'My Sweetest Heart for You' Chapter 6 – 'Gathering of the Unwilling'
"Such was the time for their arrival. A spark of a will not yet ignited within the flow of time…"
…What is it that's beyond the horizon?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed/Gundam Seed Destiny. I am not compensated in any way for my work other than in the enjoyment that my readers enjoy.
A/N: There seems to have been no end to the troubles that kept me from uploading this chapter. To every one of you, I must apologize with all my heart. In an unfortunate circumstance, I had some serious computer problems that kept me from getting the chapter out as I previously promised.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Held high within aphotic skies, the moon gleamed like a beautiful blue sapphire. Its awe-inspired brilliance shone down in silvery waves upon the ocean's surface as they lapped back and forth upon sandy shores.
And sealed like a child within a mother's embrace, the stars shone beautifully in the heavens. Their light sparkled with a luminous glow that reflected the eyes of those many people that watched them from the Earth below.
--------------------------
------------------------------------------------------
Down within Azure, an eerie silence filled the streets. Not a sign of life could be seen anywhere, for all the people had long since locked themselves away inside of their homes. Neither a light nor even the glimmer of a candle shone…
If one were to walk in the midst of such a night… one could only wonder how long it would be until they too cold fear of the night take hold of their body.
Athrun and Cagalli walked silently throughout Azure's empty streets. Within their eyes, one could see the contemplation of that which now burdened their shoulders.
…To say that things had been difficult would be an understatement. In the short time that had passed since they'd found Lacus and the young boy, the two of them felt as though their lives had taken a drastic turn… one they felt they were not at all ready for. It were as if the 'calming sea' that they had lived through, day-by-day… had suddenly turned into a 'raging storm', thrashing them about with no intention of letting go.
Athrun raised a hand upon his chest, feeling the near painful beating of his heart. He and Cagalli hadn't said a word to each other since they'd left the house...
…And though he didn't know why, he started looking around at all of the houses. Silent as they were in the dead of night, the many decorations and ornaments that they'd all worked hard in preparation for the festival were still there. Strange as it felt to him, just being able to look upon them lifted some of the wearing pressure away…
Suddenly, within the streaming waves of his consciousness, a memory of a time long since past came back to him…
"…What do you mean?"
Lacus giggled, raising a hand to cover her mouth. "…Silly. I want to know how it makes you feel."
"…The festival? But… I don't get it… it's just a thing you know. I don't see why I should 'feel' anything special about it."
Upon hearing such words, Lacus frowned. "But it's not just a thing, Athrun. Everyone here works really hard and does their best, you know."
"…You're always saying stuff like that."
"Because it's true…" Lacus whispered.
Athrun sighed faintly, raising a hand to clasp it over his face. "I don't understand…"
Before he knew it, Lacus was before him, face-to-face. Reflected in her face was a look of pure, honest expression. One would only have to see it to know that she wasn't just going to stand by and be silent. No, the feelings she felt were too strong for such a thing. "If that's really true… then I want you to come with me to the festival tonight… okay?"
Athrun blinked, confused upon hearing such a thing. "…Lacus, you know I've a lot to do. I can't waste any time going to a…"
Lacus raised a finger to his lips, hushing him as a mother would her child. "…You're always saying you've work to do… but what's the point of it if you can never enjoy yourself? …Please, just come with me tonight. I promise you won't regret it…"
"…" Athrun sighed once more, raising a hand alongside the back his head. "…Alright… I guess I can go."
Lacus' lips curved into a smile. She folded her hands behind her back, stepping back some. "Thank you, Athrun…"
"…Athrun?"
"…Huh?" With the suddenness of Cagalli's voice calling him back to reality, Athrun blinked, confused. He raised a hand against the side of his head, shaking it slowly. "…Sorry about that. I must have blanked out…"
Cagalli stepped to Athrun's face, giving him a long, hard stare. "You're a lot of things, Zala, but a daydreamer is not one of them. What's on your mind?"
Athrun merely shook his head back and forth. "…It's nothing, really. Anyway… was there something you wanted to ask me?"
Cagalli's eyes narrowed. One of the few other things that Athrun was not was a good liar. And though she was still curious, she decided to let it go. "Well… I was wondering what you think the committee is going to say about everything that's been going on."
"'Hmm…" Athrun slipped his hands inside of his pockets. "It's hard to say… we don't know how much they've learned. I'm sure they know about Lacus coming back… and that's probably the reason why they…"
"…You don't think they'd… do anything to her, do you?"
Athrun raised a gentle hand upon Cagalli's shoulder. "Don't worry about anything like that. We're not going to let them do anything to her, not as long as we have a say in it."
"…Yeah, you better believe it," Cagalli said, grinning inwardly.
With that said, the two of them started off down the street once more.
Cagalli closed the depths of her amber eyes, taking to the recesses of her consciousness at a nagging thought that wouldn't leave her mind.
Athrun quickly took notice to the change in her expression. "…Is something wrong?" he asked.
"…It isn't really the committee that I'm worried about, Athrun…" she whispered.
Athrun's expression softened at her words. "…You're worried about what everyone else is going to think once they find out, aren't you?"
Cagalli sighed briefly. '…How did he know that?'
If for but the flash of a moment, the memory of so many people's angry faces… looks of shock and distress intermingled with a resenting feel of hatred burning from deep within them…all of it resonated within her mind.
"…It's not as though we can just change everyone's feelings, Cagalli…"
"I know… but it wasn't fair. It just wasn't fair…" Cagalli muttered, one of her hands clenching into a tight fist.
Cagalli knew all too well what the people of Azure thought about Lacus… of course she did. She had been living it for so many years now… living with people staring at her behind her back, whispering harsh words. All of it… she tried to take it in stride. But… that still didn't erase the pain…
Understanding of her feelings, Athrun tried to think of the right thing to say. Honestly though… was there even such a thing as the right thing to say in a time like this? He too had carried his share of the burden since 'that' time. Cagalli was different though… she had ridden the turbulent waves of the time ever since 'that' day occured. And... being her friend, he knew that this was something that he could not help her with. It was something that she would have to face on her own terms... by herself.
Athrun raised a gentle hand and placed it on her shoulder. "It isn't fair… I know. But there's nothing that we can do about that now."
Unknowing of what to say next, Cagalli retreated into a silence.
"…People's hearts… I don't know that we could ever truly understand what goes on within them. Still… that doesn't mean we should ever give up. Since this is our home, don't you think that that should be something we shouldn't forget?"
