Tangled Fates Chapter 20:An Understanding, a gundam seed fanfic

Sweet Lord, how I have missed writing Tangled Fates D:

I….am…so…sorry…

But I am back, and fully rejuvenated with Tangled Fates. My muse has returned and has agreed to get this story done. And it's about time- from here on, the story is now on it's last two legs of the journey. I'm sure it will fly a lot faster now. Also a lot of secrets get revealed – but not all of them.

Also, I must warn you, there is a scene that borders on rape between two characters- it's very clean and no where near "M' rated, but I did want to warn you so you don't go "what the-" hahaha

And the grammar and spelling is eh-I didn't spend much time editing cuz I wanted to get it out there for you guys to read :D

So please read and review!

Replies to my darling reviewers are at the end of the chapter! Followed by a jabber bomb if anyone is interested to know whats going on in the life of moi, ahhaha. Oh and my current reading/tv list is also there for anyone who wants a suggestion or to discuss something :)

Well anyway, stop reading this and go to this chapter- you all deserve it! :D

*disclaimer, I do not own Gundam Seed. But I do own an apple seed and no you may not have it :)

Previously, on Tangled Fates: After escaping the Blue Cosmos ship with Cagalli, Kitalla's ship and crew were destroyed by the Azrael's. Cagalli separates from Athrun, revealing that she was a spy and a Natural from Orb. She departs with Kitalla.

Athrun returns to Plants, where he meets Lacus- who is really Meer since Lacus was captured by the EA. There he runs in with Kitalla who doubled back to retrieve Lacus who isn't there. He captures her.

OOOO

NPOV with Kitalla and Athrun at the Zala mansion.

"A drink?"

Kitalla glared suspiciously at the glass that was held out to her, filled with dark-wine that's heady smell filled the room. "Hmph! If you're going to poison me- why not just do it with tap water."

With out breaking eye contact, the blue-haired male lifted the cup to his lips and drank. A moment later he lowered it, offering it once more to her.

"You are a Coordinator." Kitalla stated slowly, unimpressed. "Immune to most poisons… However," she accepted the wine glass with both hands- as they were hand cuffed together- and raised it to him in a 'cheers' motion. "If you wanted me dead, you would have killed me already."

Athrun smiled thinly in response, watching as the older woman sipped the wine.

"Coordinator wine." She screwed up her face in distaste.

"You don't like it?"

"It's quite excellent, but so much alcohol." She scowled at the liquid as Athrun poured himself a glass and took a seat across from her at his private bar. Coordinator drinks always contained a higher alcohol percentage then Naturals' drinks- because the Coordinators had a great deal higher tolerance for the influence. "Though that might just be what I need." She muttered under her breath.

"I would offer you other but I don't drink Natural wine." Athrun shrugged.

Kitalla ignored him, turning her head away to study the room she was in. The dim ceiling lights glinted through the colored glasses that adorned the walls and cast shadows over the small bar with its few pool tables. "It must be nice to have a private bar in one's basement. One of the perks of being the chairman's son I presume?"

Green eyes glittered darkly in the dim light. "If you're looking for an escape I assure you, you wouldn't make it out of your chair." The glint of a gun reflected off his glass and Kitalla warily watched the pale hand that rested on his lap. "And I wouldn't know. I don't use this bar very often other then for parties I'm forced to host." For a moment his green eyes drifted around the room, hearing the memories of laughter echo across . "And as for the perks of being the chairman's son, I wouldn't know as my father is no longer chairman."

Kitalla's gaze snapped upwards. "Excuse me? Your father isn't chairman any more?"

"No."

"That's… interesting. I wasn't aware the elections were up."

"They weren't."

Kitalla knew that. "Then-?" she prompted.

"He was convicted of the murder of Lacus's father and relieved of his duties."

At the mention of Lacus, Kitalla became rigid, her brow furrowing as she focused intently on her captor. "What?" she demanded lowly, wishing she was on her feet rather then forced to sit on a bar stool- her ankles cuffed to the single leg of the seat. "When? Who took his place?"

"Not long ago. Gilbert Dullindul succeeded him." Athrun Zala hesitated before adding. "With Lacus's support."

