'My Sweetest Heart for You' Chapter 4 – "Riding Past Heavenly Skies"

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Disclaimer: I do not own any of the character from Gundam Seed/Gundam Seed Destiny. I am not compensated in any way for my work.

A/N: I'm sorry to all those of you that have been waiting patiently for my next chapter to come out, I've just been so overwhelmed by everything irl that it took me a lot longer than I thought to finish this up. I do promise though that I'm going to be getting the next few out a lot faster.

Please leave a review for me if you can. It really does inspire me to work harder and to make every chapter better than the one before it.

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"Here we are, Kira," Lacus said as they came upon an overpass to finally reach their destination.

"'Lacus… this is…" was all Kira managed to get out, his violet eyes widening in awe at the sight laid out before him.

Kira took in a sharp breath at what he saw; an exquisite vision of a town bathed in red sunlight from the setting sphere of fire just beyond a far off horizon. Truly, it was a sight to behold, white flower petals seemed to bathe the community in a heavenly enclosure; and all of the people below were busy about putting up beautifully crafted decorations with brightly colored lights that seemed to enhance it all the more.

"Lacus, this is incredible!" cried Kira, a bright smile growing more pronounced on his face as he took a few steps closer to gauge what words by far failed to described; captured in the vastness of his amethyst orbs was a serene vision that held in its mystique the ability to light a person's soul just by looking at it.

Kira turned around and looked at Lacus whose soft expression greeted him with a tender smile. "Lacus, what is this place? And what're all of those people doing down there?"

Folding her soft, pearl white hands across her stomach, the smile upon the pink-haired beauty's face only seeming to brighten. "This place is called the Town of Azure, Kira, and everyone here is preparing for what they call the Luna Festival."

"…Luna Festival?" Kira turned his head upwards toward a dimming sky whose clear overview was slightly overshadowed by what looked like a growing tint of grey. "Oh! I remember now, Luna is supposed to be a symbol of the moon, right, Lacus?"

Lacus blinked a few times in surprise, quickly regaining her composure. "That's right, Kira, everyone here always looks forward to the festival year every year, and it's something that can truly pour their hearts and souls into making a success."

"It sounds like something really special, would it be alright if we spent time down there, Lacus?" he said, a tone of hopeful excitement rising in his voice.

"…" Lacus's baby blue eyes fell back for a moment before she quickly pulled over a faint smile over her face as she nodded her head politely at Kira. "Of course we can, Kira. I just know you're going to love it." Lacus spoke with a soft tone.

Kira's face grew brighter after hearing that, his entire expression seemed to light up at those words.

Without any memories of his past, Kira had held an uncertainty, a vulnerability that whispered to him from deep inside. As much of a help as Lacus had been as both a friend and support, a desire still dwelled strongly inside of Kira to be around other people again.

"…Huh?" Feeling something ticklish trickling down the side of her cheek, Lacus raised a hand and brushed aside a raindrop from the side of her face. "Oh my… don't tell me it's going to start raining tonight…"

Kira raised his head up and scanned his eyes over the sky, off in the distance a growing expansion of gray clouds was spanning across the heavens. "It may not be much, Lacus, but I don't think it's a good idea to hang around and take our chances, let's hurry onto Azure," he said with a definite determination ringing in his voice.

"You're probably right, Kira, we should get going," Lacus said, a hint of concern hidden in her voice.

Kira calmly raised his hand up to the pink-haired angel, whose brilliant eyes widened at the youth's gesture. "Let's go, Lacus…" he whispered. Without a moment's hesitation, the baby-blue eyed girl whose cheeks were tinted with a shade of pink placed her soft palm within Kira's, his fingertips closed in around hers, firmly holding their hands together.

They began walking side-by-side down the pathway that would lead them to the celebrating town, their figures in the now last shimmering sparkles of sunlight that dimmed just over the horizon.

Lacus turned her head to look out towards the still lingering grey clouds that hung over in the sky as if they were an ill omen; her worries even present of what it meant if they stayed. 'Please… do not let it rain tonight… not tonight,' she thought to herself, a certain feeling of nostalgia residing in the depths of her heart.