"…"
"…Cagalli?"
Cagalli raised her head, turning her now open sights onto Athrun. "…That didn't sound like something you'd usually say."
Athrun blinked. "Um… well, it just sounded like the right thing to say. That's all…"
Cagalli faintly smiled, playfully punching Athrun in the shoulder. "…Thanks. I needed to hear that."
Athrun smiled. "…I'm your friend, Cagalli. You know that I'm always going to be looking out for you."
"…" Cagalli turned away, a faint tint of red staining her cheeks.
Athrun stepped ahead of her, looking ahead. "Come on, we should get going before it's morning."
Cagalli nodded her head in agreement. "…Yeah, let's go."
Upon those words, the two of them started off once more down the street. It wouldn't be much longer until they arrived at their destination… and with it, Cagalli herself would need to find it within herself to face the burden of the past that she carried on her shoulders.
-----------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
Kira stood paused alongside the ocean's edge, his amethyst eyes set upon the setting sun as it slowly disappeared beyond the horizon. The cool night's breeze caressed his face, flowing in gentle waves about the long strands of his hair as they swayed back and forth.
Not having even known how long he'd been standing there for, Kira had lost the will to even move anymore. Yet, for some strange reason… standing there as he was had given him a sense of… content. For what seemed like the first time in a long time, everything that had burdened his mind and heart seemed so far away… as though it were nothing but a distant memory, meant to be forgotten.
...Such feelings were ones that he wished that he could onto... forever.
Suddenly, Kira felt his heart grow heavy within his chest. Groaning, he raised a hand over his chest to try and ease the pain. Why… why was it that whenever he took a step closer… just a little bit closer to being able to forget, his heart pained him? It were as if something inside of him were denying it to him...
...Did he even want to know the answer? When one feels pain, it's only natual that they want to be rid of it. For Kira however... he felt as though if he found the answer to his pain, that would in itself unleash a far greater burden upon him...
"…How long have you been out here, Kira?" a voice from behind him called out.
Kira closed his eyes almost immediately. In that instant, the calmness within his mind shattered.
She was the last person in the world that he wanted to see right now. He would much rather have dealt with the pain of his own worries than to be succumbed by her presence. As he was, the thought of such a thing was unbearable... the sickening power she possessed to have him within her grasp merely by looking him in the eyes. If she was able to... he wouldn't be able to push her away. Even if that was something he desperately wanted to do...
"I don't know…" he replied, his voice almost inaudible.
With the wind blowing through the infinitely long strands of her pink hair, Lacus smiled sadly to herself. In truth... she had been watching him for a long while now. And yet, seeing him as she had, she could not find it in herself to let him know. Things were different now though...
Taking it slowly at first, Lacus started to make her way towards Kira. With every step that she took, she felt as though Kira were withdrawing further and further into his 'shell'. Such was the feeling that had kept her at bay while she watched. If she was to be there for him though, as she believed she needed to be right now, she would have to break through that wall.
…Honestly, he reminded her of a small child.
With his eyes still closed, Kira clenched his teeth together.. '…Please don't come any closer…'
Lacus, now standing behind Kira, enveloped the sight of him within her baby blue eyes. She did not move, nor did she feel she had to. It was in her very presence that she felt she held the greatest influence over him. Such held true for her because the feelings resonating from Kira were stronger then they had ever been...
"…Why did you come out here?" Kira asked.
Lacus closed her eyes, a faint smile drawing itself upon her lips. "…Do I need a reason to see if you're alright?" she said, her tone low and hushed.
"…"
Slowly, Lacus encircled her arms about Kira's waist. She leaned her head onto his back, sighing softly as the warmth of his body seeped into her own.
It hurt her more than he knew to be so close to him, yet unable to reach out and touch his heart. In that instant, everything about him reminded her of the small boy he felt himself to be. Frightening... reclusive and absolutely stubborn about having anyone be as close to him as she wished to be.
Her innocent blue eyes sought to envelop Kira in their eternal gaze, the swirling pool of emotion within tantamount to the feelings raging within Kira's heart.
For what felt like the longest time, the two of them stayed as they were... unmoving in the light of the moon that shone down over them.
For reasons that he couldn't explain, Kira shifted his gaze so that he might steal a look of Lacus. And though he was bearly able to see her, the sight of her there... enveloped in the twilight of the night, it drove his fear away. Such was her power over him, and though he still couldn't explain it, inside... part of him was smiling.
...It had happened once more, as he knew that it would. He was getting tired of asking himself why, for he was never able to give himself a good answer. This subtle temptress of his fragile heart, this pink-haired girl... who was she? In the end, that wouldn't matter...
The tides of fate and time could wait a while to draw him back. If for just a little while longer, he hoped that he could stay like this... bound only to the warmth of one who truly cared for him.
--------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------
-----------------
Through an open window, the cool night's breeze brushed up against the face of a still sleeping Kira. The crackle of a lit candle illuminated his face.
Kira groaned, clenching a fistful of his bed sheets. "...Lacus..." he whispered.
Within the solitary sanctity of his dreams, Kira felt as though he were spirarling out of control. Feelings he had felt so strongly in reality were conflicted... and through it all, the image of one who was important to him perservered. Such was the only guiding light he had in a world of darkness that he felt as though were going to consume him.
What was it within him that desired to drive him to such an edge? Kira, more than anything, desired to know the answer to that question...
Yet until that time arrived to where he could find it in himself to create an answer, he would be guided by the sweet angel who continued to watch over him, ever-faithfully. Such was a truth that he was truly grateful for...
--------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Cagalli and Athrun, standing side-by-side, stood before the presence of a large building. Though in reality it was fairly small… to Cagalli, at the knowledge of what was awaiting her inside… it felt far larger.
She swallowed nervously, running a hand through the long strands of her hair. "…So this is it, huh?"
"Please don't worry, Cagalli… you're going to do just fine," Athrun said, hoping to reassure her confidence.
Narrowing her sights towards him, Cagalli took a deep breath, lowering her head some so that she might take a moment to gather her thoughts together.
Athrun felt as though all he could do at the moment was watch, unable to do or say much of anything. Even though he did want to say something… in the end… what good would it really do her? This was something that Cagalli would have to deal with on her own in the end. The decision of what was to come… was ultimately up to her.
After a slow moment passed between them, Athrun spoke up. "…Are you ready?"