Her eyes darkened as she glared at the glass she cradled in her hands. "That…thing!" She muttered. The skin around her knuckles stretched taut as she clenched the glass.

"Please don't break that." Athrun, eyebrows raising as he studied her.

"Hm!" Kitalla lifted the glass, taking a heady draught of the liquid.

"And please do not speak of Lacus in that manner in my presence." His voice dark.

"I am not," Kitalla stated haughtily before taking another sip, her gaze not breaking from Athrun.

"More?" Athrun offered coolly.

"Please."

For a moment there was nothing but the tinkling sound of liquid as it was poured into their glasses.

"Quite excellent. And such a pleasant buzz…" Kitalla added softly, swishing her drink. She placed her drink down. "What do you want of me, Lieutenant Zala?" She sounded tired, weary and vulnerable. But there was nothing vulnerable about her.

Once again, Athrun found himself studying her as she sat straight and proud in her seat, far from comfortable or happy as she moodily stared into the depths of her glass.

It wasn't attraction that made his eyes linger on her, for truthfully there was something psychologically off with her, though he couldn't put his finger on what it might be. But then there's something wrong mentally with anyone who has killed.

Especially those who know little else then war and whose hands are caked thick with the blood of many.

Her pale hands, laced with scars and thick with calluses. How thick is the blood on yours? He wondered.

It was strict rule in all militaries that the soldiers were never to fraternize with the enemy. Whether for lust, love, secrets, money or simple friendship.

For the moment your faceless enemy turns into an average human being is the moment doubt creeps into your heart. And once it there, it will remain, cracks that run through your conviction like that of a breaking glass.

First Akira and now this woman.

What once was the faceless murderer of one he once loved (perhaps still loved? ) was now a Natural woman with a fierce smile, a confident nature and ancient yellow eyes. A thief, an enemy, a target still, but now human.

Athrun steeled his resolve.

Unbeknownst to the boy, the woman also was studying him in return. The betrothed of Lacus, the lover of Cagalli… The son of Patrick Zala… The blood knight in battle… The little boy who once gifted me with a flower now all grown up.

"Answers."

"Hm?" Kitalla blinked. She glanced down on at her drink and wrinkled her nose slightly. It's effecting me faster then I thought it would, but I haven't drank in so long… Which might be part of it- regardless, out of all the ways I pictured my death, this is possibly the most pleasant.

"I want answers."

She stared at him in shock before bursting in laughter. "My dear boy, you surely can't think I will simply tell you anything you want to know at mere request."

Athrun shrugged. "I don't like torture."

"Mm. Too messy."

"I don't like threats."

"Too much work, and most of the time they are just empty." A shrug accompanied this amused remark.

"However,"

"However," Kitalla repeated, watching as he reached under neath the bar and pulled out a small rectangle package.

"I like games."

"Ah." Realization dawned as the deck of cards in his hands came into light and he started shuffling.

He smiled coldly. "I want answers and you will tell me them."

"Will I now?"

"Yes," Athrun said carefully. "See we both will be gambling."

Kitalla leaned forward, eyes narrowing. "Secrets?" she hissed.

Athrun shivered, leaning back slightly at her advance. "No. Drinks."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Back aboard the chariot. CPOV Mid-day

I stood on tiptoe, peering over the numerous heads of the crowd in front of me as we waited for the tiny vessal's door to open and release. Anxiousness filled me as I bounced impatiently on my toes. What was taking her so long?

At last the door slid open with a hiss and for a moment, the proud figure of a black haired woman stood in it, surveying the people gathered with a haughty contempt.

Relief burst within in me like water breaking through a dam. She was fine. She was alright. She was –

Without warning, Kitalla pitched forward, landing face first on the ground with a solid thunk. A few girls screamed and people burst into a struggling throng, each trying to get closer to the ship.

"What's happening?" I cried, my voice echoing in the docking system of the Chariot, though it still went unheard in the pandemonium Kitalla's fall had caused. "What's wrong?"

The crowd parted as two medical staff hurried to Kitalla's unmoving figure, a stretcher in tow. "What's wrong?" I cried again as they lifted the limp woman onto the stretcher. Nobody answered me and with a huff I began kicking shins and shoving brutishly as I made my way to Kitalla's side.