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Down below in Azure…

"What're you doing in here? Get out you perverted jerk!" a young blonde girl with amber eyes screamed, her voice filled with a ferocious tenacity; her dripping wet figure clad in little but a small slip of a towel which hugged to her own curves nicely.

"Wha…? I, um… Cagalli, you don't understand…!" a handsome young man tried to stutter through his near trembling lips, the brilliant emerald of his eyes riddled with shock and surprise. His cheeks burned a near unhealthy shade of red, a testament to his embarrassment.

"Athrun… just get out!" Cagalli cried, raising her hand to come soaring across Athrun's cheek in a loud smack that echoed loudly throughout her house; he fell out and landed on the wooden floor with a hard thud. The sound of a door roughly closing was heard a moment afterwards; Cagalli, in all of her anger had already gone to change.

Athrun slowly raised his hand up to the burning sensation in his cheek, he gave a soft groan of pain as he rubbed the wound to try and relieve some of the hurt. Cautiously, he raised his hand up for fear of what might he still have coming his way, a wave of relief soon washed over him when he noticed that his young charge had already gone.

'Why'd you have to go blaming me like that anyway? What kind of a girl leaves their door open when she's taking a shower?' Athrun thought to himself as he slowly brought himself back up to a stand, his hands sweeping brashly over his darkly colored clothes to straighten them out.

Athrun slipped his hands comfortably inside of his pockets and walked over into Cagalli's living room. As soon as he'd entered he couldn't help but come to an immediate stop; a wide array of vibrant colors and magnificently crafted decorations filled his eyes, one could almost feel the amount of hard work that must've been poured into each and every one.

'Cagalli… you're working yourself too hard again, what am I supposed to do with you?'

As Athrun's thoughts continued to press onward, something near out of his sight caught his attention. Blinking, he knelt down to get a better glance at what seemed to be a picture frame resting on the edge of a small wooden framed table; the endless depth of his emerald eyes widened in realization of what he was now staring very intently at. 'Cagalli…'

Reaching over with a steady hand, Athrun carefully picked up the memory within his soft fingertips; its contents within showing a much younger pair of Athrun and Cagalli, their small hands wrapped tightly around each other's shoulders, the very picture of the friends that they were today evident in their happy faces.

Yet Athrun remained fixated on the third person that was tucked snuggly in-between them; a small slip of a girl with passionate pink hair and a smile that could light a person's soul with a single look. Captured forever in the frame was such a look, a pure and honest, almost angelic look that held of a true and honest reminder to the special moment between the three of them on that day.

"…" Athrun remained silent for the time that he continued to stare forward, he'd almost seemed lost in the tempest of thoughts that now ran through the outskirts of his consciousness, a softening in his expression holding to the sense of nostalgia that he now felt through his entire body, the sensation pulsating in his entire being with a power that was too strong to just cast aside.

"…Athrun? What're you…?" Cagalli asked curiously as she walked into the room, her frame clad in a loose red shirt tucked halfway into a pair of green pants.

"Huh?" Athrun quickly placed the picture back before standing up and turning around to face Cagalli whose visage was now overshadowed by inquisitiveness.

"It's nothing, Cagalli, you just surprised me is all," he said, his heart still beating a quickened pace. Cagalli narrowed her amber eyes towards Athrun who wasn't exactly doing the smoothest job in the world of trying to hide something. "Athrun…" she spoke in a lower tone as she approached up closely to Athrun, starting to give him 'that' look. Athrun chuckled nervously, running a hand through his long locks of hair that draped over his face. "Really, Cagalli, I promise, it's nothing at all."

"Hmph, fine, if you say so, Athrun," Cagalli said as she sighed slightly to herself, folding her hands in a fair position over her chest. "What're you doing over here anyway?"

"Murrue asked me to come by and pick you up for the start of the festival; everything's been ready for a while now, so all we need is for you to make your declaration."

"Really? It's that time already?" she asked with a questioning glance, slowly turning her head so that she might gaze outside the window, her eyes overcame with a faint shock at how dark it had become. "Athrun! Why didn't you tell me sooner you jerk?" Cagalli screamed as she rose up her hand and whacked Athrun over the head once again.