Cagalli merely grinned in reply, shaking her head slowly. "No… not at all. There's no helping that now though…"
'…Cagalli…'
After taking yet another deep breath, Cagalli walked up to the front door and placed her hand on the doorknob. Yet, before she opened it, she turned back towards Athrun one last time.
"…Promise you'll wait out here for me… okay?"
Athrun smiled, nodding his head. "You got it."
Feeling somewhat reassured at that knowledge, Cagalli opened up the door and walked inside, shutting it quickly behind her.
With that done, Athrun felt a faint sense of fatigue come over him. He walked over towards a nearby bench, sitting himself down for the long wait that was now to begin.
He looked over towards the door. '…Cagalli… stand strong.'
Cagalli walked slowly through the seemingly impossibly long hallway. With each and every step she took, time felt as though it were slowing down around her. Such was a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time… nor was it one that she'd hoped to have to experience ever again.
She shook her back and forth to try and gather her composure. '…Come on… get it together already.'
With that thought, she started off down the hallway once more, faster than before.
While she continued to walk, Cagalli thought of how she was going to approach the committee. She knew that she had to stay calm and in control… but what if she was caught off guard? No… she couldn't allow herself to think like that. She'd just have to come up with something if that happened…
Many times over, she wondered why it was that she, and not Athrun, was called. He was far more suited for this kind of thing than she was. Was it… because they thought that she wasn't as likely to handle the situation as well as Athrun might that they called for her? Was that it…?
Cagalli clasped a hand alongside the side of her head, shaking off such thoughts. "…Can't think like that. I can do this… I know I can," she told herself.
As soon as she'd spoken those words, she realized that she was before the door that would lead her into the committee's room. Knowing that there was no longer any turning back, Cagalli took a deep breath and opened the door up, quickly making her way inside.
"…Ah, Ms Attha… we're so pleased that you were able to make it," a voice called out.
"…Yes. Now that you're here, we can finally begin," another voice said.
As she stepped inside of the large room, Cagalli quickly glanced about, taking count of all the members that were present. One…two… three… fifteen. All fifteen members were assembled… as she thought they would be.
Cagalli bowed in a sign of respect.. "…I'm sorry for keeping the committee waiting, sir. I hope you weren't kept up for too long."
An elderly man stood up from the center of the room, raising his hand up. "Please, don't feel as though there is any need for such formalities, Ms. Attha. Do have a seat…"
Cagalli pulled up a nearby chair and sat herself down in it. "…Thank you."
From the side, an elderly woman took to a stand. "…Ms. Attha… I trust that we do not have to impart the meaning as to why you have been called here, do we?"
"'…No, ma'am," Cagalli replied. "…This is…"
"This meeting has been called to address the sudden reappearance of Ms. Clyne in Azure… as I'm sure you've suspected."
"…"
"…As you can imagine," the elderly man said, "all of this has begun to cause quite a commotion among the citizens…"
Cagalli's expression fell some at his words. It was as she thought… and feared. The fear instilled upon the people still lingered in their hearts... perhaps just as much as it had back then.
"We have done our best to keep word of Ms. Clyne's presence a secret among those that were with you and Mr. Zala at the time. However… due to the… unforeseen incident earlier, it has sparked many questions."
"…I understand, sir," she replied, folding her hands underneath her chin.
With the stemming lights from the roof shone down over them, it felt as though one could cut through the rising tension in the room like a hot knife through butter. Even though they were not willing to admit it… many of the committee members themselves were of the same opinions that the people themselves had. A driven fear of Lacus… and what she represented.
Cagalli herself was not blind to this. Despite that, she tried her best to swallow her feelings and stay steady.
"Sir… if I may ask… what is the committee's decision?"
Merely shaking his head, the elder stroked the long gray strands of his beard. "Ms. Attha… right now our priority is simply to gather as much information as we are able. It… wouldn't be in anyone's best interest to act hastily on this matter."
Upon hearing those words, Cagalli cautiously looked about at some of the other members. With looks of hesitance and fear still lingered in their eyes, she knew… these were people who were divided amongst themselves. Still, she was grateful that there were at least a few people who were of the sound mind to take their time in this matter.
From another side of the room, yet another member, a fairly young man, stood up. "What do you believe was the reason that Ms. Clyne decided to come back here, Ms. Attha?"
"Well… that is…" Cagalli lowered her head some, trying to find the right words. "I don't know why she was coming back…"
"…You… don't know?"
Cagalli shook her head back and forth. "I'm afraid Lacus is still unconscious, so no one has had the chance to talk to her. She's been that way since we found her…"
Raising up a hand to cover his mouth, the elderly man gave some careful thought to Cagalli's words before speaking. "Though this may be the case… I would like to hear your personal thoughts as to why you believe she came back. Being who you are… I think you would have the best idea."
Cagalli's eyes narrowed upon hearing such a thing. She stood up from her chair, calling together the attention of all the committee members. "You'll excuse me, sir…"
"...Lacus and I were good friends once… but that was a long time ago. I'm sure a lot of things have changed for her… just like they have with me. So I can't say what her reasons are."
The elder slid his hands together underneath his chin. "…I see. You may be right about that."
With Cagalli's feelings on that matter made clear, they went on to discussing other things.
-------------------------------------
Athrun, with his back leaned against a wall, sighed gently as he stared upon the brightening sky. With the sun having already begun the peak beyond the horizon, glimmers of light shone through the air like sparkles of light. Such a sight was one that would always grace those… who took the time to look for it.
'I wonder if Cagalli is doing alright… it's already been over an hour now.'
With the wind brushing through the long strands of his hair, Athrun crossed his hands in behind his head. His emerald eyes were reflected upon the dawn of twilight… a time where light and darkness were intertwined.
"…Strange…" he whispered.
Though he did not know why, memories of a time when he and Lacus would often sit as he was now… talking about things, some long since forgotten, came back to him.
Athrun grinned, clasping a hand over his face. "I wonder what she'd think of me now…"
With his hand near still completely covering his face, Athrun peered through to a glimmering star that still lay shining up in the sky.
'I wonder… what're you thinking about now…Lacus…'
-----------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------
"Thank you for your time, Ms. Attha."
After a bow of respect, Cagalli made her way back towards the door. "Thank you, sir. You will let me know when the committee's come to a final decision, won't you?"
The elder merely smiled, nodding his head. "Yes, of course. You've been very helpful. So, you'll be the first to know."
"…" Cagalli did not say anything more. Quickly, she opened up her door and stepped through it, making her way back down the hallway.
The committee remained silent in the aftermath of Cagalli's departure. For some of them, it didn't take much for the protruding atmosphere of silence to break through to their innermost thoughts.
