Chapter One- Are you playing with me?-Lacus
"Where are you going?"
"It's a secret."
"Will it take you longer?"
"No, I'll just check things up there."
"Okay, take care!" Lacus smiled and Kira returned it with a kiss and a big smile.
"I'll be back."
She felt scared as Kira turned his back at him and got out of their house. She tried to follow him but her feet seemed to be stocked at the ground. When she got the courage, Kira'waqs to far away. She just stand there looking at Kira's back.
She didn't know that will be the last time they will talk and Kira's back we'll be the last thing she will remember. Until now that moment still hunt her, in her dreams or not. She's been asking herself if what will happen if she got the courage to ask him where he'll go or stop him from going anywhere. She's too afraid for no apparent reason.
She's been leaving in Kira's ghost for years. No one knew about it. And she doesn't dare to tell anyone. She can fake it. She can smile to them as if everything is okay, that she's fine. She need to be strong.
After her term as a Chairman of Plants ended last month, she returned in Orb where she and Kira leave for two years. She doesn't have anyone leaving with her now. She doesn't want anyone to see how vulnerable she is. But she knows that she needs to move on, that's why she choose to leave here. Where her and Kira's memories leave.
She looked at the alarm clock beside the bed. 5:35
She got out of bed and she take a short shower. After that she got in the kitchen and prepare a hot coffee. As she got in the veranda, the sky looked like it bleeds red as the sun creeps over the horizon. The red flickers and spreads as it is reflected in the waters.
A very beautiful scenery. It calm her when she feels she's at lost. Maybe it was Kira feel when he stares at this scenery. She hadn't time to see it before. Only now she appreciate the beauty of nature. Only now when she almost lost everyone she loved.
She stares at the sky. She shake her head when she see Kira's face. She feels pathetic. Being alone make her realize it. She emptied her coffee before she got out of the veranda.
An hour later...
She's baking cookies when she heard a loud crashed. She looked at the window where she can see her neighbor's mansion.
"There they go again."
She smiled thinly and shake her head. She's been leaving in that mansion for a week and since she started leaving there. There where not a day that she'll hear a loud noise like broken glasses or a shout.
She went there politely ask what happened. When she got there, a young lady same age as her, wearing an apron and holding a frying a pan. She found out that the young lady were trying to cook a breakfast and too clumsy when it came to cooking that everything in her surrounding got broken.
By the way, her name is Audrey. They became quite close after that crashing incident the first morning since she got there. His younger brother wasn't home and Audrey's brother supposed to be the one leaving there and looking for the orphaned children. But like Audrey says, 'she's got a bad luck for a month because his brother needs to go in the Plants to fixed something.' And now she's the one making foods for the children.
She put some cookies in the plates and make a juice. She's expecting Audrey to come here. It became Audrey's habit to complain to her after Audrey finish cooking.
"Lacus!"
See?
She just opened the front door and saw Audrey still wearing a pink apron. She opened it widely and let Audrey inside who keep on complaining. Audrey suddenly burst on crying and started on complaining agan.
"I can't take it anymore! Okay fine! It's my fault for ruining that contract. But they shouldn't have to do this. I can't anymore! I'm really on my limit."
Lacus just smiled at Audrey and got inside the kitchen. When she got back she has a glass of juice and some home bake cookies. She set it in the table and sit in front of Audrey.
"He doesn't need to go. Matt could handle it! By the way thanks for this." She took the cookies and eat it. "I'm not really good at cooking. I'm too clumsy when it comes to it but I'm good at eating. It's really delicious!"
She laughed. When Audrey talk and eat she had this habit. And as you can see she's too talkative.
"Do you want some help?"
She offered but she knows already that Audrey will refused. Audrey's full of pride but always making a fuss about it. She always offered to help her but always refusing.
"No need. I manage to make one that wouldn't poisoned a person." Audrey chuckled.
"Want to go with me? I'm going to buy some groceries."
She invited. She needs sometimes people like Audrey to be with. Being with someone can change her gloomy day.
"I can't, today. My baby brother will be back this afternoon. But I want to invite you to eat dinner with us. You'll like him. He's still single. The only problem is there's one person who's obsessed in him. And I really don't like her. She's a bitch! And I'll tell you. You and him are perfect. You'll make a good couple.
"I... can't today. My friend's coming over."
"Is that so?" Audrey kept quiet for a moment and started thinking. The Audrey shockingly looked at her and almost choked. "Ouch! I bite my tongue! You have a friend? I can't believe it. I thought you're a loner." Audrey pouted her lips while sipping the juice. "Maybe next time. I'll set a date between you two."
