Tangled Fates

by Reflected Shadows

Masquerading as a ZAFT Coordinator pilot; Cagalli finds that she's not the only one with a big secret out there. which is harder to guard? Your identity or heart? Especially when assigned to an assassination team with Athrun Zala and the target is you. AU

18. 18: A beginning and an end

Merry belated Christmas and happy belated Hannaukah!

Please read my introduction blab la cuz it's kinda important… -.-

Oh, here's two pictures of Kitalla- the pencil sketch (the crappy one) is mine and the other (the awesome one) is by an awesome friend-via-fanfiction.

I'm not an artist (that fact will be obvious if you check out the pix I drew) but I like doing pencil art and I have two other sketches (asucaga) that i'm hoping to load up soon. Kudos to Writingknightmare who did the pix of Kitalla- you're kick ass, my Canadian friend.

The links (they're separated so that Fanfic doesn't delete them, hopefully they'll work, if not, msg me):

1.
awfulwafflez.

deviantart.

com/#/d4grn5z

2.

gothicdoomchild.

deviantart.

com/#/d4hhuuj

First I would like to apologize for not updating before- holidays are a really crazy time for me. ( I know, "excuses, excuses" is probably what you're all thinking -.- )

Second and this is kinda important- I have explaining to do about this chapter. In this chapter Michael and Kitalla kinda run into eachother and I'm actually not proud of how it goes cuz I feel it's a hit against Kitalla's personality- and face it, Kitalla wouldn't be Kitalla with out her personality. However, the part where they meet would make sense if one read the short (long) one shot of Kitalla's life I had written but refuse to publish. (I refuse to publish cuz as much as I love it, I also hate it.) It begins with a shy girl named Misaki (Kitalla), an engineer serving in Blue Cosmos when she meets the rather famous and loveable younger brother of Muruta Azrael. Blab la, romance/fluff. Stuff happens, drama, drama, love story ends, Misaki gets involved in something that is way over her head, (hint, it involves Lacus, Muruta and Cagalli). Okay, then love story ends.

Anyway, during this, Michael's character is explained which really helps explain how he acts when he sees Kitalla but seeing as I haven't published the one shot, none of you have read the one shot then I can only tell you that it kinda is in Michael's character to behave how he does. Kitalla on the other hand… Well, in her one shot there is a lot of character development going on that leads to her transformation from shy Misaki to sarcastic Kitalla. I still don't like how she acts. Okay I'm done.

Last of all, the reason this chapter took so long (see above) was not just because of that stuff (see above) and I will explain to any who actually enjoy hearing the writer talk more then she should at the end of this chapter.

Okay, now I'm done- on to replies =D

-Falconrukichi- yup, I pride myself in my ability to…fail at suspense…oh well lol. And by the way, the synopsis might suck but I'll be providing one right before the start of the chapter- and I'm happy to hear from ya again :)

Cagallifan- don't you just hate those cliffies? Don't you wish you could just take a chain saw to them and uh…yeah, useless statement , cough, lol. And you should totally do a martial art, any is awesome :D Being black belt is soo cool- get this, they have hot pink karate uniforms O.o And all the big, tough, gruff black belts were like: you should totally order that!

I guess it's cause I'm the first girl black belt in years and there's only like, three other girls in the entire karate school. I'm like….their model female to inspire the rest of my gender into kick ass awesomeness. Oh, btw, there's going to be nonsensical fluff in this chapter that just doesn't make sense but who cares cuz it's a asucaga fic, la la la!

ESP – Yes, throwing Michael in! We shall call this a mulligan stew of a chapter where nothing makes sense but who cares :D …well, no not really, jk lol. (if you didn't understand of the above that's quite alright, half the time I don't understand what I'm saying either…) And no, it is Murtua Azrael. Muruta and Michael- M&Ms :D Oh, and 'Changeling' I guess I should explain that -.- hm… Well, see, when Misaki was apart of Blue Cosmos they looked down on her cause even though her bio said she was a Natural she looked like a Coordinator. So, in the end almost all of Blue Cosmos hated her and she was referred to as a Changeling. And thanks, I guess :P the whole naming, thing- I dunno, I'm kinda a dramatic person so I go overboard with names. Oh, but I can't claim credit for 'Silverwind' cuz I'm pretty sure that is the name of Lacus's Junis Seven ship thingy from the show. Honest to goodness, lol, thank you!

Xoxodork – Well, it wasn't exactly 'tomorrow' but…um here you go, :D

XxMeishaxX – I'm providing a quick synopsis at the start of the chapter. And I can't say anything about clones, shhhhh :P

Writingknightmare- Ahnyung! Btw, busking, I'm using that from now on just to throw my friends off so they'll be completely lost. I will tell them that I'm down with the Canadians (in my best getto accent, yes! White chick being G! ) Okay, stop laughing…it's not that funny… XD

Saki-hime- Honestly, can you imagine an asucaga fic where one or both of the main characters die… Like… I read one, which was amazing so no disrespect to the author, but it kinda spooked me in the end cuz Cagalli kinda went off the deep end and I was like: what? THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE TOGETHER? NOOOO!

Seriously, sad, sad moment for me.

And they'll get out of it with a rather signature style, I assure you -.- lol

MLGreen4life – yus, that's a great sign, well, of course it is, I'm so glad you're attached to the story :D

Azettafan – I understand what you're saying, but its very hard for me to predict how much time I'll get to write a chapter thanks to school and life. However, now that the main holidays are drawing to a close and after school starts back up again I hope to get at least a chapter done every two weeks, hopefully by next chapter I'll have a clearer idea as to a writing schedule. Sorry, but I hope you enjoy this chapter and thanks for reviewing

Sleepyreader319 – Well, when I originally started this I planned to include all the characters I could- which I did. Mwu is on board the ship with Ramius. Kira and Lacus are currently separated and so is Athrun and Cagalli. Dearka and Mirallia have met. Shiho and Yzak are going vendetta with each other lol. Oh and Lunamaria and Shin are hopefully going to be coming into play and I'm hoping to involve others. Why am I telling you this? Uh, cuz I'm terrible at keeping secrets :D thx for reviewing

Thank you everyone for reviewing, as always it means a lot! This next part is going to be a hopefully explanatory synopsis of the last seven-or-so chapters so if you want to skip it, feel free. However, to those who read it, I can not promise it will include everything of importance as I might miss a lot. My advice is to skim over the chapters but here ya go

After Kira was 'killed' by Kitalla Cagalli, posing as Akira, and Athrun chased after the Harmony. Relationship depends between Cagalli and Athrun. Kitalla captures Cagalli and she meets Kira- soon after Kira leaves to be bodyguard for Lacus Clyne when she goes to sing to the dead of Junis Seven. Athrun goes vendetta for Kitalla thinking that she killed his friend (and more ;) Mwu is picked up by the Archangel and Creuset goes to earth pretending to be Mwu with some secret mission that does not bode good. The memorial party at Junius Seven is attacked and saved by the Archangel and Yzak, Shiho, Nicol, Dearka and –guy-whose-name-i-can't-remember. When the memorial ship evacuates crew, Lacus and Meyrin and Dearka end up being picked up by a nearby EA ship that was following a distress signal emitted by Mwu's vessel. Shin, Rey and Lunamaria end up on the Archangel (Shin and Rey are assassins looking to kill Lacus who…is…kinda not there). Kira also ends up on the Archangel where he meets Kimi-hime who left the Harmony a while back and is on the Archangel heading home to rule ORB. Kira has a secret that is hinted to but not told. Shame, I know.

Meanwhile, when the Harmony is distracted, Cagalli and Yuna are kidnapped from the Harmony and held prison by Muruta Azrael on some Blue Cosmos ship and Kitalla, followed by Athrun goes to save them.

Oh forget it, I give up- I suck at synopsis. If any of that actually helped then I'm happy, if it didn't msg me again and I will pull together every trifle of information in my note books (I'm organized believe it or not) and email it to you. -.- Sorrrrrry! D:

Anyhoo, on to the story *disclaimer, I do not own Gundam but, Kitalla, hell yeah, she's my character, XD

Warning: This chapter has not been edited by anyone else but the writer- you will be seeing unedited crap beyond crap to which I apologize.

Nevertheless- Happy Readings

Chapter 18

*flash back*

I blinked, watching in surprise as Azrael then walked towards Kitalla, her yellow eyes staring at him furiously.

He smiled at her. "Thanks for keeping this safe for me. My plans would be useless without the Alpha." And then he reached up and grabbed at the small chain that peeked out from under her collar. Yanking it free with a sharp tug.

Kitalla's eyes widened in horror as she watched him walk away with the necklace and ring clutched tightly in his hand. "You son of a bitch!" She spat.

He chuckled. "If I'm one- then so is my brother. How does it feel to know you've made out with a son of a bitch?" His expression revealed the sadistic glee he felt in knowing we would die before him.

"Okay," he said, once out of the ring the guards had made around us. His eyes were studying the ring he held and he waved his hand almost absentmindedly towards us. "Now you can kill them."

"You always were arrogant!" Kitalla sneered before a finger could twitch against a trigger. "I will never die at your hands!" and to our amazement she proceeded then to rip two grenades off her waist, throwing them to the right and the left of her. The last thing I heard before the explosion was the sound of two metal pins clinking onto the floor.

The world about me shook and I was thrown forward, ripped apart from Athrun. Heat scorched my back and I could smell the faint scent of burning cloth clinging to me.

The ceiling above gave way then, unhinged by the explosives. Rubble cascaded down and I heard cries as many of the guards were hit or buried beneath the wreckage. A metal beam sliced across the top of my left shoulder and I cried out, feeling pain, hot and terrible, rip through me.

At last when the ground had stopped shaking, the dust was beginning to settle, I struggled to sit up, debris falling off of my back. Feeling the heat on my back, I tore the burning jacket I had been given on the Harmony off, throwing it away from me.

Around me men stirred, groaning beneath Kitalla's handiwork and far ahead I saw a dazed Azrael lying limply on the ground, having received a good deal of the blast.

