Goodness...Its been a year since I last updated,but I STILL SHIP THIS SHIP!

I do not own Gundam Seed/ Destiny.

Lets take a moment of silence for the screen writer of GS and GSD.

RIP Chiaki Morosawa.

The people who witnessed the scuffle the other day where the Prince of Orb pointed a gun at the staff's including him were ordered to keep their mouth shut and to never utter a word of it to the others. Athrun knew that even with the actions of wiping everything clean of what had happened, it would only take some time before the Council will get a hold it and will question him and the others. Knowing the Plants Supreme Council, no doubt that once they hear this, they would hastily cause an uproar and the worst case scenario might happen. Immediately declare war against the Earth Alliance with the reason of letting the Logos members run free on earth. And he can not do anything about it. His decision as Chairman of Plants is of course absolute, but what can he do when his decision would be against so many?

So he had destroyed evidences as much as possible and half threatened the staff who were present during and all who were unlucky enough to even hear from the others what had taken place inside the headquarters. The video feed that recorded the whole exchange were also destroyed by his orders and so are all the other potential evidence of what happened. He had also thought of what alibi's they all were gonna use if they would be called by the council. Luckily, the others, he knew, were loyal to him and would keep everything to themselves. The others, he absolutely had no clue.

His arms were crossed in front of him and is leaning on the wall directly infront of the room. His eyes resting on the door that separates him and the reasons for the whole ordeal. After he made sure to clean everything that can be traced as evidences he immediately called for an emergency meeting with the soldiers that he would be sending to earth to locate the remaining Logos members. He had to act fast and in the shadows. During the meeting he had assigned several small teams all of which are Faith redcoats to different places where Kira's information had stated. He had decided to entrust the whole operation of the mission to his long time war comrades and and most trusted people the now Zaft Commander, Yzak Joule, Lieutenant Dearka Elsman, a red coat Faith member Nicol Amalfi. Athrun had believed that they are to be trusted for this kind of secret since it is after all a very high level mission that only Athrun knows and has authority of.

He had checked his watch, it has already been half an hour since he went out of the room and stood from where he is standing. There were too many on his mind that he did not even know that time already flew. He pushed himself off the wall and re-entered the room where the recent outlaw of ZAFT and his best friend sister is to reside in for the time being and immediately eyed the two people inside and unconsciously raised a brow. Kira was sitting on the bed stroking the blonde's hair as she lay her head on his lap. If Athrun didn't knew better, he might have thought of them as lovers. He cringed at the thought.

He cleared his throat catching the attention of the oblivious people. "Kira. I need to talk to you."

Kira nodded ceasing his movements before gently shaking the blonde on his lap. "I need to go. Cagalli."

"Caga...lli?" Athrun repeated staring at the blonde as she slowly opened her eyes then getting up sitting cross legged on the bed. Seeing the solemn expression she wore he felt his gut churned and his hands tensed. He was seeing someone in her that he has long stored in the very dept of his memory. "Hey, you."

Hearing Athrun's call Kira looked at him and so did Cagalli, who immediately glowered at him, realizing that his call was directed to her. "Don't 'hey you' me, jerk."

Kira shook his head as Athrun ignored her comment. He felt a sudden slight prick in his chest and the pounding of his head did not help him to conceal the emotion in his voice. "W-What's your name?"

Cagalli smirked. " You don't have to know so stay out of my..."

"Her name's Cagalli." Kira cut in.

"Kira! Don't go blabbe..."

"Cagalli..." Athrun repeated staring openly at the blonde before looking at the brunette. "So I guess her last name would be Yamato?"

"That's none of your bus..." Cagalli said kneeling on the bed pointing a finger at Athrun.

"Stop pointing." he cut her again shaking his head. Then shifting his to Athrun" Yamato is the Last name of the family who adopted me before Lord Uzumi. I thought I told you? Anyway, I don't actually know much about her past or the name of the family she was with before her capture."

Athrun nodded. The prick in his heart turned into an intense pain as his mind was now a complete blank. But he has to make sure first. It was ofcourse impossible. Still. "but since your her brother shouldn't she have the same last name as you?"

"I guess so." Kira shrugged. "Although I prefer her to have the same Last name of the family I'm with now."

Athrun raised his brows in surprise. "Don't tell me..."

Kira nodded unnerved at the gravity of his decision "She's currently using the surname of Lord Uzumi. Her full name is Cagalli Yula Attha."

"Code Name!" Cagalli said, impatiently, pouting since she felt ostracized from the conversation which is ironically about her.

