My Sweetest Heart for You Chapter 9 - Scent of Malice
"A crimson flame burns… turning all unto ash. That which once was… will never return."
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Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Gundam Seed/Gundam Seed Destiny. I am not compensated in any way for my work other than in the enjoyment that my readers experience.
A/N: In this chapter comes the moment that I believe many of you, and myself as well, have been waiting for. The inevitable confrontation between Kira and Shinn, a conflict that I plan to be long stemming at the root from which much more will occur.
What will these two strengths bring about between them and for everyone around them? Will this fight prove to resolve anything about Kira's lost memories? And what of Lacus? There's only way to find out, and that's to read and see what happens.
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Along the far expanse of the eerily quiet beach, an icy wind blew. Its fevered grasp whispered of malice, hatred, and the soon-to-be conflict that would soon stir upon its surface.
…Such a night possessed a presence that sent shivers curling up one's spine, as though the sweet touch of death itself were thick in the air, a mere prelude to that which would soon engulf the world stemming far beyond its shores. Through it and beyond it, even the wisest of humankind could not begin to imagine what such things meant.
Standing firmly upon such a beach was Shinn, his crimson-red gaze piercing through the body of the young boy frozen before him. Along with the immense hatred, there lay an insurmountable amount of pain and suffering dwelling within his intense gaze… the likes of which had been residing him for most of his life.
In spite of such… now was the time that it was all boiling to the surface… ready to be unleashed in all of its potent wrath at any given moment.
Clearly sensing the malicious intent lurking with the mysterious boy's eyes, Kira could only stay as he was, frozen at a standstill. He felt as if his heart was torn between what to do; the slightest wrong movement, and he felt as if either he or Lacus would lose their life…
"…Stand up," Shinn whispered, his tone low and hushed.
Knowing of what might happen were he to refuse, Kira slowly rose to a stand. All the while however, he could not bring himself to allow his gaze to drift away from the boy's. Within their depths, he felt something… something horribly familiar.
Within his consciousness, the images he'd seen earlier in the day repeated themselves for him, time and time again. …The slight of blood, a torn city, and the insurmountable amount of destruction… as though the judgment of the heavens themselves had been cast down for some unspeakable crime.
Along with that, there was the knowledge of who this boy was. It was through seeing him earlier in the day that such things had appeared in his mind. And now here he was, pointing a gun at him, ready to end his life with but a moment's whim.
…Who was he? And what was the incredible pressure of hatred he felt burning him? …It was far beyond anything he had experienced before, yet in some way, was eerily familiar to him.
As such thoughts transpired within the young men's minds, an icy wind blew, sending the long strands of their hair swaying back and forth over their faces. Though such a thing did little to dissuade their sights from leaving one another, it left the disposition of the raw emotion that filled so air so fully rising in their hearts and minds.
"…I wish to ask you one thing before you die," Shinn whispered, cocking his gun, raising it up to alignment with Kira's face.
"…"
At the very thought of what his question was, Shinn gritted his teeth. The rage building up inside of him demanded nothing more and nothing less than to see the man before with a bullet in his head.
Kira's gaze narrowed suspiciously at the sudden change in Shinn's expression. He had been filled with an outpouring of anger and resentment from the moment he'd first seen him; that much was clear, yet… in that instant, it almost looked as though he were pained by something…
"Tell me," Shinn whispered through clenched teeth. "…Why…"
"…?"
Stepping forward, Shinn narrowed his gaze with righteous conviction. "Tell me, why did you have to kill my family!?"
Kira's gaze widened considerably at such words. …Kill his family? What in the world was he talking about!?
"Tell me!!" Shinn demanded.
Clenching his fist together at such an outrageous accusation, Kira shook his head. "…Listen, I don't know who you think I am, but I've never killed anyone in my life. I think you've mistaken me for someone else."
Shinn's eyes narrowed viciously at such words. This man who had murdered his entire family, taken the lives of innumerable numbers of people, and stolen every shred of happiness from him had the audacity to deny it to his very face.
…There would be no mercy for such disrespect.
"…How many more times must you spit in my face? …You've taken everything from me with those blood-soaked hands of yours… and now you would even deny everything you done? …You truly are an abominable beast, aren't you…"
Shinn continued speaking his vicious words; time after time, speaking to Kira of the horrors and atrocities that he had supposedly committed. It was all to clear that mere words alone could do not justice to the utter betrayal and hatred that this man felt. It exuded from him with such a force that it was palpable.
Kira, being where he was, could only bear to listen and take in all of Shinn's accusations with little more than an empty-filled gaze.
The words that this man spoke to him were of a cruel and vindictive nature, so-much-so that, even if they were true, Kira could not bring himself to face it. …It didn't matter to him, so he thought, that whether what he said was the truth or not. …But still, he sounded so completely sure in himself. …What if such things were true?
Shinn, having finished saying what he felt needed to be said, raised his gun once more and prepared to fire it into Kira's head, ending his miserable existence with one, single stroke.
…Just as he was about to however, something from deep inside of him whispered to him, telling him that this wasn't the way that this bastard's life should end. …Was it really right to grant him such a merciful and quick death, even more so in the face that he still denied his crimes? …No. It wouldn't… couldn't end that way.
Slowly, his expression sharpened with dangerous intent, Shinn gave a powerful toss and thrust his gun away, sending it into the far reaches of the ocean.
More than a bit surprised at such a brash and unexpected action, Kira looked upon Shinn with a confused expression. Shinn, who, in retaliation, did nothing but continue to look upon the man he believed to have caused him so much pain. There was no time for hesitation nor second chances. …This was the one and only way it could possibly end.
