention please, if you'd stop flirting with the Captain of this vessel."
Ouch. Mu wasn't the only that winced at the girl's cold voice. The crew visibly inhaled and the Captain flushed scarlet, her chocolate brown eyes wide at the girl's sheer audacity.
"I promise that if you help us out of this predicament, we shall allow you to return safely to the EA." The girl continued.
"Princess!" The Captain yelped, over coming her embarrassment.
"I know what I'm doing." The princess said coolly.
Mu dragged a hand through his hair, firmly irritated with the girl. "So let me get this straight," he said wearily. "If I draw off these Gundams and keep this ship in one piece till we arrive at Junius Seven, then-"
"Till earth. Without us, you'll die." The Princess interrupted.
Mu hesitated. He wasn't quite sure who she was, nor who the ship belonged to, but he knew that if this one girl had this much power over the ship, then he was messing with some serious stuff. Not to mention that he needed to return to the EA as soon as possible, and escape from this ship was nearly impossible without help. "Alright." He shrugged. "Bring me to my machine."
The Captain pursed her lips tightly, her dark eyes shifting between him and the blonde before she nodded. "Good luck." Her lips barely moved to whisper the words but Mu couldn't help but feel heartened at her attempt of kinship, and he smiled.
"Thanks, Captian."
OOOOO
Junius Seven, Clyne Faction
This was it. The moment the world would stop to listen to a single melody. A single note of peace in a symphony of chaos.
Listeners from Orb, ZAFT, and the EA took this moment of unity to pause in what they were doing, turn on their radios and switch on their T.V's, and allowed themselves to fall still. Fall out of the chaos and into the note of peace where their breaths mingled and their hearts beat in unison.
Junius Seven. Nobody would ever forget the event that had shook humanity to it's core. Massacre; very few people didn't look down on it. No matter who the person was, massacre was a crime that would never gain glory. Killing a soldier is one thing- they have already sold their soul to war- killing their body is just finishing the deal. But innocent mothers, children who have just began their lives… Young men, women, boys and girls just living their days out, only to have their peace shattered in a split moment of destruction.
Nobody would ever forget…
"You'll do great." Whispered Kira to the pink-haired singer as she took to her stage that had been built in the wreckage of Junius Seven. The silent devastation in the background; a graveyard of pain and sorrow.
The stage was air tight, small and the only, small speck of light was focused on a single beautiful girl, her hands held a small, white tulip, clasped to her heart as if she were praying and her eyes lifted towards heaven- wherever that may be. Behind her was a large black granite plaque with a silver filigree.
She was being aired right then, the world was waiting, and their breaths held to hear the words she would sing to calm their troubled spirits.
"I hear a baby crying
A sad song
A lonely sound
I want to take her
In my arms
And then I dry away
All her tears
I see a boy
Who is frightened
A young boy
With gold eyes
I long to say
You're welcome here
You can be happy now
That you're warm
We're all apart
Of One World
We can all share the same dreams
And if you just reach out to me
Then you'll find
Deep down inside
I'm just like you!
Loud voices raised in anger
Speak harsh words
Such cruel words
Why do they speak
So selfishly?
When we have got so much
we can share
So let your hearts
be opened
And reach out
With all your love!
There are no strangers now
They are our brothers now
And we are One
We are all apart of One World
We can all the same dreams
And if you just reach out to me
then you will find
deep down inside
I'm just like you,
I'm just like you!"
The moment her song ended, Lacus bowed her head, her pink tresses falling around her face, her hands still clasped as she began to pray.
"In remembrance of our loved ones..." she murmured, tears slipping from the corners of her eyes as she then turned and laid the small, delicate flower upon the plaque, her soft fingers stroking the cool stone, feeling the engravings.
In remembrance of Junius Seven.
"This." Her voice was strong yet at the same time, so gentle, so kind and comforting. Kira, who was watching just offstage with the camera crew, found himself leaning in to watch her, listen to her, just like most of the world was doing. "Is a reminder of what happened when we wield our hate like a weapon. God rest the souls that were lost here. God comfort the souls that mourn for loved ones. God be with those who strive to protect the living, strive to prevent the past from repeating itself." Lacus turned to face the camera again, her eyes still closed as she began to sing again. A song for the living to remember the dead.
In his heart, Kira felt the pain that Lacus spoke of. Her voice, her expression, the tears in her eyes made everything so vividly real.
A few minutes later, her song finished, she spoke again. "We have lost so much… but what we haven't lost everything, what we all share that no one can take away…is hope. Hope for a new tomorrow. Hope for peace."
How she could look so beautiful even when her azure eyes were filled with sparkling tears of sorrow amazed Kira, and without realizing it, he had moved onto the stage, walking to her.