Athrun ran his hand through his hair. It's impossible. He relaxed a little as his tensed muscles eased and his heart slowly calmed as the sudden wave of relief course inside him, then being overshadowed by the feeling of mortification as he heard her full name. "Y-You just gave a criminal the surname of the Orb Nation's head of state. If that's not recklessness then I don't know what that is."

Kira laughed shortly. "Actually I forced her to take that name. Having the surname Attha which everyone knows as Orb Head Representative carries a powerful effect and a lot of benefits, don't you think? Besides, Lord Uzumi is the last of the Attha's I'm sure he would've liked to have a daughter."

Athrun frowned. "I doubt it. Having someone as her bear that name is a very stupid thing to do to his already declining clan. Your just gonna make it worse for the representative."

"Screw off." Cagalli scowled. "Don't go insulting me like that when your name already holds too much death on it. Or would you like me to summarize all the heroic acts of Patrick Zala and yourself so you would remember?"

"Cagalli!" Kira reprimanded. "Don't bring Athrun's father in this."

"That's..." Athrun said dejected. His gaze lowering as his past sins resurfaced. "I know. I know that my actions were wrong and I'm still suffering because of that. That even now I'm still being judge by my father's actions. And as long as I bear the name Zala...I will never be free from that."

"Athrun." Kira said walking towards his friend. Kira knew the burden Athrun has to carry for the rest of his life because of his father. Chairman Zala has stick to his belief that the Coordinators are the new evolution of the world and that the Naturals are now rejects. Many died because of his beliefs. He is a person who firmly believes that the strong shall prevail and the weak should perish, and Athrun being his son and only heir was taught to follow in his footsteps. But Kira knew that Athrun was different from his father. Athrun did what he did because of his mothers death and so many others on Junius Seven. He was strained to take the bloody path because he believes that eventually it would stop the war. "Don't punish yourself because of that. It's already in the past. You should just focus on making it up to the people who suffered because of others foolishness. Personally, I think you did the right thing by accepting the position you are in now."

"Thank you." he said looking at Kira. He is right it's already in the past and now he should just focus on the reason why he is fighting even now. For the future. Sure it would always weigh on him about his past actions and his father's but he can't do anything about it but to just accept it and move on. "It's an honor to hear that from you. Prince of Orb."

Kira laughed. "And besides, I know my dear sister did not mean what she said." He turned to Cagalli who was sitting cross legged on the bed her head turned sideways as a pout formed on her face. "Cagalli?"

Cagalli did not say anything, just looked sideways avoiding her brothers gaze. Kira sighed. She is a stubborn person. But what she said had been a great insult to his best friend and Kira will have none of that. "Cagalli stop being so stubborn. Athrun here is gonna help me in taking care of you and it's very risky on his part, we should be grateful."

"He's only doing that because of the information your gonna give him in exchange. That does not warrant my being grateful." Cagalli said.

"Funny, I believe that it is also because of me that you're not even dead yet. Shouldn't that alone be enough for you to be grateful." Athrun said dryly

Cagalli grinned. "Well, your right. If I should be grateful, its because you have such lousy underlings in this lame excuse of a headquarters."

Athrun narrowed his eyes. "Well, this lame excuse of a headquarters is the place where you'll be staying for the rest of your days. And those lousy underlings are the ones who will bring you your daily necessities to survive, under MY orders."

"Joy." she said lamely rolling her eyes.

Kira sighed as he looked at the stubborn face of his sister then to the intimidating ones of Athruns. They were already at each others throats, and its not even fifteen minutes since they've met. "Cagalli, I can't leave with you being like this."

"Great!"

"No. It's not." Kira looked at Athrun then slightly bowed. "On behalf of my stubborn sister, I apologize for her rude behavior earlier. She's not all rocks on the inside."

"Hey!"

"Don't do that Kira." he shook his head. "There's nothing to apologize for, everything she said is the truth anyway. And I'm still improving the level of security on this place and I have to admit that the staff's are starting to get a little too lax, nowadays."

Cagalli gaped at him. Was he being humble? She thought for a moment before swinging her feet to the edge of the bed and standing up, limping a little, since the tranquilizer still has some effect in her. Her action caught the two boys attention. She walked to their place and stood directly in front of the Chairman. Athrun glared at her, anticipating her next movement.

Cagalli looked directly at him before shifting her gaze to Kira. Which he only smiled at her.

"I..I did not mean what I have said about you and your father. I don't even have the right to tell you that. I only said that since you indirectly insulted Kira and Lord Attha." she said looking at him. "But I meant what I said about this establishment. I can't even fathom how easily we got inside here."