"…Your life will not end so easily. I'll see you beg for death before me before I kill you."
Kira's eyes sharpened considerably after hearing such words. …So that was his intent and reason for throwing his gun away…
"…I have no purpose in fighting you," Kira retorted. "It's totally pointless."
"If you refuse to fight me," Shinn whispered, his tone of a low, dark nature, "then I'll have no choice but to kill that girl you were with."
'…Lacus!'
Kira's gaze immediately shifted over towards the still unconscious Lacus. She was out of it, and would be completely helpless to defend herself if this man were to attack her. …By himself, he wasn't sure he would be able to stop him if he tried.
Kira clenched a hand into a tight fist, gritting his teeth. …No matter how much he thought about it, the situation seemingly more and more bleak in the face of such bitter outcomes. It didn't seem as though there would be any backing down from him, not from someone this determined and fiercely determined.
"…Very well," Kira whispered. "…I'll fight you."
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Having finally reached his Phantom Zaku Suit, Rey quickly opened its cockpit and made his way inside. After having done so, he seated himself down and activated his suit's basic systems, a vast array of lights and sounds coming to life.
Though the chance was slim, Rey went about executing a systematic search of Azure as well as its surrounding areas in the hope that it would locate Shinn. Much to his disappointment however, the search's results came up with nothing more than the usual readings.
Though the likelihood of such a thing succeeding had been slim from the start, a small part of him had hoped that it would.
Quickly, Rey picked up his communications' system and raised it up to his mouth. "Lunamaria, this is Rey. Do you read?"
After a few moments of utter silence, Lunamaria's voice suddenly came pouring in through the speaker. "I read you, Rey. Have you had any luck finding Shinn?"
"Unfortunately not," Rey replied. "However, if we've been searching for this long and still haven't caught sight of him, it's very likely that he's moved beyond Azure's borders."
At such words, Lunamaria immersed herself in a thoughtful silence. …It just wasn't like Shinn, not at all, to act like this: having shut off his communicator; going out of his way to make sure they couldn't find him; and even more than that, letting his emotions get so out of control.
Though she hadn't seen him to confirm this, Lunamaria knew Shinn well enough to know what kind of emotional state he would be in to do such irrational things.
"…What do you think we should do from here, Rey? If what you're saying's true, then it's going to be near impossible to find him now."
"Not necessarily, Lunamaria," Rey retorted, shaking his head ever so slightly. "At this point, it's near a definite that he's pursuing the target on his own. If he's managed to come into contact with him, then I'm sure there'll be 'something' showing itself soon that'll let us know where he is."
"…That sounds like kind of a stretch if you ask me, Rey. Is that really all we've got to go on?"
"…"
"…Rey?"
"…For the time being, Lunamaria, keep your search selective to two or three miles outside of Azure's radius. Very likely, if Shinn isn't in Azure itself and he has managed to find the target, I doubt he'll take him very far in order to deal with him."
Rey's logic, at least as far as trying to pinpoint Shinn's location, seemed stable enough. …However, Lunamaria thought, it felt as if he had something on his mind that he wasn't telling her. …Not that such a thing was any different from usual, but the situation was too unstable now for her to be kept out of the loop like this.
"…Rey," Lunamaria said, her tone of a more serious than it had been before. "…Is there something you're not telling me?"
"…Just keep searching for Shinn as best you can, Lunamaria. It'll be dangerous if he strays too far on his own any further than he already has."
"…But Rey…!"
"That's all, Lunamaria," Rey stated, forcibly shutting their communications' link down. After setting the mechanism back upon his suit's control panel, Rey gave a faint sigh and gently leaned himself back in his seat.
Narrowly turning his sharp blue gaze to the outside, Rey caught sight of the pale blue moon, its full shape gracing the heavens, shining down upon the Azure in all of its splendor.
…Though he'd never be one to fall into such dreamy states, even he couldn't help but look to such things in troubled times.
…Perhaps this situation with Shinn had been inevitable from the very beginning, Rey thought. He had always been so insatiable in his desire to pursue 'that' man and take his revenge. Taking him along on this mission had been a gamble from the very start, of that he was sure.
But then again, Rey thought, his expression darkening some in its train of thought. …Had been this been what Chairman Durandal had been expecting from the very beginning? Had he and Lunamaria been nothing but pawns in the face of the goal of getting Shinn and the target to meet face-to-face?
Rey shook his near violently, shaking off such ridiculous thoughts. There was no way the Chairman would do such things, not when he knew better than most the sure danger that would result from such a thing.
"…"
Relinquishing a brief sigh, Rey ran a hand over his face, trying to calm himself down from the vast array of suspicions and thoughts beginning to wield their influence over him. …There was no time for such things, not when he still had to fulfill his duty as the mission commander and retrieve Shinn.
At the very thought of the young man, a somber feeling began creeping up within Rey.
"…Shinn," he whispered.
Rey folded his hands over his chest, leaning his head back so that he might look upon the empty night sky above. "…Shinn, where are you now? …I wonder…"
As he continued to look upon the darkened heavens, from deep within his mind, a faint memory began to resurface. …It was a time so very long ago… a time when he had first laid eyes on the young man known as Shinn Asuka…
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Lingering throughout the stagnant air, there was naught but the remnant of destruction… chaotic, crimson flames spiraling about in what could've only been described as a nightmare. The wailing cries of those lost in the midst of such lingered in the night… as though grasping for some faint remnant of hope that was nowhere to be found…
Within the remnants of the torn city below, a few people could be seen. Their tear-soaked faces and broken bodies lingered about, some of whom were still trying to hold onto the life given them. Though… it was clear, what little resolution was left lingering in their eyes was slowly fading away…
Surely… nowhere in the world had such absolute carnage and bloodshed been seen. It was a portrait of hell, of blood and flesh intermingled with absolute sadness.