"Kitalla!" I gasped at her side. She was so still. So…

"Ass...hole." I gaped, unsurd I had heard the mumble- Kitalla's eyes were still fastened shut on her pale face, though her lips were slightly parted. I noticed a slight grimace wrinkling her nose.

"Who?" I yelped.I kept pace as the doctors rushed to the medical bay, my hand placed on the stretcher's edge, not close enough to touch Kitalla. "Who Kitalla?"

"Athrun…Zala." She muttered back with a groan.

For a moment I stumbled, my heart feeling like a throbbing rock within my chest. I didn't know what to say.

To the doctors concerned gazes I said. "I think she's delirious. Maybe she was poisoned- Kitalla were you poisoned?"

One cat-eye half-opened and stared at me, obviously miffed. "Heeeell no." Her eyes shot open all the way and in a flash Kitalla had swung her feet over the edge of the stretcher, causing the doctors to stumble, and leapt on to the floor, tottering to a stand. Leaning heavily against the wall she glared at me, eyes open. I noticed a red rim around her eyes.

Had she been crying? No…wait.

"Listen, you." She waved a finger a little to the left of my face before hiccupping. Loudly.

That moment I saw two things I thought I would never see. Kitalla hiccupping. And Kitalla mortified. She covered her mouth with self-horror only to hiccup again.

But I was wrong, that was not as surprising as what happened next.

"I'm dying!" she wailed in a very unlike Kitalla matter.

Flabbergasted, I glanced at the doctors, but they were just as flummoxed as I was.

"Kitalla?" I began tentatively.

The Captain, the solid, steady Captain sank very unsolidly, and unsteadily to the ground where she quivered like jello or a tree dancing in a hurricane. "Terrible –hic!-…terrible terrible terrible- hic!- what do I do?. Something's wrong- hic!-." Pitifully her eyes strained to focus on my though clearly, by the glazed look, she was somewhere else, another world, another time. "Ohhhh, my head hurts." Like a child she pressed her palms to her forehead, swaying like a possessed soul. A half giggle-half sob burst from her. "Hic!- It's all wrong… bad,bad, bad Misaki! –Hic!- Useless, pathetic, bad!" her knees came up to her chest as she shook her head wildly. "-Hic!- Lacus… Where's Lacus?"

Lacus?

Siezing the moment I darted down to one knee, trying to catch Kitalla's eye. "Kitalla," I said urgently.

The Captain didn't respond as she hiccupped, moaning as she swayed.

"Kitalla! … Misaki." I tried again.

Her head snapped up and round cat eyes stared at me, the pupils mere specks of black in the vibrant topaz pools. "Michael." She stated clearly.

Who?

"Er, Yeah."

"Michael. Blythe. Renee." Kitalla stated carefully ending with an abrupt Hic!

Exchanged baffled looks I said slowly. "Who are they?"

"They are my friends!" she beamed and I felt sickened. Kitalla…just didn't look like Kitalla with that wide smile on her face.

"Did they do this to you? Where are they?" I said carefully.

"They are…" Kitalla paused, her brow furrowing and her shining eyes dimming. "They are…" her hands massaged her forehead as if she was trying to knead the very answer from her skull. "They are…"she looked nervous. "Gone…gone…they're gone. Gone!"

Alarmed I caught her, holding her still by the shoulders. "What do you mean?" I demanded. "Damn it, make some sense!"

"I don't know!" Kitalla cried. "I had to go! I'm sorry Michael! I had to! I had to!" for a moment, as she bowed her head, I thought she had subsided into sobs as her shoulders trembled in my grasp. But once again she proved me wrong, her head raising again. Black hair fell over half her face, cutting off one eye, the other narrowed and dark. "I have to kill him don't I?"

"What?"

"Kill him. Kill Michael." Miserable she added. "He won't leave me. He's always in my head. I want him out!" pressing her face to her knees, her hair falling like a black curtain, concealing the thoughts on her face she whispers. "I want him." Her body slumps and she fell still, her breathing soft and slow.

For a few stunned minutes we sat there watching her, the two doctors and I. It was a bizarre sight that took stage outside's the medical bay as we waited for her to stir. At last one doctor, the younger one made a whistling sound as he twirled circles with one finger. I glared at him. "She's not crazy!" I defended her, though the idea had danced through my mind numerous times.