"Darn it, Cagalli! Don't go blaming me just because you spent too much time in the shower! I tried to tell you earlier, but you wouldn't listen to me!" Athrun spoke with a retaliatory backlash, his hand raised atop his head to give it a soft rub. 'A guy shouldn't have to get used to this kinda treatment, should he?'

"Oh like that's supposed to be any kind of excuse! I swear, Athrun, you're absolutely hopeless sometimes," she said, harshly folding her hands across her chest with a strong "hmph" emitting from her mouth. "Anyway, it's not like we have anymore time to waste here arguing, so let's get going."

"…Wha? But, I was… I mean… oh forget it," Athrun said with a faint sigh, he knew he couldn't win this one.

"Come on, hurry up, Athrun," Cagalli said as she gave the emerald-eyed youth a light push outside of the door. After shutting and locking it behind her, the two of them started walking out towards the bustling center of town to which all of the people seemed to be gathering as well.

As they made their way, many of the citizens gave happy cries and waved their hands towards the young blonde woman whose face wasn't just a little bit flustered at all of the attention.

"You know everyone here appreciated you for what you do for them, Cagalli… though it wouldn't hurt if you waved back to them every now and then," Athrun said.

Cagalli lowered her head, the red in her cheeks still freshly visible. She raised her face and nervously waved back towards all of the people that still gave her their vibrant expressions of happiness and gratitude.

After her hand fell back towards her side, Cagalli looked towards Athrun as they edged closer and closer towards the town square. "It's… it's not like anyone forces me to do this you know… it's just something that I wanted to do."

"Yeah… I know that, Cagalli…," he spoke as he looked up towards the overshadowing sky that seemed to darken with each passing moment, the few shimmering stars that lingered overhead calling to his consciousness, bringing about a more surreal sense of self.

'You're always putting up such a strong front so no one has to know what you're feeling, Cagalli… but you have to know how much of a lonely existence that is…' Athrun thought as he turned his head back and took a quick glance towards his friend, her expression seeming to sadden somewhat.

'Even so… you can't let go of the past, and I know how much this means to you… it's always the time of year that 'she' loved too…'

'Where are you…? What're you doing now…? …Lacus…'

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"Come on, Lacus, we've gotta hurry!" Kira said with the heavens above raining down harder and harder on the two of them. Kira held Lacus's hand tightly as he ran forward, his eyes desperately searching the area for any kind of relief from the storm.

Lacus gave a few soft whimpers as she ran alongside Kira. 'Why did this have to happen tonight… why tonight…?' she thought, the sorrowful feelings in her heart growing more profound, she didn't even care that her body was quickly becoming soaked in the storm that reflected of the state of her heart right now.

Near out of the corner of his vision, Kira caught sight of a small cave formed in the rocky outcroppings in the area. 'Yeah… that'll have to do for now…' Kira thought quickly. He turned towards Lacus and made a motion towards the cave so that she would catch sight of it as well; Kira didn't notice the change in Lacus's expression as he was too focused on getting her out of the rain right now.

As soon as the two of them entered the small cave, Kira relinquished his hand from Lacus's and fell back against the cave wall, heavy breaths emitting from his mouth as he struggled to catch his breath. "Are… are you alright, Lacus?" Kira asked now that he finally had the time.

Lacus gave a small nod as her dripping wet bangs fell loosely over her face; the only thing that she was happy about right now was that her hair covered her face so Kira couldn't see the small crystalline tears that were forming at the edge of her baby blue eyes. "I'm fine, Kira… are you okay?"

"Don't worry about me, Lacus, but… you're soaking wet. We've gotta find a way to dry you off before you freeze," Kira said. His eyes softened as he saw at how Lacus's small body was already starting to shiver. Kira couldn't help but feel a melancholy sense of helplessness that was beating from the depths of his heart. 'Damn it… what can I do now…?'

He stared forward at that same figure… the same hideously dark smirk ever present upon his lips, yet he still couldn't make out his face… yet one thing was marked forever in his mind, the sickening stench of blood that flowed from him as a never ending marking.