"Lieutenant?" I cried, suddenly remembering Athrun. I shook myself to awareness, trying to clear the stunned feelings from me. We had to keep moving before they recovered. "Athrun?... Athrun!" Where was he? My amber eyes searched through the smoke, the destruction and bodies, seeking the blue-haired Coordinator. I was barely aware of the thin trickle of blood trailing down my left arm from the wound I had sustained on my shoulder. Not at all concerned with the aching sensation filling my arm.

Instead, all I could think about was Athrun. "Athrun?" he had to be alive- had to be! "Athrun, answer me!" Picking my way carefully back to where we had been standing before Kitalla had made her move, I continued to call for him, coughing on the smoke and the dust in the air.

At last I heard a weak cough and I spotted Athrun where he had landed, buried underneath some metal beams. After helping him to his feet- he had sustained some scratches and bruising but nothing serious- we located Yuna. Then the three of us began wandering the wreckage that littered the ground, the bodies and the smoke, searching for the woman who had saved us all.

"Kitaaalllaaa?" I cried.

"Princess." Yuna whispered quietly and swiftly into my ear and I was very aware that Athrun was just few yards away. He couldn't hear us be he could very well see us. "We need to go."

"No!" I shook my head stubbornly. "Kitalla came to get us in the worst of situations- we don't give up on her."

"Akira…We need to go." Athrun murmured gently after it became clear that we wouldn't find Kitalla anytime soon.

Tears welled up in my eyes. "We can't leave her!" I wailed.

Athrun's eyes remained hard. "If she's dead, then she's dead, Akira. If she's alive she will get away, I'm sure of it."

"But she can't be dead." I spat- why didn't he get that?

"We have to go!" Yuna snarled and Athrun flicked him an irritable look. Yeah, you think he's irritating now- try and live with him for a few days. I wanted to snap.

Turning away from the both of them, I walked around, calling for Kitalla.

Footsteps were coming closer and Athrun was starting to look antsy. "We need to go, Akira!" he yelled and before I could protest he had ran up to me, ducked down and wrapped his arm around my waist, throwing me over one shoulder. I squeaked in surprise as I found myself dangling over his back.

"What are you doing!" I screamed. "You idiot! Let me down!"

Though I couldn't see his face, it sounded like Athrun was breathing through gritted teeth as he began to run, Yuna at his side. "You can complain all you want but you can't stay there! I won't let you!"

I was used to ordering others around- not myself. Though I had lived in ZAFT for years, I was born in the knowledge that my decisions were meant to be followed. Yet Athrun was deciding to be incredibly unhelpful.

And yet… at Athrun's last words- I fell still and gave in to the truth. I couldn't be slowing Athrun down and throwing a fit. It was childish. "Let me down Athrun." My voice was subdued and Athrun only hesitated a second before pausing and allowing me to slide down onto the ground. He glanced into my eyes, as if checking to see how I was holding up- his eyes flicking to my injured shoulder for a moment and narrowing with concern.

Tentatively I took his hand in mine. "I'm fine." His hand felt so perfect in mine, so warm and a wave of comfort me came over me. "Let's go." Kitalla is alive- she will find us.

At least…I hope she does.

Athrun squeezed my hand slightly, his green eyes watching me intently, noting my fatigue and despair. "We can't give up, Akira. It's not over yet." Belief shone in his eyes and I felt something answer within me. A stir of determination building within. I leaned against him for hardly a heartbeat, my gaze meeting his.

"No." I agreed. "It's not."

He smiled, looking relieved. "We'll make it out together."

Something caught in my throat but I forced myself to nod. "Together." I whispered, wishing that was true.

OOOOO

Narrator POV

"What happened?" Michael demanded as soon as he walked upon the scene. His brother was leaning against the wall as a nurse treated him.

"The intruders." Muruta snapped as he flinched away from the nurse's probing hands. The nurse looked as if she was counting down to her last nerve as she wrenched his arm back over. "That's what happened!" he looked positively livid, which stunned Michael. His brother always had a rather sarcastic calm and seeing it so disturbed startled Michael.

"Are you alright?" he asked, leaning down on one knee, examining his older brother intently. Muruta was his only family left- Michael always would have his back.

"What does it look like?" Muruta snarled. "Do I look fine?"

Watching two young boys lift a stretcher that carried a covered body, a corpse, Michael had to bite his lip to keep himself from retorting to his brother. "You are alive." He said quietly. "That's more then a lot of men here can boast."

"Feh. They're just soldiers. That's their duty."

The nurse looked like she had about enough as she snipped the thread sticking out of his arm and stood up, her eyes blazing. "To die? Excuse me, Sir Azrael, but the body count is already past twenty!" she stormed away to treat another man.

Azrael looked, if it was possible, even more furious. "Mutiny, that is what it is! I am the more deserving here!"

"They are only trying to help everyone." Michael soothed.

His brother gave him a filthy look of disgust before continuing. "Anyway, we think the intruders are Coordinators. The orders to shoot on sight have been given."

"But they have a princess with them- we are risking war with ORB."

"They attacked me! What does it matter? I could have died! Do you realize how am important I am?" Muruta screamed. He swore a long string of profanities before taking a deep breath, calming down slightly. "But that woman is going to die." His icy gaze flickered to Michael. "We apprehended one of them."

Already Michael could tell where this was going, he bit his bottom lip slightly.

Muruta pressed a gun into his hand. "Kill the intruder."

Michael took the gun but didn't move.

"They're in the room over there." Muruta nodded behind him. "Shoot the person."

Still Michael didn't make a move.

"Michael. She alone killed eight guards, and injured five in the last attack, not counting the bodies popping up all over the ship. They nearly killed me."

"Fine." Michael snapped. He had to admit that he was seething at the fact that Blue Cosmos had been apprehended so easily, not to mention his brother had nearly died. He straightened up and cocked the gun, walking to the room. Stepping into it, he excused the guards inside, and when the door slid shut behind them, silence enfolded him.

Lying on the floor, a black bag over her head, her ankles and wrists tied together behind her arched back, was a woman. Her clothes were ripped up and soaked with blood. Her chest rose and fell weakly and though she twitched she gave no sign that she was awake.

Michael raised the gun slowly, glaring hatefully at the woman dressed in a Blue Cosmos uniform. "Those who touch my brother will die." He growled, his finger beginning to squeeze on the trigger.

At the sound of his voice, the woman stirred, rolling over with a soft moan.

For an inexplicable reason he paused, watching her. The tiny sound she had emitted… it bothered him.

Not to mention killing someone like this bothered him. He walked forward, making up his mind, and nudged her in the stomach with the toe of his boot. He was careful to avoid touching the grenades strapped around her waist. Why hasn't someone removed those yet? "Wake up." He snapped.

The woman groaned as he prodded her repeatedly until at last she flinched back, completely aware.

Her head turned beneath the black hood and he wondered what she looked like.

"This is not quite what I expected hell to be like." A low voice rasped- almost seeming…familiar.

"Who do you work for." Michael growled, prodding her again.

The head snapped around in the direction his voice had come. "Who is that?" demanded the raspy voice, weak with pain.

"It doesn't matter. But if you want to live, I suggest you answer me."

"Going to kill me otherwise? Is that why the hood is on? Can't do it to my face?" snarled back the woman.

Michael swallowed, glad that the woman couldn't see the expressions flitting across his face. Otherwise she would realize that she had hit the nail on the head.

"Why are you attacking us?" Michael tried again.

She snorted. "Do you really want me to answer that? Please don't say yes- it hurts too much to laugh."

Trying to bolster his own nerves and pound an edge of fear into her, Michael kicked her lightly where a patch of cloth covering her stomach was dark.

As he had guessed, she sucked in a breath, exhaling slowly. "Aren't you a big man?" like a cornered animal she snarled, her voice scathing. "Here I am, tied up, blinded, not to mention a woman and the guy with the gun is kicking me. What am I missing?"

"If you think having a sense of humor will help you, you're sadly mistaken." Michael hissed. "You nearly killed my brother, for that I will kill you."

"Oh really? You and what army? Because if ropes and a hood is what it takes to kick me then I can't imagine what precautions must be made to kill me. Should I feel special?"

Irritation filled Michael. "Maybe I will kill you slowly. Shoot you through the knee cap."

The woman fell quiet and he hoped that finally she would agree to listen to him. But oh no.

"Whatever floats your boat."

He couldn't take it anymore. Dropping down to one knee, his other slamming down onto her chest, pinning her to the ground with his weight, he cocked the gun under her jaw.

Her breath exploded from her lungs and she gave a gasp of pain. "I won't tell you anything so will you kill me already, dammit! Why are you prolonging the suspense?"

"If you told me something, there is a chance of you being spared."

"Are you stupid? Were you not listening to me? I said I wasn't going to tell you anything I meant it!"

"You're wearing a Blue Cosmos uniform- where did you get it?"

He could of sworn that the woman was wearing a smirk- though he couldn't see her face. "Wouldn't you like to know?"

"How did you get aboard?" he asked.

The woman stayed quiet.

"Is there more with you?"

Silence.

"I am about to shoot you."

"Finally." The woman said sarcastically and Michael gritted his teeth.

"Dammit!" he ripped the hood off of her, determined to invoke fear in her by pressing the gun point directly between her eyes. Let's see if she could laugh in the face of death then.

Yellow cat-eyes met his, momentarily blinded from the light above, the pupils shrinking as the woman blinked.

Michael stared, shock filling him. "It can't be. You…you…" he fell backwards, off of her and onto his butt, the gun felt loose in his hand. "You died years ago."

"Did I now?" The woman seemed amused and Michael realized that she hadn't recognized him in those few moments that he had saw her. The light had blinded her eyes and now she could barely turn her head as she lay awkwardly curled backwards on the ground.

"I know you died. You were reported MIA after the mission to ORB." Michael's voice was quiet with shock. "I went to ORB myself and looked! We all looked…"

The woman had froze. He could almost hear her repeating his words to herself in her head. "Who are you again?" she growled, straining even harder to turn her head to look at him.

"Misaki." He murmured as her yellow eyes at last found him. They widened in astonishment then looked away to stare above at the ceiling.