"Hn. Perhaps." The older doctor said, eyeing Kitalla with distaste.

I bit my lip. "She isn't! She's fine! She's just… a little…stressed."

"Very observant. I'm merely drunk!" Our heads whipped around to stare at Kitalla who's head had risen again, her expression pained.

"You're drunk?!" We cried in unison to her statement. Within I felt a crashing relief. Already Kitalla had seemed to wake up from her strange trance, her expression irate and cold.

She grimaced and shrugged. "And it's all that damn Athrun's fault!"

OOOOOOOOOOO

Back in Plant.

"Athruuuun." Came the squeal and Athrun hit the ground as the slim, pink haired girl tackled him.

"Oof!" Athrun held his head with one hand, feeling it throb and he tried not to feel irritable. "Lacus what are you doing here?"

The girl atop him cocked her head. "What do you mean? We scheduled to have dinner tonight!" her blue eyes, big and round became teary. "You forgot?"

"Um," Athrun said, trying to avert his gaze as her low cut top dipped even lower, bestowing a revealing sight. Did she always dress so… wantonly? Or is it because what Akira's Captain said might be true? "No, I didn't." In truth he had. Damn!

Lacus bit her bottom lip, for amoment looking uncertain, then her smile returned and she straightened up. "Ohhh, the place looks really nice." She said admiringly, spinning about the foyer of the Zala mansion, the marble floor glistening and all the surfaces waxed and gleaming.

Rubbing his bottom with one hand and massaging his temples with the other, Athrun also stood. "Thank you."

She glanced at him. "Are you alright?"

Considering I was just your human cushion… No. But it was more then that, he had drank more then he thought earlier that morning, and now it was coming down hard. But is it just me or does she resemble someone else I know? The thought nudged at his mind, and Athrun cursed his unsteady, half-drunk state, unable to retrieve the information his brain so desperately wanted.

"You look awful." Lacus said, looking some how crestfallen.

"Thanks." Athrun replied dryly. He turned and determinedly walked out of the foyer down one of the many intersecting halls of the mansion, pausing at a decorative mirror to check his reflection. Lacus scuddling after him.

"Ugh." Athrun admitted, wincing in disgust. His hair was sticking out at all ends, and his uniform from the previous day that he had slept in was a mess. Not to mention his breath probably stunk of drink.

"Bad hair day?" Lacus timidly piped up from behind his right elbow.

He glanced at her with a heated glare as if to say "Could you please do me a favor and shut up?" but Meer (for as the author reminds, that is who this girl is) mistook it for an affectionate, perhaps passionate look and only stepped closer to close the distance. Her arm hooked through his and she snuggled up close, trying to ignore the unpleasant scents wafting off him. He wasn't at all like this the other day. She mourned, missing the debonair Athrun.

"Lacus," Athrun began, shifting his encaptured arm uncomfortably.

"Yes?"

"Um, here."

He led her into one of the many rooms, bringing her to sit on a sofa, preparing to tell her that he needed her to go home to leave him in privacy.

But before he could say a word, the very mislead Lacus jumped him.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Chariot. NPOV

"A bucket. All I want… is a friggen bucket. " Kitalla barked and the two nurses attending to her sprains and hurts quailed. "Yeeesh!" she flopped back on to the mattress grumbling. "A drunk woman can't friggen puke around here!"

"Captain, we are going to get you one right now." Soothed a nurse. "Then you may expel to your hearts content."

Kitalla stared at the ginger. "Cause who pukes to their 'heart's content'?" she muttered before turning over onto her side and trying to ignore the pounding in her head. "Damn Coordinator."

And damn their alchohal too!

They were three hours into their game, and while one was merely buzzed, the other was starting to get quite intoxicated.

"You're a damn cheat, Coordinator." Kitalla growled, watching as he shuffled about his cards.

"Oh?"

"Don't 'oh' me, cheerio-boy. You know full well, I'll be drunk a loooot sooner then you'll be!"

"I let you live."

"For now. We both know that I probably won't live long from this point on."

"Well, now that the cats out of the bag, how would you like to die?" Athrun asked dryly.

