ATTENTION: all of my replies to the reviewers from now on will be located at the END of the chapter, after the AN. Scroll down to see :)
Oh dear goodness, gracious? Is that…is that what I think it is? Is that a flying pig? Could it be, coincidently, the same day I decide to update this fanfic, a pig learns to fly?
Nah. Just my imagination…
Anyway, after that lame attempt at humor (ha ha), ! D: I'm super super sorry! Life just gets crazy! I've been busy with family, computer issues, tests, collage, SATs, more Collage, more tests, math, math, math…oh and karate. Blame the Dog is simply easier for me to update cuz it's shorter, and doesn't consume nearly as much of my focus (which is kinda funny cuz I have no idea where that story is even going…).
I might have already mentioned this but I know I made a boo-boo (yes, I did just use that expression,,,) in writing this fanfic. A Skygrasper is clearly, and obviously a earth vessel and is not made for space. Duh. I wish I could have told myself this a few months ago. Stupid me.
For those who are confused about who is where- here ya go.
Archangel: Kira, Kimi-hime, Mwu, Murrue, Shinn, Luna, Rau, members of the Clyne faction, (heading back to Orb)
Ea cargo ship: Lacus, Meyrin, Dearka, Miriallia. (heading to an EA base)
Octus five: Meer, Yzak, Shiho and Nicol
Out in space with the Chaos and the Demi-god: Cagalli, Kitalla, Yunna, and Athrun.
ATTENTION: I have taken down Shackles of the Past due to dumb technical writing problems- if you are interested in reading Misaki's past just shoot me a message and for those who reviewed, a heartfelt thanks :)
For those who have/have not read Shackles of the Past, I just want to be clear about this.
Kitalla, was an orphan floating in a space capsule when she was picked up by Blue Cosmos. She was raised in their military under the name 'Misaki'. There she met the Azraels and a romantic love-story happened between her and Michael Azrael, the younger brother. At one point in the story, she is sent on a mission to Plant where she meets and saves Lacus Clyne. (hence the connection to the Clyne faction). On returning to Blue Cosmos, she completes the Alpha.
Near the end of the story, she eavesdrops on a conversation between Michael and Muruta Azrael and learns that her parents were Coordinators and that, when her mother died giving birth to her, her father, grief stricken, had shipped her away into space as a baby to die. She also learns that she has a sister, Aisha, who is married and lives on earth with her husband Andrew Waltfield (explaining the connection between Andrew and the Clynes). Angry about being kept in the dark, and having always disagreed with Blue Cosmos's beliefs, Kitalla leaves to earth with some Blue Cosmos soldiers and Muruta on a secret mission which she finds out is to kill Cagalli and her mother. Kitalla saves Cagalli's life then heads off to Plant where she asks to serve in the Clyne Faction.
Bla bla, okay, I'm done -.- I think I got all of it… -.- oh wait, no I didn't.
*Disclaimer- for the bloody nth time, I DON'T own Gundam Seed! But I wouldn't mind ;)
Chapter 19 ( ya know…writing this first section of this chapter it occurred to me… what does happen if a pilot throws-up in their helmet? Ieeeeeeeeeewwwww)
NPOV
Nine years ago.
"She was one of our nations most beloved. Beatuiful and strong. Noble and wise.-"
Speaker after speaker after speaker droned on exultations about Lady Uzumi as they stood before the crowd, representing the casket at their side. The crowd was rapt with attention, tears shimmering in their eyes as they prepared to say the final good bye to a woman so pure of heart. Pity showed in their eyes, pity for the heartbroken father who was trying his best to remain strong for his country; for the daughter who had insisted that she be allowed to sit aside the open casket and was now stroking her mother's hair, her face blank, her eyes as empty and soulless as the deceased. Not far from her on the stage that had been constructed in the cemetery, a brunette boy with violet eyes openly cried for his blonde friend, as if shedding the tears she could not.
Unlike the massive audience who were gathered in the royal resting grounds, Cagalli was not listening a bit to the speaker. Her attention fully on everything other then 'good bye'. Her voice was soft as she spoke, her voice flat. "Mama, today I think I'll have a picnic. I think I'll take Kira with me and dare him to climb to the top of the big oak tree. He always gets stuck when he gets to the top and I have to call Daddy to help get him back down. Daddy says I'm not supposed to do that anymore- that kira might get hurt. Kira never falls though. And he never learns. He's like me, he wants to become better so he keeps trying though each time he fails." Soulless amber eyes sought her friend and her pink lips twitched slightly down. "And he cries a lot." She looked back down at her mother. Her mother who lay so still and pale, her eyes closed, her hair nestled about her and her simple blue dress neat and straight.
"You're so beautiful, Mama. I hope I can be like you when grow up." A tear caught in those thick lashes as it occurred to her young mind that her mother would never get to see her grow up. A sniffle escaped her and her chest shook. Though she knew she wasn't supposed to sit 'unladylike' in her black dress, Cagalli gathered her knees to her chest, wrapping her thin arms around them and resting her head ontop, her expression mournful. The reserve that kept her together was slowly falling apart as what little denial she had built came crumbling down. Mama was gone. Mama wasn't coming back. This would be the last time she ever saw Mommy.
But…why?
Feeling her father's hand on her shoulder, Cagalli looked up to meet Lord Uzumi's eyes, bewilderment clear in her eyes. "I don't understand, Daddy." She whispered, tears slipping down the corners of her eyes. "Why does the good die? Shouldn't good always triumph evil?"
A world built on fairy tales, happily ever afters, wishes and dreams come true was shattering like broken glass that fell around her in the form of piercing rain.
Her father wrapped an arm around and she burrowed against his side, squeezing her eyes shut in an attempt to block out the images of burnt bodies, a ruined mansion, the smell of smoke and blood mixing in the darkness, the laughs and jeers of human beings and her mother, slipping into death. "Shouldn't good always win?" she whispered again, feeling lost.
Lord Uzumi bowed his head in anguish. He had lost his beloved wife and he did not intend to lose his daughter either to the hurt she felt. He knew he could say something to assuage her pain, but he knew Cagalli, even so young, craved the truth over all else. "Sometimes… evil does win. But good never dies." He stroked her hair comfortingly. "You are here and so good prevails once more. Good preserves, good hopes. Good never gives up." He sighed. "So we must never give up. Sometimes Prince Charming is really the wolf. Sometimes the princess is really the pauper. Sometimes our wishes go unanswered. Sometimes our dreams never come true."
"I know that now." Cagalli whispered, her eeyes still closed though tears still fell. "I know, Daddy. But…" a sob broke her efforts and she flung her arms around him as she cried. "I just…want Mommy!"
Uzumi tilted his head back to face the blinding sun, feeling tears in his eyes and he spoke softly, more to himself. "Good doesn't always win. Sometimes the world seems like it's teetering on the edge of destruction. Sometimes you may just want to give up- but you have to remember…" his voice trembled. "Hope is like a phoenix; it will always rise again from the ashes."
OOOOOOooooOOOOOOoooooOOOO
Present time- CPOV
Sometimes everything is going perfectly.
And sometimes everything just falls apart.
"Oh, God no!" I whispered, shaking my head in denial as tears cascaded down my cheeks in a salty waterfall. Something that burned like bile rose in the back of my throat and I choked sharply. I pressed my hands to the glass of my helmet as if to bury my face in my palms, my eyes squeezing shut though I was unable to forget the image now scarred into my mind.
An enormous burst of fire and light as the Harmony exploded, lighting up the darkness. Like a supernova, or a solar flare, though only lasting a few seconds- there one moment and gone the next.
"No! No! No!" someone was screaming that word over and over again, their voice escalating slowly to a raw-throated scream.
"Akira!" Athrun shook me slightly by my shoulders and I realized that it was me who was screaming and I clamped my jaws shut, feeling my teeth cut into my bottom lip. "It's okay, Akira. It's okay." His voice sounded anxious with a hint of bewilderment. Though I paid him no attention, he gently rubbed my shoulder with one hand in a soothing manner.
A tremor ran over our tiny vessel at the shockwave as the last of the explosion died down leaving two lonely vessels floating in space. The Alpha was hightailing back to the motherboard whilst the Chaos seemed to have frozen completely above us. No detects of energy pulses or movement showed up on the skygrasper's sensors.
"All those people." I whispered, my voice hoarse, my hand reaching out of it's own accord to clutch at Athrun's forarm, my fingers pressing hard against his suit.