"Michael." She replied curtly, pain flaring for a half-a-beat in her eyes.

Michael couldn't process it. Misaki had been dead to him for years but there was no doubt about it- that this woman was her. But what was doing finally turning up years later- and like this? Killing his brother and helping spies escape.

He shook his head in disbelief, feeling for the third time in his life, the sound of his world crashing down around him into a jumbled state of chaos. "This has to be a trick."

"Tricks are for kids." The woman who seemed like a dream sighed.

A minute passed and Michael said quietly. "Pretending that you are the person I knew years ago-"

"Michael Azrael. You have lost everyone in your family expect your brother to Coordinators. Yet despite that you never really hated them. Always swore to protect your brother at all costs." Her voice was matter-of-fact. "We both knew a girl named Blythe Greenson, my roommate back when I lived on the bishop. Blythe was with out doubt the foulest-mouthed idiot on the ship as well as one of the most friendly. When you both first met each other she looked you up and down and said that you had eyes like moldy blueberries." She paused. "It's been a long time, Michael- I must admit I was hoping we wouldn't meet." She chuckled.

During that time Michael had crawled over to her side, and her yellow eyes had stared right past him as he leaned slightly over her, watching her intently.

"It's really you." He asked softly, studying that face, covered in bruises and cuts. He knew it better then he did his own. She was the same but of course different, beneath her wounds.

Her skin was a smooth warm tan, a healthy glow to it though he doubted she had seen much of a real sun in a while. The roundness of her face had been stripped away, her cheekbones more prominent and her jaw was proud and even now she raised her chin stubbornly. She was taller then she used to be, but still had that rather stocky frame. She had never been one to be slim, though nowhere near chubby. Her black hair was shorter then he had remembered it, and her bangs were long and grew to one side. But despite all this, it was her eyes that caught his attention. Her yellow eyes with that unusual cat-slit of a pupil. Gone was the humbleness, the shy uncertainty in them. He remembered her being a shy girl, happy and content with staying out of sight, taking pride in her behind the scenes work. But this Misaki radiated confidence, inner strength, fury and determination. It shook him to his core- probably the reason why he didn't immediately start asking her where she had been all these years- what she had been doing-why?

The necklace around his neck felt as if it was too tight for an odd moment and suddenly he was overcome with a desire full of years of longing for what he thought he could never have again.

A desire to confirm what he saw.

Misaki.

He leaned over, like Prince Charming to Snowwhite, and kissed her lightly on the lips. He expected her to not respond, to be cold and like marble beneath his touch but to his pleasant surprise she kissed him back. At first hesitantly and then as he let his desire take control, kissing her harder, she too returned the pressure.

"I'm a lot better then seven years ago, eh?" she muttered against his mouth, her yellow eyes were strangely hardened as she continued to stare past him.

"You're alive." Michael murmured against the corner of her lips as he kissed her everywhere. His hands slid up under her back, lifting her up to him and she squirmed awkwardly about, unable to move much due to how she was tied up.

"Duh." She shivered as he pressed his lips lightly against the hollow of her throat.

Kitalla herself was trying not to let herself sink into a state of dazed wonder as Michael defeated every dream of him she ever had with a single touch. So so real. So wonderful. She felt so alive and powerful when he kissed her. Nariat had tried to stoke this fire with her before- heavens knew she had tried to return his ardor, but it was Michael who brought her flames of passion to life.

Yet she also felt vulnerable as if he alone knew her weakness, her Achilles heal. But he wouldn't betray her- that was what they were. "Soulmate." She whispered the word with out meaning to, only saying it as she recalled a time Michael had said that to her. Years ago when she was so much younger and so much more foolish, she had been asking him why he was still with her and he had responded in his cheerful but serious way. "Because you're my soulmate, moron."

Of course she had scoffed at him, calling him every girly name she could think of to which he had only tickled her into submission for.

"Yes, Misaki." His voice was so raw with joy and Kitalla wanted to disappear. Disappear because she had only allowed him to start kissing her in hope that he would free her and then… "You're alive and you've come back."

Kitalla winced. She would betray him.

Michael, oh Michael. I've been dead to you for years and yet hardly alive again you accept me as if I was only gone a day. You fool, you stupid fool. She did not let herself cry as Michael held her against him, stroking her gently, apologizing for hurting her and whispering 'you're alive' against her skin in revelation. Why you, though? Why not someone else? Why not Nariat? Why is it always you… Just you- only you. It's rather irritating. Like Romeo and Juliet- damn that story. I always hated it, never found the appeal in it. Life has an ironic sense of humor.

"Misaki." He murmured again, kissing her once more against the lips, his tongue pressing against her.

Longing rippled through Kitalla and she doubted she would be able to control herself fmuch longer when she felt his hands fumble with the ropes binding her.

One second.

Two.

Three.

Four.

The ropes loosened just as Michael sighed "Misaki" again, every intention clear in his voice as his hand crept up her side towards her chest.

"My name… is Kitalla."

"What?" he asked before yelping as she flipped him over her. Pain flared through her various wounds but determination conquered the pain. She leapt to her feet just as Michael was rolling about, bewilderment clear on his face.

"Misaki what are you doing?" he demanded, uncertainty slowly morphing into disbelief… She wouldn't…would she?

Kitalla summed up her best sneer. "I said: my name is Kitalla! I am not Misaki and I do not love you!" denial clung to her bitter lie and with that she kicked his gun under a dresser and started limping to the door.

"Oh no you don't!"

They could have been playing a game but Kitalla trembled slightly at the dark tone that crept into Michael's voice as he chased her out of the room.

I need to find my bag! She thought to herself as she stumbled out into the mess she had created. Then I have to find the others! Her eyes searched the wreakage about her and with a sigh of relief she spotted her black bag, covered in a thick layer of dust.

"Stop!" Michael ordered. Around the hall people's heads turned curiously at the sound of his raised voice. Kitalla struggled not to start panicking knowing that the moment she lost her cool was the moment everything failed.

Kitalla ignored him, leaping over piles and bodies, reaching down to snatch up her bag. "You won't catch me, Michael. I am not yours!" she yelled over her shoulder, running as fast as she could, all to aware of the footsteps becoming louder behind her.

Michael was catching up.

Healthy male chasing injured female- somehow I doubt the bet is on me.

A heavy weight tackled her to the ground and she hissed as she found herself rolled over to stare up at Michael. He straddled her stomach, clamping her down with his weight.

"Looks like I caught you." He said calmly, blocking her attempts to punch him.

"Never the way you want though." She snapped back. "Let me go!"

Michael hesitated then said ever so slowly. "why. Just tell me why."

She snorted. A simple answer would never be enough to make up for everything. "Why what?"

"Why everything!" frustration leaked into his voice. "Misaki,"

Kitalla turned her head pointedly.

"Kitalla," he shook his head. "Dammit, you're still her! So what are you doing like this? Why did you disappear? What happened? Just tell me, dammit!"

"Fine." Kitalla's response must have stunned him because he blinked unsurely at her as she glared angrily up at him. "I left because of you."

"What?" he gasped, all color draining from his face. "Me?"

She sighed in exasperation. "No, you ninny! Full of yourself, much? Only part of the reason I left was you." Once again she tried to ineffectively wriggle free, giving up with a second sigh. "You lied to me." Her gaze met his almost wearily. "You never told me the truth."

"What truth?" he cried.

'The truth that my family was Coordinators and that I was given up to die. That my sister is alive. That my mother died giving birth to me and that my father tried to kill me because of that." She had thought that she had over come her past but even to her, her voice was filled with rage. Was it because that through her whole life, Michael, with out a doubt, was the first and only person that she had ever trusted. And he had betrayed her.

Michael's eyes widened with horror. "My brother told you." He whispered.

Funnily enough, Michael had but let's not dwell on the details. Kitalla thought, trying to mentally slow down the racing of her heart. "Does it really matter how I heard?" laughing cynically, she reached up and stroked the side of Michael's face. It was different then how she remembered- more grown up of course and she could feel the beginning of a bear forming on the edges of his jaw. "Michael, Michael, you lied to me and I dislike that." Her hand shook with the anger she kept from her voice.

"And that's why you left? That was a small thing- we could have over come it!"

"No." Kitalla shook her head. "I went to ORB because of that… I left Blue Cosmos because…of what happened in ORB." Anger burned within her eyes. Michael had never seen her so livid before as the pupils of her eyes thinned to tiny dark specks in orbs of flashing yellow. "Blue Cosmos- for a pure blue earth. That is what we stood for, right? Not for: A pure blood-red earth! And yet we slaughtered Naturals in ORB! Naturals! People we had claimed to defend! Blue Cosmos is not what it says it is." She shook her head in disgust. Once again she struggled to over throw him but she wasn't any stronger then him- they were both Naturals and she was already weak.

"ORB is full of Naturals who support Coordinators!" Michael argued, clamping her arms down in attempt to keep her still. He had to make her listen- to make her understand. They could sort things out and she could stay- that was what mattered. Because he still loved her. Always had. Always would. "They might as well be them!"

Kitalla froze but before Michael could feel an inkling of hope she flipped him over. They rolled about, struggling to get the upperhand over eachother. Kitalla was easily out matched, already weak and bleeding and once again Michael shoved her against the floor. This time she felt darkness creeping at the corners of her vision and only her determination kept her awake.

"We must make sacrifices for the good of our mother earth." Michael hissed.

"You have changed." Kitalla observed coldly. "You have become like your brother."

"You tried to kill my brother." Michael stated furiously. "How could you do that?"

Kitalla strained to draw a full breath, making a tiny shrug as she did. "Its not hard to change. You could say I've seen the light." She smiled angelically. "I have met so many good Coordinators who accept me despite being a Natural. So many Naturals who accept me despite my appearance. I will die to protect the good- no matter who."

Michael's eyes widened in horror at what she said. "You don't mean that!" he whispered.

She glared at him, her eyebrows raising. "Oh don't I? I knew from the moment I saw Muruta that I would mostly likely meet you here. I didn't want this to happen. Better you live with the dream that I died for Blue Cosmos rather then betrayed Blue Cosmos. Kill me. I will not stand for your incompetence. You are under orders to kill me so do it."