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For the past few hours, ever since the tragedy had struck, Rey had been working tirelessly in a nearby medical facility. Being but a young man himself, there was little he could do to have helped with the fighting, so… at the very least, he could try to tend to those who needed it.
…Still, even for someone like him, it was difficult to maintain his composure in the face of the horrors before him. For as far as he could seen, there were people upon people, some of whom were but little children, crying out for help… desperately seeking someone to talk their hands and tell them everything was going to be alright.
With such things lingering strongly in his consciousness, Rey clenched his hand tightly together. …He just felt so completely helpless to do anything to help them.
"…Ah, there you are," a voice called out.
"Hmm?" Rey narrowly turned his gaze towards the voice, a young nurse coming towards him.
"Huff…Huff…please," she whispered. "…Could you look after this boy for me?"
'…Boy?' Rey's sight shifted down some, suddenly catching sight of him. Held tightly to the nurse's right arm was a very young boy. His clothing was near torn asunder, and the stench of blood and flesh was fresh about his body. He looked as though he had been through hell and back…
Yet… there was something more about him that caught his attention, Rey thought. He had seen the looks of people countless times throughout this nightmare, but never before had he caught sight of such an absolute look of emptiness and lifelessness that existed within this boy's eyes.
…Within such a gaze, he could feel a sensation of hesitance rise up from deep within him. This boy, he thought, there was something… 'wrong' about him.
"…Please," the nurse said once more. "My entire unit has been completely filled, and there's no one to look after him. If you could only find him a place to sleep, I'd…"
"…Very well," Rey replied, sighing some.
"Thank you…" the nurse replied, a faint glimmer of happiness shining upon her face. She then turn and knelt down towards the young boy, clasping his other hand in hers. "…This man will be taking care of you from now on, okay? …Do you understand?"
"…"
Turning her sights back towards Rey, the nurse gave a faint shake of her head. Though they hadn't said anything, it was clear that, as many people also had, gone through severe trauma and were unlikely and/or unable to speak at the moment.
"It's alright," Rey interjected, kneeling down by the young boy's side. "…I know things are very confusing for you right now, but we'll be here to take care of you from now on…"
"…"
Raising his hand up some, Rey tried to catch another glimpse into the young man's face. "My name is Rey Za Barrel. What's yours?"
Silently, between the two young men, time passed at a seemingly agonizingly slow pace. Eventually however, the little boy raised his head so that he could look upon Rey.
"…Shinn," he whispered.
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Ushering his deep blue eyes unto an open as the memory slowly faded back into his subconscious, Rey breathed in a faint sigh.
"…Shinn," he whispered.
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Along the far expanse of the beach, a good distance away from where the unconscious Lacus still laid, Kira and Shinn stood, a mere ten feet away from each other. Neither could find it in themselves to move even an inch, as if some force had frozen their bodies….
"…I'll say it again," Shinn said, finally. "…I will kill you tonight. But before that happens, just know that the name of the one who killed you was Shinn Asuka.
Narrowing his expression in retaliation to Shinn's claim, Kira shook his head back and forth. "…It doesn't matter what you say to me," he whispered softly. "…I'm not going to be dying tonight."
At his own words, Kira could feel a bright flame beginning to stir from within his body. He looked back towards Lacus, his resolution made true through the sight of her.
'…Right now, it doesn't matter what happens to me. …But, I promise that I'll return you safely to Athrun and Cagalli… no matter what.'
As Kira readied himself in his own thoughts, Shinn was also experiencing a strange phenomenon. He, who had been feeling more than a bit exhausted earlier, was feeling a sudden strength and power surge up from deep within him. Whether it was pure adrenaline or the grace of the heavens themselves, he didn't know. …However…
…It only meant one thing, Shinn thought, a smile curving over his lips.
Kira could see it, as clear as the morning's first light. The undeniable blood lust and hatred lurking within Shinn's eyes was unlike anything he had ever seen before. …There was no doubt that this was going to be for real. …If he took this even the slightest bit lightly, he would definitely end up dead.
Kira clenched a hand into a tight fist at such knowledge. There were just too many unanswered question about this whole situation: this man; why he felt he needed to kill him; his own connection with him; and most of all, his real identity.
Before a single more thought could appear in his mind though, Shinn readied himself into a fighting stance, his expression exuding a cold, calculating presence. Sensing this, Kira readied himself as well, in both mind and body, for the coming battle.
And so, without so much more as a word nor thought to be thought, the two launched themselves off of the ground and sped off towards each other.
…Their fight had begun.
As they came to collide, a brief fury of punches and kicks passed between them, only the slightest of grazes passing between. Swiftly, the two of them leapt backwards from one another, skidding across the sandy grounds beneath their feet. As they came to a halt, they turned on their sides and broke off into a run.
Suddenly, Shinn halted in his steps, digging his feet deep into the ground. And, with a powerful leap, he propelled himself off towards Kira. His speed was even greater than it was before; and, with that advantage, leapt from left to right and back again, his hand coming together into a tight fist in the midst of the confusing movements.
Gritting his teeth some at Shinn's sudden footwork, Kira drew in a deep breath, reminding himself that he needed to stay calm and have a clear, focused mind if he was going to keep up with his movements.
Swiftly, and without a moment's hesitation, Shinn ducked out to the side once more near Kira's blind spot and sent his now clenched fist rocketing out towards his jaw line.