"With just one shot." Athrun seemed to confirm and I flinched, stung by his casualness. He cared more about the power of the Alpha rather then the Harmony.
Well of course. He was supposed to destroy the Harmony anyway. Now his job was done. Our job was done.
Feeling numb, tears still floating about in my helmet, I reached for the communications switch. "Kitalla?"
I whispered. I fumbled for something to say.
Before us, the Chaos twitched, as if jerking to life, slowly turning and gliding around over us. Kitalla's voice, calm and even, responded a moment later. "Who else would it be?"
Athrun murmured something I didn't catch as he, too, turned the skygrasper about and started heading back in the direction we had come.
"I…" I gritted my teeth. "I'm sorry." My own anguish swallowed up the pain flickering in my body and I struggled to blink back tears. Sorry wasn't enough. I knew because I knew how Kitalla felt. I had felt it too when Junius Seven had been destroyed- my crew massacred along with everyone else who had lived there. Nothing anybody could say to me helped. Nobody could come to Plant at the time, not even Kira, so they consoled me with words through communicators. But it wasn't the same. I hadn't wanted words to assuage the anguish. I had just longed for someone to be there, to dry the tears I never shed, to hear the words I never cried, to be the shoulder I never leaned on.
I was alone then and I had suffered. I could not let Kitalla suffer now. She wasn't alone.
"You should be." Kitalla said gravely. "Siccing Yunna on me after all the trouble I went through to save your blonde ass."
My jaw dropped slightly and I shook myself slightly. "What? No, I mean, I'm-"
"Hush." Kitalla's voice was soft. "Just…don't…You did nothing…" She paused in between each word as if she was struggling to be coherent. Which, at any other time, would have seemed funny since Kitalla never had to struggle with saying what she thought. Interestingly, that was a trait we both had in common.
"Kitalla…" I shook my head, wordlessly, finding myself in a silent state as well. What do you say to someone who just lost everything? How do you tell them that there's still more to life and not to give up? What can you do to change it all?
Nothing. There was nothing that could be done. I knew it. I knew it from experience. But I couldn't accept it.
I was a princess. Born with a given power to change the lives of my country. But now I felt powerless.
"Blondie. Here and now is not the day for mourning. We have little time to act with and there is a great deal of work to do." Kitalla continued briskly, with only the slightest hint of a tremor in her cool voice.
"Dear God. I think I just found myself agreeing with her!" Said a nasal-sounding voice. Yuna. I wanted to slap him.
The skygrasper tilted to the side and I watched as the Blue Cosmos mothership slowly became a distant light, like a star, in the darkness as we flew in opposite directions. My jaw clamped and my fists clenched in my lap. Something cold grew inside me with a vicious anger. I would not miss that ship. Nor would I forget it.
"Kitalla." My voice rasped. "I promise you this. With all the power vested in me, each one of your comrades will be honored in my country." My words rang with a solemn oath and I felt Athrun stiffen slightly behind me. The skygrasper began to speed up.
Kitalla's voice was oddly gentle when she responded. Not a hint of coldness or sarcasm to be found. "I would like that… Your offer means a great deal but I cannot accept. We took an oath to be utterly anonymous for personal reasons when we formed the Peace organization. Honor their memory by helping me finish this last mission." she hesitated in a very-unlike Kitalla manner, then added. "Please."
My jaw dropped the rest of the way but Yuna beat me to the punch. "Oi, crazy-woman. Did you hit your head?"
"Sit down before I give you a reason too!" Kitalla snarled and I heard a slightly, half scream and a soft impact sound before a satisfied "Told you so.".
The skygrasper swung a turn and I yelped, clutching onto Athrun. With no harness to hold me in place, I found myself bashing slightly about in the tiny cockpit.
"Athrun? What are you doing?" I yelped, my voice cracking slightly.
"Yeah, Athrun, whatever do you think you're doing?" I had to admit, Kitalla did a rather just imitation of my higher-pitched voice escalating in excitement.
Athrun didn't say anything but leaned aside me to flip the communication's switch off.
"What are you doing?" this time my voice was a yell as I struggled to turn and face him.
"Returning to Aegis. We're going back of course." His green eyes met mind for only an instant and a chill went through me at the pure determination in them. "There it is."
My head whipped around to see the gleaming metal of the Aegis only a bit away, locked onto a hunk of floating rock. That was before the skygrasper jolted to a halt.
My head snapped forward as at the same time a vibration ran through the tiny vessel from either side.
"Crap! She's tearing off the wings!" Athrun hissed and before I could say a word, had wrapped an arm around my waist, popped open the cockpit and had jumped out into space, dragging me along with him.
Damn Coordinator reflexes! I thought, struggling to catch up with his moves and my bearings.
"Athrun!" I yelled, pounding his shoulder weakly as he propelled us towards the Aegis. Over his back I watched the Chaos wrench the small skygrasper into two. Seeing the enormous strength and power of the machine I couldn't help but share the fear of a fish as it swims away, chased by the deadly and graceful shark.
The second hatch way to the Chaos popped open over where the pilot seat would be and I watched as a lithe dark form sprinted down the Chaos's snout before bounding off the tip. Something glinted in their hand. I squinted, trying to make out what she held, a chill running down my spine.
A gun.
Wriggling about, I hit pressure points on Athrun, trying to get him to release me, though my efforts were fruitless, not to mention, half-hearted. "Let me go! You have to let me go!"
We were nearly to the Aegis when the first shot bullet streaked towards us, flying just over my shoulder. I gasped, quivering and Athrun froze, slowly turning to face Kitalla.
"Zala, my tolerance has run dry." Kitalla drawled, cool fury glinting in her cat eyes. "Release her."
Athrun's eyes narrowed stubbornly, and he shifted me about until I was floating behind him, one of his hands clamped tightly on my wrist, locking me to him.
"Akira is coming back with me!" he snapped. His green orbs narrowed in stubbornness and his empty right hand shifted to wear his gun holster hung.
Kitalla kept her gun leveled to his forehead. "Unfortunately, I can't let that happen."
"You can't shoot him!" I cried desperately, my heart hammering in my chest. No! No! No! This can't be happening! "What are you doing?" I tried to move between them but Athrun's grip was painfully tight and yielded nothing to me.
"Are you suggesting I shoot you instead?" Kitalla asked, mildly. "I have a mission to finish and he is hindering me." Her gaze was flat. "Your interference was tolerated earlier but now I'll be frank- leave before I do something I'll enjoy and she'll regret." She inclined her head to me in a short gesture.
"Athrun, you have to let me go." I babbled, panicking. I didn't doubt Kitalla's ability to kill. She was slowly drifting closer, her gaze watchful.
Athrun glanced at me from the corner of his eye- his brow knitted in bewilderment and frustration. "Akira, why don't you understand? The Harmony is destroyed- the mission is complete. Whatever happened is in the past. You can come back!" he swallowed. "You have to come back."
If we hadn't had our helmets between us, nothing would have stopped me from reaching up and smoothing out the worry lines on his face. Though it wasn't my place to. It had never been my place. "Athrun, you're engaged." I whispered weakly.
"I can break that off. Lacus wouldn't mind. She already thinks highly of you." He insisted and I flushed guiltily, realizing I might know more of his fiancé then he did. "Please, Akira, please, don't even worry about anything else. You don't have to worry about anything else. Just stay with me!"
Was this really Athrun Zala before me? Pleading for me- me!- to stay with him. Telling me to put everything else on hold and just throw my worries to the wind. I stared open-mouthed as he turned to look me full in the face. His green eyes were wide, swirling pools of molten emerald. Blue locks had stayed across his face and I longed to push them out of his eyes.
There was a soft cough and I jumped, remembering Kitalla's presence.
She had lowered her gun, her face to the side, displeasure obvious in the downward tilt of her lips. Her cat eyes flicked towards me and narrowed. "Tell him the truth. Nobody should ever have to be kept in the dark." She murmured, her eyes darkening with flickering thoughts and memories. Her fists were clenched tightly at her sides and she forced herself to relax before turning back and soaring back to her gundam where she perched on the tip of Chaos's nose. There she lay back against the curved snout, gazing up at the endless world around her, giving us a moment of privacy.
Athrun looked suspicious and he looked at me for answers. Answers I now knew I had to give.
I placed my hands on his shoulders, feeling the muscles flexing underneath the suit. A lump rose in my throat and I gnawed on my bottom lip.