Michael gritted his teeth. "You don't know what you're saying."

She sneered. "I would rather die at your brother's hands then the hands of a coward." And to his surprise she drew up her legs beneath him and kicked him solidly in the chest, throwing him back a pace. In a flash she was rolling to her feet, her hand reaching out to grab a scorched gun from the ground as she did.

Michael froze as he heard the click of a gun cocking and he straightened up to see Kitalla aiming directly at his heart, her eyes narrowed.

"Blue Cosmos is evil." She said coolly. "Coordinators – Naturals; are we really so different? When I aim this trigger, it doesn't make a difference to me if my target is a Natural or a Coordinator. They are equal in my eyes. It's their actions and beliefs that make me stay my bullet. If you can't kill me as a Natural then kill me as a Coordinator." She hesitated then lowered her gun. "If you know any better then you won't follow me."

"You'll spare my life?" Michael growled, anger coursing through him. Behind him he could hear voices drawing close.

Kitalla said nothing but gave him a long stare before turning and bursting into a run, spinning the corner and leaving Michael alone to deal with what had happened.

Michael stared after her stunned, his mind completely blown by what had happened. Tears burned in the back of his eyes as his mind slowly began to grasp what was happening. Misaki had left him so many years ago. Left him sobbing for her name when she had been alive and healthy. It made him angry- it made him sad.

Misaki- his Misaki- had become someone else entirely and he sank to his knees feeling nauseous.

"Michael!" snapped a voice though he didn't look up as Muruta kneeled beside him. "You fool- where did she go?" A stinging slap crossed Michael's face as Muruta glared at him. "I give you one simple thing to do and you had to meddle with that- eh?"

Michael looked up, dazed, feeling so bewildered- so unsure of what he was feeling, only knowing that the pain in his chest came from his love for Misaki. For no matter the amount of years that had passed, Misaki had been the first and only love of his life. Michael was passionate about the world, he saw things through to the end. It was one of the few things he shared in common with Misaki. And loving Misaki seemed to only bring the end of either of them.

"Brother…. You knew she was alive." Michael whispered.

Muruta glared furiously. "Of course."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"So that you could bring her back?" he gestured about them. "Same scene, different place. She isn't the girl you fell in love with."

Michael reflected on that for a moment and though he wanted to agree, his heart wouldn't let him. Because despite the way she had treated him, the moment he had seen Misaki start talking about Naturals and Coordinators he had recognized that same powerful, yet gentle passion within her that burned like a star.

"Now get up, I have something for you to do." Muruta said.

Feeling slightly broken, Michael stood up wearily. "What?" he asked. His brother held out something for him and Michael took it, examining it. His eyes widened. All these years….

Muruta sniggered. "The bitch was stupid enough to wear it here- just like I hoped she would. It was strung around her neck and now that we have it the Alpha can be activated." He placed a hand on Michael's shoulder, shoving him. "Go! You know what to do."

Michael stared shocked at Muruta. "Misaki had this with her?" he gasped. All this time- and she hadn't let go either. His fingers clenched over the ring Muruta had handed him. The ring he had given Misaki so many years ago.

His blue eyes hardened and he nodded to his brother. "This isn't the end, Misaki." He muttered under his breath before taking off to the mobile suit room.

OOOOOOO

Kitalla sank to the ground, one hand clutching her leg where a metal fragment had lodged itself deeply and painfully into her thigh. Her breath came in short pants and she closed her eyes, struggling not to hyperventilate. "Shit, shit, shit!" she wanted to scream the words but instead mouthed them. Regaining her composure she glared at her injured leg- hoping that it wasn't embedded in muscle. But that was the least of her worries- where the hell are the others when she needed to find them? Did Blue Cosmos have them? Were they safe? Am I safe? The only reason I'm alive is because I took advantage of Michael. Kitalla glanced out the doorway of the small room she was hiding in. She thought it was some sort of filing room but couldn't tell and didn't dare turn on the light.

Exhaustion and agony warred within her- each sending waves of drowsiness through her. The pain was becoming a fire that warmed her, inviting her to relax and sleep. All she had to close her eyes…

Kitalla gritted her determined to overcome. What do I do? I can't run around and look for them! An idea occurred to her- but for it to work… she would have to believe in the fact that they could escape at least into space. "Oh screw it."

OOOOOOO

In a EA base on Earth

In a shadowed room, lit only by the dim, eery light of a computer screen, a blonde man dressed in a white bathrobe steadily examined the contents on the computer. He was relaxed, confident that he wouldn't be caught hacking into a Captain's computer, stealing information and forwarding it to Patrick Zala. As long as the Captain remained asleep-

"Mmmmm…" The sound of rustling cloth followed the soft, feminine mumble and he spun around his chair, eyes narrowed to examine the curvy figure of the woman who lay asleep in her bed.

Though the blanket came nearly up to her collar bone, it was quite obvious that she wasn't clothed beneath the blankets. Lying on the floor was evidence to the theory. Two uniforms lay scattered about as if they had come off in a flurry.

Creuset smiled and turned around again, once sure that the woman was still asleep. He had pleased her well- and she him, he must admit- and now he used the moment of her exhaustion and trust to his advantage. It was almost too easy to exploit her- especially having known her weakness. Her. The reason he was created.

Out of the three clones made in Project Pauper, he had been the first. Created on orders by the woman asleep behind him.

She had been rather young when she had sought out Muruta Azrael, asking him for a clone of Mu Le Flagga, a famous, respected pilot amongst all the nations. But of course, as Mu had already been around her age then they had to accelerate the growth of Creuset so that he could catch up with his 'brother'.

But they had messed it up and instead of slowing down as he got older, Crueset's cells were still aging. He was going to die soon, because of a woman's hope for him to be a double agent for them. Because of her love for Mu though the real Mu did not return it.

Instead, Creuset became a double agent for ZAFT, spying on EA instead for Patrick Zala who had promised to search for a cure for Crueset if he did. Now all he had to do was pretend to love the woman in the bed, and he would enjoy that, indeed. Manipulating her, twisting her about his finger to his will, meanwhile destroying her dreams.

Suddenly the blonde man froze, his eyes flaring wide. A news alert had popped up and he examined it with a furious intensity. "No!" he hissed, his fists clenching. "NO!"

World news:

Just a few days ago, on the eve of night, Lord Segal Clyne, a political leader in PLANT, was murdered in his home. On solving his death, evidence led authorities to believe that

Chairman Zala was responsible for the death of his long time political adversary. Patrick Zala was impeached the following day from office and placed in jail.

In the same day, the songstress, daughter of Lord Clyne, returned from her trip to Junius Seven. Returning full of hope for peace, the young woman's heart was broken at the news that her father had been murdered and the Clyne family is in mourning. As is all of PLANT, for Lord Clyne was a greatly respected, wise man.

On an interview, Lady Lacus Clyne said: "My father was a great man and I can not believe that someone would ever want to kill him. What has this proved, Sir Zala? Killing doesn't solve anything!"

When asked who she would she support to lead PLANT, the songstress motioned the election of Gilbert Dullindal. "I believe that he will lead our country to peace with the nations." The songstress had remarked, her eyes full of pain and determination.

Though it hasn't been determined who will be the next chairman or chairwoman of PLANT, Gilbert Dullindal is exceeding well in politics and is the most popular candidate currently.

Despite Patrick Zala's crime, Lady Lacus, ever forgiving, is willing to continue to pursue her engagement with Patrick Zala's son; a respected mobile suit pilot, Athrun Zala.

"The son is not to be punished for the crimes of the father. I have known Athrun Zala my whole life and I love him and hope we can find peace with each other despite what has happened." Lady Clyne had told…

Crueset exited from the screen, not bothering to read any farther. Anger gleamed in his eyes. "That bastard." He hissed. His nails dug into his palms.

"Mmmm, love?"

In a flash he had erased evidence of being on, turning the computer off. His eyes adjusted to the darkness. "Right here." He whispered back to the woman who was still mostly asleep, coming to awareness.

Blinking her eyes open to find him in the darkness she lifted the blanket- an invitation. "Come back to bed." Her voice, heavy with sleep had a note of sultriness to it.

Crueset smiled. He didn't know what he would do about Zala, but for now, he knew how he could distract himself.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

NPOV – blue cosmos

Athrun had to force himself to stop constantly checking on Akira from the moment he saw her. Checking to make sure she wasn't a hallucination- that she was real and something within him swore he would never let her out of his sight again.

And when the Captain of Harmony threw the grenades he almost wondered if that was the end as the explosion rocked the ship tremendously. Darkness had seeped into his mind much to his horror- and yet he was saved by a beautiful-eyed angel who called out to him pleadingly. And he had answered- knowing instinctively that she needed his help, his protection and he would lay down his life for her.

He wasn't at all upset when he had found out that the Captain was MIA from her own explosion- though it bothered him to realize that Akira was. Why? He wondered as they ran side by side down the hallways; Akira's eyes were full of tears that were begging to be shed. That question and so many others were screaming within him- a torrent of confusion and desperation. Only Akira held the answers- only Akira held the key to his heart.

He wanted to grab her by the shoulders, shove her against the wall and demand her to explain herself. If not to him as a friend, then to him as a lieutenant- whatever would work.

"Damn, get down!" he shoved down on the top of Akira's head just in time as a bullet whizzed through the space her nose had occupied only a moment ago. In turn, Akira raised the gun she had acquired and fired- her attacker sliding to the ground with a low groan.

Behind her Yuna too crouched, his small eyes flashing about everywhere while he pushed lightly at Akira's shoulders. "Go! Go!" he muttered and Athrun felt a trickle of irritation to the purple-haired coward. The stupid idiot- didn't he get how bad their situation was? It wasn't like he was doing anything to help Athrun and Akira. How dare he act like it was them holding him up, if he wasn't Akira's friend Athrun might have felt justified in shooting Yuna himself. Now, now, it wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that Yuna seems to know more about Akira then you do, would it? A sly voice whispered in the back of his mind and Athrun shook his head slightly. Now is not the time to be thinking about this or Yuna or…Akira. I have to focus.