Swiftly however, Kira spiraled about to avoid the attack; and, in what could've been but a passing instant, he struck out with his left leg to sweep underneath Shinn's feet.
Feeling his entire body lift into the air at such a maneuver, Shinn's crimson-red gaze narrowed near dangerously. As he had expected from one with so much blood on his hands, his eyes were already beginning to adapt to his movements amazingly well. And to be able to counteract an attack, basic as it was, with such a technique was impressive…
Returning to the moment at hand, Shinn quickly braced himself for the fall and thrust his hands out, bracing himself against the ground below so he could forcefully throw himself up into the air.
Taking quick notice to Kira's sudden surprise, Shinn spun his own body around, thrusting his leg out horizontally at a near full 360 degree angle to Kira's backside.
Gritting his teeth, his eyes widening at the realization of the power such a move would entail were it to connect. Bracing himself as best he could, Kira raised his arm up in a last ditch effort to block Shinn's attack. It was already too late though, for the crimson-eyed youth's powerful kick collided directly with his arm, sending him near flying through the air and rolling out across the ground.
"Agh!!" Kira cried out as he rolled over and over again upon the sands below, a searing pain ripping through his arm.
Shinn, having landed as swiftly as a cat upon the ground, kept his gaze locked onto the fallen Kira. Though it would've been easy enough to take advantage of such an opening, he did no such thing.
Clutching his arm tightly, surges of pain still ripping through it at a constant, Kira slowly brought himself to a stand once more.
'…This guy…'
Shinn slowly raised a hand upwards, beckoning Kira towards him with his fingertips.
"…Come," he whispered.
Kira didn't have to hear what he was saying to know what he said. …It was all too obvious in the way he looked at him, and in the way his body moved.
Strangely enough, from somewhere deep inside of his heart, Kira could feel the beat of his heart growing stronger… faster… more powerful. Through such a thing, a burgeoning heat began radiating throughout the whole of his being, igniting a passionate 'flame'…
It were as if it weren't just Shinn beckoning him to continue this fight, but his very body as well.
With such feelings radiating through his body, Kira steadied himself. He clenched a hand together into a tight fist, his amethyst gaze narrowing ever further in their powerful feelings and earnest desires.
Upon seeing such a thing, though he would never show it on the outside, deep within… Shinn was smiling. The look upon Kira's face was more powerful, more determined than it was before.
…He was finally ready to start taking this seriously.
With such thoughts and feeling rushing through them, the two darted off of the ground and blazed towards each other once again. Their fists raised, and their mouths opened, crying out in their enflamed desire to pursue this battle, if only to see it through to the end as to who would come out alive.
Kira unleashed a sudden fury of punches at Shinn, their intensity even greater than they'd been before. Shinn, not to be taken back by such maneuvers, leapt back to avoid them.
Kira quickly rushed towards Shinn, clasping a hold of one of his arms.
Gritting his teeth some at such a thing, Shinn reached out and grasped a hold of Kira's arms at the same time. Seemingly stuck in a stalemate, the two braced themselves near each other's body, forcibly trying to push the other back.
Their heels dug deep into the ground, their fierce gazes locking with one another as the friction of bone and contraction of muscle filled with an undeniable heat. Their very arms shook with the force of their strengths as they pushed back and forth against each other, neither willing to give up in the struggle.
Suddenly however, without so much as a warning, Kira relinquished one of his hands and clasped a tight hold upon Shinn's shoulder. Knowing that this would be determined within a fraction of a second, he quickly leaned his head back and thrust it forward, sending it smashing upon Shinn's own face.
"Ahh!!" Shinn cried out, his grip slipping away from Kira's body at the immense pain. As he fell back towards the ground, a streaming line of crimson-red blood seeped down from the wound upon his forehead, falling over his eyes.
Pulling his leg back some, Kira unleashed a powerful kick alongside Shinn's side, sending the already fallen soldier rolling out across the ground. As he went, small droplets of blood pooled in a trail, a sign of the already evident blood loss.
As he went in for a second strike however, Shinn suddenly pushed himself up to a stand, thrusting forward with the entirety of his body as he sent a careening punch directly into Kira's jaw line.
Falling back some from the suddenness of Shinn's punch, Kira stumbled. As quickly as he could however, he shook off the pain and raced back to Shinn's front, launching out with a powerful punch of his own.
Raising his open palm up to deflect the attack, Shinn dashed to the side, grasping a hold of Kira's sides. Wasting no time, he dug his heels deep into the sands beneath his feet and, with all of his might, lifted Kira off of the ground and threw him onto the ground.
"Ugh…" Kira groaned as he fell, his back skidding and scraping itself along the many small, sharp rocks on the ground. As he started to get up however, Shinn was already above him, his elbow coming down in a sharp, decisive strike on his chest.
With naught more than a spurt of Kira's blood splattering upon his cheek, Shinn looked upon the fallen man with unrelentingly vicious eyes. He clasped a hand tightly about Kira's neck, lifting him up from the ground so that they could be face-to-face.
"…"
"…Not good enough," Shinn whispered.
With those words, Shinn tossed Kira's still achingly pained body down upon the sandy shores below, the waves of the ocean gently rocking up behind him.
Though a silent moment passed between the two, soon afterwards Kira braced himself to come up to a stand once more.
"Huff…Huff…"
"I hope you aren't finished already," Shinn whispered, the cool night's breeze picking up once more, sending the long strands of his hair swaying back and forth alongside his face.
"…Not even close," Kira whispered subtly, slowly readying himself once more for Shinn's assaults.