"Akira…" he seemed to debate over what to ask me and then at last inquired softly. "Why…won't you come back with me?"
"That, Athrun, is the correct question." I laughed, feeling topsy-turvy as tears gathered in the corner of my eyes. I don't think I had ever cried so much before in my life as I had done in the past couple months. Ever since I was little, I disliked crying, convinced that those kinda things were for sissies and boys named Kira. Even now, some part of me berated myself for being so utterly weak, and needy, and desperate, and always wishing that somehow I could bridge the gulf between me and a certain blue-haired Coordinator.
"Sometimes Good doesn't always win.
Sometimes Prince Charming is really the wolf."
Words my father had whispered so long ago at my mother's wake echoed back in my head and I shuddered involuntarily. Sometimes love doesn't conquer all. I thought.
"Just tell me," Athrun begged, breaking my thoughts, sweeping me into an embrace and clutching me to him as if to keep from ever drifting. One hand traced down my spine, resting on the small of my back while the other rested just below my helmet. It was not the most romantic of hugs- considering the suits, but a precious moment none the less. A moment where it felt like it really was just us, Athrun and me, frozen in time.
But time doesn't freeze, not even for wishful princesses so I steeled my reserve and called upon everything I once was before I had met Athrun Zala.
"I love you…" Athrun's voice was husky with fervor and longing but trembled with uncertainty. "I love you so damn much, so please, just…"
I felt like there was a flame within me, twisting, wreathing, burning and flaring. For that was what we were, Athrun and I. We were fire and ice, sizzling with every touch, so alive and vibrant, thriving beside each other but never actually able to be together. And still the fire within me burst through me, trying to touch Athrun but stuck behind a thick glass wall, unable to feel past it.
Since the glass wouldn't shatter there was only one option- I had to silence the flames. "I'm a Natural." I whispered, cutting him off. I felt his body freeze against mine and I took a shuddering breath.
"What?" Athrun said slowly, not yet releasing me but neither holding me in the passionate way it had felt moments ago.
"I'm…a Natural." This time my voice was clear and loud. Athrun backed up a step to stare at me, looking incredulous, disbelief clouding his eyes.
"No. No you're not." He said slowly.
My eyes narrowed. "I think I know what I am, and I'm telling you, I'm a Natural. I was born in Orb, and to this day I hail Orb as my country."
Disbelief was slowly transforming into denial and Athrun shook his head. "No, no no, We would know. There's no way, none!"
I pushed myself out of his loose embrace, and his arms fell limply to his sides. "Akira Yamato." I stated coldly. "Does not exist. She is merely a false name. A false person." No emotion. Think of ice. "I was sent by Orb to join ZAFT and send back military secrets to Orb's military… in otherwords I was a spy." Too late did I realize I had revealed my country and I bit my lip in horror at what I had done. How could I have been so foolish?
Denial was slowly becoming horror as things began to click for Athrun. "Impossible." He said, his pale face suddenly unreadable.
"Kitalla is a friend." Well, more or less. "She has come to take me ba-home." That was what it was, right? Home?
Athrun wasn't an idiot. I could see him start to fill in the missing pieces to the jigsaw I made. "So all this time…" his eyes were wide and dazed.
"All this time, Zala. Always." My voice was ice as I slowly started to back up from him toward the Chaos. "You put your trust in the wrong person." I laughed softly, a humorless sound. "And the funny part is that I had even warned you."
I watched as his mouth opened and closed, his eyes wide and his chest heaving. He look as if someone had socked him in the stomach… or took his heart and stamped on it.
My own was crying, begging and pleading for this to be a nightmare but I knew it was just what had to be done. Almost as if I was bored, I drawled. "This will be the last time you ever see me, that I can promise you." That was my ending note. That was the moment when I planned to turn and never look back. Not that I would need to, to remember the expression on his face. The betrayal in his eyes. And yet, I said softly. "For both our sakes… let me go." He wasn't touching me, so I knew he understood what I meant as I stared at him, trying to keep the barely concealed torment from showing on my face. How I hated myself. How I hated the chasm of hollowness opening in my heart. How I hated the love that had my threads so tightly wound around Athrun's. "Good bye, Zala." I whispered. "Next time… be more careful."
My heart broke with those words and one of the most selfish thoughts I had ever had filled me as I said goodbye. I don't want there to be a next time.
OOOOOOOOO
"Where are we going?"
"I set the Chaos's course back to Octus… I need to speak with Lacus, she should have returned by now." Kitalla said as she dug in a little cavity of the Chaos, shifting through tools and extra junk. In the far end of the tunnel, opposite the cockpit, Yuna sat, curling strands of purple hair around his finger.
"Oh."
"Ahah, I knew I had packed a first aid kit somewhere." Kitalla pulled out a slim white box, looking pleased with herself. "Alright then, you first, Princess."
"I don't need it." I told her.
"Damn straight you do. Now shuck the suit before things get complicated."
I couldn't even bring myself to glare at her as I slowly began to unzip the uniform.
"Uh, wait," The black-haired woman was suddenly in front of me, her eyes narrowed and gazing over my shoulder. "Oi, you, you purple-haired wimp, turn around!" she waited until her order had been fulfilled before adding. "And if I even catch you peeking then you can just say goodbye to the family jewels, comprende?"
Yuna snapped something back that sounded oddly like a mother dog to which Kitalla calmly replied. "Takes one to know one."
Kitalla and I moved up closer towards the cockpit for a slightly hint of privacy as the Captain began to examine my wounds in detail, adding ointments and bandages here and there. Silence filled the Chaos, broken first by the soft snores from Yuna as he drifted off into sleep.
It was a few minutes before Kitalla said a word as she applied ointment thickly to a gash. "I'm sorry." It took me a moment to comprehend what she had said. It had almost sounded like she was apologizing to someone else entirely. So I was shocked when Kitalla leaned her forehead on my shoulder and whispered again. "I'm sorry,"
The coldness I had built inside to numb the hurt melted and tears seeped down my cheeks. To my surprise, we both ended up hugging eachother, like two widows who had lost their husbands to war, finding comfort in another's understanding presence. We leaned on each other's shoulders for support and solace. Kitalla, so silent and still, while I cried enough for the both of us, her voice soft as she said over and over again. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
OOOOOOO
In the Alpha NPOV
Michael Azrael was in a state of loss as he sat numbly in the cock pit of the Alpha. The engineers were calling up to him, asking if he was alright. But he couldn't say anthing. All he could remember was the time he had been helpless to defend a Blue Cosmos crew from Zaft, and had to watch as they were destroyed and he survived. The helplessness, the utter shame of living when your crew was screaming in agony. And now, he had placed that never-ending guilt on the one he swore he would give his life for.
God, Misaki! Who had she become? This woman called Kitalla was everything Misaki was, but so much more bolder, cynical and so full of…anger.
Was it his fault? His fault that she turned against him, left him and now mocked everything she had once stood for. Oh Misaki… why… why did you have to leave me?
The hissing sound announced the opening of the cockpit and blearily, Michael looked up from his hands that were frozen over his controls to gaze up at a familiar face.
Blythe Grey, her face aged with sorrow forced a weak smile as she extended a hand. The curls of her brilliant red hair caught the light and glinted like fire, reflecting the spirit she once had.
She would understand. She would.
"Blythe." Michael took her hand and allowed her to guide him gently out and into the cat walk extended in front of the cock pit. "Blythe."
"Yes, Gorgeous?" though her words were an echo of a younger more vivacious Blythe, her voice contained none of her passion, her joy, her love, her spirit. Blythe, the once roommate and close friend of Misaki Changeling, and a friend of Michael's, had changed. Her family was gone. Her friends were gone. Her lovers were gone. Everything she held dear was lost to her.
War had been cruel to her, as it was to all who participated in it's fiendish sport.
"She's alive, Blythe." Michael searched her eyes, desperately searching for a spark of life in those eyes that were the very color of light shining through a thick frost that clings to spring leaves. "Misaki never died."
There was nothing.
"I know."
"You-what?"
She turned her head, not wishing to meet his eyes. "I knew. From the beginning. But she had left us, Michael. So in turn, we had to let her go." She took a shaky breath. "As she would have wished it, she is dead to me."
Michael felt like his heart was breaking again. "No." he said stubbornly, shaking his head. "She is not dead. She is not gone." He tightly gripped her hand, half pleading, half demanding. "She will come back. Not Kitalla, but Misaki. She will come back to us- to stay."