Athrun did not respond but was slightly amazed at the girl in front of him. She insulted him and his father then saying that she did not mean it when all that she has said regarding his past was the truth? Athrun of course did not like it one bit since it came from the mouth of someone who has just infiltrated the Zaft HQ but he did not like it more for people, whoever they may be, to take back what they said about his past, especially if its the truth.

"But I will not apologize about breaking in here. I..." she said breaking her eye contact from him. "I have my reasons for that."

And they remained silent.

Athrun felt his blood boil as his look at the girl intensified. "What do you mean your not gonna apologize? Do you realize that people died that day! What reasons can you have that would let you kill people just like that?! I know that it's me that you and your companion were after that day, but you failed and left so many dead in your wake and your not even going to apologize?!"

"I am not going to apologize." Cagalli glared at him in return, matching his intense look with her own. "I have my reasons and I doubt you would even care to know. "

"Your right. I don't. And I never will." Athrun turned around heading to the door "I suggest you know your place while your stay here. Even if you are Kira's sister I will not lift a finger to help you when the time has come for you to regret your words. I'll be outside."

Kira watched as Athruns form was concealed with the door before looking at Cagalli. Her head hung low and her eyes concealed by her bangs. Kira knew better than to ask if she's alright because he knew her. And he knew that it has hurt her. But it was not Athrun's words. It was her own. He placed his hand on top of her head and began to pat it gently. "It's alright."

Then Cagalli slammed herself to the brunette. Clutching on his shirt like she would fall any minute if she let go. Cagalli closed her eyes shut but did not let a single tear fall. For she believed that her tears were an insult to those she has killed for her own selfishness.

Kira stroked her hair gently like what he did a while ago. He had learned in the past that the gesture was her assurance, her solace. And he always did that whenever she has woken in the middle of a nightmare or every time she has finished her mission leading to the death of some, whose unknown faces he knew will haunt her for the rest of her life. It was because of her creator that she did what she did. Kira knew that from the time she had said that she trusts him that if Cagalli was given a knife at that moment, she would discard it, even if the Chairman is around.

Her mission was over. And he would do anything for it to be over, permanently. "It's alright."

Kira smiled as he breathed in. "I won't be here to look after you anymore, and you know me. I tend to worry so don't do anything stupid OK. Athrun will make sure that you will be safe, so always listen to whatever he says."

Cagalli slowly pushed away from his embrace and looked at Kira, her eyes clouded and pleading. "Don't go?"

Kira smiled at her, reassuring her that everything would be fine. That her trust in him would forever be safe."I'll come back for you, I promise. I'm actually kind of excited." he cupped her cheek stroking it gently. "Because the next time we meet it would be the time that my long waiting will come to an end."

Cagalli frowned a little before smiling softly. "I would like that."

They hugged again and then Kira slowly pushed Cagalli gracing her again with a smile signaling that their path that has been joined, where they have walked together for two years has come to an end. And the time has come for them to return to their own path's. "This is a new door for you, so why don't you try and open it, for once."

Athrun leaned on the wall as he waited for Kira to come out of the room. He kept his eyes closed, calming his senses from his earlier outburst. His lips turned from a thin line to a frown as he recalled his exchange with the blonde.

"I am not going to apologize." She killed people and she does not even feel sorry for that?

"I have my reasons." What reason was that? Was it so grave to not even permit her to be sorry for the lives she took?

"I only said that since you indirectly insulted Kira and Lord Attha." She had defended Kira and the Orb head and apologized for her sudden insult to him and his father, but not even a 'sorry' for the death she caused that day?

His thoughts were cut as he snapped his eyes open when he heard the door slide and out came Kira. He pushed himself of the wall and faced him.

"You said you needed to talk to me?" Kira asked him.

Athrun nodded then fishing out something in his pocket producing the disk that Kira had bargained the blonde with. "I've already copied the files inside to my computer so I'm giving it back. I'll probably send a few Zaft soldiers at the locations stated at the files by the end of the week. I'll also send out Zaft soldiers to different parts in space and on Earth too, and if I ever find anything I'll keep you posted."

"Thanks." Kira nodded then looked at the disk in Athrun's hand. "You should keep that. It's not like I don't have a copy of it myself."

Athrun retreated his hand. Returning the disk to his pocket. "Alright then. Thanks for this."

"Don't thank me just yet. They are still on the loose you know that?" Kira crossed his arms and leaned on the wall.