Though he would never allow it to show on the outside, from somewhere deep within… such words pleased Shinn. He had said it before that this was the fight that he had desired. …However, to see it realized in the reality was something that gave him pleasure beyond words.
The pain that this man had endured was merely the beginning. Soon enough, he could tell, there would be far more blood shed on the sandy shores of the beach upon which they fought.
'…And then,' Shinn thought, his hand clenching into a tight fist.
'…I will avenge my family!'
With such a thought fueling his body's power, Shinn's expression sharpened considerably… the fiery red within his eyes deepening beyond measure.
Within Kira's consciousness, the realization of Shinn's strength was growing more and more with every passing moments. From this point forward, if he let his guard down, there was no doubt he would be killed.
Though time was short, and he was sure that he would be coming at him soon, Kira could tell that in their short fight before, there were openings where Shinn could've dealt a lot more damage than he had. But as he himself had said, he wanted to drag this out for as long as he could and truly make him suffer…
Clenching a hand into a fist at such a thought, Kira slowly shook his head to himself. …In order to protect Lacus and himself, there was no choice but to win
"And now…" Shinn whispered, his tone low and hushed. "…You die."
With those words, Shinn dug his heel deep into the ground and, with a powerful kick, launched himself towards Kira.
Not even making the slightest effort to get out of the way, Kira patiently awaited Shinn's oncoming assault. As he neared, the sound of his footsteps echoing upon the soft treaded sand upon which he ran, time seemed to slow… a vast array of emotion and feeling treading between them.
As Shinn came upon Kira, the amethyst-eyed youth readied himself in an instant.
Strangely, however… from deep within his gaze… a faint glow began to emerge.
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"…I see," Durandal whispered to himself. "…And how long has this been going on for, you say?"
"Not for very long now, Chairman," a voice replied through the communications device. "As far as we're able to read into it, the resonance is still rather weak, and Freedom does not yet show any signs of instability."
Closing his eyes in response, a few thoughts having begun to stir within his consciousness from such words, Durandal leaned back in his chair.
"…That will be all for now. Please keep me informed if any further developments arise."
"Yes, Chairman," the voice replied once again, ceasing communications.
After a few silent moments, Durandal rose from his chair, folding his hands neatly behind his back. He made his way over to the overview which resided near at the end of his office. And with a clap of his hands, the automated blinds lifted themselves, allowing the pale light of the full moon to shine down upon him in all its splendor.
Brushing a few strands of his long hair away from his face, Durandal could not help the faint smile that was beginning to shine over his lips. Though it was true that the details of the report had been slim at best, it was undeniable what such a thing meant.
…'He' had begun to 'awaken'…
"…I wonder," Durandal whispered, his narrow gaze falling down upon the expanse of the large city below.
"…What will be your decision this time, 'boy'…?"
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Crying out with righteous fury, Shinn ran with all of his might towards Kira; who, in response, didn't make even the slightest attempt to dodge or even raise a block. In an instant, a blazing fury of punches and kicks ignited between them, the speed in use so great that it was all but impossible to tell how many had landed or how many had been dodged…
Gritting his teeth in anger at the sudden taste of blood in his mouth, Shinn made for a quick back flip and spun around on the ground, quickly thrusting his leg out at Kira's side.
Raising his arm upwards, Kira took the kick in in its full force, snapping his arm back down and over it. Shinn, more than a bit surprised at such a maneuver, could only watch as Kira dug his feet deep into the ground, throwing the whole of his body weight into crushing his leg's muscles.
Crying out at the sudden, irrational pain, Shinn forcibly pulled his leg away from Kira's grasp, the crimson-red gaze of his eyes blazing with a relentless fury. Though his speed was considerably decreased from the pain still searing through his leg, he made a dash for Kira. He clenched his hand into a tight fist and thrust it out.
Near grinning inwardly at such a predictable attack, Kira readied himself to block it. Much to his surprise however, before he made contact, Shinn halted his punch and made a quick duck beneath Kira.
Grasping a firm, tight hold on Kira's shoulders, and before he had a chance to retaliate, Shinn pulled him downwards and rose his knee upwards at the same time, sending it crushing horizontally alongside Kira's throat.
"Ahhh!!!" Kira cried out, blood pouring forth from his mouth at the brutal attack.
With the lifeless look that now existed within Kira's eyes only seeming to fuel his power, Shinn wrapped his arm in a tight hold around his neck and made a dash alongside the beach, heading out towards a large boulder.
"…And this will end it! Now you die!!"
Mere moment before his body was thrown down towards certain death, the light suddenly came back into Kira's eyes. Gritting his teeth, he thrust his arms out against the rock, a surge of pain ripping through them at the forceful contact. In spite of such a thing however, he raised his legs up against the boulder and pushed the both of them away.
'…What!?' Shinn thought as they rolled out atop the ground.
Quickly bracing himself above his enemy in the midst of the sudden confusion, Kira raised his hand back ever so slightly, clenching it into a tight fist. Within the depths of his amethyst gaze, a fierce fire intermingled with the light that now shone so very brightly… such a thing fallen short only by the immense desire he now wielded to end this fight.
In what could've only been a passing instant, Kira relinquished a fierce cry, sending his fist down, smashing across Shinn's face with profound force.
Shinn, taken back by the punch, could only lay in stunned silence… his entire body feeling as though the entirety of its strength had been drained in that one hit.
"…"
That look in his eyes… it was the same as it was back then, Shinn thought.
Reaching his hand down to take a firm hold of Shinn's shirt collar, Kira raised his unmoving foe off from the ground and into the air.
"And now…" he whispered, his grip tightening further and further. "…It ends."