Blythe's slap across the face seemed like a bucket of cold water on him and he blinked, shocked as he reached up with tentative fingers to touch the tingling abused skin.
Blythe's eyes glittered with tears. "Let her go Michael. She's free. Free of us, free of Blue Cosmos. Free of the weight she carried on her shoulders years ago. She's free, she happy and she has found herself! Do you really want to take that away?"
Michael steeled himself, reeling back slightly at her accusation. Everything he believed, everything he meant to say, declare and prove fell short from his lips, now petty in comparison with Blythe's words.
She was right wasn't she? Misaki, no, Kitalla was probably better off with out him. She never really had supported Blue Cosmos anyway, always rebelling deep down. She was better off in this new life. Better off being Kit-
Michael froze, his eyes widening. "Kit-alla." He said allowed, emphasizing the syllables. A memory jumped to his mind, a memory from years ago.
Kitalla had just returned from her extended trip to Plant and for some reason had inquired if he had ever seen The Lion King movie. He had not and she had extolled upon it's qualities and he became vastly amused with this side of her he had never seen. Despite her serious composure, she secretly seemed to love the more child-directed entertainments, finding happiness in the simplicity, the innocence and the virtuous love that shined through them. However, that movie in particular that she had apparently seen during her stay at the Plant, had seemed to really snag her, especially the lioness 'Nala'.
"Kitty." Michael whispered, the word, a nickname for Misaki, felt comfortable on his lips despite all the years he gone with out saying it. "Kitty. Nala." He reached inside his pocked and pulled out the necklace chain from which hung the ring he had given her. Holding it out before him, he turned to the baffled Blythe. "Kitty. Nala." He repeated insistently, his brow furrowing. "Kitalla."
Blythe looked surprised at the determination in his eyes. "You may be right, Blythe." He said slowly, gruffly. "She probably is happier now. But though she may have left us, one fact is clear."
"What?"
"We haven't left her."
OOOOOOO
In the EA base with Crueset NPOV
"I have received word, brother."
Kimi-hime's face flickered with static on the screen and her 'brother' grunted in affirmation of her words.
"Go on?"
"The Harmony was destroyed."
Rau Le Creuset smiled slyly. "Well, that is wonderful news."
The equally blonde girl nodded, pausing as she glanced behind herself for watchers. "I must go." She said slowly. "My…other brother," she laughed sarcastically. "Has been keeping a close eye on me- but nevertheless we are near to Orb and the plan has run very smoothly. And yours?"
Rau chuckled, glancing about the room he shared with another ranking officer. "Oh, excellent. She was very easy to convince. Nobody suspects a thing. It will be easy to sway council. You merely have to fulfill your end of the bargain."
Kimi-hime nodded solemnly. "Of course. I want the bastards dead as much as you. Also..." She hesitated before smirking at him, a mocking light in her eyes. "I have met someone whom I sure would be greatly interested in meeting you."
"What?" Creuset's brow furrowed, he hated when Kimi-hime plucked at his strings and played mind games. It drove him crazy. "Stop wasting my time and tell me,"
Kimi-hime's smile spread at having successfully riled her ally. "Mwu La Flagga is alive and well."
"What! You lie!"
"Nope."
Cresuet growled lowly before staring coldly at her. "Take care of him, Kimi-hime. I don't care how you do it, just get RID of Flagga!"
The screen went blank and Rau leaned back in his chair, laughing. "Oh, princess." He drawled, staring idly up at the ceiling. "How easy you are to fool."
He knew what was expected of him, knew what he was made for. But, like a dog that turns on it's master, he had his own plans and he quickly dialed up a number to connect him with a certain ex Chairman. "Zala," he greeted respectfully. "Good news." His eyes glinted darkly. "In fact, excellent."
OOOOOOOOO
A few days later aboard the EA cargo ship NPOV
"Excuse me!"
Miriallia paused outside's the pink-haired girl's cell. "Yes?"
"Where are we going?" Lacus asked, gripping the bars tightly in her pale hands.
Miriallia glanced at the blonde male in the other cell. Dearka was leaning back on his thin mattress with an air of one who was dozing, but she could feel his watchful eyes from across the hall. "I…am not too sure." She said slowly, more uncertain of whether or not she should even say anything. The fleet the ship was apart of fell under the rule of a shrewd man named Mwu La Flagga and word was he had ordered the cargo ship to bring in the captured Coordinators to a base not far from the Desert Tiger's territory.
"Not sure, or you just can't say?" Dearka interjected and Miriallia humped slightly, shooting him an evil look. The blonde had seen fit to pester her silly as she made her routine prison duties every day.
"Does it really matter?"
"Er… well, no not really." He said bashfully, the corner of his mouth twitching slightly and Miraillia rolled her eyes before stomping out.
Silence filled in her wake and Lacus sighed. "I wish I knew what was going on out in the world." Yearning filled her voice as she sat back down on her flimsy cot, nudging absentmindedly at her foodtray. "I feel so…powerless."
"I'm sure everything is fine, milady." Meyrin soothed from the cell next to Lacus's though only Dearka could see the anxiety in her blue eyes. He eyed the pink-haired bodyguard curiously. It was the first time he had heard her speak, she had been so quiet and reserved up until that moment.
Feeling his gaze on hers, Meyrin's flicked to his, a defensive look flashing in her eyes and Dearka grinned amiably and shrugged. Her gaze softened for a moment before she peered back towards Lacus, her brow knitted in worry. "What do we do?" it was a question they all had been wondering but only Meyrin had the courage to voice it.
"I don't know, Mey." Lacus replied, wearily laying back against her cot to stare up at the ceiling. "I just…don't know."
OOOOOO
Octus five NPOV
A trio of incognito pilots stood at the edge of a street, watching a parade make it's way towards the Clyne mansion.
"That…is not Lady Clyne." Shiho Hahnenfuss narrowed her eyes. The silver-haired boy next to her nodded in agreement, both of their postures rigid, their eyes glittering with mistrust and anger.
"What does this mean?" their green-haired friend, Nicol, asked anxiously, watching the pink-haired songstress wave and blow kisses to the crowd as she sat atop of a float. Lady Clyne had never been this exuberant, nor had she ever been this paranoid. On either side of the haro float on which the impersonator sat, guards flocked, eyeing the crowds. Sure the real Lacus always had a guard or two, but not this many and not this heavily armed.
Yzak ran a hand through his hair before responding furiously. "I have sought an audience with this new Chairman but he refuses to listen. He insists that everything is fine!"
"Something isn't right." Nicol said gravely.
"You think?"
"This is no good." Shiho shook her head. "We need more proof."
"And how, oh how, do you expect us to get that, Hahnenfuss?" Yzak rolled his eyes.
"Don't get short with me, Joule." She snapped. "The old fashioned way- we snoop."
"That doesn't sound legal." Nicol said dryly.
"We do it for Dearka!"
Picking up Shiho's thread, Yzak added quickly after. "Dearka died because of these bastards. The least we can do is return the favor." Electricity seemed to sparkle in his blue eyes.
"Ooooor, we could just find the real Lady Lacus and present her." Nicol said softly.
His friends paused, glancing at eachother but before they could confer there was a magnified squeal that resounded and they jumped, spinning about to watch as the Lacus impersonator practically leaped off the pink haro to run up to a limo that had just pulled up.
Athrun Zala stepped out of the limo, his eyes dark and his expression grim, even as he caught the fake Lacus in his arms in a gentle hug.
"Zala's back." Yzak yelped.
"That means he must have completed his mission." Shiho whispered excitedly. Eagerly she raised up onto her toes, craning her head to peer over the crowd in search for a familiar blonde. "Oh…" disappointment flashed through her. "Yamato isn't with him."
"Hn, that's weird." Yzak admitted.
"Does this-" Nicol gestured to the 'reunited lovers'. "Complicate things?"
Yzak shook his head. "No. I'll talk to Zala." His eyes narrowed critically as he examined his on and off friend. "He doesn't look very happy." He couldn't help the small smirk that flitted across his face at this realization. "I wonder what's got his knickers in a twist."
Shiho let out a very un-lady like snort that she tried to pass off as a cough. "Did you just say 'knickers'?" she wheezed.
Yzak flashed her a threatening silver glare but Nicol distracted him quickly.
"Well, I'm not surprised. He returns home to find out his father is impeached and imprisoned for the murder of his fiancé's father." Nicol said mournfully.