"…That girl knew more than she was letting on…" someone whispered.
"Yes… but what do you think she could be hiding?"
From that, more and more whispers spread throughout the room until they were no longer whispers. All it took was but one voice to spark the rest, sending the rest following in suit like a swarm of locusts.
"Now now…" an elderly woman from the back said, standing up. "…don't you all find it very rude to be talking like this? Our young Ms. Attha has just left after all…"
The elderly man inwardly grinned to himself. "…That is true. Fruitless theories are not going to be getting us anywhere…"
"Then what do you suggest we do, elder? We can't just stand by and…"
"Whoever said anything about not doing anything?" the elderly woman said. "Our purpose right now is to find out what we can about Ms. Clyne's situation. Acting in haste is not something we should do."
Upon hearing such words, many of the committee members silenced themselves. It was true… under the age and influence of those who governed such authority and respect, they shut their mouths as though they were just children.
The elderly man took to the front, turning back so that his dull gray eyes could set themselves upon the committee as a whole.
"…It did seem that young Ms. Attha knew more than she was telling us. However… if we had tried to pressure her, such a thing would've only driven her away from us."
"…Excuse me, elder. But it didn't seem as though you were trying…"
The elder gently raised a hand. "I had thought long and hard about how I was going to approach her…"
Within his consciousness, the elder recounted memories… so many memories of times when a young Cagalli and Lacus would always be by each other's side. It was clear as day then… and even now, it still held true.
…The feelings that they held for each other were still there.
"Ms. Attha still cares very much about Ms. Clyne. She would do anything to protect her, I'm sure," he said, closing and reopening his eyes.
"…Therefore, we will simply have to lie back and watch to see what unfolds before us… at least for now," the elderly woman concluded.
"So long as the people of Azure are kept safe… you're right."
--------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------
Athrun set his emerald gaze upon Cagalli as she stepped out from behind the door. And though his mouth was open, no words came. The silence that seemed to surround them seemed to speak so much…
Cagalli, feeling as though the weight of the world had been taken off her shoulders, took a deep breath and flung her head back, embracing the sight of the endless skies. Truly, even though the time she spent away was short, nothing pleased her more than to be able to feel the vastness of the world around her once more.
With the wind blowing through the long strands of his hair, Athrun watched Cagalli. A strange sense of nostalgia filled him. Something about Cagalli had changed… her presence felt different than it had before.
Cagalli brought her head forward and ran her hands through her hair. "…I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."
"Huh?" Athrun blinked. "Oh, no… it didn't feel all that long. Really," he replied.
After giving him a light pat on the shoulder, Cagalli stepped on ahead of Athrun. "In that case, let's hurry up. I want to see how Lacus is doing."
Nodding his head, Athrun quickly made his way back by her side.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"That's it for the most part. They didn't ask me much more than that…" Cagalli said.
"Hmm…"
Feeling uneasy, Cagalli raised a hand over her chest to feel the rhythm of her heart, its beat easing her consciousness. Still reminiscent of her time spent with the committee, many lingering memories lay reawakened in her mind.
She raised her sights up so that she could look upon the dawn, a time of twilight where the light and dark mingled. "Athrun…"
"Yes? What is it, Cagalli?"
"Do… do you think that things are going to change?"
Athrun slowly closed his eyes, smiling faintly.
"…Athrun?"
Athrun slowly reopened the depths of his eyes. "Change is inevitable… and yet…"
Cagalli's expression softened upon hearing such words. "I know that… still…"
"You can't help worrying about her… is that it?"
Cagalli nodded her head.
Athrun raised a gentle hand upon Cagalli's shoulder, his lips having curved into a small smile. "And yet… there are some things that will never change."
The morning's cool breeze blew across Cagalli's face, sending a shiver running through her spine. "Yeah…"
Time continued to move forward, ever gracefully with the rising of the sun in the far distance. Its warmth shone ever more upon the small town of Azure… a true sight to behold in the eyes of those able to see it.
Neither finding it in themselves to speak another word, they continued their walk home.
--------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
--------------
Athrun looked ahead, taking in the sight of the many homes of those whom he can come to regard as family. So many of them held memories of their own… some of them special memories that were his… and his alone.
Some might say that an inevitability of the human experience was in one's desire to keep one's memories. No… perhaps a better way of saying it would be in that humans themselves seek to relive their memories, time and time again in order to never lost sight of who they are… or who they once were.
With every step that he took, Athrun felt as though the world around him was growing more and more surreal.
For one reason or another, Cagalli felt the same as Athrun. It was as if something inside of the two of them was recalling a far away memory…
"Huff…Huff…"
Amidst blazing infernos, a young Cagalli ran throughout Azure's streets. All around her, the echoing cries of people pierced through her ears to her very heart…
From behind, a young Athrun ran desperately, trying to catch up with her as best he could. Despite his efforts however, the overwhelming desires that had weaved themselves around Cagalli's heart had her exerting every last ounce of strength she had… and more.
And as if that were not enough for him to deal with, Athrun, having been drawn between his friendship to Cagalli and his loyalty to his home, had made the painful decision to seal his heart off from the apocalyptic surroundings that engulfed their home. Gone were the pleas for help from his mind… for he only willed himself to see what was right in front of him.
'Damn it… if this keeps up…'
Cagalli continued to run faster and faster. The rapid beating of her heart within her chest pounded ever stronger, reminiscent of her reason. She had to find her… at any cost…
Athrun gritted his teeth together. Anger had begun to burn within him as he came to realize… he just couldn't catch her. Despite all that he had resolved himself unto, Cagalli was more determined in this than she ever had been at anything else.
Suddenly, from far off into the distance, Athrun caught sight of an armed patrol heading their way. His emerald eyes widened in realization of what would happen if they saw Cagalli before he could… no… he wouldn't allow that to happen. He couldn't…
Summoning up the last vestiges of his strength, Athrun sped up down the blazing streets. With but a few seconds to spare, he managed to grasp his hand around Cagalli's waist. Quickly, he ducked the two of them into a nearby alleyway.
"Athrun, what're you…!?" Cagalli found herself silenced as Athrun clasped a hand tightly over her mouth.
Slowly, Athrun shook his head, his eyes motioning outside of the alleyway.
