Here is chapter five!! I hope you enjoy it!

And to all of you who are reading this story, thank XXXG-01D for helping me get through my writer's block! A round of applause, everyone!!

And now, here is your chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam SEED Destiny.

Luna sighed as Shinn stormed to the door, but remembering that a group of people were waiting outside, decided he needed to stay with Luna. Ugh. He didn't want to stay here. Luna betrayed his trust and now Cagalli Yula Atha knew! She was daughter of the man who told those damn doctors, "Okay, go ahead and torture this boy. It's fine". It would take him some time to forgive Luna for telling his secret to the politician. Luna could not say that she was ignorant of his animosity towards her. There is no excuse! He just wished that he could go somewhere...alone. He wanted everyone to just leave him be.

"I'm sorry," a voice called from behind him.

Lunamaria

"I know that this is hard for you, and I know that what I did might make it worse for you. For that, I'm sorry."

"It's...fine," he stated reluctantly then went to sit next to the pink-haired girl. "Don't get me wrong, though. I'm still angry with you, but I understand that you, in a way, had to tell. I admit that you could've toned it down a bit, but...I understand."

Luna smiled slightly at the confession even though some of his wording irked her a bit, but she knew that Shinn wouldn't admit that he was wrong to freak out like he did. It was good enough for her.

"And I also understand something else..."

"Hmm?" she turned to him, an eyebrow raised. "What?"

"Your slaps hurt just as much as before."

A smirk spread on his lips as he glanced back to Luna with his crimson eyes. Luna couldn't help but laugh at his statement and the tension that filled the room just moments before dissapated. And even though Luna knew it might take some more convincing on her part for Shinn to forgive her, she smiled. She smiled at Shinn, and joy swelled in her heart when she saw Shinn smile as well. She sometimes misses the cheeky smiles, but with all of the turmoil that has wrapped itself around Shinn's life, she rarely gets to see them. The light mood she liked. She could live with this.

**********

Cagalli ran a hand through her golden locks and forced down a sob that made it's way to her throat. She wasn't going to cry. She had cried enough.

But it was hard not to.

Her nation, her Orb, committed a heinous act against another human being for the benefit of war. War was the one factor of life that Orb strived to stay away from, or at least, she thought. But when she saw her army attack the Minerva, her heart broke in two. And when she saw her army fall, her heart was crushed. And when she saw Athrun and Kira fight while Shinn destroyed fleets, her heart was engulfed in pain. Everything her father built seemed to be mere child's blocks compared to the skyscrapers of war and money and greed. As she gazed upon the battlefield in her shining mobile suit, her father's words, her father's wishes, seemed so far away. She felt as though no one even heard what he had to say when she was told the tale of PINE mode.

How could people do such a thing?

No wonder Shinn hated her and anything that has to do with Orb! His life was torn apart because of her own nation, the nation she tries to lead into a bright future. The people she lead did that to him. They tortured him, forced him to kill, and lead him into a constant state of self loathing. She felt responsible. It was the people in her nation that ruined his life. The people were her responsibility. Her responsibility was to apologize. It was her fault.

Everything seemed to be her fault.

She choked down another sob at the thought. Cagalli hid her head in her hands and was thankful that she was alone in the guest room she vacated too. Everyone went their separate ways a few minutes after they were shooed out of the lounge when Shinn regained consciousness. She remembered the look of pure fear in his eyes as he realized that he was discovered. If it wasn't for her people he wouldn't have that look.

Her fault.

**********

Shinn smiled as he breathed the fresh air outside of the Minerva. The ship was currently skimming against the water. The few cool sprays of ocean mist felt good against his skin. He relished in the fact that no one would find him up here on the top of the Minerva. The only way there was through the launching dock for the gundams.

A few minutes after his and Luna's truce, he discovered that no one was outside the room. It seemed that everyone had left after they were pushed away from his paralized state of fear. He figured that they would stay, eavesdrop on the other side of the door, but he was wrong. He was extremely joyful that he was wrong, too. He didn't want any of the people, whether they be friends or not, to learn of his distressing feelings. It made him feel as if the outsiders were looking straight into his soul, judging him for his faults. He felt vulnerable.

Shinn smiled as another gust of wind sent a cloud of moisture to his face. It was peaceful here. Relishing in his privacy, he didn't even realize that another person had joined him in his solitude. That person strode over to Shinn and leaned against the side of the ship.

"I would have thought that you would be a little more cautious after all that has happened," the voice spoke, his tone holding a smirk. Shinn immediately recognized him after the initial shock and glared at the man.

"Rey," he addressed. He was slightly nervous with Rey's sudden appearance and his voce slightly wavered from his nonchalant attitude. "What are you doing up here?"

"I'm the one who showed you this spot, Shinn."

Shinn's cheeks flared red and he looked away from his friend. "Right"

"Did you come up here to get away from everyone?" Rey asked after a few moments of silence. He sat down next to Shinn and glanced to the crimson eyed warrior beside him.

"Yes," Shinn answered then got up from his seat and started to head away, "and everyone includes you, Rey."

Before Rey could say anything, Shinn slammed the door behind him, leaving the blonde standing abandoned on the top of the ship. Rey thought that Shinn would at least try to talk with him. Rey knew how he felt somewhat. He knew what it was like to be seen only as a geinea pig, not a real person. He wanted to show Shinn that he wasn't alone.

Maybe, he thought, as he ran a hand through his hair, he just wanted someone to relate to. For the longest time, he figured everyone around him knew nothing of what he had gone through, what he is seen as.

Shinn knows.

Shinn was his best friend. Shinn needed to know that he wasn't the only one to be seen as a freak. He needed a helping hand. Rey also needed a helping hand as well. That's what...brothers do. Yeah, brothers. Rey and Shinn were alike, not by blood, but by experience.

Rey would talk to Shinn the next time he saw him. That was for sure.

He would tell Shinn that he was a clone, that his life was nothing but an experiment. He would confide in Shinn and maybe get something out of Shinn as well. Next time...

**********

The Hawke family sat around the lounge, each one staring at the other with a look of apprehension on their faces. Meyrin wanted answers. She wanted to know why her entire family was involved with this and she wasn't.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked. "Is it really that hard to trust me?"

"No, no," her father disagreed and pinched the bridge of his nose. He knew this was coming, but that didn't mean that he had to like it.

"Then, why?"

"Mey," Luna called, catching her sister's attention. She moved next to Meyrin and the couch. "We can trust you. It's just that...Shinn couldn't."

"What do you mean?"

"Well," she started, shifting her eyes to the floor. "After all of what had happened, he didn't want to trust anyone. He didn't know you at the time, so it's not like we could convince him that you were trustworthy. He even said that unless he's been to hell and back with someone then that person can't have his trust."

"But..."

"Look, Mey, I trust you fully and completely. I wouldn't doubt for a second that you would have been behind Shinn the entire way through. You're my sister and I would be stupid if I didn't trust someone like you."

At that, Meyrin's face grew into a smile. She jumped to her sister, hugging her. Todoka laughed at his children's antics and came up to pat them on their shoulders, a grin spreading over his own face.

Everything was alright.

At least, for the Hawke family.

**********

Captain Gladis and Captain Murrue had discussed the events concerning Shinn and were very disturbed at one thought: What if someone redesigned the remote?

They didn't have any time to ponder this question when the radar beeped. Both captains lunged towards the scanner and gasped at the incoming threat.

Two gundams were headed straight for the ship.

Well, there was chapter five! I'm sorry if it wasn't worth the wait! I tried! The ending with the Hawkes seemed a bit forced, but I wanted to clear that up real quick before I took this story to the next part.

Review please! :)