"Hn!" Yzak grunted, still watching Athrun. Still…there was something not right about Zala and he just couldn't put his finger on it. "I suppose…that is it…"
OOOOOOOO
ZAFT councilroom
"Athrun Zala."
"Sir." Athrun saluted the council gathered to hear his mission statement, before meeting the newest chairman's eyes.
Dullindul looked pleased as he waved Athrun closer. "You look well." He shifted his papers about, having already planned how to handle the delicate case of Patrick Zala's son. He was confident that Athrun wasn't exactly happy about Gilbert's rise to fame, who could blame him, but he needed Athrun to stay strictly under his thumb.
"I am." Athrun said slowly, not a flicker of emotion crossing his pale face, his green eyes hard and blank. His blue hair was neat and his uniform tidy. Not a thought was betrayed to Dullindal from the perfect little soldier before him.
"You were sent on a mission aboard the Demi-god to hunt down the Harmony."
"Yes."
"Your fellow pilot," he checked a folder next to Athrun's, his yellow eyes skimming it quickly. "Akira Yamato. She was a rookie and put in charge of the Huntress."
"Yes."
"You both were given the duty to find the Harmony and destroy it, along with Princess and Representative Cagalli Yula Attha."
"Yes."
"After some time you caught up with the fleeing ship?"
"Yes."
"How many skirmishes were there?"
"Three."
"The first one?"
"We…Aki…" Athrun paused as if to swallow and Dullindal narrowed his eyes. "Yamato and I only ever fought with the Chaos… the pilot…was exceptional and her gundam was a masterpiece."
"Of course." Dullindal nodded. "It is noted that there is no proof that the Chaos was destroyed along with the Harmony, but we'll get to that."
Athrun said nothing, his expression carefully blank under the study of the council members and the chairman.
"Rookie Pilot Yamato was destroyed along with her unit in the second skirmish, correct?"
"Yes."
"I'm sure you were very angry."
Athrun's fists clenched slightly and Dullindal had to hide a smile. The bluenette refused to respond though and Dullindal continued. "In your report you stated that there was a Blue Cosmos mothership in the region that the pilot the Chaos went aboard. Instead-" his eyebrows raised to emphasize his point. "Instead of attacking the defensless Harmony you decided to follow their pilot."
Athrun didn't say anything.
"You said in your report that you wanted to," Dullindal glanced down at the papers again. "'Investigate' the ship's appearance and the chaos's pilot's manner of sneaking aboard the ship."
"The Chaos's pilot did sneak aboard the mothership. It did occur to me then that the Harmony wasn't allies with Blue Cosmos." Athrun said slowly, almost carefully. "I did follow her aboard."
"And what did you learn?"
"That blue hair stands out." Athrun admitted.
The council hissed in unison at his rudeness but the chairman chuckled, waving them silent. "Now at this time, though you didn't know it, a recall had been sent to the ship stating that you were to return and that the Harmony wasn't to be touched. The Demi-god was to return to Octus five."
"I did not know until I got back." The pilot replied.
"And how did you get back?"
Athrun hesitated before saying truthfully. "The Chaos's pilot helped me."
This got the council's interest as they straightened up, murmuring amongst themselves.
"And you did not try to kill her?" Dullindal asked.
"I did."
"But you failed."
"Yes."
"She was….also the one who helped you escape."
"Yes. It was a dumb, ill-thought plan in the first place. It's due to her that I'm still alive." Athrun said with the barest hint of loathing in his voice.
"You reported that you have reason to believe that she was a Natural?"
Athrun tilted his head slightly, his eyes darkening at the word 'Natural'. "Yes." His voice cold.
"You trusted her, put your life in her hands?"
"Not willingly."
"And when you escaped you didn't try to kill her right away despite what she had done… Killing Pilot Yamato."
Athrun's nails dug into the palms of his hands and he replied back through gritted teeth. "I did not have much of a choice."
"Hnnnn." Dullindal weaved his fingers together, peering at the rigid boy in front of him. "What I am curious to know more about is…what destroyed the Harmony."
"A Blue Cosmos GUNDAM…"
"Last I heard, Naturals were not capable of producing GUNDAMs." Dullindal stated slowly, daring Athrun to disagree.
Athrun met his gaze clearly. "I have no doubt of what I saw, Sir. It was a powerful GUNDAM… with the same make as the Huntress."
This piqued Dullindal's interest and he straightened up. "A copy?"
Athrun shook his head. "Perhaps…but this seemed more like the original, sir."
"And it just destroyed a ship of Harmony's power…just like that?"
"It…" Athrun's brow furrowed and he hesitated, clearly searching for the proper wording to what he was going to say. "It was equipped…with nuclear power of epic proportions." His eyes closed, as if repressing a shiver. "It was…powerful beyond means."
A murmur rippled through the council at that, as they exchanged wide-eyed stares of dismay or skeptism.
"You are certain, Lt. Athrun?"
"Yes Sir. It destroyed the Harmony in one shot."
Dullindal leaned back in his seat, drumming his fingers on the table. "This is not good." He murmured before shaking his head slightly and smiling. "And what is your final take on the relationship between the Harmony and Blue Cosmos."
"They are certainly not friends. Not allies in the slightest."
"And the princess?"
"I would not know- I never saw her once… I believe she was onboard the Harmony when the Blue Cosmos Gundam destroyed it."
"So she is presumed dead."
"Yes Sir."
Appreciative mutters overbalanced any sighs of sorrow in the council and though Dullindal seemed to side with those who were sad at the news of the Orb Princess's death, a smile glinted in his eyes. "That is a shame. All of Plant will share remorse with Orb over the loss of a beloved leader. Though it is good that ZAFT was not involved with her death."
"Yes Sir." Athrun wasn't really feeling any remorse, to be honest. He didn't care for princesses that hid away from their country, their duty and the world for their own safty. No matter how amazing people made Princess Attha out to be, Athrun knew the real truth of dedication, bravery and love having witnessed it first-hand by- Don't go there, Athrun. It was a sham. It was all a sham. She's the sham- and I wouldn't be surprised if that blasted princess was the one who ordered her.
Almost as if Dullindal could read the direction of Athrun's thoughts, the chairman added. "And your fellow pilot's sacrifice will not be forgotten. She will be issued badges of honor and a funeral will be prepared." He scanned his folder again. "Though, it seems she has no living family, nor close contacts…" his golden eyes met Athrun's. "You will be in charge of selecting a small cast to come to her funeral, if that is alright?"
Athrun didn't really have a choice in the matter and bitterly he nodded before remembering that it was rude. "Yes Sir."
"Good." Dullindal looked pleased. "And now for you, our skilled pilot. Well done."
The bitter feeling slid down Athrun's throat to reside in his stomach, making a ghastly hollow feeling.
"Due to the fact that you have another important mission coming up we do not have the time for a proper affair, otherwise I would present this differently." He gestured to a man at the end of the council's table who stood up and walked towards Athrun. "In honor of character, dedication and skills, Athrun Zala. We, the council, ZAFT and all proper militaries now recognize you as a member…of FAITH."
The man who stood by Athrun smiled, handing the shocked Athrun a small winged badge, before shaking his hand in congratulation. The council burst into claps, smiles flickering across their face though the only pleasure they felt was the thought of a soldier tied with puppet strings.
Athrun looked down at the badge in his hand, swallowed tightly. "Sir, if I may be excused."
Confusion flickered in Dullindal's eyes but he nodded and Athrun saluted before turning sharply to leave. Moments later, the blue Coordinator found himself on an empty balcony, surveying Octus five. His hands clenched the cold railing and he could feel the badge digging into his palm. All poise, and calmness he had tried to hold in the council room shattered as the dam of lies he had built within and around came crashing down. Anger and humiliation filled him and he longed to scream out to the heavens in his frustration. "GOSH DAMN IT!" he growled, slamming his fist on the rail, only to get pain in return. His shoulders shook as he struggled to rein in his fury. He hated this. Hated lying to his superiors. Hated finding out that his father was in jail for murder! Hated knowing that his father might be the reason why his fiancé no longer had a father. Hated coming home only to find out he didn't really have a home any more- that his entire life had been turned upside down and everything he once knew was changed. He hated everything and her most of all!
How could she do this? How could she have looked him in the eye all these past weeks, only to pull the rug out from under him when he least expected it.
She had betrayed him when he would have given his life for her. She, a nameless demon with a cold heart.