"Hmmm," Kitalla leaned back slightly, her gaze drifting to the ceiling. "As pleasant as this feeling of forgetting everything that alcohol brings, I think something really painful."

Startled, Athrun nearly dropped a card as he went to put it down. "Excuse me, did you say painful?"

She glared blearily at him. "Yes, I said painful." She snapped. "Do you think I'm drunk so soon?!"

Yes. Athrun thought, watching as the woman swayed on her stool, nearly tipping back a few times.

"Alright, since I will be more then happy to oblidge, I must ask why?"

She looked down her nose at him. "I'm not telling you why-" She crossed her ankles with all the dignity of a princess. "I am Captain Kitalla, third in Command of the Peace Organization, Fleet leader for the First Lady, Captain of the grand Harmony and designer and pilot of the Chaos."

"You left out the part where you're a cheap drunk."

Kitalla scowled at her captor. She opened her mouth to retort, only to pause and then shrug. "Nobody's perfect." She cracked half a grin. "And I wasn't done." She coughed. "I am also the maker of the Alpha, the inspiration for The Huntress, and her brothers."

"So you did work for Blue Cosmos at one point." Athrun noted. "You don't look like a Natural."

She shrugged. "Product of a bad Coordinator birth. And I was an engineer for them on the ship, working for the Azraels."

Athrun's hand tightened around his glass, his green eyes narrowing the slits. "You certainly are being free about this."

Kitalla grimaced. "There's a lot of shit about to break free, and whether we're on the same side or not of the shit fence, you're still going to play an important part."

"What makes you say that. I'm not your pawn!"

She eyed him. "You will. Whether you want to or not, you will."

Athrun shifted uncomfortable at the force of her conviction, feeling irritated at being thrown about. "I don't want any part of whatever's going on with your people and…Akira!" He spat the name and Kitalla raised her eyebrows.

She frowned. "Stop being an ass, Zala, she has a duty just as much as you do." She sighed while Athrun seethed. "Anyway, listen, boy, I'm trying to tell you something."

Athruns' hands clenched into fists.

"Now where was I?" She thought. "Oh yes, I'm not sure what Blue Cosmos is up to exactly, but they are up to something."

"Thank you, that's so illuminating."

"Quiet!" she hissed. "As I was saying, I'm trying to find Lacus-" she glanced at Athrun. "The real Lacus- before the shit pie that Blue Cosmos is cooking hits the fan- cuz when it does, everyone is going to be hit with shit."

"And why are you telling me this unhelpful vague information."

"I'm telling you so that you may prepare yourself. So that when the time comes and you get the chance to pick a side…" she leaned close. "You'll pick the right side." Her head tilted back and she drained her glass.

Athrun breathed steadily, watching her. "And how will I know which is the right side."

She stretched forward as far as she could go, and placed her hands on his chest. Despite the obvious drunkenness of her state, her gaze remained steady, certain. "You will know." She rasped, before trying to sit up only, to topple of her seat and land on the hard ground with a gasp.

Eyes widening, Athrun stood from his seat, gazing down at the chained woman, who lay half-curled on her side, her eyes closed, her chest rising and falling.

She was asleep.

Athrun gaped then shook his head. He picked up his drink and drained it as well before setting about cleaning up, the bar to look like nothing had been touched. He took his time, not because he was so focused on cleaning but because he wasn't, his muddled mind racing with the information he had gained. Or the lack of information.

It's really no surprise, we always knew Blue Cosmos would be up to something- but what does she mean about knowing what side to be on? She can't mean her side because there's no way I would go to her side. She knows that. He looked back at the woman. "Damn," he muttered. "You're getting in my head now too. How am I going to kill you now that I know you…" Swallowing, he reached for his gun that lay on the bar, armed. Walking towards the wounded, drunk and asleep Captain, Athrun leveled the pistol, trying to tell himself that this was what he wanted. That this was the right thing to do. "The least I can offer, is drink and sleep," he murmured. "Release the troubles of this world that burden you, and rise to the judgment of the God of men."

The woman moaned at the sound of his voice, coming to.

She lay on the floor, exhausted and drunk, her ankles still chained to the bar stool. It took her a few minutes to get her bearing.