For the first few moments, she saw nothing nor heard anything. To her surprise however, the sound of many footsteps began echoing throughout the street. It was not long before she caught sight of the red-clothed troops marching. Through each of their faces she could tell… if she had been caught by them, she would've been killed without hesitation. The bloodlust that they emanated was so strong it was palpable…
Athrun pulled his hand away from Cagalli's mouth as soon as he was sure that they had gone. A sigh of relief escaped him as he leaned himself against the nearby wall.
"…Sorry," Cagalli whispered.
"Please don't worry about it," Athrun replied. "Just don't ever make me have to do something like that ever again… okay?"
Cagalli clenched her hands together, faintly nodding her head.
For the momentary silence that followed, neither of them said a single word. The crackling echo of roaring flames and burning ash still lingered in the air… its foul presence seeming intent on dispelling what small hope there was for their home…
Cagalli's amber eyes wavered with uncertainty. "We can't stay here any longer, Athrun… we've got to do something."
"…"
"…Athrun… please… we've got to find Lacus before something happens…"
Athrun placed a hand on one knee, lifting himself up to a stand. "I know…but this is getting too dangerous for you. You should find a safe place to hide while I try to find Lacus."
Cagalli shook her head in defiance. "No way, Athrun. I'm not letting you go out there all by yourself. You saw those guys, right? If you go out there alone and they find you, then…"
"Then it's a good thing I don't plan on letting them find me," he said, smiling. "I have a pretty good idea where Lacus is hiding out, so please don't concern yourself. I should be able to make it there without being spotted."
Unwilling to leave it at that, Cagalli grasped Athrun by the collar of his shirt and pressed him up against the wall. "Now you listen to me, Zala. There's no way I'm letting you go this alone. You're taking me with you and that's all there is to it, got it?"
"Why are you being so stubborn? I'm only thinking about what's best for everyone," Athrun replied, his eyes narrowing with conviction.
"Hmph." Cagalli raised her hand and gently whacked Athrun across the side of his face. "For such a smart guy… you really don't get it, do you?"
With his hand raised upon his cheek, Athrun didn't say a word. Though he felt not pain, the look within Cagalli's face had struck him far harder than he thought. She truly felt wronged in all of this… that much he knew.
Her firm grip upon his shirt tightened as she pressed him up against the wall. "Lacus is my friend too. And I'm going to make this really clear… if you go off and leave me here all by myself… I'll never forgive you," she said, her voice coming down to a fair whisper.
Athrun sighed. He knew that there was no time for this… if he'd tried protesting her demands, she'd keep this up for as long as she had to. As if that were not enough… time was running out for Lacus as well. If she was still safe in hiding… there was no guarantee for how much longer she'd stay that way…
"Alright…" he whispered, admitting his defeat. "But if we're going to do this, then we're going to do it my way."
"Whatever you say, Athrun," Cagalli replied, grinning inwardly to herself.
After carefully checking to see if the way was clear, Athrun and Cagalli sped off down the torn streets of Azure. Little did they know of what would be awaiting them at the end of their search…
---------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
"This is terrible…" Cagalli whispered, her saddened gaze drawn upon the body of a small child below them. A young girl, no more than five or six, clutched onto a small teddy bear.
Athrun knelt down and placed his hand over the girl's openly frozen eyes, closing them.
A single stray tear rolled down Cagalli's cheek. "…Why? Why are they doing this…?"
Athrun, understanding of her feelings, placed a gentle hand upon her shoulder. "…Come on. We don't have much time left…"
Cagalli raised a hand and wiped away the tear from her face. "…I know."
With that said between them, the two crept slowly about a house, peering onto a large building just past the dimly lit horizon.
Athrun's expression sharpened, a light now burning within his eyes. 'There it is…'
Lit underneath the crimson red moon's light was a large cathedral. Its towering heights would seem to stretch up into the heavens for those who would look at it for too long. Having been built long since before Azure, it gave an air of mystery. Yet, for the many peoples who were without hope, it had become a sanctuary.
Cagalli placed a hand upon Athrun's arm. "It doesn't look like anything's happened to it yet…"
Athrun slowly nodded his head. Though he didn't want to bring it up, something wasn't quite right… why had most everything else been rendered into fire and ash when something like the cathedral had been left completely untouched? It didn't make any sense…
"Let's take it slowly, Cagalli… something doesn't feel right here," he said.
"…Alright," she replied, her voice low and soft. 'I only hope that everyone's okay…'
The two of them carefully started treading their way towards the cathedral, making sure to keep at a constant watch for anyone who might be coming their way. Through what seemed like an agonizingly long few minutes, they finally reached the front doors.
"…Huh?"
Within the dead air of the night, the sound of someone singing could be heard. It was a haunting melody the likes of which Cagalli had never heard before… yet somehow familiar.
Athrun looked about in a vain attempt to try and find the source of the song. "That voice… it can't be…"
Cagalli clutched a hand against the side of her head… the strange, unusual melody bringing about a pain from deep within her. "Ahh…"
"Cagalli?" Athrun knelt down beside her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "What is it? What's wrong?"
"Ahh… I-I can't…" Cagalli clutched at her head ever tighter… the sound of the song bearing further and further into the recesses of her consciousness. Her senses had begun to feel disoriented… leaving her unable to even stand.
'What's going on…? What is this song…'
Suddenly, Athrun felt the same seizing pressure as Cagalli pierce his mind. He stumbled for a moment, falling back onto the ground as he clutched a hand at his forehead. "Ahh…"
Soon, the two of them lay as crippled on the ground as helpless as two infants. They could neither speak nor do anything except endure the heart-wrenching pain that threatened to consume them.
Unbeknownst to the two of them, a glimmering light had begun to shine from within the cathedral. Through the stained glass windows, its 'presence' grew brighter and brighter… and it was then that they realized. The song… that haunting melody… it was coming from within there.
In an instant, the doors of the cathedral burst open, the radiance of the light bursting out from within it. Its radiance shot upwards into the darkness of the night, piercing though the clouds and searching further and further into the recesses of the boundless skies.
Cagalli and Athrun could only watch as the last vestiges of their strength faded into nothingness… for with the coming of the light, the power of the song rang throughout the wholes of the bodies, sapping their strengths away in an instant. Even the bright flames of their wills, the very dependent through which they had strived through the destruction that was laid waste upon their homes, were gone…
Before she blacked out, a single word came to Cagalli's mind as she gazed upon the open doors of the cathedral.
"…Lacus…"
------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------
---------------
'That was a very long time ago…' Cagalli thought.
'It's been seven years since that happened… but we still don't know anything about what happened…' Athrun thought.