He had trusted her. And she had used him. Stolen information right from under his nose and made a fool out of him. Out of his feelings, out of everything he had said. He hated her so much and even more so because, though he wished he could loath her with all his heart, he knew he couldn't. For the nameless demoness hadn't only stolen information, she had also stolen his heart and now… he was hollow and empty. All because of her.
Clyne mansion
"Kito-chan, please send a message to Athrun Zala, requesting that he join me in an hour for supper." Meer called to one of Lacus's maids. So far, none of Lacus's old attendants had noticed anything different and even those of the Clyne faction that resided in the mansion hadn't treated her different. So, so far so good.
"Yes , milady." The petite red-haired woman bowed and exited the small parlor where Meer presided.
Once left to her thoughts Meer let out a gusty sigh, stretching out on the divan where she laid with her sleeping haro. "What am I doing, Mr. Pink?" She buried her face in to her arms and whispered. "Who am I?"
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Aboard the Chariot- A Clyne Faction ship, entering Octus five. CPOV
There are few ships in the world that were made to accommodate big gundams- even fewer that were made to house the Chaos. In fact, the only ones were under the Clyne Faction's control.
"What are we doing?" Yuna demanded for the zillionth time. "We're wasting time going here." We were aboard the Chariot, being smuggled into Octus five to visit the pink princess herself.
"I have to report back to milady." Kitalla said, her eagle eyes never leaving the engineers that were restoring the Chaos to it's former glory. She had already reprimanded a few for not doing things the right way. "I have to tell her what has happened and that I am borrowing the Chariot."
"Why?"
She sighed in exasperation. "Though I'm quite positive my Gundam could make it to earth and back in no time at all, I'm not risking flying through ZAFT and EA territory to get to Orb. The Chariot is a neutral ship and we have codes to identify with either military. Please, for the love of logic, use the thing between your ears."
"Hey!"
"Captain Kitalla, please report to the brig, immediately." Called a voice through an intercom and Kitalla's brow crinkled in confusion. She nodded to Yuna and me before exiting the room quickly.
"Gosh. What's up her butt." Yuna huffed, flopping back against the couch.
"Nothing as painful as you, I hope." I muttered back, nearly just as grumpy as Kitalla had been. Yuna, thankfully, didn't hear me and I moved to a window seat, taking up Kitalla's original seat to watch the engineers fix up the Chaos. Without Kitalla's presence to bicker with, I felt lost, and everything I had been keeping at bay swamped me.
Athrun… Athrun, Athrun, Athrun. I had no more tears to cry. My heart was exhausted over feeling guilty, over losing him. I betrayed him, my most trusted friend other then Kira. I betrayed him, I left him, I hurt him and I loved him. The worst part was knowing that I would never see him again, never wake up to see his face, never spar with him again or take those stupid dance lessons again. I would never be wrapped in his arms again, feel his searing green eyes upon me, never…get a chance to tell him how desperately sorry I was.
But…never seeing him again… Just the very thought, realization, sent a chill over me, as if I had jumped into an icy lake.
Was this fate? Dabbling in my life, making me meet him, understand him, love him. Could fate be any crueler? To have taken my heart and twisted it like a worn rag?
Or was it really just my fault? I had known the consequences. I had known the inevitable future and yet, still, I had let us both come…too close. Or maybe that was fate. Fate intervening and shoving us together, not letting either have a choice.
I wish… I wish there was someone else for both of us.
And there was… for Athrun. He had the beautiful, sweet Lacus to return to, to wrap her in his embrace, to kiss and whisper like a secret in her ears. "I love you."
My fists clenched in my lap, and bitterly, I reached up to wipe my nose with the back of my hand. My eyes burned and I wished again and again that I had never met Athrun. For both our sakes, or maybe just my own.
Perhaps I was just being dramatic. Perhaps this was just young love. Perhaps it would go away in due time.
Oh shut up, I told the rational part of my mind that was trying to dismiss the pain. I just wanted to wallow in my sadness. Puppy love or not, I'll never get to find out now.
But I already knew, some innate part of my being, even now, was tied to Athrun. Tied in an unbreakable way. One in which I would never be able to forget, never be able to forget my passion… nor my pain. And I didn't think I wanted to.
OOOOOOOO\
Chariot's brig. NPOV
"What is this?" Kitalla demanded, her eyes wide as she stared at the images that were being shown on the brig monitor. The Chariot had just docked at the Clyne Faction base…but all they saw was carnage.
The crew was silent, staring in horror. They hadn't been in contact with the rest of the Clyne Faction for a few days, but didn't find it unusual. This…
"We need to leave." The Captain said shortly.
"Wait," Kitalla said, her yellow eyes never leaving the screen. "I came here for one reason, and one reason only. I have to check on Lacus."
"Captain Kitalla, surely even you-"
"Captain Hemway, you are just as worried. It will do us both a favor to get to the bottom of this." Kitalla's fists were clenched tightly at her side. "Leave to the outer rim of Octus five. Spread word to all othe Clyne faction ships of what has occurred- tell them to either leave immediately or join us."
"What are you going to do?" Captain Hemway, an older, grand-father like man asked softly.
"What exactly I came here to do. I will meet Lady Lacus, get to the bottom of this. I will rejoin you before the day is over. There are untouched podships that I'm sure will work fine."
"And if…something happens?"
Kitalla's gaze hardened. "Wait two days time, if I'm not back by then, hightail to Orb. The princess's protection is your utmost concern."
A doctor, whose presence had been summoned, broke in at that point. "Captian, you can not possibly allow Kitalla to do this! Her leg is severely injured- those stitches won't hold against any exertion!"
Kitalla glowered at the woman and she blanched. "I am perfectly fine." She hissed the lie smoothly.
The Captain nodded slowly, saluting before adding to his crew. "Very well. Prepare to disembark." He glanced at the younger Captain and added. "Good luck, Captain Kitalla. I will issue some guards to go with you to help sort through what may have been left behind in the base."
She saluted in return before running out of the brig.
O
Clyne-faction ship port.
Kitalla watched numbly as the Chariot pulled out of the underground port and lifted into the sky, light gleaming on it's golden and red hull. She braced herself before turning to look at the scene laid out around her. Her heart clenched within her chest, and anguish and rage battled within.
Carnege. A complete massacre.
Corpses lay strewn about, floating in the dim, flickering lights. Blood drops glittered in the air, sprayed on walls, ceilings and the darkened uniforms of the Clyne Faction members. They were dead, dead, dead!
Unable to keep it within, Kitalla released her pent up fury, clutching at herself as she screamed, her voice echoing and bouncing off the empty, life less corridors and docking ports. The guards jumped, glancing at her in alarm before finally shaking their heads and moving away to being their grim duties. When Kitalla took breath to scream again, she nearly choked on the intoxicating stench of blood and rotting flesh.
"Who did this?" she whispered, staring starkly about, unable to close her eyes. Bullet holes littered the walls, tools and items floated, discarded, in the air. All the fleetships that used to be docked here, in wait for when they would be needed, were gone, leaving behind only the tiny pod ships.
She had known these people, talked, joked, and worked with these people. They were as dear to her as Lacus was.
Lacus! Realization hit her, and with out further ado, Kitalla burst into motion, running towards the nearest exit, brushing past the bodies, keeping her eyes fixed straight ahead. "Please be alright, please be alright!" she whispered as she made her way into the garage where the members would park their vehicles. A few bodies floated in the air here. One woman was shot in her car, her windows riddled with clean little holes.
Spotting a sleek, black motorcycle, Kitalla jumped onto it, started it up and gunned the engine. As if a second voice to her thoughts, the motorcycle thrummed to life and let loose a rumbling growl.
She shot out of the garage, made her way back to civilization in a record time. Her foot never letting up on the pedal as she streaked down the street; her black mane whipping in the wind as she swerved around cars and turns.
Thirty minutes after the Chariot had docked, she made it to the Clyne mansion, screeching to a halt in front of the mansion. At once she noticed the new guards patrolling the gardens around the mansion and bewilderment filled her. What was going on?
Walking up to the front gate (which for the time ever was closed), she cleared her throat to catch the attention boothman who monitored the gate.
"Yes?" He smiled a commercial smile as he peered down at her.
Forcing her self to be calm, and thankful that she was dressed in her non-descript captain uniform, Kitalla said through her teeth. "I am Captain Kitalla. It is of absolute importance that I speak to Lady Lacus!"
The man raised his eyebrow bored and said. "And what's your reason for the visit?"