Athrun a little less wasted though as he had enough stability to stand up and withdraw his gun, stood over her, aiming at her head. "Any last words?" he asked the barely conscience woman. Pull the damn trigger, Zala! He thought to himself.

The woman, laying as splayed as a chained drunk woman can- blinked blearily. "Give me a quick death and you will only be doing me a favor. Give me life and I will live on in hell."

Athrun paused, his finger quivering over the trigger. "What?"

"Hic-! If any was more deserving for punishment it is I." She seemed to be directing her words more to herself, her eyes glazed and unseeing. "I who created a weapon of mass murder. I who betrayed my first family, my first friend, my first love. I who watched my ship be destroyed along with all the faithful ones within. I… failed them and it's about time I be condemned."

"Then you'll have no problem with me ending you then."

Her yellow eyes focused on him and her voice was quiet though wobbly. "I do though. Because while I have failed many, there are still others I must continue to do my duty for." She sighed. "There was one person… one I didn't fail." She smiled sadly. "You know her, Athrun. Your darling, precious Akira."

Athrun swallowed tightly, his hand now trembling as he clutched his weapon. "What do you mean?"

"I saved her." She sounded faintly proud. "Not sure why, but I did. Once from you, from herself…and twice from Blue Cosmos… You see Athrun Zala," she waved an indeed finger aimlessly in the air. "Blue Cosmos wants Akira dead. They tried to kill her now, and once before when she was a little girl. I'm sure they'll try so again."

Athrun sunk slowly to his knees. "Blue Cosmos… wants Akira dead… why?" After all, Zaft had originally thought the Harmony was working for Blue Cosmos.

Kitalla's eyes focused on Athrun and she watched him silently for a long moment. "Because if Akira… is the one… then the world will change and she will change it." Her voice began to sound drowsy and she blinked languidly.

"The one, the one what?"Athrun demanded, shaking her. "What are you saying?"

"She loves you… the stupid girl loves you." Kitalla whispered.

Athrun froze, slumping back, his eyes frozen on the grave woman. Something was wreaking havoc in the left side of his chest and it hurt. Like ice splintering from the center- it HURT.

"But you'll just hurt her in the end." Kitalla sighed again. "And then what will she have left?" her eyes closed and her last murmur could barely be heard as she slipped into unconciousness. "Nothing."

Athrun gazed brokenly about and he probably sat their for five minutes listening to the soft breathing as he thought and thought in circles, never getting anywhere.

It was when the sun began to rise, glinting through the windows that his aching mind reached the conclusion that killing or keeping Kitalla captive would do him no good and that maybe releasing her was for the better. Was it?

"I'm taking a chance on you." He murmured to the Captain, as he stooped to unlock her from her chains. "Don't betray me. Not like she did." He lifted the woman, grunting a bit in surprise of her weight- for despite being a bit short, she was solid with muscle. And he carried her out, to her freedom.

And then, an hour or so later, Kitalla had woken to find herself alone in a small pod-ship, cuff marks still around her hands and wrists, her injuries treated and bandaged, and a note taped to a wine bottle beside her that read

"I do not want to be a pawn in your game, so I will make you a pawn in mine- tell Miss Yamato that I have done as she wished and let go- it is as she never existed. I do not wish to ever see her again.

I look forward to your next move, Captain Kitalla- and if you are wondering why you are still alive, I remind you that you kept me alive on the Blue Cosmos ship, my debt is paid. Also, next time I set sight on you, I will do my best to kill you... enjoy the wine! Sincerely, Athrun Zala."

She had chuckled wearily at his threat. "You and everyone else." She glanced at the wine bottle- "Coordinator Wine." After debating for a moment, she stood shakily, entered coordinates into the ship's auto pilot before sliding back down to the floor and uncorking the bottle. "Whether it be now or with time- death will find me." She toasted the air. "To forgetting so that life may move on to its inescapable end." And she put the bottle to her lips and drank like her life –or death- depended on it. Beads of drink escaped her mouth, sliding down the corners of her mouth but she paid no mind as she drank and drank, sliding to lay on the floor. The bottle slid from her grasp and rolled away as she stared blearily at the white ceiling. The pleasant buzz was turning into a sharp burning sensation but she could care less. Half in pain- and half giddy she laughed-sighed. "Look at me, a captain, a leader, and a creator… when really all I am is broken."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Present time, EA base just outside of the Desert Tiger territory.