Cagalli gleamed the look so set upon Athrun's face. "What're you thinking about? If you keep looking like that, you're going to have a face full of wrinkles before you're thirty," she said, grinning.
"…No I won't," he replied, muttering. "It wasn't anything, really… just reminiscing about the past I guess."'
"'Oh yeah?" Cagalli folded her hands in behind her back. "Well, if you're gonna think about stuff like that, maybe you'll remember who was always told us to get a good breakfast in before anything else. Hmm?"
Athrun faintly smiled. "I remember…"
"Good," she said, stepping to Athrun's face. "Then maybe you won't mind picking it up a notch, because I'm starving."
"'Yes ma'am…" he whispered, lowering his head.
Cagalli giggled, grasping Athrun's hand. "Aw, come on… don't look so down in the dumps."
With that said, she pulled him in behind her as she hurried down the street.
-------------------------------------
"Mmm…" Kira's amethyst eyes slowly fluttered open. A groan escaped him, the feel of dawn's first light piercing through to his still hazy vision.
Slowly, he sat up, raising his hands to rub the sand away from his eyes. He took in a fair breath, breathing in deeply of the fresh air flowing in from the nearby window.
"…" Kira raised a hand, looking upon it with a curious intent. His body felt… heavy. The kind of heavy you'd feel if you'd been working out for far too long. It were as if his muscles hadn't moved in quite a while. And even more than that… despite feeling that he'd been asleep for a while, he felt exhausted…
Being careful not to push himself too hard too fast, Kira slowly slid his legs out from underneath the covers of his bed onto the floor. Taking one step at a time, he made his way over to the nearby window, pushing the frames open so that he might look outside…
"…" '…I'm sure of it. This is it…'
"…Azure…" he whispered.
Kira clasped a hand over his face, grinning some. "…Now what…?"
Taking notice to his clothes hanging on a nearby hanger, Kira quickly dressed himself. With that done, he walked over to the nearby door and opened it up, stepping out into the connecting hallway.
As he made his way into the living room, Kira looked around. From near out of the corner of his eye, a certain photograph caught his attention. He walked over and knelt down to get a better look. It didn't take but a moment for his eyes to widen in realization…
Although she looked a lot younger, there was no mistaking that it was Lacus. Standing beside her was a young boy with long blue hair and a young girl with blonde hair. What truly caught Kira's attention was how happy she looked… and not the kind of happiness one would see in a smile or a laugh… but true happiness.
"…" After setting the photo back down, Kira turned his sights onto a nearby window. 'Where are you…?'
Suddenly, Kira heard the faint sound of footsteps echoing from outside. He quickly ducked in behind a wall, keeping his sights narrowed beyond.
"…I told you, it's not like that, Cagalli…"
"Why don't you just admit it? I swear, you're so stubborn sometimes," Cagalli said.
Kira's eyes widened. He ducked in behind a nearby wall, narrowly peering outside so that he might see who was coming…
After she closed the door behind them, Athrun set his coat down on the nearby rack. "You're making too much out of this… perhaps you really do need something to eat."
"'Don't change the subject, Athrun."
'Those two are…' Within his mind, Kira could clearly see… those two were the ones that were beside Lacus in the photograph. Were they… her friends?
"I'm not trying to change the subject, Cagalli. It's just…"
Athrun withdrew into a veil of silence as, from within the next room, Kira stepped out into the open.
Cagalli turned around. "Athrun? What were you going to..." Her eyes widened as she too saw the youth Kira step out into the open. "You…"
For the silent moments that followed, none said even a single word. All seemed transfixed, as if something were holding their mouths shut.
Though he was nervous, standing before others who, in truth were the only ones in all the world he had looked upon besides Lacus, Kira felt a need to say something.
"…Thank you for taking care of me…" he whispered.
Athrun stepped forward, making his way until he was face-to-face with Kira. "There's no need to thank us. It was something we wanted to do after all."
With that said, Athrun turned back towards Cagalli, motioning for her to come forward.
"All of this feels very awkward, but perhaps we might feel better if we properly introduced ourselves to each others."
Athrun raised his hand towards Kira. "My name is Athrun Zala, though I'd like it if you would just call me Athrun. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Taking notice in that Cagalli was standing by his side, albeit as silent as a rock, Athrun nudged her gently. "And my friend here is Ms. Cagalli Attha. She's happy to meet you too."
"…" Cagalli didn't say a single word.
Kira slowly raised his hand, clasping it firmly around Athrun's. "…My name's Kira"
After drawing his hand back, Athrun turned about and began walking towards the kitchen. "Well, we sure can't get to knowing each other on an empty stomach, now can we? How does some breakfast sound?"
Cagalli's ears perked at the very mention of breakfast.
"That… sounds good."
"Please have a seat then. It may be a little while, so I hope you won't mind."
Kira nodded his head and sat down in a nearby chair. He took in a fair breath, leaning his head back so that he could stare at the empty ceiling. Within that time, that moment, the sheer exhaustion from all that he had been through began to weight over him at once.
Cagalli made her way over by Athrun's side and began helping him prepare the food.
"He seems like a nice to me, don't you think?"
Cagalli popped a piece of an apple she had been slicing into her mouth. "Maybe. But I didn't exactly plan on making breakfast for three people though…"
Athrun chuckled. "You sure have more than enough food for him though. Although, with your appetite, I'm not sure how long it'll last."
Cagalli narrowed her eyes. "And what's that supposed to mean?"
"Huh?" He glanced over to her. "Oh, no… it doesn't mean anything. I just meant that you have a really healthy appetite, you know?"
Cagalli playfully elbowed Athrun in the arm. "Uh-huh… that better be all it meant."
"Excuse me," Kira said, placing his hand alongside the edge of a cabinet. "I was wondering if there was anything I could do to help. It looks like there's a lot…"
"Thank you for the offer, Kira, but we're actually just about done here. It won't be more than a few minutes."
"Oh… alright." With that, he headed back into the living room.
Athrun smiled faintly. "I think I'm beginning to see why Lacus is so fond of him…"
"What?" Cagalli dropped the knife she was holding onto the table. "What're you talking about?"
"Hmm? Well… it's nothing I can say for sure. But sometimes when I'll go in to check on her, she'll start talking in her sleep. I usually can't make out much, but I'm pretty sure she's said 'Kira' a lot," Athrun said, grinning inwardly to himself.
Cagalli picked up the knife and slammed it down onto the table, slicing an orange clear in half. "You must've been imagining it," she said, pulling the knife out from the indention left in the countertop.