"that is between me, and milady." Kitalla practically snarled. She didn't have time to be wasting over Lacus's newest paranoia's. "So I suggest you hurry up and. Open. This. Gate."
OO
"Lady Lacus!" a maid ran into the room and Meer jumped, looking guilty about. She had been trying on Lacus's wardrobe, sorting the clothes into things she would keep and things that just simply had to go. "Y-yes?" wondering for not the first time if she was being to polite. Did Lacus boss her servants around or did she treat them like family?
"A Captain Kitalla is here to speak with you and she insists it's of the utmost importance."
Meer's brow crinkled and she chewed on her bottom lip. She didn't doubt that separate sectors of the Clyne Faction might have caught onto something being amiss, and had sent someone to check on things. She longed to say she was busy and couldn't meet, terrified that if she did she would betray something. But she knew her bosses would want her to meet with the Captain and get as much information as possible. "Alright…what room is she in?"
"Your personal office." The maid said slowly. "She knew just how to get there. So she must be close to La-you. I think you might want to consider her family."
Meer tried to stop the tremble of fear that ran down her spine but she nodded in determination. "Alright, I'll go see her now." She smoothed her skirt over once before following the maid to Lac-her office. Who is this Captain? Nobody warned me about her? Is she really a close friend of Lacus's? Is she part of the Faction? What do I say? How warmly do I greet her? What do I do? There, in her private office, just as the maid promised, awaited a black-uniformed woman.
Another chill went through Meer, just at the sight of this woman with a powerful aura. She had jaggedly-cut thick black locks of hair that were windblown back from her face. Her expression was severe, her strange- were those really slits?- cat eyes narrowed at the sight of the songstress. "Lady Lacus?" she asked, backing up a step warily, her eyes sweeping the pink-haired woman before her.
Trying not to feel like prey under the woman's stare, Meer forced a smile and darted forward to hug the slightly taller woman. "Kitalla!" she squealed, hoping she wasn't over doing it. "You're back!"
Kitalla blinked, startled as she stared down at Meer. "I am…" she said slowly as if trying to figure out a difficult math problem. She glanced past Meer at the window that overlooked the garden before saying slowly. "It is good to see you well, Lacus."
"I missed you too, Kitalla." Meer replied, feeling a bit braver. "I trust things didn't get…too dangerous." She hedged her words carefully.
Kitalla's eyes flashed and she smiled, none too warmly. "Of course not. This is me we are talking about."
And who exactly are you? Meer wondered, chewing on her lip. "Are you…back to stay?" Meer asked, trying to keep the wavering note from showing in her voice. Remember Meer, you have guards just outside's the door that are here to protect you.
Kitalla hesitated, cocking her head. "I'm afraid not. Duty calls."
"Oh…I see."
"Hmm…" Kitalla seemed to relax, the hard lines of her face softening as she smiled friendlily. "And Kira? How is she doing?"
Kira? Who is Kira? A close friend of ours, perhaps? "Oh, she's doing fine. It's a shame you didn't come earlier, she was here but now she's in town."
"Oh... I see…." Kitalla's gaze darkened. "I don't suppose she liked those dresses we picked out for her? They were expensive after all."
"Oh she lo-oved… them." Meer's words faltered as she saw Kitalla's face grow murderous.
Before she could even draw breath to scream, the woman was across the room, her hands around Meer's throat. "Who are you? Bitch!" she snarled, her eyes flaring and her pupils thinning.
What had she said? How had she given herself away? Unless…the woman had tricked her? Maybe there was no Kira! Meer squeaked in alarm, clawing at the powerful hands that cut off her air, her eyes wide with panic. "Ki-Kitalla!" she rasped. "La-cus!"
The woman shook her like a rag doll and Meer heard her heart slow down with every breath she didn't get to breathe. "Where is the real Lacus? Answer me!"
Tears trickled down Meer's cheeks and she desperately shook her head, relieved when the woman eased up no her throat enough to drag a hint of air into her lungs. "Hel-" she started to scream only to hack as the woman's hands tightened once more.
I'm going to die! Meer thought, crying, but luck was on her side as a maid stepped into the room announcing.
"Lady Lacus- your fia-" the woman paused, realizing the scene before her and screamed.
"Shit!" Kitalla released Meer who collapsed to the ground, feeling the woman's loathing gaze. The nearby stationed guards burst into the room but by then Kitalla had regained her bearing. It was a stand off- the five Coordinators with their guns leveled at the black-haired woman who'se arm was wrapped snugly around Meer's neck, using the younger woman as a shield.
"Back off or my finger might slip!" Kitalla snarled, pressing the gun tip against Meer's head with her free hand. No mercy showed in her eyes.
"Release her or we will shoot." Warned one Coordinators who was trying to inch around her. Kitalla didn't doubt for a moment their ability to aim, so she maneuvered backwards until her back was pressed against a thin door- the maids door that led to the kitchens. She would have to escape to the kitchens and then across the gardens from there.
Her gun-hand fumbled for the door knob and sweat crept slickly down her skin as Kitalla didn't not break gazes with the guards. What felt like an hour later she felt the door open and she threw her dead weight- aka Meer- at the guards who fumbled with their faux princess, giving Kitalla a heartbeat's worth of time to shoot through the door. SHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIT! Kitalla's mental thought shrieked as her heart began a marathon in her chest and her injured thigh ached in agony as she forced herself to bolt, dodging workers and hopping over laundry baskets, cleaning equipment. Stars twinkled in her eyes with every burst of pain that went through her leg and her run was weakening to a hobble as she stumbled, one hand pressing against the wall of the thin corridor that led to the kitchen.
The guards burst into the hall behind her, pushing and shoving as they tried to chase her all at once, screaming at eachother.
The wooden door up ahead signaled the kitchen and with burst of speed, Kitalla threw herself bodily against it, breaking the thing catch in the door knob and crashing through the maid who stood, terrified on the otherside. The soup dish she had been balancing on a tray splashed it's boiling contents against Kitalla's chest and she bit back a guttural shriek as it soaked her clothes and burned her skin. "For the love of-" she hissed through gritted teeth, grabbing a butcher's knife from a maid's hand and whirling it about to throw it at the closest guard. With a solid, accurate thunk, it landed in the center of his forehead, a trickle of blood running down as he slumped back against the wall with a groan, eyes rolling up in his head. That didn't even phase the others though a few young maids squealed and fainted.
Swallowing, Kitalla dropped to the ground as bullets whizzed over head- piercing two servers who collapsed to the ground. Dishes shattered and maids screamed, terrified as they scattered. Amidst the chaos Kitalla spotted her chance and darting to the open door, shoving past the manservant who was shaking out a table cloth. She hightailed it out of the building, limping out into the gardens followed by the guards who were shouting at eachother to catch her. The sun half blinded Kitalla as she strained to make out a path- to the right of her was Lacus's personal gardens where clouds of haros frolicked through the roses. To her left was a massive hedge maze. Perfect.
Having spent days chasing Lacus, years ago when both were much younger, through the twisted, looming bushes she knew the routes like the back of her hand. Sending a mental prayer of thanks that the hedges hadn't been cut down along with the Lacus's old tree house, Kitalla gratefully scampered into their coverage, the guards close on her heels.
Sprinting through the closely-packed hedges, the branches scratching along her arms and whipping her face as she took every turn imaginable as she tried to lose her tail. Right, left, straight, turn! If she could just get to the center of the maze, there at least she could stop for a minute. The sounds of her pursuers were fading till all she could hear were leaves rustling, birds singing and the distant shouts as the guards split up only to find dead end after dead end after dead end.
The center of the maze, a small circle with only two entrances to it, was next to impossible to find- harder then the exit to the maze. There she could catch her breath and do something about the warm pulse of blood that was breaking through her stitches on her aching leg and dampening her black pants. Right, right, right, u-turn, straight, please be here. Before her the parallel hedges grew farther apart and a bubble of hope filled her as she hopped forward those last couple steps, surging into a small, round clearing. "Oh thank God," she hissed in relief, stumbling towards the small cement bench that sat next to a tiny pond. There she collapsed on the edge of the koi pool, throwing her injured leg into the cool waters, causing the koi to scatter. Her eyes fluttered in bliss as the rocking waters numbed the hurt slightly. It was awkward to lay back against the thick grass with one leg dangling in the water, but she did so gladly, allowing herself a moment to catch her breath. Closing her eyes she could almost block out the pain, the panic, the fear and anger coursing through her. She could almost ignore the angry throbs of pain, the calls of the guards and the world she lived in. It could have been just another day spent with lady Lacus, relaxing by the pond as they exchanged trivial news and listened to the words that were never said, the tears that were never shed. Here was a sanctuary, a safe heaven, a place where time froze for a heartbeat and promised safety from all that one feared. Where is Lacus? Where is my little sister?