The camera men yelped softly, hissing at him to come back, and Lacus blinked at him curiously…
Kira blushed and then she smiled, reaching out to him like a mother to her lost child.
Come.
And he came.
She wrapped her arms around his waist in a slight hug, still facing the camera even as she spoke softly to the listeners. "In this time of mourning we still have each other. We have our friends, family and our hope. Hope that brings us together. A hope that extends beyond our loved ones graves-" she gestured to the open space with one hand.
Half daring, Kira wrapped an arm around her waist, amazed at how perfectly she fit against his body. She leaned into him as if he was the comforter, instead of her.
"A hope that will survive every battle, war and death. A hope that has been here for eons, and will always be here, until the ends of time. Hope for the end of this war. For the end of every war. Hope for love. Hope for peace. Hope for each other because we are… all part of One World."
The camera man flicked a switch and the 'on air' light flipped off, leaving the Clyne Faction and Kira staring breathless at the pink-haired singer who was smiling the most beautiful smile any of them had ever seen.
And Kira knew without fail, that before him was what everyone had told him. "You… are our Angel of Hope." He murmured, staring in awe at her. He wished his sister could be here to see this. To witness this remarkable event.
Lacus released him and turned back to the plaque, her fingers grazing the smooth surface of it again. She glanced at Kira with a sad smile. "If only that were true Kira…if only that were true…"
OOOOOO
PLANT
Segal Clyne turned off the T.V, a feeling of pride swelling within him at the sight of his daughter singing to the hearts of billions. "My Lacus..." He murmured, picking up an older picture, one from years back. He and his wife stood in the background, each of them had their hands laid on the shoulders of the two girls that were standing before them.
One of the girls, obviously Lacus, was holding up her precious Haro, a wide childish grin on her face and next to her, a black haired girl, a young woman stood. The completion to their family and an add on.
"My lovely wife… Lacus… Kitalla…" as he murmured each name he stroked their faces in the picture.
"Ooh, how touching." Sneered a voice behind him and Segal swung around, his eyes widened at being disturbed in his private corridors.
"You!" he cried.
The man before him leveled a gun at him and smiled, his gaze flat. "It's all just according to plan. Good business." And then he pulled the trigger.
OOOOOOO
Somewhere:
"The plan is in effect. Project Pauper is beginning. The first is already in place, and the second and third are coming along perfectly." Mused a blonde to himself. He spun about in his chair to face his brother, who sat across from him, his arms tightly crossed over his chest.
"I do not think this is a good idea." Murmured the younger brother, his shoulders tense.
"Relax. With the money we are being paid for this, we can mass produce the Alpha in thousands for our pilots. And that's just the beginning of our plan." The older said with a sleek smile.
The younger brother gritted his teeth tightly, turning to look away. Raw pain showed in his dark blue eyes as he studied space through the window of their room.
"Oh ease up," barked his older sibling angrily. "Forget the bitch already. She's not worth mourning for years. She's done her service in building the Alpha, so just give it up."
"You don't understand anything." The other man growled, shaking his fist at his brother. A silver chain dangled from his fist, a small dogtag swinging from it as it glinted in the light.
The engravings one side of the bronze dogtag were neat and small but still clearly readable: The Love of My Life.
The older brother glanced at the name tag and snorted before standing up. "You were always a fool." He glanced at the window and said. "But then…she was always a bigger one. I must go visit our prisoners." He smiled and his brother said nothing except to sit down with a sigh. He had started out with only his brother at his side and now… once more all he had was his brother.
OOOOOO
On the outskirts of Junius Seven.
"The broad cast has been over for an hour now. They are going to be ready to depart." Murmured Shin to his superior officer.
Rey glanced at him and nodded in agreement. He glanced at the nervous pink-haired girl who was staring, frozen, at the screen of Lacus Clyne.
"Snap out of it, Lady Clyne. Regain yourself. That is you."
The foolish girl's wide eyes sought his and she nodded in determination. She wasn't to be Meer Campbell anymore. Once that Lacus was dead, the real Lacus, then she would be Lacus Clyne. Meer Campbell would be history.
"You remember the plan?" he asked, raising an eyebrow and she nodded.
"Yes! Of course!" she declared. "I may not be a real human but I'm not stupid."
"Being human has nothing to do with your ability to comprehend and follow orders." Rey said back calmly and she bit her lip again.
"Alright, enough bickering." Shin interrupted, pulling on his pilot helmet. "We have to go!"
Rey's eyes glinted. "Two Clyne's down- one more to go."
OOOOOOO
Aboard a nearby EA vessel.
"Captain! We are getting distress signals from a Skygrasper!" reported a CIC to his commanding officer.
The Captain, a thin woman with blonde tresses pursed her lips. "Where?" she asked, uncertain of whether she could risk venturing out to save a comrade. The ship she captained was only a simple transfer vessel that the EA used from the moon to earth, however, as part of the military, she was required to risk herself and her crew to answer distress calls.