"…" Athrun swallowed deeply, letting his eyes wander off to the side. "Uh, yeah… I guess you're right."
'…What's she so sensitive about?'
"Good. Now that we're over that nonsense, I think we should find out more about our new friend, don't you?" she said, picking up a tray of food in her hands.
"Yeah… sure," Athrun replied, making sure to stay behind Cagalli as they walked back into the living room.
As Cagalli made her way into the living room, she set the tray of food down before Kira. "Sorry it took so long," she said, maintaining a tone of near underlying disposition.
Kira blinked some. "Oh, no… it's not a problem."
Athrun sat down beside Kira. "I apologize," he whispered into his ear. "She's under a lot of stress right now."
"Oh."' He glanced over towards Cagalli for a moment, quickly turning his attention back when he thought she noticed him. Feeling his stomach growl with a growing hunger, he started into his meal.
------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------
"You haven't said much, Kira. Is something on your mind?"
"Huh? Oh, no… not really."
Athrun took a sip of orange juice, setting the glass back down on the table. "I know that I can't begin to understand what you're feeling right now. But I think you'd feel better if you did talk about it."
"…"
"You want to know about Lacus, don't you?" Cagalli interjected.
Athrun's expression sharpened at the suddenness of Cagalli's words.
Kira slowly nodded his head. "Yes, I do..."
Cagalli picked up her cup of tea and took a fair sip. "Before I tell you, I'd like to hear about how you know Lacus first. You understand, right?"
"I'm not really sure how much I can tell you, but I'll try my best. It all started when..."
---------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
"…So you've really only known Lacus for a week."
"Mhmm, that's right."
"…Ugh." Cagalli stood up from her chair and walked over to the nearby window. She folded her arms over her chest as if in defiance of something.
"…I'm sorry, Athrun. Lacus and I didn't talk much about anything else."
Athrun shook his head. "You don't have to worry about it. From what you've told us, you've been through more than we can imagine."
"Athrun…"
Athrun placed a hand upon his shoulder, standing up. "Would you like to go for a walk?"
"A…walk? Now?"
Athrun nodded his head. "There are some things that we need to talk about. And… I'd like to give Cagalli some time to herself right now."
"Hmm…" Kira set his amethyst gaze upon Cagalli, who hadn't said much of anything to him since he'd met her. Was there something about him that she just didn't like? Maybe… but then again, some people are just naturally hard to understand.
"Alright… let's go."
With that said, the two of them made their way out through the door. Cagalli, for all her poise and silence, didn't seem to notice as she simply continued to let her gaze wander beyond the azure sky.
As he closed the door behind them, Athrun turned towards Kira. "Well, before anything else, I want you to know that Lacus is doing fine."
"…"
Athrun smiled. "There's no need to hide it. It's been pretty clear that you've been worried about something.
"Well, I…"
"We've only just met each other, Kira. I know I'm in no position to be asking you personal questions like this. But… what is the relationship between you and Lacus?"
"…" Kira raised his head up so that he might look upon the bright morning sun. Within the streaming waves of his consciousness, he recalled the time in the cave. Lacus' warm body held within his arms. The swirling heat of temptation that filled his body as their lips met…
He looked back at Athrun, a smile strewn over his lips. "We're just friends…"
"…I see," Athrun replied, slipping his hands inside of his pockets.
"We should get going. There's a lot I want to ask you about now."
With that said between them, Kira and Athrun started off down the streets of Azure. Little did Kira know however, of the 'truth' that he was about to learn…
-------------------------------------
------------------------
Cagalli felt as though she had been staring outside that window for days on end, even though it hadn't been much over an hour. Time can do that to a person… when the moments themselves seem to give them no rest.
She sighed faintly, unfolding her arms from across her chest. She narrowly turned her head about, glancing down a nearby hallway. The knowing of what was there and what seemed to be 'calling' to her filling her mind.
Before she knew it, she found herself standing before 'that' door, her hand on the doorknob. Carefully, she opened it up… the sound of it creaking further and further open filling her ears. …Why was this so hard?
The glimmering illumination of candles filled the room with gentle warmth. Lying down like a sleeping angel upon the bed was Lacus. One could not help but wonder what dreams she dreamt of. Who was she thinking of, Cagalli wondered. That boy, Kira? Her and Athrun? Those answers may be all but lost now… for she was unable to tell. Truly, the friend she had once known and the grown woman sleeping before her now were not the same…
Cagalli knelt down by Lacus' side, raising a hand to brush it against her cheek. "You know that you were supposed to tell me if there a boy you liked… you promised."
A grin etched itself over her lips. "This sounds so stupid… talking to you when you can't even hear me…"
The grin faded. "I don't understand… why did you wait all this time to come back? Was it that hard for you…?"
Cagalli could feel the cool morning's breeze brush against her face. Lacus' passionate pink hair strewn off the edges of the bed…
Cagalli ran her hand underneath them, clasping the loose strands as they fell through her fingertips. "Look at you…" she whispered. "How long has it been since you've even had a haircut…?"
"I hope you get a really good sleep, 'cause I am going to give you such a piece of my mind when you wake up…"
Not having been able to find it in herself to say anything else, Cagalli withdrew into silence. She merely watched her friend… finding herself content in being able to look upon her once more.
--------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------
"You said that this place was special, Athrun. What did you mean?"
Athrun folded his arms over his chest as he looked upon the grand cathedral from afar. In an instant, the memories of 'that' time came back to him. "It is… 'special'. But it's also the best place I could think of to tell you about Lacus. I know it sounds strange, but that's how I feel."
"…" Kira looked with a curious intent as he saw people walking in and out from its doors. Even from the distance that he was, there was something about them… the 'presence' that they gave off, that helped him to realize what Athrun meant.
"I'm sure that you've realized by now that Lacus was… is our friend. And that she used to live here… a long time ago."
Kira turned back towards Athrun, nodding his head. "Yeah… I figured that much out on my own."
"From what you've told me already… you and Lacus were staying not too far away from here. Just beyond the forest, is that right?"
"Mhmm. Though I wouldn't have been able to make my way through it if it wasn't for Lacus…"
'As I thought…'
"But I don't understand, Athrun…" Kira shifted his gaze so that he might look upon Azure in its entirety. "Why would she leave this place…?"
"…"
Now looking upon Athrun, Kira folded his hands over his chest. "I want to hear the truth, Athrun. I can't believe Lacus would leave this place if she had a choice, so then why…"'
Athrun stepped ahead of Kira and looked back towards him. "If you truly want to know, you'll have to ask Lacus herself."