"Did you find her?" called a man's voice near by and Kitalla's thoughts were shattered. They were getting closer.
Bolting up right, she got to work. Grabbing a knife from her left dry boot, she carefully cut off her left sleeve. Tightly she bound the tube of black fabric around her leg, wincing as she tied it. Once it was secure, she hopped to her feet, testing her weight on it. "Hopefully that will hold." She muttered before turning towards the second entrance and-
She froze. The color sucked from her skin. Her hand twitched to the gun she had stupidly put in it's holster at her belt. She would never have enough time to grab it and level it at him.
"Fancy meeting you here." She said, her tone flat, her tired, aching muscles trembling.
"I could say the same to you." His voice was cold, hate burning in it.
"I forgot you used to play in these gardens with Lacus." She admitted offhandedly, straightening her proud figure.
He twitched slightly at her casual reference to his childhood. "What are you doing here?"
"Obviously running away. It's not going very well, no thanks to you and this bum leg." She grimaced as the pain spiraled.
His hold on the gun tightened. "You tried to kill Lacus."
Kitalla's eyes narrowed to slits and she spat. "That whore isn't Lacus!" her voice a snarl. "Lacus is gone!" Her heart fluttered again- Lacus, where is Lacus? "I don't know where she is!" she was close to losing her calm facade now. "It's my duty to protect her but I can't find her, I-" she shook her head, clamping her jaws shut to end her useless blabber. Think, Kitalla, he hasn't shot you yet which must count for something.
"Is She with you?" he demanded. "And don't bother reaching for your gun again," he adds, noticing her hand inching towards her hip.
Kitalla pursed her lips, biting back a scowl. "No."
The guards are getting closer.
He hesitates, his finger trembling over the trigger as if he's battling the temptation to pull it. "I want answers." He said aloud at last, eyes narrowing. "So you're coming with me."
"How about we schedule a rain check on that, eh?"
"I'm afraid you don't have a choice." And when Athrun Zala said it, he meant it.
OOOOOOOOOO
So…*cough*…what y'all think? Sucked? Confusing? Completely bewildering cause you can't remember what happened in the past since it's been so long?
*bows* I. Am. So. Ridiculously. Sorry.
I vow to you now to never EVER let it go that long again. And, I promise to work extra hard to try and get another chapter up by the end of two weeks.
Summer is coming and I am going to be applying for jobs, working, doing college classes and highschool classes. I will be VERY busy. But I will not go with out updating like this again. Instead I will, for faster updates, make shorter chapters.
I hope y'all understand, and I am truly, truly sorry. Hopefully there's still readers out there, willing to read this terrible fodder I wrote.
Thanks so much for reading, and if it isn't too much trouble, leave me a review letting me know if my readers exist.
Happy Readings!
Azetta
My replies to my beloved reviewers who make my heart leap and give me a reason to smile even when I'm sad- you guys rock my world and deserve the very best of everything! :
Also, a quickie poll for you guys, if you're interested?
I wouldn't mind setting up a weekly blog on my fanfiction profile, or a tumblr/livejournal/whatever where I can put up update dates, how chapters are going, what's going on in my life, why things haven't been updated yet, so on and so forth. If any of you are interested and would like to have something to refer to should time ever pass with out word from me, let me know :)
Sake-hime: You've been here since the beginning and I can only express heartfelt thanks for sticking with so long :) I can't apologize enough for not updating as soon like you requested. I hope this chapter was satisfying and that you can find a way to forgive me ?
Cagalli-fan: oh gosh, your reviews never fail to make me burst out laughing at the sheer randomness! Your obsession with fluffy moments and seeming belief that as long as there is fluff, the world can never end really amuses me, I must admit. Thanks so much for it, it tells me I'm doing at least SOMETHING right lol :D :P I feel bad for Michael. I don't really feel bad for Kitalla cause' (since all my characters are very real to me) I feel like, if she existed, she would punt me for pitying her Lol. RE: that hot pink dobak? Yeah…it wasn't hot pink THEY LIED. It was a breast cancer awareness dobak (very cool!), the only problem is that it makes me look like someone cocooned me in bubble gum….
ESP- bahahahhahaha, I can't remember for the life of me where the M&M nickname for Misaki/Kitalla and Michael came from… You made that up right? Well, so it will stay and I will refer to the pairsome as M&M forever and ever :D And I'm not kidding, you made me practically fall out the chair with happiness over your comments about Kitalla and Michael! Like I've said before, I'm very nervous about introducing OCs because I know readers come to read fanfictions about the characters they love and that bringing in new ones can get annoying. I'm so glad though that the M&M pair have some how managed to worm their way into the readers' hearts. If ever you're interested, I can shoot you the entire short story (pshh, long story) of Misaki's past? Though, don't feel as if you have to say yes and read it XD, there was a very good reason why I took it down from fanfiction. And as to whether or not they will end up together? Have hope, grasshopper, don't give up just yet ;) And…um…heh…heheh…you did catch that the ANs for both Blame the Dog and Tangled Fates were the same *sheepish smile*, I was kinda lazy and just uploaded the same for both…now I feel bad… And you should check out her/his sequel to "the Island", their very good :)
RikuDai : teehee, thanks ! :D yup, "The Isle" is an asucaga fic. It was written by Puzzlepuzzle and is by far one of the best on this site. Warning: It is rated mature for a good reason -.- Because I'm a goody-two-shoes at heart, I did find myself skipping over a couple scenes (ahhhh don't make fun of me D: lol) but I highly suggest it to you :)
372259: awwwwww, thank you :) though, I think I failed to make the point where Athrun finds out who Cagalli is as exciting as it deserved. :( And what happened was I wrote half of this chapter, developed a massive mind block- griped and groaned for days on end;. Sulked in misery that I couldn't update. Dedicated myself to my creative writing class (passed with flying colors :D ) then after class ended sat down at my desk, smacked myself across the face and told myself that I was either going to finish this or kiss it good bye now. That got me moving lol. And my computer issues weren't really resolved but I am using other peoples computers now to do downloading, thx
Puppyboink: Well, it wasn't soon but I hope it's worth it :)
IvIoogle: Okay, you need to stop making me blush, hahahah, your reviews are absolutely sweet- and I totally don't deserve that unwavering love. Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou for keeping me motivated through all these mindblocks and moments of self doubt. I truly owe you for your lovely reviews that really made me melt into a puddle of 'awws'.
Apparentdaydreamer: hahahhaha, the writer 'Puzzlepuzzle', I believe to be one of the most amazing writers that has graced Gundam Seed. Though, I'll admit, I did skip over certain scenes (lol, I am kind of a goody-two-shoes at heart *scratches head sheepishly*) I fell in love with the writer's amazing way of crafting a magnificent story. I hope one day they will grace us with their writing prowess again. As you know I have continued my other two fanfictions while Tangled Fates has idled. *laughs* That's mainly because I find them easier, less complex and mind confuzzling to write. I don't get mind blocks with them nearly as much as I do with Tangled Fates.
Fate Camiswhil- hahahhaha, it does kinda feel like you climbed Mount Everest huh ? ;P Rau is working with Patrick Zala, yup :D And now that you say it, I feel it was kinda obvious that I had set up the Harmony to be blasted to smithereens in the end -.- wow… does that make me a sadist deep down? I think I may need therapy. WHOO! My 'mysterious' plot is even eluding the clever Fate Camiswhil- …I feel cool ^^ :3 and as to your reply about my brother getting attacked- It is a real shame the sorrows that go on in this world. And it's not just with older people, but with little kids. Little kids are beating eachother up and bullying. My little brother came home all bruised with blood on his shirt and told me that his 'friends' had punched him in the jaw. He's only twelve, and he's really sensitive. I, of course, being the protective sister that I am, stomped down the block, down into their yard where a group of fifteen kids were horsing around. They all straightened up at the sight of me and one of them went "Oh shit, it's his sister! We're screwed!". Hahahaha, and then I just told them that they had to play nicer and that hitting someone whether playing or not wasn't right and they looked so relieved when I left. Still, it's a real shame the sorrows of this world.