Akira charged around a corner and Athrun mentally groaned, knowing that she was asking for death going so recklessly. Hearing her yelp he ran after her, finding her struggling with a huge man who wielded a butcher knife.

Before Athrun could make a move, Akira kneed the man expertly in the groin and then, as he leaned over in pain, crescent-kicked him to the head, knocking him side ways to the ground. Glancing back at Athrun, panting, she forced a small smile that did nothing to relieve the fear and sorrow in her eyes. "I'm alright." She assured, straightening up.

Athrun shook his head in disagreement but didn't say anything. Before Akira could twitch to move again he grabbed her by her arm, dragging her into a small, empty closet-like room. Yuna scurried after them a moment later and Athrun closed the door after him. They fell silent for a moment, listening to footsteps pound outside as guards ran past, shouting instructions to each other. When it grew quiet Athrun allowed himself to relax a degree.

"We can't just be running about now." He said slowly. "We need a plan."

Though he couldn't' see her in the darkness of the room, he felt Akira shift uncomfortably beside him.

"Yeah." She agreed.

It took him a moment to realize that she was waiting for him to suggest a plan. Athrun shifted, a warm feeling filling him to realize that she still trusted him. "Well, I came in the Aegis. If we can steal three suits and-"

"No,no,no!" Yuna came from Akira's other side. "You're going to have us traversing all over the ship! That's a terrible idea."

"Shhhh!" Akira hissed.

Athrun scowled slightly. "I was aware of that which is why I was going to say we should steal some uniforms and a small ship and escape."

"See?" Akira said pointedly. "Now keep quiet, you toad!" she shook her head in exasperation. "Athrun knows what he's doing." Confidence filled her voice, confidence in Athrun. Athrun found Akira's hand in the darkness and gave it a light squeeze to show her that her words had mattered.

Yuna huffed. "You would think you guys knew each other real well."

Akira's fingernails dug slightly into Athrun's palm. "Er." She said. "About that…"

Unease prickled through Athrun but he only tugged on Akira's hand. "Come on."

The three exited the room, stealthily picking their way down the cooridors, trying to find their way through the big ship.

"Worst happens- we step into the brig." Akira muttered as she followed Athrun down a hall.

Athrun shot her a reassuring smile. Well, it was more grim then reassuring and only belied Akira's words. She sighed. "I feel like we've been running in circles… We have no idea where we are."

Athrun grimaced in response, slowing to a halt. Yuna nearly bumped into him.

"What are we stopping for?" Yuna panicked.

"Shuuuudddup." Akira sighed, rubbing her head. "I'm having the biggest migraine and you are doing nothing to help it."

Concern animated from Athrun as he studied her for what had to be the millionth time. Dry blood caked her hairline and her injured arm was clutched to her chest in a protective manner, the other holding tightly onto her gun.

"That's the least of worries though, right now." Akira said hurriedly, noticing Athrun's steady gaze.

"We're sitting ducks." Yuna moaned.

"He's got a point- how many times are we going to do this? Run, stop, run stop." Akira sighed. "It's not like we're getting anywhere."

Athrun frowned. "Well, what do you suggest we do?"

Akira reddened. "Er."

"Maybe I should be in charge?" Yuna put in thoughtfully.

The bluenette and the blonde exchanged a long look full of wordless exasperation.

OOOOOOO

Aboard the EA cargo ship

Mirallia really didn't know why the others were squabbling. Sure it was a Coordinator but it was a Coordinator behind bars.

"Oi! Wake up." She rattled the bars with a kick of her foot before sliding the tray under.

The blonde haired pilot sat bolt upright, sweat dried on his face, his eyes wide. For a moment he looked bewildered as if he couldn't quite understand what was going on, then he saw the badge Mirallia had embroidered on her chest pocket. "You're that girl from earlier."

"Very clever, Coordinator."

The boy strode to the bars looking annoyed. "Why am I here?"

She gave him a dry look. "do I bother answering that?" she mused aloud before reaching forward to wipe some imaginary fleck of dust off her chest pocket. She smiled at him pointedly and he sagged back onto the edge of his bed, looking numbly at his breakfast.

"Send me back to my ship." he said, his voice low.

"The moment the war is over- gladly." Mirallia chuckled before moving to the cell opposite his to deposit a second tray to the two Coordinator girls.

Following her across the tiny aisle, Dearka noted the familiar pink-haired girls and gasped.

"Lady Clyne!" he stammered in shock of actually meeting the famous songstress here of all places! It's a real shame too that we're in such a state… Now that Athrun has Akira, Lacus is free for, well, me!

Oops- bad Dearka, bad bad bad Dearka.

At the sound of her name, Lacus looked up wearily from where she sat beside her bodyguard. Looking at her fellow prison mate she blinked in surprise. "You're Athrun's friend- Dearka."

Mirallia paused, caught halfway between the two cells. She glanced at the pink-haired girl who had to be around her own age and felt slightly torn. She IS Lacus Clyne… If the EA federation finds out just what Coordinator they have here… Pity welled in her for a moment before she shook her head. "I would be careful." She muttered, partially to herself, and to the others.

Dearka's eyesbrows went up slightly as he overheard the amber-haired girl's words right before she walked out. What the…

OOOOOOO

Cagalli's POV (CPOV)

"Yuna! You moron!" I lowered my gun, surveying the carnage before us- searching for the purple-haired boy. He had burst into a run, screaming as he took off down the hall when we had been jumped by three men.

"Akira, look at this!"

I glanced once more around up and down the hallway where we had staged our most recent debut before hurrying over to Athrun.

The blue-haired Coordinator was kneeling besides the corpse of one of the Blue Cosmos and I winced slightly as I skirted around a pool of blood. "What is it?"

"They are pilots." Athrun said slowly. "And they were headed in that direction." He gestured his head to the left.

"You think we're on the right track?" I smiled hopefully and Athrun nodded, looking up. The smile faded from his face as his brow crinkled.

"Where is your friend?"

I sighed. "I have no idea."

OOOO

Narrator POV

Breathing hard, Yuna bolted down hallways, his arms crossed over his head in a feeble form of protection. He felt immensely proud with himself as he managed to run about unscathed (then again, Blue Cosmos's main focuses now were probably on Kitalla and Cagalli- not that he would admit it.) A trash duct- she mentioned a trashduct and suits and that's how I'll get out. Then I'll return to the Harmony and I'll… Well… he would work out the finer details of that plan alittle later.

"Eep!" he skidded to a halt at the corner of a hall way as two girls carrying baskets walked past chattering.

"I heard there's a Coordinator aboard!" whispered one of the girls. "What should we do if we run into him?"

"Run!" said the other girl, a brunette. She shook her head. "If we met one we would both be dead in a second and that would be- oh!" she stumbled and an empty can fell from her basket, clinking on to the floor, rolling towards Yuna.

The girl spun about, tripping over her own feet, bending down to get it. "Oh!" she said again, her green eyes widening at the sight of Yuna.

Her friend turned her head slightly, her mouth opening in mid-breath.

They stared at each other for a moment, Yuna's mind working overtime.

"A COORDINATOR!" the brunette screamed, dropping her basket of what looked like papers and cans and running pell-mell down the hall- her friend hot on her heels.

Yuna stared for a moment then felt a grin spread across his face and he chuckled to himself. "Ha. Will ya look at that." He kicked at the can, watching it sail down the hall way before skittering across the floor. "They think I'm a-"

Whomp!

OOOOOOO

"Oh." Kitalla raised her eyebrows as she looked down at the limp body. "You're not Blue Cosmos." She lowered the gun she held her in hand- having used the butt of it to knock out the purple-haired youth before her. "Your Cagalli's friend? Eh?" she prodded him with a toe but he gave no response. Her shoulders slumped. "Damn. This sucks."

For a split moment her mind considered leaving him there – useless waste of air that he was- but then, the mental sound of Cagalli's voice berating her changed her mind. "That idiot princess better be worth it." She mumbled, wondering how she was going to drag an extra sorry ass along with her and fight off random attackers. "All I'm saying is you better not be fat." She mumbled, leaning down.

OOOOOOOO

CPOV

"Er," I hesitated, holding the tight-form-fitting pilot's suit before me and Athrun flushed.

"I'll keep an eye out for guards." He said, turning his back to me as only a gentleman should.

I smiled slightly though I, too, was blushing a deep red as I began removing my thicker outer clothing that would prevent the suit from fitting as it should. Athrun stood at the doorway to the pilot's lockers, his head sticking out into the hall way as he peered about for guards.

Very aware of his presence my nerves tingled and I shivered as I pulled my shirt over my head revealing my thin blue cami and my bra straps. "So, how did…" I paused, feeling foolish for starting a conversation at such a dire point of time (not to mention the fact that I was getting changed.).

Athrun shifted his weight slightly, his head twitching toward me on reflex only to freeze as if he had suddenly remembered again what I was doing. He had already gotten dressed, simple for him too seeing as his uniform fit snuggly under the suits. "What is it?" he asked gently.

I bit my lip.

"You're chewing on your lip aren't you?" he accused when I didn't reply and I yelped.

"How did you know that?" I demanded, feeling my face get fiery hot. "Are you looking?" I crossed my arms over my chest in a fail-attempt at covering myself.

Athrun shook his head, his back still to me. "No- it's just something you always do." He laughed softly and I felt something in me quiver and melt.

Fantastic. I was melting.

"But what were you going to ask me?" he pressed.

"Nothing…well…I was just wondering how you ended up here… seeing as…" I swallowed, turning my head away slightly to gaze at my partially-clothed reflection.

"Seeing as I thought you were dead?" Athrun's voice was flat and I jabbed my thumb at the corner of my eye to flick away an errant tear.

"Yes." I whispered, almost sounding meek- and believe me when I say this: I don't do meek.

Athrun feel silent for a moment before taking a deep breath. "I just happened to see Kitalla leave in her GUNDAM and I took chase after her and followed her aboard."