Athrun took a deep breath. "Honestly, I can't say what her reasons were. But there's something you have to know before we take this any further…"
"…It sounds serious. What is it?"
"It was… seven years ago now. Seven years ago that Azure was almost completely destroyed."
Kira's eyes widened in shock. "…Destroyed? What're you talking about?"
Athrun shook his head back and forth. "It's hard to imagine, I know. Sometimes it's hard even for me to believe, if I hadn't been here to see it for myself that is."
"Who would want to destroy a place like this? That doesn't make any sense."
"Truthfully, the people who did it weren't so much out to destroy as they were… looking for something. At least that's what little information we were able to gather told us."'
Kira's expression sharpened, a deep feeling of anger building up from within him. "What sort of monsters would do such a thing?"
At Kira's words, images of the past...blood-soaked images of crimson flame and smoldering ash reflected through Athrun's consciousness.
"…If we knew who did it, you can be sure that some of the people here would've tried to do something about it by now."
"Then… if this happened seven years ago like you said, then you're saying that you still don't know who?"
"You have to understand, Kira… the scope of what happened goes beyond anything you can imagine. Try and live through the experience of seeing people, people you've grown up with and called family slaughtered and left to bleed to death in the streets. Women, children… it didn't make any difference."
"…"
"But as horrifying as that was, the fear that it instilled in the survivors is even greater than that. And though there are some who would seek revenge even now… there are just too many who don't want to see a repeat of that tragedy…"
Kira sighed, relinquishing the once firm fists he held."…I understand."
Suddenly, as if struck by a bolt of lightning, a thought came to mind. "Wait a minute… when you said that they were looking for something… you don't mean…"
"…"
"…It can't be…"
Athrun placed a hand on Kira's shoulder to try and assuage his worry. "Please don't jump to any conclusions, Kira. I know what you're thinking and… well, that's where everything gets complicated."
"…What do you mean?"
"In truth, we don't know whether or not it was Lacus that they were looking for. But…"
As he continued to speak, Athrun could recall the screams of his people… their eyes filled with a hatred and malice he had never before thought possible. More than that though was the shattered look upon Lacus' face as they…
"…I can't honestly tell you why it was, however soon after everything had settled down, the people here began to blame Lacus for everything that had transpired. In spite of what they had been to each other before, everything seemed to collapse around her then…"
Kira clenched a hand into a tight fist as Athrun continued to speak. He couldn't believe it… it didn't make any sense. How could… how could anyone think that Lacus would be responsible for such a thing…?
"…It was around that time that she disappeared. Cagalli and I, we… searched for her as much as we could. But we hadn't any idea where she had gone…"
Kira stepped forward so that he was face-to-face with Athrun. "If that all you've told me is really true… then where do we go from here?"
"You have a strong will, Kira. For someone to sound so self assured after hearing all that… on top of all your own problems…"
'…I can see now why Lacus is fond of him…'
Athrun grinned to himself inwardly. "For now, the best thing we can do is go back home and wait for Lacus to wake up. We'll make our next move from there."
Kira nodded his head in agreement. With that done, Athrun started off down the street, anxious to check in on Lacus and Cagalli.
Kira however, did not move for a moment. He merely watched as Athrun slowly began to distance himself, taking the easing silence to think to himself…
'…A strong will, huh? And after everything's that happened… it feels like this is only the beginning…'
Kira took in a breath, raising his sights up so that he might gleam a look into the bright morning sun. Its rays shone down over him, illuminating the amethyst glint within his eyes.
'There's nothing I can do now but try and move forward…'
"Come on, Kira! Hurry up! If we keep her waiting any longer, Cagalli's going to chew us out!"
As he watched Athrun, a small smile began to grow upon his lips. 'I'm still glad I met them though…'
-----------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------
----------------------
Rey took a few steps forward, raising his hand alongside the edge of his mouth. "Shinn, are you ready?"
Not a moment afterwards did Shinn leap out from the cockpit of his Impulse, landing safely on the ground. Dressed in a casual outfit befitting of one who wanted to look nothing more than an average civilian, he walked over towards Rey. "I've been ready for this moment for a long time… are we finally moving out?"
Rey nodded his head, the long strands of his blonde hair swaying over his piercing blue eyes. "Yes," he replied.
Lunamaria came out from behind a nearby tree, having finished dressing as well. "It's gonna be nightfall soon. You don't think they'll suspect anything, do you?"
"There's no need to worry. From what our intelligence has gathered, this place has been used to taking in refugees and those who wish to distance themselves from the outside. We're going in under as such, so there shouldn't be a problem."
"…Gee, you've really thought this thing out, haven't you?"
"A mission always demands our utmost effort, Lunamaria. I shouldn't have to tell you that."
Lunamaria chuckled nervously, raising a hand to clasp it atop her head. "Yes, sir…"
Rey turned back towards Shinn. "I will be keeping my eye on you however, Shinn. I expect you to keep yourself under control at all times…"
"…"
"There's nothing else. Let's go now."
Shinn and Lunamaria nodded their heads. With all of that made clear, the three of them headed off towards a nearby dirt road that would lead them into Azure.
To be Continued...
A/N: In truth, while there were some parts of this chapter that I felt more confident in than others, I feel that I could've been more decisive as to when to set up the flashbacks. The flashbacks themselves are something that I feel are necessary to help understand what's going on without dragging things on chapter after chapter. From my POV, although the flashbacks themselves go on for a few pages, I tried to envision them as happening in the minds of others as occuring in but a moment.
Also, I certainly did take notice to how I kept referencing to people's faces and expressions throughout this chapter. And while I don't believe this is wrong, since people themselves will focus on other people's faces, eyes, etc, to gauge their feelings and emotions, I think I could come at it from a different angle rather than just say that their expressions sharpened or their eyes were filled with sadness. Moreover, I want to know if how I went at it in this chapter really threw you off, or if it wasn't that much of a problem.
Most of all, I just want to know what you really liked and what you really didn't like. Beyond all of the computer problems I had, I've really been trying to better my writing skills. But I realize I can't do it alone, so I'm asking for some help.
Anyway, with all that serious stuff out of the way, I think the story is starting to come together now. I'm wondering myself what's going to happen when Shinn and 'he' meet... could be interesting, don't you think? And what's in store for Kira and Lacus when Lacus wakes up? I'm looking forward to it, so I hope you are too.