Athrun looked down. "It scares me to think that they were actually forming something under our noses. And were not even aware of that."

"That's why we should act now before it's too late. I don't actually know if I still have the heart to fight another pointless war."They remained silent.

"Kira, I wanted to ask you something." He focused on the brunette "You said you found your sister in one of their bases. Why didn't you act then? Why wait for two years?"

Kira thought for a moment thingking back at that time. "I don't know. I'm not actually that good in hand to hand combat. And don't get me started with guns. What I do know is that I needed to get Cagalli out of that place immediately. I'm actually surprised that it was so easy. No one noticed that I already took her from them. Glad I wasn't able to have the chance to use a gun and shoot someone."

"How is that even possible? If she's some sort of Newtype that's not even a Coordinator or an Extended then why the lack of security around her? Of course if..." Athrun's eyes widen. "She may not be the only one."

Kira shook his head. "Yes...and No. As I've said last time she's the last, though honestly not at first, its because all of the others died." His eyes narrowed. "Cagalli killed them."

Athrun's shock from that made him unable to retort for a while. "What? That's..."

"Don't go making sudden assumptions, Athrun. Cagalli would not take a life if she felt they were not going to take hers." Kira sighed. "But at that time it was not her life they were after."

Kira looked grim. "She killed them because they were after me."

"That's..." he said not knowing what to say.

Kira suddenly chuckled although it was a melancholic one. "They continued to locate us after I took her and they would only send her own kind. I hid from them, trying my hardest not to bump into anyone of them. And so I hid us in a place within Zaft territory. I rented a normal looking apartment in the city, dyed our hairs and got contacts and used new names. I thought that we were able to deceive them since no none came to bother us for a while but it was days later that I realized it's still futile. One day when I went out alone to buy supplies for our next trip, I was shot on the calf. At that moment I realized that they were not after Cagalli, they were after me. They took me as a hostage so that Cagalli would reveal herself and she did. I begged her to run, but she was so stubborn saying that she won't leave without me. She hardly even recognizes me as her brother or anyone at that time."

Kira inhaled deeply and Athrun watched as his friend placed his hand over his face, covering his eyes. "She fought with them. She took them down without taking their life, because she knew I don't approve of it. She was able to get the both of us out and we were able to escape again. But the next time we saw them they shot me in the stomach, making their point that they were out to kill me and at that time she took it upon herself that she had to do it. And after that she traced them down one by one and continuously stained her hands with their blood until no one followed us anymore. I was hopeless. I don't know how to stop her."

Kira then dropped his hand to his side revealing his sad violet eyes. "She said that if it means keeping me safe she will kill in my stead. That if i don't want to take someone's life then she would do it for me. She said that she would protect me, but..." Athrun looked away. Kira was breaking and for him, it was painful. Kira had saved him countless times from his emotional burden, but why can't he even utter a word of comfort to him when he needed it? Athrun suddenly felt despair as he stood beside his friend. Kira was always calm and gentle and truth be told, Athrun looked up to him. Kira even in their darkest would always find a way for them. And that person who always became their light, is now breaking in front of him. And he can't do anything other than stand beside him and just listen.

"Please, don't be so hard on her." Kira looked at him, his voice a little shaky. "She does have a reason, several of them and it's not my place to say but, I know that once you know of it, I'm sure you'll understand."

Athrun remained silent. Everyone says they all have a reason, a reason for something. He was once a person who has had reasons to fight, but there was no other reason in the world to validate the killing of a person. It was Kira who taught him that, which was one of the basis he never killed anymore. And now, the very person who has taught him that is now saying that there now exist reason to take a life. And the criminal that he claims as his sister has that kind of reason.

"And it's because of my weakness that she's still like that." Kira pushed himself off the wall. "I'm too idealistic for my own good. Believing that we all can live a peaceful life without killing. I'm now realizing just how ignorant I am. How childish it was."

"Don't." Athrun looked at him, hearing those word's were to hurtful. He solemnly believed in that and he was prepared to fight to the death for that belief. "I'm sure that living without killing is the only way for all of us to live in peace. So don't say that what you believed, what we've fought for, is childish. Your tramping on the efforts of the people who died and are willing to die for that. I understand that you feel that way because of what you've seen her do and because of her so called reasons, but I still believe that the only way for all of us to achieve actual peace that is worth it is to go living without taking someone's life."