"Oh…" I thought this over for a moment before realizing what his intention had been. "If you were able to connect the Harmony with Blue Cosmos then ZAFT could say I…uh, Princess Attha is involved with Blue Cosmos." This time my thumb didn't make it in time to squash the second tear that gathered in my lashes before streaking down my cheek. Something in my stomach felt funny- not nauseous but not well either. Made me feel like I didn't belong here- here with him.

And I don't.

But what I would give to be able to.

"Yeah." Athrun seemed to hesitate and I wondered what questions he was dying to ask me then. Perhaps he'll ask me where the Princess is… Or if I killed 'her'. I thought sadly before heaving a huge sigh.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Um. Nothing. Just a little cut that's all." I grimaced, eyeing my reflection unhappily. In fact my wound did hurt and blood still oozed from it, down my shoulder blade and chest. Running about obviously hadn't helped it scab over. "Oh well." I murmured reaching down with a wince to pull my suit up to my waist over my legs.

"Wait." Athrun backed from the door and examined a keypad next to the entrance. I watched him carefully as I shifted my suit around till the wrinkles were smoothed out and I could walk comfortably.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Jamming the door." He explained as his fingers pressed numbers on the keypad in a rapid succession. The door slid shut with a whisper of air and he sighed. "There we go- can I turn around now?"

"What?" I snapped, thrown off guard, now wriggling desperately into my suit.

"Do you have pants on?"

"Um, yes, um-" my cheeks grew hot as I struggled to pull the sleeve for the shoulder opposite my wounded shoulder on.

"Shirt?"

"Er."

Athrun turned around anyway and I yelped as his green eyes met mine- his face tinted pink.

"What are you doing?" I all but screeched at him. Even in a moment of panic I remembered all manners. Especially the one where gentlemen were supposed to remain facing the other direction when a lady got dressed.

"Stop moving!" he ordered, walking over briskly to me. I snatched at my other sleeve- well aware of how thin the cami felt against my skin and how electricity seemed to jolt through me with every step he took.

"You stop moving!" I snapped, staggering back until my back was against the smooth mirror. I jabbed my hand through the clingy sleeve as Athrun came to a halt in front of me, his eyes narrowing.

"What are you doing?" I hissed.

Athrun ignored me, reaching one hand up to hold my sleeve in place and the other to probe at my cut. "That looks like it might have cut through muscle." He murmured, speculating.

"Knowing that won't help me." I pointed out.

"Hmmm." His hand slid down from my shoulder, down my side to my waist. His palm rested on my hip, his thumb sliding up under the thing cloth of my cami.

I froze, my knees wobbling unexpectedly from…exhaustion. Definitely exhaustion.

Athrun's green eyes flicked up to mine and despite the weariness, the anger, fear and bewilderment, there was a hint of…mischief. "What do you think I'm doing?" he asked, laughing. His other hand came down to rest on my opposite hip and if it weren't for the mirror behind me, I doubted I would still be standing.

I licked my lips. "Obviously not what I think you're doing because of course that would be weird. I mean, considering everything that's happened and whats going on and where we are and what we have to do." I doubted he understood a mumble of what I said as I chattered nervously at the speed of light.

Athrun smirked at me, obviously amused by flustered state of incoherency. Jerk.

He had to know what he was doing to me- had to know! I mean why would he be leaning torwards me otherwise? And why would he-

Kiss me.

Athruns' lips had barely brushed against mine when there was a soft ripping sound and I felt the warm brush of his hand against my navel. Despite the nerves within me that were burning up as if they had come into contact with the sun, I felt oddly relaxed- as if suspended in the sky of heaven. Oh…oh this is…

All reason and logic was departing my brain as my lips molded against his and his arm went around me, clutching me against him. We kissed rather desperately, longingly. My hands entangling into his thick blue locks and his warm hands holding me so gently and protectively.

We so shouldn't be doing this! Oh my God- I do not want my last moments in this world to be kissing! The more rational side within protested rather weakly.

Oh shut the hell up. I thought absentmindedly as I moaned hungrily against Athrun's mouth. He called out every fire of passion within- excited me and made me forget everything. How could I just forget everything? There was so much out there to think about but-

Athrun was the only part that mattered. No 'ifs', 'ands' or 'buts'.

You're perfect. So perfect. Something within me whispered and my eyes opened for a split second as I gasped for breath. Athrun's green eyes, dazed with the strength of my response and full of… of…love captured mine in a heart beat. Those emerald pools of heat, mystery, darkness and passion. Those eyes that reminded me of a dream I had once had, though I couldn't remember what of. Children's laughter. The roar of an ocean. The sway of palm trees. Peace. Perfection. Happiness.

If only…

"Athrun." I gasped, feeling shaken- my eyes wide. "What-"

Athrun seemed to shake himself out of a reverie as he blinked and stepped back…what seemed like an inch- two at the most. "You're right." He murmured even though I hadn't said anything. He reached back to my stomach and to my surprise finished a tear in my cami, ripping of a strip of fabric.

"What?" I repeated, feeling kind of out of it- understandable of course, my brain still hasn't come back quite yet.

Athrun smiled at me, his hands quickly binding my shoulder with the piece of my cami.

"I…" I felt stupid for not realizing what he had intended to do. So why had he kissed me? I gazed at my hands that had fallen limply to my sides.

My head jerked up again though when there was a small zip sound and Athrun zipped my suit shut. I blushed as he patted the collar shut over the zipper, checking to make sure the suit was in well condition. "Er. Thanks."

Athrun's gaze met mine- strangle dark, but not in an angry way. "We'll finish that later."

I didn't even have to ask what he meant.

I didn't want to tell him that that would be probably impossible. "Yeah." I said softly, wondering why I was so easy to bend. Athrun had me completely caught and with so much as a touch everything in my head seemed to completely disappear for a while.

Like the fact that we were like pigs in a slaughterhouse being where we were.

Oh and the fact that we were raised to be enemies of eachother him being the son of the Chairman and me…

Princess? Who? Me?

Yeah, right.

I wish.

Trying to make conversation as we buckled our helmets into place I said. "I hope the others are okay."

"I'm sure they're fine." Athrun said shortly and I winced, remembering a moment late that my friends weren't exactly on the top of his buddy list.

"Yeah- well, at least I'm sure Kitalla is alright. She, at the least, came with some common sense." I sighed, shaking my head wearily. "I don't know what I'm going to tell Kira. 'Yeah, so, Kira…remember Ralphie? Your pet dog? Remember how you used to have to take him on walks? And then remember how I asked you if I could hold the leash even though we both knew Ralphie pulls really hard and you told me no but I took the leash anyway and Ralphie got away and ran across the street where he got hit by a car? Yeah. Him. Well, let's pretend Yuna was Ralphie; how does that make you feel?'." I shook my head with a snort even though there was nothing humorous about it.

Athrun fiddled with his helmet, loosening it's hold about his neck slightly. "Who is Kira?"

"Oh." I flushed, realizing I hadn't mentioned anything about Kira before to him. "He's a friend."

"The friend…who died?"

I fidgeted with the gloves of the suit. "No." We fell silent and I could almost feel his disappointment- we both knew I was lying. "Well…" I sighed. "Yes. Turns out he wasn't dead. Like me."

I knew shouldn't have added in that 'like me' part because the atmosphere went from tense to brittle.

"You're keeping something from me." Athrun accused, crossing his arms over his chest. His green eyes narrowed, staring at me hard as if he was trying to read my mind.

I gnawed on my bottom lip before realizing that that was a clear give away. "It's complicated."

He snorted in disbelief.

"It is!" I said defensively. "Besides- it shouldn't matter anything to you!" I yelled, feeling miserable. What a place to start a fight, Cagalli. I thought to myself.

Athrun swore and I knew that if he wasn't wearing his helmet he would have raked his hand through his midnight hair in frustration. "Dammit, we're not having this conversation."

"What conversation?"

"The one where I ask what the hell you've been doing all this time and you defend your reasons."

"I don't have to tell you nothing." I muttered though I followed him out the door opposite the one he had jammed as he motioned to me.

The plan was to blend in and just find a small ship and shoot our way out- hopefully.

Simple, effective and dangerous as hell.

I paused in the door way to the pilot's room, feeling a pang of nerves. "There's no going back."

"There never was to begin with." Athrun said simply from where he stood a foot away, trying to look casual though I could see how antsy he was. We were quite literally surrounded by Blue Cosmos now- pilots and engineers walking around, talking casually. If at any moment our cover was blown…

"I know but…" I sighed. "I hope the others are okay…wherever they are."

OOOOOOO

All systems online.

Kitalla sighed in relief as she slid into her cockpit seat. The journey from the spaceship to the Chaos had seemed endless- a never ending trail of darkness. But at last she was here. Of course- my endeavors will be pointless if the others can't escape…

"Ughhh." Yuna rolled over with a groan and his eyes blinked open. "What…"

"Happened? No idea- some bloke clobbered you and I jumped in at the nick of time to save your scrawny, er, hide." Kitalla cheerfully lied.

Yuna rubbed his head. "Am I bleeding?" he whispered in a tone of horror.

"Like a turkey with it's head cut off."

Yuna's eyes bulged and opened his mouth, drawing a breath to scream.

"I kid, I kid." She sighed.

"You're such a child!" Yuna snarled once confirming that Kitalla was telling the truth and he wasn't bleeding all over.

"Ouch- that stung…like a gnat." Kitalla pulled her helmet, letting her black hair untuck from the collar of her uniform, floating around her head.

"What are we doing?" Yuna asked irritably, stumbling up besides her, rubbing a hand through his long purple hair.

"Hmm… Sending a message." Kitalla said calmly as the engines through out her magnificent machine purred to life and the Chaos uncoiled it's self, it's wings spreading and lighting up with energy. The machine leapt from the floating hunk of rock and began to soar stealthily towards the Blue Cosmos ship.

"To Athrun and Cagalli?"

"Of course- I have to let them know we're here, right?" she cocked her head. "You should probably start holding onto something." Battle systems activate- begin charging main energy cannon. Target: head of ship. The screens infront of her zoomed up on her target and she thought her confirmation. In response she felt the gears beneath her groan as the bottom jaw of the Chaos lowered slightly to reveal the cannon within.