"Junius Seven."
She winced then sighed. "It can't be helped. Set a course to Junius Seven. Set awareness on high- we can't chance this being a trap."
"Aye, aye!" replied her crew.
The Captain leaned back into her seat, narrowing her green eyes thoughtfully. Now who would think to pick a fight in Junius Seven…
OOOOOO
Cagalli's POV- aboard a Blue Cosmos Mobile suit carrier (work with me, folks -.- ) (Beta: Sigh -shakes head-)
"Princess! Princess!"
"Uuugh." I rolled my head to the left, feeling a soft warm presence beneath me. A pounding filling my head. I felt like I had a massive hang over and more pain filled me the more awake I became. "Ahhhh." I swallowed tightly, forcing myself to open my eyes slightly. "Wha…wuz going on?" I groaned, my sight blurry. I felt something swell up inside me, and I immediately turned over to puke.
"PRI-Ieeeeew." Yuna shrieked, dumping me off his lap quickly as my stomach bile covered his lap.
I couldn't bring myself to feel sorry. Getting to my knees, I forced myself to look around, finding myself in a cell. "What?" I rubbed my head, gritting my teeth. "What's going on? Where are we?"
My fingers grazed a swelling lump on my head, perhaps the promise of a concussion.
At last I noticed Yuna's condition. His eyes were blackened, and his lip swollen, bruises and cuts showed where his skin was once bare, as if he had been beaten. "Yuna!" I yelped, alarm cutting through my phase of pain.
Yuna flinched slightly, then whimpered. "I'm sorry, Princess… but they beat the truth from me… quite literally."
"The truth?" I groaned, over come by another wave of nausea. "Yuna, what happened…where are we? Who did that to you?"
I could tell we were on a ship, that was obvious by the steady hum of engines that resonated through the cold floor. But that was basically it.
"Did…did Kitalla do this?" I struggled to recall my last memories. I was sitting in a room… with Yuna! And then…then… "Somebody…hit me…"
Yuna nodded. "Somebody snuck in behind me and wacked me over the head with some sort of club. I guess they got you too…"
I eased back to lean against the wall, letting my head rest against it, my eyes sliding close as if to ward off the pain in my head. "Explain." I whispered.
"Blue Cosmos…. Two crew mates aboard Kitalla's ship were traitors. They kidnapped us and brought us to their ship… When I woke up… they interrogated me about whether or not you were the princess."
This didn't make sense… why would they…kidnap us before finding out if I was the real princess or not. I shook my head, uncertainly. What if Yuna was lying… what if he was the person who knocked me out… But then… he was so wounded already… And Kira trusted him… to a point at least.
Footsteps echoed outside our cell and my eyes snapped open to see a man walk up, his hands folded behind his back.
"Good evening, Princess."
Instantly I was ticked, not just by what he called me, but by the mocking tone in which he said it in. If he wasn't going to say it nicely, then he damn well better not say it at all. Struggling to my feet, determined to be the leader my father raised me to be, I said coldly, my chin raised. "I demand an explanation! Who are you? And what business do you have in stealing me and my crewmate from our ship? How dare you!" I felt myself begin to wobble, my vision blurring at the edges. But no! I would stick this out! I was not weak!
The blonde man smiled and bowed mockingly. "The name is Muruta Azrael. I'm quite positive you've heard of me."
My eyes widened, my heart pounding sharply in my chest. Muruta…Azrael… Of course I knew who he was… one of the leading executives in Blue Cosmos. One of their most aggressive supporters. Again, I haughtily drew myself up. "And I am quite positive that you are aware of the fact that both I and my friend are Naturals. Not to mention that I am the Princess of Orb and and he my Representative. You have no reason to lock us up like dogs! Nor to treat us so! There will be repentance for this injustice!"
Azrael smiled, wagging his finger back and forth in front of my face. "Ah,ah,ah, Princess. I suggest you don't make idle threats from behind bars." He chuckled and I felt my face grew red.
"Orb has never sought to war with Blue Comos, but capturing the Princess and a Representative will be taken as a direct violation and an offense for war.", I growled quietly. "You do not want Orb as your enemy."
"Ah, but you see Princess. I want Orb as my ally and if you don't want to die a slow, painful death, then I suggest we continue this conversation in my terms."
I gaped at him. "Fool! You can threaten me with death and torture but I will never make an oath of alliance with Blue Cosmos. You threaten our very morals!" I gestured sharply at him. In the hot rush of anger that was flooding through me, the pounding was numbed to a painful throbbing in the back of my mind.
"I would rather your stay here would be pleasant." Azrael growled back.