The black pillow case that had been covering Lacus was ripped free and she blinked, frightened, in the bright light.

"Lady Lacus Clyne." The snake-like voice purred the world and Lacus twisted her head around, trying to see her current captor. She was limited by the fact that she was quite securely tied to a chair.

"La Flagga." Her brow furrowed as she recognized the man before her. The man smiled eerily as he leered down at her.

"Not at all, Lady Clyne. I'm merely just his clone." His grin widened, and the frantic pounding of her heart tripled.

Trying to gather her strength, Lacus said slowly. "I do not believe I had the…pleasure." She swallowed as he leaned closer.

"Not yet you haven't." his eyes lingering on her form. "Your doppelganger did come with a much more pleasing body- however she's like a child, and while your breasts are no where near as big, I imagine you'll still be satisfying."

Lacus's eyes widened in horror. "You wouldn't! There are national laws to prisoner treatment. I am Lacus Clyne!" Her voice started to shake.

The man, the clone of La Flagga, walked over to the desk, bringing his laptop to life. "That you are, Miss Clyne. However, nobody misses you." He spun the laptop towards her, showing a picture of a girl that could pass for Lacus's twin, latched onto Athrun in the middle of parade of people.

It took her a long minute and then she whispered quietly. "Meer."

The man smiled wider. "Yes, and though she gets on my nerves, she does pass well enough for you. No one can tell the difference, not even your fiancé, Mister Zala."

Her heart ached and a shudder raced through her as the man ran his fingers through her hair.

"Zala should thank me," the man murmured into her ear. "I did give him the better looking end of the deal."

"What are you saying?" she trembled, looking up at him.

"I'm saying, Miss Clyne, that there are a lot of things at work here, and you know longer matter. Project Pauper is about to engage in it's last couple stages." His hand slid down to her neck, her shoulder, farther. "You are going to die, and I'm going to tell you why." He whispered, running his hands over her slowly, taking pleasure in her fear.

"Three people joined together in the want for power and peace. One man found them and promised to make it possible with clones. One clone to usurp in each nation. But a lot of things went wrong with the plan. The princess of Orb wasn't killed the night that her mother was. Your clone died a failure in it's early years, and had to be replaced by a ditzy little bitch who will never know that she once had a real family that was killed by Gilbert Dullindal, the man responsible for her. And lastly I, created to become the leader of the EA, to lead it to greatness, also was designed a failure. I was the first clone- the one riddled with mistakes. I would bring power to this nation, only to die in pain." His fingers stroked her face. "Why would I want that? So I found a great ally, Patrick Zala, and he promised me what the EA would not… Armageddon."

"Why are you telling me this." Lacus whispered.

He shrugged. "Because I hate you, and all you stand for- and I want you to watch as I destroy everything you love, your people, your nation, Orb, the EA…the whole world, up in a glorious blaze of flames!"

Lacus shook her head sadly. "You can't."

"Can't?" he gripped her harshly. "I can't!?" his fingers dug into her and Lacus gasped, terror welling up in her.

There was no telling what the half-crazed man would do next, but Lacus was saved- from death or rape, she didn't know- as a knock resounded on the door.

The man froze, his arms trembling as he tried to control himself. Stiffly he stood straight. "Come in."

A woman in a captain's uniform with short dark hair walked in, a warm smile on her face. "Love, you are not treating the prisoner too terribly are you?" Her gaze shifted to Lacus. "We ought to kill her. It is merciful and we can't risk any more of the EA seeing her. They might start asking questions."

The sadistic man was gone, replaced by the 'Mwu La Flagga' impersonator. "Darling," he purred, embracing the woman. "She's done nothing wrong-" his gaze locked with Lacus's over his lover's shoulder and she could seeing the taunting laughter held at bay in their blue depths. "Let her live a little longer."

The woman looked uncomfortable. "If you are sure."

The man kissed her before twisting to whisper in her ears. "You are my goddess, my maker, my benefactor, whom I love and adore." Though the woman seemed taken with his sweet praising words and caresses Lacus sat still with horror, realizing that while the woman may be responsible for the man's existence, she had no idea that the man was out of control and planning her demise.

