A/N: It's a must that one reads the twelfth gesture before proceeding to this one. Else, the impact would be less, if none.

Thirteenth Gesture:

Covered

It was nearing nightfall as the sun started to set. The administrative building captured the perfect view of its descent as the hues of orange and red filled the surroundings, exquisitely penetrating the glassed windows.

Across the corridor, they met once more. His built, his uniform, his insignia – all signifying the important and respected post he held. She had never seen him so relaxed and dignified as this before.

She stood there, eyes on him all the while. She had just stepped out from a peace core meeting with some highly-ranked politicians, and he just arrived to sit in on the next.

A hand lay idly on his side as the other held on an envelope of some reports. His hair looked a bit combed now; it was newly-cut to some extent. How it seemed so long ago when she last saw him…

Holding her in his arms, he then broke away – a mixture of happiness and sadness on his face. Yet one thing was clear, he looked at her as though etching a portrait on his mind.

"Goodbye…" he whispered as he let go, walking past her towards the waiting car on the other side. She turned around as he did the same, halfway on the street.

Waving, he then smiled. Then, he boarded as the doors closed.

The vehicle sped off.

Neither dared to move an inch as they examined each other, recapturing one another's details. What changed, what didn't – all these things roaming in their minds.

Traversing the known road, he asked the driver to stop the vehicle.

Heart pounding hard against his chest, he stepped out and ran across the streets – his feet taking him to where he last saw her – the place he left her.

But as he reached his destination, she had long been gone. Swirling in circles and breathing hard against the falling snow, he searched hard for her but to no avail.

She then began to motion towards the elevators, halfway from where they stood. Upon pressing the button, the said elevator was quick as both doors slid open, the mild perfume emanating from the space. The other one, whose eyes were then fixed on the other side, walked as well.

She then entered the same, her head bowed low. Not exactly quick in his pace, he managed to see her from the corner of his eyes as he passed her by – the doors starting to close.

A young man entered his office, handing him some papers for the day. Dismissing the boy, the brunette then took hold of them, scanning each page carefully. There, he saw her – rather, a picture of her with some cabinet officials.

She looked all right, he thought.

The gap shortened to inches as a hand cut across the pane, while a voice spoke with urgency "Please hold.".

The voice was his, as eyes of clear cerulean met that of amethyst.

For a moment, they stared, and as if time was dawning on her, she quickly pressed the open button as the same doors slid once more. He then entered, his folder no longer neatly held as it possessed bits of crumples on the sides.

"Thank you." He spoke briefly, fixing his attention towards the then again closing doors.

His voice sounded the same, she mused, at the same time observing how he must've grown a bit taller over the months. He was, on his part, also examining her, stealing glances of her every time she turns the other way. The silence was awkward, and both knew this elevator ride won't last that long.

Funny, how they acted as strangers when the contrary's already a fact.

A clicking sound echoed as the doors slid open. Lacus stepped out first as Kira followed closely behind, trying to widen their gap just so he could observe her more. Her hair still swayed the way it does, and her skin still looked soft to the touch.

Just then, as they reached the east entrance where cars were usually parked, it started to rain. The change of weather truly proved unexpected as the tiny droplets weighing heavily from the skies poured out to the earth, leaving all things wet and the air bleak to the feel. Unfortunately, she had no umbrella with her, nor any means of reaching her car from this side still dry.

She then reached out an open palm, trying to gauge how strong the rains actually were. Finally concluding it seemed impossible to thread the area without being wet herself, she decided to simply run for it.

Eyes also fixed on the then darkened and gloomy sky, Kira had the same thing in mind. Looking at his side to where she stood, he finally spoke, deducing what she may have been thinking as of that moment.

"Run for it?"

Not expecting the initiation of a conversation, she stared back at him, trying to compose herself and answer as casually as she could.

"I suppose. It's inevitable…" turning away, she glanced back at her car, the coolness creeping into her body.

"Where's your car?"

"There." Pointing at a red one situated next to a farther shed, she replied. It wasn't that far yet it wasn't that near either. But what's clear is that it's manageable to cross about the area. Given much haste, they would be there in no time.

He took off the military jacket he wore as he spread it about, approaching her unsuspecting figure while placing it above both their heads. Both his arms were raised - serving as the backbone of this make-shift umbrella.

"Ready?"

The contact with his built somewhat caused some stir within her. She had almost forgotten how it was actually like to be within in this proximity with him - being this carelessly close with him again.

Meekly nodding her head and avoiding his gaze on her, she prepared for their run as he did the same.

"Stay close to me, all right?" he whispered to her ear, but as she was about to speak her reply, he suddenly focused his attention forward.

"On three…one…two…three!"

Before she knew it, they began to motion away from the safety of the entrance, and into the outside.

With the puddle of formed surface water trickling upon contact with their feet, and the heavy rain pouring down on them, they ran as fast as they could towards the shed not far.

Why he was there in the first place didn't matter for with smiles on their faces, they simply enjoyed what nature gave them with much gusto. It would seem they appeared as children frolicking about, breaking free from all the worries the world brought them.

It didn't take that long before they finally reached their destination - both gasping for much-needed air, both dripping wet from the sudden downpour and both quite perplexed at the uncanny but usual way of reaching it.

Posing to take his leave, she managed to at least thank him as what her manners dictated.

"Don't you want me to offer you a ride towards where you wanted to go, or at least to the entrance again?" she asked, hoping at the very least he'd do so. He was the one who was really sulking wet after all, trying desperately to shield her as much as he could.

"No need…I'll be changing clothes later anyway." he assured with a raised palm and his ever generous tone of light humor and seriousness.

"It was nice seeing you again. Perhaps I'll see you around." he added as he raised his jacket once more.

"Same here. I guess I'll see you too."

As she gestured towards her parked vehicle, he turned around to catch one more glimpse of her.

"Good evening, Lacus."

He then ran towards the other side, back in the open area where the unforgiving rain poured - - in time when she turned around, with his retreating figure in sight.

"Good evening too, Kira." she whispered softly. Her voice straining on the mention of his name. It brought a familiar feeling back - somehow unconsciously reminding her of the past.

She sighed. How wonderful her name sounded, especially when uttered by him.

She then gazed at the ongoing plight, wondering and thinking what could be next.

end

A/N: Again, I found myself inspired in writing this, this time it's Acel's "One Love", lovely piece.