"Just give up, boy… what can a 'fake' such as you ever hope to accomplish in the end, anyway? Surrender yourself to your fate… it is the only thing you can do…"

"Murderer…"

"No…" Kira whispered underneath his breath so that Lacus wouldn't be able to hear him. His hands tightened around his chest as if to try and shield himself from these uncontrollable images circulating through his consciousness…

"Do you remember what I told you…?" a young woman with brilliant brown hair that trailed endlessly along her shoulder said as she patted her along upon a young boy's head.

"Mhmm…" the boy said as he nodded his head, a gentle smile weaving itself over his lips as he stared on the beautiful sun that set upon an ocean of salty white waves, their caresses coming up over his feet. He giggled when they came and went as they always did.

"There will always come a day when you have to make a choice… just remember, it's your choice to make. And… someday, when you find the purpose in your life, you're never to give up on it, never…"

"I don't understand mother… what do you mean… by… 'purpose'…?" he asked, a curious look present on his face.

Giggling to herself, the woman placed her hand upon the boy's head and smiled warmly towards him. "It's alright… someday you will understand, and when that day comes… I believe you'll make the right choice."

'I don't understand… what am I supposed to do…?" Kira thought to himself, his hands now rose up to grasp tightly over the sides of his head.

"Just give up… you couldn't do anything before, and you aren't able to do anything now…"

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"It's your choice… your future… only you can decide…"

Kira slowly raised his head upwards, his brilliant eyes holding a look of determination. Turning his head to stare outwards at the raging storm that continued to build in its ferocity and intensity, a thought crossed his mind. 'I don't know who I am… or what these images are that keep haunting me, but I can't just let that keep me from saving this girl in front of me.'

'It's not entirely true though… I do have memories, the memories I've had with Lacus. I want to keep building these memories with her, so… I cannot afford to give up before I've even started.'

Kira stood up and pulled off his black leather jacket, a few raindrops dripping off from the rims and landed on a soft puddle at the rock floor below. Walking over towards Lacus, he draped it over her shoulders.

Lacus raised her head as unfamiliar warmth called her back from her thoughts back to reality. "Kira… what're you doing?" she asked.

Kira only smiled at her and ran a hand through the long locks of beautiful pink hair that trailed down Lacus's back. "Azure isn't far from here at all, is it? I'm going to go and see if I can't get some help. I want you to stay here though; you're cold enough as it is. I'm not going to have you out in that rainstorm anymore…" Kira said with a strong will.

"But, Kira…" Lacus whispered softly to him… her voice filled with concern, she didn't want Kira risking his health for her, especially if it meant what he was suggesting.

"I'll be back soon, Lacus, stay here and wait for me, alright?" Kira said. Without speaking a word more, Kira began walking out of the cave, his eyes already looking out towards the sparkling lights from Azure which would guide him on his way.

"Huh?" Kira said out of surprise as he felt chilling warmth pressed against his back. "Lacus…" he said out of a bare whisper; Lacus was pressed closely up to him, her hands wrapped around his waist as the tears she previously had tried so hard to keep locked up inside were now falling freely against his back.

"Please don't go, Kira…" Lacus said.

Kira turned around and gazed deeply into Lacus's eyes that stared back at him, their almost pleading depths begging him to stay… "Lacus, I…" Kira muttered, his arms unconsciously finding themselves locking tightly about her slender waist.

Lacus inched herself closer and closer to Kira, a whisper coming from the depths of her heart aching for something, anything to cease this ache. Her soft, full lips inched closer to Kira's unmoving body… they were so close together that their breaths could be felt upon one another's heated cheeks.

Unmoving in their locked arms, a shimmering light began shining in-between Lacus and Kira's bodies. Before either could understand what was happening, the bright light enveloped the whole of their bodies, its intensity emitting throughout the whole of the cave as it seemed to ascend higher and higher into the clouds above.

'What's happening…!' Kira's thought to himself as he found that he couldn't let go of Lacus's body that was being enveloped in this same heavenly warmth.