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"Ahh…" Shinn whimpered, his broken lips trailing with dried lines of blood.
Coming forward with yet another unrelenting kick, Kira send the broken body of Shinn flying through the air, crashing down atop the rough terrain to which their fight had brought them to.
As he rolled again and again atop the grassy fields beneath his body, Shinn felt the last remnants of his strength slowly begin to drain away. Even the power of his hatred, which burned even fierce now than ever before, could do little in the face of the absolute beating he had taken down upon himself.
…What was with this guy, he thought. When their fight had started, he had been the one with the advantage… so-much so that he had even given him time to draw upon more of his power. Yet, in what could've been only the course of a few minutes, his fighting technique and strength had grown considerably… absurdly so.
"…"
It was then that realization dawned upon him. This man… the one who looked upon him with such unrelenting mercilessness… was the one he had truly been seeking. The supposed truth of having lost his memories and not knowing who he was… what ridiculous nonsense.
'…How could I have let this happen!?'
"…Damn it," Shinn whispered, groaning at a sudden rush of pain.
Step-by-step, treading along the soft, grassy fields below, Kira made his way over to the still fallen Shinn. Looking upon him with an almost vicious look in his eyes, he wished to make absolutely sure he'd finally won this fight.
"…I take it you don't have the strength to even stand anymore, huh?"
Narrowing his gaze with deep-filled hate, Shinn turned his head to the side, not wanting his enemy to have the satisfaction of seeing the look on his face.
"…Finish it," he whispered.
"…"
After a silent moment passed in which Kira gave some very heavy consideration to Shinn's command, he turned away. After taking in a fair breath, he began walking off without so much as giving him even a second look.
Shinn's eyes widened at such a thing. "Wh-What're you doing…"
Halting in his footsteps, Kira narrowly turned his gaze back towards Shinn, the expression now dominant upon his face quite a bit different from how it was a few moments ago. "…If I'd been the one lying on the ground instead of you," he whispered. "I'm sure you wouldn't have hesitated to kill me."
Clenching his fist at such words, Shinn struggled to raise his head upwards. "…You're damn right I would've…"
Sighing some to himself, Kira turned back around. "If I killed you right now, I probably wouldn't have to worry about something like this happening again. But…"
"…"
"…If I did that, I'd never be able to honestly look her in the eyes again."
'…"She"?'
Raising his head ever so slightly, Shinn managed to be able to look at Kira once again. "…You," he whispered. "…you mean that girl?"
Ever so slightly, Kira nodded his head.
As if paused in silence, Shinn could not bring himself to believe what he was hearing. This man… the one who had murdered his family and so many others in cold blood, he… he wasn't going to kill him? For the sake of a girl, no less…
"…What nonsense…" Shinn whispered.
"…You can call it whatever you want," Kira whispered back at him. "But… I can tell now, from the way you fight, it won't matter what I say or do. Nothing will dissuade you otherwise…"
Gritting his teeth, trying to find the words to counteract such a remark, Shinn found that his very last remnants of his strength slipped away… his head falling back down upon the grass fields beneath him as a result.
'…He's at his limit,' Kira thought, slowly raising a hand up, his eyes narrowing at the shaking muscles.
'…And I…'
Clasping his other still hand over his shaking one, Kira slowly walked away from the quickly fading consciousness of Shinn. Before he did however, he turned back towards him once more… his now gentle amethyst gaze looking upon the young soldier with a sincere and honest expression.
"…I know I'm probably asking the impossible of you," he whispered quietly. "…however, if you're going to keep coming after me, I ask that you leave my friends out of it."
"…"
Leaving naught even a single moment to say a single word or pay attention to the fallen Shinn, Kira made his way beyond the outskirts of their recent battlefield, still fresh with the scar marks of their intense fighting, and back to where Lacus lay.
After a few silent moments of walking, Kira suddenly halted in his footsteps, as if something had halted him.
"Augh…" Kira groaned, his teeth gritting together.
Suddenly, without warning, the amethyst-eyed youth fell down on one knee, his arms coming about to clutch around his body. Throughout the entirety of his body, a searing pain tore about his aching muscles… beads of sweat dripping down from his forehead.
"Huff…Huff…"
'Wh-What… what's happening to me?'
Though confusion was ablaze within his mind, it didn't take long for Kira to realize what had happened to him. Having been forced to fight against such a strong opponent, his body pushed to and quite possibly past its limits… the result of such was coming back to haunt him.
…But still, he thought, there was something strangely familiar about the exhaustion talking hold over his body. Something more than mere physical deprivation…
"…No," Kira whispered. Now wasn't the time to be thinking about such things. He had to get back to Lacus before anything further happened to them…
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"Huff…Huff…"
With one arm clasped upon the other, Kira slowly made his way back across the beach and back to the spot where Lacus had been knocked unconscious. Thankfully, much to relief, she was still there; though unconscious, she was still safe and sound.
'Thank goodness…'
As he knelt down by her side, Kira brushed aside a few strands of her hair away from her face. As he did so, he saw a thin trail of dried blood that had etched itself across her forehead.
"…"
Though it appeared that she was alright and breathing soundly, Kira couldn't help but feel pangs of guilt at having let such a thing happen. He'd led his guard down despite knowing the dangerous situation that they were all in. …If only he'd been more alert, perhaps he could've prevent such a thing from having happened.
"…Don't worry, Lacus," he whispered. "I promise I'll protect you next time."
After that, Kira gave a few silent moments to thinking about the man who called himself Shinn was. He had called him a murderer, making him seem as though he were the most loathsome, offensive creature to have ever set foot on the earth. He spoke as if he knew who he was, or at least someone who he thought him to be.