"I think that is not a nice idea."
Finally, she said it. She don't know when she can talk. Audrey really is a talkative one.
"I won't accept a 'no' for answer."
Before she can answer Audrey's on the way out now.
"What a talkative friend I got here."
She just shake her head with a smile. She's about to go the kitchen when she heard footstep and voices.
Athrun glance at Audrey who is about to enter it's own house while curiously looking at Athrun.
"You're too early!"
Lacus smiled at Athrun and Cagalli. She turned her head to see Audrey and wave her hand. Audrey smiled and wave her hand too before she get inside.
"Cagalli insisted." Athrun whisper to her before he turned his head to look at Cagalli who is still looking at her neighbor's house. Cagalli feels like she's been talking about look at Athrun.
"I'm not!" Cagalli says she crossed her hand and got inside the house. "Miriallia still not here?"
"They're going too!?"
"Yup! Mu and Murrue, too."
Athrun smiled at her and went beside Cagalli who seems really pissed off.
"Try this one!"
Cagalli looked at what Lacus holding, a white spaghetti strap and knee length dress. She turned her back to Lacus with a horribly looked and started looking for something nice at the racks pf dress.
"Hey! Look at me!" Lacus pouted at Cagalli.
"That's not a good dress. I won't be comfortable wearing that." Cagall frowned.
"Just try it. It will look good in you."
"It's too plain!"
"How about this one?"
Cagalli turned her head to looked at what Lacus holding. A simple but seductively red dress. She tried to imagine what Athrun's reactions will be but just thinking about it make her blush. She shake her head and horribly looked at Lacus.
"It's a no!"
Lacus looked at Cagalli running away from that store. She looked at the stores attendant and smile.
"I want this both. Make it fast." She smiled at the female attendant.
By the way, they were at the nearby mall from her house. Cagalli seems really pissed off and she feels that Cagalli wanted to tell her something but can't find the right timing. Mu and Murrue didn't manage to make it because suddenly she got into labor. Only Cagalli, Miriallia, Athrun and Dearka was with her. They we're here at the mall buying things for the new born baby. But Lacus notice that Cagalli were looking at this shop when we're at the infant shop. They left all boys at the infant shop.
"You know Cagalli won't wear that even if the world ends."
"I'll let her wear it! No matter what." She sweetly smiled at Miriallia.
Miriallia shake her head and walk towards Cagalli. They're back at the infant shops, both curiously looking at what Dearka holding. She got curious, too. After she pays the dress she walk towards the infant dress.
A cry of child startled her. She turned around and saw a boy crying.
"Lacus, look at this one!"
Lacus looked back at Cagalli waving something at her. She looked back at the young boy when she doesn't heard any crying anymore.
A brown haired man. She can't see his face but something's familiar with him.
"Lacus!"
Lacus walked towards Cagalli. She didn't see that the brown haired man turned his head to look at her. The young man stand up and stared at Lacus back. Feeling someone's looking at her, she turned around to only see high school student entering the shop where they were before. She tightened her grip to her shoulder bag but loosened it again.
The young brown haired man still looking at Lacus and saw her face when she turned around but didn't notice the man because of the students passing by.
"Uncle Kira? What's the matter?"
The young man called Kira, smiled at boy and shake his head.
"Nothing. Let's go. Don't let go of my hand again so you won't be lost."
The boy smiled back at him. He glanced at Lacus before he walked away holding the child's hand.
As they reach the hospital, they got in the second floor as the receptionist from the information desk told them. They were looking around the hallway staring at the number in each door.
"It's here!" Dearka called them and pointed at the door in front of him.
They knocked at the door before they opened it slightly to see who's inside. Murrue saw us and called them in, "Come in!"
"Murrue, Congratulation!" They say happily in unison.
"Thanks!" Murrue says with a radiant smile.
"A little gift from us. You can use for emergency. And some clothes for the baby." Dearka says mischievously.
"Where's Mu?" Athrun asked as he looked around.
Lacus looked at Athrun as she placed the bouquet of flowers in the vase.
"He's with doctor. Asking some trivial things."
"Is that so?" Athrun glanced at Lacus which she curiously frowned at him.
"So how's the baby, Murrue?"
"A healthy boy. He looked like his father."
"How I wish he won't get his father mentality." Cagalli spat.
"Cagalli..." Lacus glared at Cagalli.