"Ma'am," she burst forth, only to be slapped across the face by the imposter. He grinned, a threat clear in his dark eyes. "Address her with respect, for she soon will be the empress of a great and powerful nation. Empress Natarle Badgiruel." Though his voice was that of a devoted follower, Lacus could hear the mockery in his voice- why couldn't this blind captain realize?

She loves him…Or at least she loves Mwu La Flagga… Lacus realized with a heart sickening feeling.

The captain turned to the clone and ordered. "Throw her in with the others, it's almost time! She can watch from her cell!"

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

"Lady Lacus!" cried Dearka and Meyrin as Lacus found herself hoisted into the small private holding cell. "Are you alright- what did they do- did they hurt you-"

"Be quiet!" snapped clone Mwu, and they all turned to watch the tv screen he flicked on. "It's beginning!"

On the tv appeared the throne room of Orb where a priest stood, crown in hand, on the other side of a robed speaker. "Citizens of Orb-"

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Plants- with Athrun

Hardly had she begun to make her move on her fiancé, her watch beeped and Meer pulled back, her eyes widening. "It's time." She whispered."

"What-" A bright red Athrun struggled out from under the risqué clone, though what seemed impossible to do now was quite easy as Lacus stood and walked away.

"Where is a tv." She demanded.

Super confused, boggled and annoyed, Athrun pointed tone in the corner. She flew over and flicked the on switch and a moment later, the throne room of Orb in all it's splender shone, a speaker declaring to the crowds. "After years and years of waiting the time has come, Orb." A blonde woman- why was she so familiar?- in a trailing gown was walking down the red throne aisle, brown-gold eyes bright, her smile wide with triumph.

"The Princess." Athrun realized and hardly a moment later his phone rang and he turned away from the TV, and answered it.

"Lieutenant Zala?"

"Yes, who is this?"

"It is the Chairman of Zaft,"

"Mister Dullindal! What can I help you with?"

"Have you seen Orb's recent announcement?" With out waiting for an answer the chairman continued. "Your mission has been set, you must pack because you are leaving on the next shuttle for Orb. The princess will destroy us all, unless you can get to her first, do you understand, Athrun?"

Athrun's resolved steeled it's self as he thought of Akira, and all the hate he felt spilled out- hate for Orb. "Yes. I do. The princess will die."

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

CPOV – aboard the Chariot

"Mmmmm." Kitalla turned over in her uneasy sleep, muttering nonsense every now and then. I sat beside her, wringing my fingers, waiting anxiously for her to wake. What did she mean about Athrun- she saw him? They talked? What happened? Where's Lacus? Whats going to happen now.

"Kira…"

I snapped my head up to stare at the captain. "Yes-" I said uncertainly only to realize that the woman was still asleep.

"The Princess's brother." Kitalla mumbled. "Is Kira…"

My world froze as I processed what she had said. "Kira…" I whispered. "My brother…" His face flashed before my eyes, his warm purple eyes, his gentle laugh. We had always had a sibling like friendship but to know that there was a reason to it- was she right- was it possible- was Kira my brother?!

Before I could dwell on it any longer a commotion broke out outside the ship and I jumped to my feet in alarm.

A nurse rushed in, "Lady Cagalli," she gasped. "You must see this."

"What is it?" I demanded, hurrying to her side as she flipped on a TV.

"A newscast from Orb."

I gasped as my beloved country came onto the flickering screen, in particular the beautiful Orb throne room. The speaker- a man who I recognized as Master Sieran- and the elder priest stood on either side of the newly crowned –

"No…" I whispered.

"Our Princess," droned Master Seiran. "Has returned!"

The end- for now.

Okay guysss, what did you think? I'm sure there might have been some confusing parts so do feel free to review your criticism, thoughts, suggestions and questions and I will be be filled with joy to know that people haven't yet quite forgotten me and get back to you ASAP!

ALSO, if anyone knows of any really good girl animes (romance with a side of comedy or adventure, or fantasy, or action, or whatever) that one can watch on youtube PLEASE let me know! I have no animes to watch :'(

Hugs and luv,