Kira's gaze narrowly set itself back upon the empty path from which he had just came. It was still barren, littered only with the unpleasant images of the fight that had just taken place there. Shinn was nowhere to be found of course. More than likely, he was already passed out back where he'd left him…
'I wonder if Athrun or Cagalli would know anything about this…'
Shaking such thoughts from his mind for the moment, Kira slid his arms underneath Lacus' slim figure, lifting her up into his arms, light as a feather. With that, he turned back and began to make his way back to Azure.
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As morning's first light began to pour over from beyond the horizon, a fresh breeze drifting in, Shinn's unconscious body lay out upon the ground… the long strands of his dark hair swaying back and forth across his face.
Though his eyes were closed, and his body was still dangerously exhausted, within the young man's mind, remnants of his battle with Kira replayed themselves time and time again… all of the pain and suffering inflicted upon his body as real as seemingly real as it'd been the first time.
…He had finally come face-to-face with the abominable monster who had taken everything away from him, and yet… in the end, he couldn't do anything but take a beating as though he were nothing but a helpless child.
…Was his hate not strong enough? …No, not possible. His hatred for that man and everything he stood for ranked as high as any other's, if not greater. Then… what was it? What was it that had led to such a humiliating and disgraceful defeat?
…It was bad enough that he had been beaten so. But to have had his life spared by the likes of him… it was just too much.
"…Damn it," the unconscious Shinn muttered.
Unbeknownst to him however, standing above him in self-indulged silence was Lunamaria. Within her somber expression, naught a single word but the essence of the inevitable conclusion she had long since felt escaped…
As hard as she had tried to find him, going as far to search far beyond the outskirts of Azure's borders, well into the early morning no less… something within had told her that something like this was inevitable. Shinn's anger and wrath was such that there would be little to satisfy it other than the target of his intended feelings.
With every day that he lived his life, Lunamaria felt as though he carried a burden, far heavier than perhaps even she knew, upon his small shoulders. Sometimes, it seems as though such a thing would be too much for him, and crush him in his entirety. Yet, through it all he persevered, if only to find the man he felt had taken everything away from him…
As such thoughts ran through her consciousness, Lunamaria gave a fight sigh, raising a hand alongside her head.
"…You stupid idiot," she whispered. "…You see what you've gone and done to yourself… you're all beaten up."
Leaning down by his side, Lunamaria raised a hand and gently brushed aside some of the loose strands of his hair away from his face. In spite of the numerous bruises, cuts, and dried trails of blood that remained, as he slept there… he had an almost gentle look about him, not at all like the usual sour face he carried whenever she would see him.
Shaking such thoughts from her mind, Lunamaria wrapped an arm along Shinn's back and began lifting him up by her side.
"…I hope you'll at least get some rest while you're like that, 'cause you're probably in for a whole lot of trouble once you wake up."
"Uhh…" Shinn groaned, as if in response to her words.
"…"
Sighing, Lunamaria took to wrapping an arm about Shinn, gently lifting him up from the ground. With that, she turned on her heel, slowly making her way back to the site where Rey was surely awaiting their return.
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Ringing a wash cloth through once more, Athrun took to gently wiping away the last remnants of dried blood away from Lacus' face. After placing the cloth back atop the water bowl, he look towards Kira.
"…How did this happen?" he asked, his long blue bangs swaying over his eyes.
Feeling his heart beat painfully at the obvious suspicion in Athrun's visage, Kira leaned himself down towards the floor and against the couch. "We were… out for a walk down by the beach. …I guess I wasn't paying enough attention, and someone came out from behind us and knocked her out. …I'm sorry."
Though silent for a moment, taking some time to think Kira's explanation over, Athrun shifted his sights back over to Lacus, brushing aside some of the loose strands of her hair away from her face.
"…It's alright," he said.
Feeling his eyes widen some at such words, Kira turned back towards Athrun. "Wh-What're you saying…?"
"I said that it's alright, Kira," Athrun repeated, catching his distraught gaze within his own. "…Besides," he whispered, glimpsing over Kira's beaten and battered body. "It certainly looks as though any punishment we might've been tempted to give has already been dealt, several times over I might add."
Blinking some in confusion, Kira raised his hands, looking over his body. In the confusion and haste of getting Lacus back to Azure, he'd all but forgotten about his own injuries.
"…Yeah," he said. "I guess you're right…"
"So," Athrun said, placing a hand on his knee, raising himself back to a stand. "What exactly happened to you? Seriously, you look as though you've been through a hurricane."
Upon hearing such words, Kira's expression took a fair more serious outlook. Within his now active consciousness, the memories of his fight with Shinn returned. He could feel his muscles aching, their own memory of the intense collision of force and lust for battle resurfacing…
After taking in a deep breath, Kira took to telling Athrun about his fight with the young man who called himself Shinn Asuka. Though he wasn't certain about some things, such as where he'd come from or why it was he thought what he did, he tried to convey everything as best he could.
After hearing all that Kira had to say, Athrun drew in a faint breath, sighing some. He made his way over to a nearby chair and sat himself down in it, leaning over on his elbow. "…So that's it, huh?"
Kira nodded his head briefly.
Athrun closed his eyes and withdrew into a realm of his most inner thoughts to ponder over the situation. Of everything that could've happened, this was by far one of the least desirable outcomes.
…According to Kira, it appeared as though this man who called himself Shinn definitely believed himself to have known him. More than that however… what he said to Kira about having killed his family and being a murderer… that was something of far greater interest to him.