"Will it hit from this far away?"

"Yes- though it won't be as powerful." Kitalla replied shortly to Yuna, mentally adjusting distance and power dials in her mind with the Chaos.

Whenever you're ready, my Chaos.

Cannon ready. Target locked. Battle system enacted. Replied her weapon, friend and guardian.

Fire!

OOOOOO

NPOV

They were starting to draw attention. People's gazes darted back to them uncertainly time to time all around the docking bay.

I twitched uncomfortably. A few feet away from me, Athrun was arguing with an engineer to let us aboard one of Blue Cosmos's skygrasper models.

The engineer wouldn't let him with out an A-Okay from the Captain.

We need to get out of here! We've wasted way too much time! My thoughts were jittery and knowing that sooner or later they would be hauled in for questioning anyway, I grabbed a solid wrench that had been floating harmlessly in the air. Stalking towards the arguing engineer I smacked it against my palm in agitation, grabbing his attention.

"You will let us aboard that skygrasper now!" I ordered, my amber eyes practically shooting sparks.

The engineer went pale, and considering how tan his skin was, that was something. "No." he squeaked.

"What did you say?" I hissed, feeling Athrun's gaze flit from me to the engineer.

The engineer made a small mumbling squeak sound that sounded like. "Make me."

I narrowed my eyes to slits, raising my choice of weapon slightly. "Say hello to my little -"

BOOOOOM!

I yelped in surprise as suddenly the ship seemed to convulse, shaking terribly. Alarms flashed and pilots started streaming towards their choice of weapons. I was thrown backwards and Athrun shot his arm out to catch me around the shoulders.

"We're under attack!" An engineer screamed.

Athrun looked bewildered but I gasped, a smile spreading across my face. I let go of the wrench, grabbed Athrun's hand and leapt for the ship's cock pit, the weightless effect of being in space towing us up to the open cock pit. This time the engineer made no move to stop me. "It's the Chaos!" I told him excitedly. "Kitalla's out there!"

Athrun didn't' seem to be quite as elated as me but he nodded and before I could make a move, slid into the cock pit seat, pulling me down on top.

"Uh." I murmured softly, having intended to go grab a separate ship. The dome-like top of the sky grasper lowered slowly down, sealing shut around us into a tiny, tiny cocoon. And then I realized something. Skygraspers were not made for two people to share one seat.

I shifted around uncomfortably on Athrun's lap, feeling…kinda… squashed- not that I'm whining or anything.

Athrun's arms stretched around me on either side to the controls and he peered over my shoulder- focused. Around us other mobile suits and skygraspers were powering up and the engineers were evacuating the launch pads. "Here we go." He warned.

"We need to set up a connection with the Chaos. " I told him. "Or we might be shot down."

He nodded. "The Aegis is out there. We need to get to it and then we can return to the Demi-god safely."

I was glad he couldn't see my face as my teeth bit into my bottom lip and guilt burned within me. "Yeah." I said softly.

The engines thrummed to life and we floated off the ground slightly. "Ready?" Athrun asked, moving his head forward over my shoulder to peer at me from the corner of one green eye.

I took a deep breath and leaned back against him, wishing that this was one of the moments I could enjoy how perfect it felt to be sitting no his lap leaning against him rather then one of the moments where we're running for our lives. "Always." I said.

OOOOO

NPOV aboard the Chaos

"STOP! STOP RIGHT NOW!" Yuna screamed, unable to take it as Kitalla began the second chorus of 'Hit me with your best shot'.

Kitalla grinned cynically at him as she swerved through beams of energy, twisting and turning. Behind her, Yuna clutched onto the back of her seat for dear life. "You disapprove of my choice of a victory song."

"Your singing is unbearable." Yuna sniffed and Kitalla frowned slightly.

She didn't seem to think it was too much to ask for. She save him, she get to sing. Nothing wrong there. "Die you pesky, inferior things." She hissed, cutting through multiple mobile suits in front of her.

Suddenly a static-sound filled the Chaos and she blinked in surprise. Someone was accessing the Chaos's private radio channel.

"Ki-La."

"What was that?" she demanded sharply.

"I think it was 'Kill her', but with an accent." Yuna gasped as she spun the Chaos once again.

"Eh? Is that so?"

"Kitall-"

"No. No. No." she shook her head. "That was definitely my name right there. Well, most of it."

"It's a trick!" Yuna said.

"Kita- it's…and Athrun…Aboard…Sky…sper."

"Care to decode that one, Sherlock?" Kitalla spat at Yuna.

"Yes. Clearly they have that Coordinator bastard hostage on their skygrasper."

"Kitalla-you….freaking… stu…idiot…I'm…gonna…kill….you!"

"No. Clearly that is not him being held hostage." Kitalla rolled her eyes before quickly scanning her screens. "Obviously Athrun and the princess are out here some where." She flicked a switch on the com-radio and said slowly. "Where are you?"

A moment later. "Sky…grasp…"

Skygrasper. Kitalla's eyes widened at this revelation then went flat a second later and she flicked the switch again and hissed. "Which one?"

"Twirl-"

"Twirl?" Kitalla repeated, mystified.

"Oh my God!" Yuna barked a laugh as he studied a monitor to her right. "Some idiot pilot out there is spinning like a complete moron!"

Kitalla gritted her teeth, glancing at the screen and sure enough, there was a skygrasper spinning aimlessly about. She flicked the switch. "Thank you." She purred sweetly through her teeth. "Much obliged." The radio fell silent and she snarled. "Pain. In. The. Bum!"

OOOOO

CPOV

"Where did she go?" I demanded after losing sight of the Chaos. It had split into action, slicing through enemies leaving a trail of destruction.

Suddenly the metal around us creaked and a shudder went through the skygrasper. Next thing I knew, the screens went black. Something was covering them. Athrun gasped. "She's over top of us!"

"What?" I asked.

"She's holding on to us!"

The radio channel came in clear, Kitalla's sarcastic voice filling the tiny cock pit.

"Welcome to Chaotic Airlines, if you will just hold on for a second as I…um, take care of something."

A thrumming began to tremor through our ship. "What is she doing now?" I whispered in the dark to Athrun.

"It feels like she's charging energy."

"The Chaos's main cannon!" I murmured back, realizing what Kitalla was trying to do. Take out her enemies in one shot.

"I still don't like her," Athrun said. "But I have to admit she knows what she's doing."

"You have no idea." I sighed. The trembling came to a climax then a shockwave rippled through the skygrasper along with the dim sound of explosions.

"Shall we return before they recuperate?" Kitalla asked cheerfully and the darkness fell away from the screen as the Chaos's wings (for that was what had wrapped around us, protecting us) withdrew. Bits of metal glittered in the darkness and the Blue Cosmos mother ship was aiming their posterior cannons for us. Multiple mobile suits were regrouping and Athruns' arms tightened around me as he put our small ship into gear.

Before us the Chaos flew like a sword cutting through the darkness, trying to clear our way. "Stay on my tail!" Kitalla told us. "Fall behind and I'll kick your ass!"

The cockpit fell quiet once more and I fidgeted, feeling useless and uncomfortable. "Well," I turned to face Athrun slightly. "How was your day?"

OOOOO

NPOV

Kitalla really wasn't much of a battle person. She didn't feel very honed to war and fighting. But somehow, thanks to her tinkering skills, she found herself out here, wiping out Blue Cosmos because…she could.

Well, that and she had to.

"Ya' know what, Captain."

"Hn." She grunted, unable to spare the idiotic human behind her a wit of attention. Could he not see that she was trying to save their lives? No pressure or anything.

"I thought it would be worse but you're making this look easy."

Her eyes narrowed and she resisted the urge to slap him. Though I really oughta.

Lights flared in the darkness and Kitalla gasped. "Did they just call a retreat?"

"This is fantastic." Yuna grinned. "You better run!" he yelled as their foes sped back to the mothership.

"No….Nononono." Kitalla shook her head. "Why would they do this? Something is going to happen."

The mothership began to pick up speed, soaring away from them and Cagalli's voice carried through the radio.

"I think something already did."

Kitalla's brow furrowed for a moment, confused then suddenly something dawned upon her and a tremble ran through her. "No."

OOOOO

NPOV aboard the

"No."

The denial in the voice did nothing to answer Cagalli's bewilderment as suddenly the Chaos burst into action, shooting forward swiftly.

"Follow her!" Cagalli yelled.

"I can't- the Aegis-" Athrun protested only to find his hands knocked away as his blonde friend took control of the skygrasper, streaking after the Chaos.

"You can come back and get it." She replied through gritted teeth. "You heard what she said earlier- we fall behind and she kicks our ass! Believe me when I say this- Kitalla is very good at kicking ass."

OOOOOOO

NPOV aboard the Alpha

Michael swallowed, trying to remember that this was a service to not just Blue Cosmos but the world. Yet still, these orders- his brother's orders- only felt like a mission to slaughter. Michael was a pilot, a soldier. He had killed many people before- but not like this.

His hands spread flat on the panels in front of him- the panels, the technology the machine that Misaki had built. Alpha, activate nuclear weapons.

With a hum, the Alpha began preparations for a weapon that had not been apart of Misaki's original design. Not part of Misaki's design at all. Muruta had thought it would be interesting to look into the power of a nuclear missile with the GUNDAM. All he had needed was the ring and now they had it. Michael had it.

Alpha, target the Harmony's engines. Full power. Annihilation. Dozens of people were about to die, all at the hands of Michael.

"If I do this…" he whispered. "There's no going back." Mass-murder. No matter what you call it, no matter how you put it, it was mass murder.

His eyes closed, he couldn't bring himself to watch the destruction that was about to unfold. Just one word- that's all it will take. One word and then it's over. One word.