Kira stared at his friend a proud smile forming on his lips. In the past Athrun's fought in the war because of the fall of Junius Seven and for the death of his mother. It was a reason where he did not look forward to the future nor did it for his own. When he decided to join him and Lacus to stop the war he slowly realized that revenge was the only thing that kept him going, he blamed himself with the death of many by his hands and carried the emotional burden that goes along with it.

He promised to look for it. His reason for fighting. A reason where he can call his own that he decided by his own free will. And by the words that left the mouth of his friend. Athrun might have found his answer.

"Did you find it?" Kira asked "Your reason to fight?"

Athrun lowered his head looking away from the brunet. "I don't know. But what I do know is that your words in the past are the right one."

"I hope so."

"It is."

"Thanks."

"Don't mention it."

And they both fell silent.

"What time is your flight?" Athrun started eyeing his friend.

"Tonight." Kira looked at his watch. "Eight hours left but I guess I'll be going now. "

"Shouldn't you be with her? This will be the last time you'll see each other for a while."

"It's alright. Better leave now before she changes her mind. You don't have to see me off. It'll be too awkward given what happened the other day."

Athrun nodded. "My guards are just on the farther side of this hallway, I've already instructed them regarding your transportation."

Athrun stepped aside letting Kira walk past him. Then he suddenly remembered something and immediately called out to his friend. "Hey. Have you talked with Lacus?"

"Yeah. I did." He answered stopping on his tracks then looking back, smiling. "Thank you for everything. Take care old friend."

"You too." Then Kira turned and resumed his leave.

"I'll take care of her." Athrun said loud enough for Kira to hear.

Kira did not look back but lift up his hands' and waved. "I know. I trust you."

Athrun watched Kira's back as he walked farther away from him. Thinking when will be the time where they will be able to meet again.

Hopefully, next time, it would be less intense.

Cagalli lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling with her hands behind her head. She shifted her gaze and scanned the whole room before looking at the plain white ceiling again.

"This will be the first thing I will see when I wake up." she thought to herself as she continued to stare at the ceiling like something will come out from it, which she hope there will. "Boring."

She immediately sat up when the door to her room-cell, suddenly slid open and in went one of the last person she wanted to see let alone have a conversation with, the first being her creator and his croonies of course. They held each others gaze for a while before she heard him speak.

"Kira already left."

"I know." ending the conversation immediately. The both of them held a starring match for awhile before Cagalli broke it and lied down on the bed again hands behind her head and resumed her staring at the ceiling. "Just say what you want to say then go."

Athrun clicked his tongue. "Look. All I want to say is that I apologize for what I have said to you a while ago. Kira told me you have reasons, although whatever it is I will never approve of it but since we will be seeing each other for quite some time I at least want to have a less hostile feeling from the both of us."

"Are you saying you want to be friends with the person who tried to kill you?" she said looking at him from the corner of her eye.

"I guess you can put it that way." Athrun said. "Until Kira comes back."

"Ok then dear buddy of mine, until Kira comes back, back off from my case." she said rolling to her side. Her back facing him.

Oh how Athrun wanted to agree with her. But he knew he can't. He promised Kira he will take care of her. And he is not a person who let's anyone down. Especially if it's someone important to him. "Unfortunately for the both of us, but I can't. I told Kira I will take care of you. And that includes me visiting on a semi-regular basis."

She did not say anything. He guessed she was pouting while ignoring him. But he took the opportunity of the blonde not giving any pointless retort. "There will be some rules that you have to obey during your stay here."

She kept quiet and he continued. "First, you will not threaten, kill or hurt anyone while you are here."

Cagalli still kept quiet which irked him but he did not show. If they are going to see each other often from now on they should at least make the air around them less hostile, at least to the point where they will not kill each other every time. And for that to be achieved, patience from one of them should be presented.

"Second, you cannot leave this room, whatever circumstances there may be unless I am the one that will escort you out."

Cagalli snorted. "I'm not that dumb. I know that no one can leave this room that easily."

Athrun ignored her. "Third, you will not do anything foolish to yourself. For Kira's sake, yours and mine. I don't want to stain this place by your blood."

Cagalli pushed herself and rolled looking straight at Athrun who stood near the door with half lidded eyes showing she is clearly uninterested on whatever he is saying. "Done?"

Athrun did not even bother to give her any verbal replies. He had said his piece and it does not require for him to give more of his time than he already has because of her. Patience, he should always have it with him. But not always. Patience is after all limited. Even for a person like him.

He bowed slightly before turning around and wordlessly walking out of to the door.

The door closed with a small beep marking that Cagalli was now a prisoner. And she will not do anything to get out of it.

Thanks for reading! Till next time!