'…I don't know who this Shinn is supposed to be. …But, from Kira's description of him, it almost sounds as if he's…'
"…Athrun?"
"Huh?" Athrun raised his head, blinking. "…Oh, sorry about that. I was just thinking about something…"
Athrun's eyes narrowed some at a sudden thought. …It was enough that they had to take care of Lacus and keep her concealed from the rest of Azure, but to have to deal with this man who was after Kira's life…
…The situation was already far out of even his ability to control. It almost felt as if the wheels of fate were closing in around them like a ticking time bomb, ready to go off at a moment's notice.
"…So," Athrun said, "you're sure that you left him alive, right?"
Though somewhat aggravated that Athrun would even suggest something that appealed to the opposite, Kira nodded his head seriously.
"I have to admit I'm rather surprised, Kira," Athrun said, raising himself from his chair.
"Huh? Surprised about what?"
"From the moment we met, I thought there was something kind of strange about you. But hearing from you how fiercely you fought and managed to defeat someone like this Shinn Asuka… you must be very strong."
Lowering his head some at such a comment, well-intended as it was, Kira shook his head back and forth. "I'm sure you've just overestimating me. I was probably just lucky."
"Hey now, don't belittle yourself," Athrun retorted, leaning himself down by Kira's side. "It takes a lot of courage to protect someone in a situation like that. Regardless of whether this Shinn was very strong or not, the strength needed to keep cool under such pressure is impressive in and of itself."
With a faint smile beginning to work its way over his lips, Kira turned towards Athrun. "…Thanks, Athrun."
Smiling briefly, Athrun nodded his head. "Don't worry about it."
Suddenly, from atop the couch, Lacus gave a faint groan. Her lips opened some… her closed eyes fluttering, as if trying to open.
Feeling as if their hearts had skipped a beat at her sudden movement, Kira and Athrun quickly turned towards her.
Kira leaned himself in closer, taking one of her hands within his own. "…Lacus? Lacus, can you hear me?"
Though silent for a moment, as though she had faded back into unconsciousness, Lacus' baby blue eyes slowly ushered unto an open. Though hazy at first, unable to see clearly… the sight of Kira standing over her brought a smile to her lips.
"…Kira…"
With a bright smile shining over his lips, Kira nodded his head. "…I'm so glad you're alright," he whispered.
"We were beginning to worry if we'd have to worry about when you'd wake up again, sleepy head," Athrun added in, standing above the two of them.
Slowly looking over towards Athrun, Lacus smile grew ever further. "…Athrun. You're here too…"
Suddenly, as if from nowhere, a sudden surge of pain struck at Lacus' head. She rose a hand to clasp against it, moans of pain uttering from her mouth. "Ah… my head…"
Placing a hand upon her shoulder, Athrun gently made her lie back down on the couch. "Easy. You've just woken up, so try not to move around too much, okay?"
Though still very confused about the entirety of the situation, Lacus silently obliged and laid back down on the couch.
"…What happened to me though? The last thing I remember is walking with Kira, and then…"
"We'll tell you about it all later," Kira interjected.
"…Kira?"
Reaching out for a blanket, Kira quickly took to unfolding it and placing it over Lacus. "…It's important that you get some rest right now, as Athrun said. So please don't let yourself worry over anything until you're feeling better, okay?"
'…Kira…'
Clearly, there was something bothering Kira a great deal. She could see the conflict brewing deep within his eyes as clear as day; and yet, the truth in that he so obviously didn't want to talk it pained her. …Still, her heart spoke to her in that it would never be right to force him to talk about something if he truly didn't want to yet.
As Kira began to stand, clear with the intent of walking away, Lacus gently took hold of his hand. "…Kira."
"…What is it?" Kira asked, his expression softening at the feel of her warm hand.
"…You'll be alright… won't you?"
"…" Kira's eyes widened ever so slightly at such a question. Quickly however, a faint smile overcame him, and he lightly nodded his head. "…Of course."
Lacus' lips curved into a smile ever so soft at the truth in his words, and she leaned back onto the couch to rest.
As their friend took to getting her well deserved rest, Athrun and Kira silently motioned each other to meet in the adjacent hallway. …There was something important that the two of them needed to talk about.
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"So what do you think could've happened to him?"
"…I doubt I need to tell you that for you to already know the answer."
Rey's eyes twitched ever so slightly at such words. Knowing the truth in them however, he shook his head back and forth ever so slightly. "…No, I suppose you don't."
Lunamaria turned towards him, a serious expression upon her face. "I realize he violated a serious of codes in doing what he did, Rey, but… he did find the target, right? I mean… who else could've been strong enough to do something like this to Shinn, especially in an area like this?"
"…I'll admit the likelihood of someone else existing like that around these parts is rather slim; however, we'll wait until Shinn awakens and ask him what really happened before we move forward."
"Besides that, there's something I'm curious about…" Rey whispered, gently kneeling down by Shinn's side.
"…What is it?"
Narrowly turning his gaze back towards Lunamaria, their intense gazes locking in equal confrontation. "…If Shinn truly did engage the target and lost… why is he still alive?"
To be continued…
A/N: My apologies to those of you that were waiting for this chapter to come out. College seems to have no end of work for me, and I'm always short on time when it comes to writing my stories. Still, I hope you enjoyed this chapter as much as I did writing it.
The first confrontation between Kira and Shinn has concluded, though this is hardly the end of it. Now that the real fight has begun, I have a pretty good idea of what's going to happen next. Though I can't tell you that yet, of course. You'll just have to wait and see in the next chapter. All I can say is that I think you'll want to look forward to it.
And as always, please read and review. Thanks a lot.