An image filled his head- one he had been trying to repress. Misaki- not Kitalla- but Misaki as he had once known her with a look of unguarded joy on her face as she surveyed the machine she and Michael had built together. "It's for you, Michael." She had said, adoration shining in her beautiful yellow cat-eyes. "It's to protect you." She, short as she was, wrapped her arms around him and leaned against him. Michael had rested his chin on her head, settling his own arms around her waist. "Now," Misaki had continued, her voice slightly muffled against his broad chest. "Now we fight together, for always."

Always, but did you really mean it then, Misaki? Or were you already planning to leave and rip my heart into two in the process. Michael tensed but then opened his eyes, feeling something wet shimmer in them. "I can't do it." He whispered to himself. "I can't." Kitalla may have at one point been Misaki, but it seemed Misaki was never coming back. Misaki was dead to the world. And he couldn't disrespect her memory by doing something she would have considered barbaric. Mass murder. If Misaki had been alive she would have been horrorfied at what they had done to the Alpha. No, it was more then that, she would hold her self accountable for these people's deaths, for the Alpha's transformation. She would feel disgraced, ashamed…and always angry at Michael for letting them do it, for him doing it.

A small warning popped up- a warning that the Chaos was drawing close and Michael stiffened in his seat, knowing he had not much time left to make a decision. "Kitalla…" he whispered, the word feeling alien on his mouth- alien to associate the name with the person he had dreamed of marrying years ago. Flipping a switch he got in contact with his brother and said. "Er, We're having problems."

"What?" snapped Muruta impatiently.

"Well, it is our first time trying out the entire Gundam as a whole." Michael said carefully. "The weapons are just getting scrambled in the machine."

There was a moment of silence and then Muruta said. "Hmm, you are right. This is a prototype. Alas, I'll give it a try."

Michael paused. "Give what a try?" he said slowly.

"Well, when we were equipping the nuclear weapon system to the Alpha we installed an extra little gadget that helps us activate it from afar-ah, excellent. I see you already have the Harmony targeted. Good work brother, I'll take it from here. On my command, three, two, one-"

"No," Michael whispered in horror, his eyes flying up just once to glance at the Chaos, the beautiful dragon spiraling towards them with grace and majesty like an avenging angel, intent on obliterating her prey. Then to the Harmony a rather defenseless ship, floating with an air of childish hope an innocence as death lifted it's scythe over head. "No."

"Fire."

OOOOOOOOOOOO

Aboard the Harmony

The brig crew sat in silence in the brig, watching as the Alpha raised it's strange weapon, glowing with an eerie red light.

A Natural who had just arrived for her shift at CIC let out a soft sound of fear, her large brown eyes wide and shimmering with tears.

"Shields are being maintained." Nariat checked from where he stood behind the empty Captian's chair. Kitalla.

A Coordinator nodded from where he sat. "It would take a serious weaponfire to get through this baby." He said confidently.

Nariat breathed a sigh of relief. The Gundam before them was alien to their data bases, and also out of range of their weapons- but knowing that their shield would at least protect them from mobile suit fire until Kitalla made it was comforting.

The CIC let out a shaky breath. "So we'll be okay." She asked.

Nariat glanced at the younger girl, barely nineteen with her short blond hair in two pig tails. "Of course." He said gently. "Look, Kitalla is coming. Kitalla will protect us."The belief in his voice seemed to make all the tension in the room disappear, replaced by the overwhelming trust for their Captain. Nariat's heart swelled slightly in pride and happiness as the mighty-dragonic figure of the Chaos soared towards the Alpha, a great and terrible beauty. She was alive. She was coming back.

Through out the hours she had been gone Nariat had been worrying- what if she didn't come back. What if she died. What if she met whoever sang the song to her heart and stayed with him. What if….what if she left the Harmony, the crew…him. But there she was, coming home.

"It's okay." Nariat murmured to the crew, smiling. "Kitalla is here- everything is alright."

And even as the glow in the strange gundam grew and grew there was no fear- for how could any body be afraid. Kitalla was there, and like countless times before they knew she would protect them, somehow. She always had a trick up her sleeve and before they knew it the day would be over and they would be celebrating her, Yuna's and Cagalli's return to the ship. And it would be like nothing had ever changed. Cause with Kitalla they were invincible, fearless, forever. Because Kitalla, their beloved Captain, made the possible impossible.

And as the world seemed to slow to match their pulsing heart beats- and the fiery beam shot towards them like a hellish bullet, they still had no fear, but only a strange confidence and pride in their Captain. And until the last moment they waited with bated breaths and hopeful eyes for their fearless leader to do the impossible save them. But they waited in vain…

OOOOOOOO

Aboard the Chaos.

It was like she was watching the world in stages- shutter after shutter. As the Chaos soared through the darkness and she saw the Alpha floating there almost as if it was waiting…waiting for her.

She tensed, waiting for it to attack her when she realized that it's weapon wasn't raised towards her but to her ship. Which was rather dumb, having your back to your enemy, especially when your weapon would merely deplete some of her ship's shield. She would know, she built the initial gun weapon for the Alpha.

But then, a strange light glowed about the gundam, originating from it's weapon and Kitalla paused, almost hypnotized by the light. That weapon it held…it….it wasn't hers. "How…strange." She whispered softly, narrowing her eyes. "What are you up to…Michael…" for she had no doubt who was piloting it. If both the Alpha and Michael were on the same ship then she had no doubt at all. It had been a gift from her to him once upon a time and yet she felt rather furious with the fact that he dared to use it against her. Turn her gift against her. A gift that held so much of her in a way. Something she considered precious, or at least, had once considered precious.

"I have changed and so have you…" she paused, her voice growing cold with fury. "And so has my Alpha." If Yuna understood anything of what she said he made no comment as she prepared the Chaos for battle once again, her rage animating from her. What had Michael done to the Alpha? How dare he use it! How dare he!

"Don't turn your back to me." She snarled, the Chaos shooting a few feet forward only to stumble to a halt as she gasped, stunned. A streak of light burst from the Alpha's gun tip and struck through the Harmony's shield as if it wasn't there. Burned through the Harmony it's self as if it wasn't there. As if it had never existed and just like that, the Harmony was gone…

Kitalla froze, her mind unable to comprehend what she had seen- her heart feeling as if it had beat it's lasting her chest. The world around her…was shattering into tiny little glass pieces that rained down like tiny, glittering stars.

Something ripped inside of her chest- perhaps the tether to sanity, perhaps the knot that tied her to the Harmony or perhaps it was the thread that always gave her hope, no matter how bleak it might be. Rip. Rip. Rip.

Fragments of the ship blasted through the air from the explosion, chipping at the metal of the Chaos and though she could hear the princess and her knight and the coward behind her screaming she held silent, watching, almost marveling as pieces of all kinds of metal soared through the darkness like glittering stars.

Her world had shattered, her hope for finding a place she belonged faded like the dying light of a setting sun and yet still not a tear slipped down her cheek, not a whisper from her lips as she watched the darkness be lit by terrible explosions.

Somewhere in the recesses of her mind, as the glittering glass of her world rained about her, she tried to catch one of those sparkling stars only to gasp in pain as they sliced streaks of red across her hands. And before she knew it, she was alone, walking across broken glass that was stained in her blood- walking with out purpose and with out hope. And never did she look down at the red-tainted pieces of glass, knowing that they would reflect faces that weren't there, faces that were gone. Faces of people she loved and cared for and who loved her as well.

Kitalla closed her eyes and in one with the Chaos turned her back on her dying home and family. It felt like she was dying and she wondered why the roaring in her ears, the screaming in her mind wouldn't end. Was she choking on something? Was her heart really frozen dead in her chest?

And at last the single question that she could not find an answer for asked. How…how can I go on? What is there left for me?

It took all she had not to keel over in her cockpit from gulf of mental agony erupting inside. All she had not to let the tears cascade down her cheeks, not to let the howl of anguish building in her throat free. All she had to whisper, softly and gently. "Good bye."

Ouch, is Kitalla being cold or what. O.o And yeah, I knew from the beginning I was going to destroy the Harmony. When everyone was talking about Nariat and Kitalla I was like *gulp*… So,,, yeah, Nariat and Kitalla ain't going to be happening any time soon, sorry *cough*

And actually, there was more to this chapter but I hated how it went and got rid of it for now. And as to why it took forever to write this chapter, I kept rewriting the end because I wanted to nail down exactly what Kitalla's first reaction would be. I didn't think Kitalla would be the character to get wheepy all asudden so trying to keep her in character I spent a zillion or so hours trying to perfect the ending.

In the end I still feel like I betrayed her present personality during her get-to-gether with Michael, however I needed to bring Michael's character in strongly so that when ya-know, he kinda offed the Harmony you sorta remember the fact that they were like, uh 'soulmates'. God, Michael you're such a sappy mor-oh wait, where am I? Right…Um, I hope you enjoyed this latest chapter , please review and HAPPY NEW YEAR :D

Azetta

Jabberbomb

Whoa, it's a jabberbomb, a short one, but a jabber bomb nevertheless

But I have to rant about something! My latest addiction: Buffy the vampire slayer.

I got addicted to the show in the past couple months and was addicted up till the end of the third season. When I watched the last episode and Angel left I sorta started frothing at the mouth more or less. I would not be able to watch BVS (buffy show) with out knowing Angel would come back. So I went to wiki and google and stufferez and looked up synopsis of seasons and youtube to where I looked up clips of later episodes. Though I can't be a proper judge with out actually watching, I must say: WHY THE HECK DOES ANGEL JUST LEAVE TO HIS OWN SHOW? NO FREAKING NO! And spike? I lost all respect for Spike. Becuz, how he seemed to be portrayed (and Buffy too, come to think of it) kinda seemed really outta character to a person who has only watched the first three seasons. And I loved Spike as his evil maniac self. Not to mention that Angel totally doesn't get back together with Buffy which is so screwed up that you would think I wrote the script. Dear Joss-something, I totally love your show but why couldn't you get them back together? Wah!

I mean that in the most respectful way- please, nobody flame me, I'm a rather dramatic person and I did think the show was great.

On that note, I will not be watching any more of the BVS seasons or the Angel seasons becus my heart is with them both and now that they are not together- well, that sux. The end.

Ps. R.I.P. HARMONY