'Kira, you're…!' was the last thought that came to Lacus's mind as she found herself drifting out of thought and time, her baby blue eyes drifting backwards as they could no longer hold themselves prisoner to the cage of fleshly existence that bound her living soul to this Earth.

"What do you mean it's resonating again?" Shinn screamed, his crimson-red eyes flaring up with anger.

"Shinn, calm down! I'm not going to be able to tell you anything unless you be quiet so I can know what's going on!" Rey said with a commanding tone; Shinn stepped back, his hand clenched tightly into a fist.

"I apologize, Commander, as you were saying…" Rey spoke into the transmitter he had holstered in his hand.

"It's quite alright, Lieutenant; however, keep your subordinate underneath control. I do not wish to have to report any unacceptable behavior on a mission of this caliber to the top brass," a voice from the com equipment spoke out.

Shinn gave a quiet grunt as he continued to stay close so that he might still be able to hear of what was causing such a commotion back at the homeland; Lunamaria stared at him from just a few feet away, unsure of herself what was going on.

"As I was saying before though… it appears that a few moments ago the homeland picked up a strong resonation in the Kyushu region near a town called 'Azure'. At the same time, 'Freedom' activated and attempted to free itself from its restraints."

"Commander, are we to understand that 'Freedom' activated all of its own? What of its lock-in system? I was under the assumption that it was impossible for that machine to be released unless the council permitted it so…" Rey spoke; his voice was ushered with a vast amount of questions that he desired to have answered.

"From my understanding, it seems that the 'Freedom' has bypassed all of our security measures and activated in regards to a method we were previously unaware of. It is currently under restraint, however… it appears there are even matters regarding this situation that the higher-ups are unwilling to disclose to us."

"…" Shinn, Rey, and Lunamaria couldn't say anything as to what they had just heard… was all of this that they were being told really possible?

"Your mission has been upgraded to an S-Class ranking; therefore you are being authorized to use any and all means of force to complete your assignment. Your mobile suits have already been sent on a landing carrier from the homeland and will be within the vicinity within the hour," the voice from the communicator spoke with a calm wavelength.

"S-Class, Commander..? Is it really that serious?" Lunamaria said, her voice hinted with a tad of concern. 'The original spec of the operation was strictly to gather intelligence… what exactly is going on here that we don't know about?'

"I'm under no authorization to be giving you anymore information than has already been disclosed to you. Good luck, and may you return to the homeland with pride in your hearts," the voice of their Commander disclosed as the equipment was sounded off with a faint blip.

"Damn it!" Shinn cried as he slammed his fist into a nearby rock, his eyes burning fiercely together with an undisclosed rage. 'I'll kill that bastard with my own hands!'

"…" Rey stayed silent for the quiet moment between the three of them. "Until we're sure of the gravity of this situation, I am restricting the both of you from being separate from the group. We will take this as a whole…"

Shinn turned around and gave Rey a dangerous stare. "Enough, Shinn! Despite your personal feelings on this matter, I will not allow you to endanger this mission." Rey said before Shinn could even speak a single word.

"Now then… as the resonation has occurred so closely to a civilian sector, our operation will proceed like this…" Rey said as began relaying the course of how they would proceed to his comrades…

"…Athrun…" Cagalli said as she watched from outside a small window towards the brilliant light that emanated to the skies above; the previously dark clouds that had been there seemed to part ways for the mysterious power that was at work here.

"I know, Cagalli… I know…" Athrun said as his eyes narrowed dangerously.

'Lacus…'

To be Continued…

As I was writing this, I felt that certain parts of the story were kinda rushed and I could've done so much more than I did. I'm sorry if it came off that way to you as you read it. As I said before though, I most definitely will be coming out with the next few chapters much quicker as I've a lot of free time on my hands to do so over the next few weeks.

If you feel I should do a complete rewrite of this chapter, please don't hesitate in telling me to do so. This story is for you, not me, and if it'll make for something more worthwhile in the end, I want to hear your opinions.

Then again, if you really liked it, please tell me that too.

'Till the next time, I hope you'll keep reading.