"Princess, maybe we should listen to-"
Yuna quailed at the glare I shot him, threatening him to mention one more word. "If you wished for us to be more welcome, perhaps giving me a concussion, knocking me out and locking me in a jail cell wasn't the right move."
"I merely wanted you to understand our current…dominance over you."
"Kindness carries a greater strength than power ever will."
"If you agree to consider our terms, we will gladly treat your injuries and move you to a more comfortable lodging." Azrael said with a sickly sweet kindness.
"My terms are thus; Let my companion and me return to the Harmony safely in time to stop Orb from going to war with you. Keep me much longer, and I promise you that word will travel fast. Orb will take this as a personal declaration of war." My amber gaze met Azrael's steadily and he watched me intently. Yuna twitched about beside me and I tried not to grimace at the idea that he had me sleeping on his lap earlier. Come to think of it…he deserved me throwing up on him for that…
"Perhaps your death will not trouble you… but what of your comrade's?"
"Eh?" Yuna yelped, feeling Azrael's cold blue gaze. Yuna's eyes stared imploringly at me but I ignored him. He had his duties too.
"It does not matter. We both took an oath when we accepted our roles in Orb. Our country will always come first before our own personal well-being." I said calmly.
"You. Will. Die." Azrael's voice was cold and slow, anger in his eyes.
"Then. So. Be. It." I said, matching him word for word. "You will regret this."
Azrael studied me for another moment before smiling and turning to walk away. "Actually… I sincerely doubt that."
Hardly a second before he was gone, I collapsed on to the ground, unable to hold myself up much longer, sinking into blessed darkness.
OOOOO
Aboard the Chaos.
"Stay out of their range." Kitalla ordered her crew. "I don't care what happens. Stay away from Blue Cosmos and ZAFT. Do. Not. Let them get close, understand?"
They nodded and Kitalla glanced at Nariat in her com-screen. "You're in charge…take care of my ship."
Nariat looked slightly pained and Kitalla's eyes widened a fraction when he mouthed. "Take care of my heart."
The days of blushing and looking down at her toes were gone years ago and she simply narrowed her eyes, blinking slowly, unable to come up with a response, nor how she felt in return.
Seeing her own conflict, Nariat shook his head and turned away, making her feel angry and humiliated.
"I will be back as soon as possible." Kitalla told her crew, booting up the Chaos and setting it's coordinates to match the moving Blue Cosmos carrier ship.
"Return soon, Captain." My CIC said softly, her violet eyes met Kitalla's golden ones and she smiled. "You'll always be our Captain and we'll always need you."
Kitalla hesitated in shutting off the com-link, caught off guard by her crew's constant dedication, despite what she had revealed to them. She bit her lip and then smiled, one of her rare genuine smiles. "Thank you." She didn't wait to see how her words would be received. She turned of the com-link and sent a flicking thought to separate from the Harmony. With a groan, the Chaos released itself from it's docking area, rising above the Harmony like a frozen black flag.
Kitalla took a deep breath. "There's no place like home…" she murmured, her golden eyes somber with what she was about to do. "There's no place like home…"
OOOOO
Aboard the Aegis.
It was mere lucky chance when Athrun noticed the black Gundam rise up from the distant Harmony, soaring away from its Mothership. At first, he wondered if they were on the attack, planning to strike at the Demi-god. But he quickly dismissed that as he watched the Chaos weave it's way through rocks in a direction that was not at all near towards them.
A desire caught him. The desire to follow her, curious and cunning. His green eyes narrowed, watching the Machine. Opening a com-link to the ships CIC, he said quickly. "I'm following the Chaos in the Aegis. I will not commence direct attack without consulting the Captain first."
The CIC relayed his words to the Captain before replying to Athrun. "The Captain has given his permission."
Already aboard his GUNDAM, Athrun powered up the engines and quickly launched after the Chaos.
This is a perfect chance to fight him without interference… And also to find out where they are going? A secret base?
Staying a good distance out of the enemies radar, and hindsight, Athurn steadily kept track of his target, determined to avenge the death of Akira.
Would she approve of what he was doing? No. But it didn't matter because Akira was gone and so were all her beliefs that killing only leads to more killing. But if he could just destroy the Chaos, he wouldn't care what happened afterward. The aching pain in his chest wouldn't go away, leaving him numb to the outside world. The crew on the Demi-god tried to cheer him up but it just wasn't the same with out the familiar blonde with the odd purple eyes.
This is for you, Akira.
Oh...so...i lied last chapter... About Kitalla's past... I'm only posting little tiny parts of it through out this story. If you want her whole story i'm hopefully going to be posting a one-shot of her story soon =)
Also, Asucaga fans you may be relieved to know that Athrun and Cagalli will be together again next chapter =)
Thanks everyone for reading =) Have a great week =)
Azetta