"How I wish too. I wish that he will only got his father face but not his attitude. I can't handle another Mu." Murrue laughed.
Lacus laughed too, "What did you named him?"
"We haven't decided yet. We we're still on the way choosing the name when I got into labor. I've two months early. We haven't decided what to name him. We always disagree."
"But I taught you're the yes, yes kind of person?" Cagalli frowned. " How about Mu the second?"
Lacus sighed and warned, "Cagalli... That's the second one."
"What do you feel when you got into labor? Was it hard?" Miriallia changed the topic as she sit at the chair beside the bed.
"One hundred percent!" Murrue laughed at Cagalli's face. She looked like she see a ghost. "It feels my feet was six feet under the ground. We almost didn't make it to the hospital."
"I'm not trying to scare all of you." Murrue added.
"Actually you already did." Cagalli snorted.
Lacus sighed and stared at Murrue then to Miriallia and Dearka. She started to reminisce about what happen to their lives after five years. Well, after this five years, many things change like how Murrue stop being a soldier four years ago and start teaching again. Her husband Mu was still a captain in ORB. As for Miriallia, she stick on being a photographer well she doesn't mention where she work. Miriallia's boyfriend Dearka still a Zaft member and the problem lies within there. They got this on and off relationship. It's hard to maintain a distance relationship but I wish they manage to solve it out. And about Athrun and Cagalli, they got married two years ago. They manage to work it out, lucky for them. She thought that the their relationship won't last because of Cagalli's political duties and Athrun being a coordinator. Well they says that they says all is fair in love and war. Wait, I think that don't suit. Maybe love is conquers all. No, I think love is blind. Well, there's a lot of definition of love. Goodluck to them.
Lacus looked at Cagalli, she's beside the window staring outside nothing in particular. Her face is unreadable. She then turned to Athrun seriously talking with Dearka while Miriallia chitchatting with Murrue. She approached Cagalli and whispered, "So what's wrong? I feel that you want to talk to me. You're pissed since we met."
"It's nothing really." Cagalli sighed and looked around if someone listening to them, "It just I'm pregnant."
Lacus's face unreadable before she smiled at Cagalli as if she absorbed what Cagalli just dropped, "Congratulation!"
"Congratulation your face." Cagalli looked sullen again.
Lacus looked confused at Cagalli, "Is there something wrong?"
"There's nothing. It just I feel that Athrun is cheating on me."
"What?!"
Lacus almost choked. She turned around to see them curiously looking at them. She stand up and instruct Cagalli to follow her.
"Where are you going?" Athrun asked and about to follow them.
"Comfort room. We won't much take longer." She smiled sweetly at Athrun.
"But..." Athrun was about to protest but he's been cut off by Miriallia.
"I think I'll go with them." Miriallia closed the door and followed Lacus and Cagalli.
"So what it is?" Miriallia asked as they entered the comfort room. Lacus stared at the mirror and glanced at her shoulder.
"Cagalli's pregnant and she think her husband cheating on him."
"What!?"
"See? I can't believe you're spouting some nonsense Cagalli." She turned around and looked directly at Cagalli.
"You won't know because you're with him all the time."
"Care to tell why you got this assumption? Hmmm?" Miriallia looked mischievous.
"I told you! He's really cheating!" Cagalli shout.
"Hey, you don't have to shout. Maybe it's hormone."
"What hormones? I'm not kidding really! I've caught him many times talking to someone on phone then when he notice me he'll suddenly hang up. When I asked him he said it's work. Work? In the middle of the night? When people supposed to be sleeping. Then there's this Meyrin. When we got in Plants last month he's all over Athrun. She won't let us alone. Then when I just turned my back for a second I caught whispering."
Lacus and Miriallia looked at each other with the same idea, "Hormones!"
She remember that Meyrin girl. I she remained a Zaft soldier in Plants, but she's good in hacking.
"I think you're mistaking." Miriallia says.
"Then you're saying I'm lying?" There she goes again, Cagalli's short-tempered.
"Ahm... No, we just think that you're thinking to much. You know, they says that pregnant women tend to be sensitive." Lacus didn't know what to says. Yes, pregnant women is very sensitive and she doesn't know how to handle one. "By the way, does he know?"
"Yes, he should.." Then, Cagalli turned to looked at them. Her face turned sour, "Maybe..."
Lacus and Miriallia sighed and shake their head, "Hormones."
"By the way, congrats!" Miriallia smile at Cagalli and caressed her head.
"Thanks!" Cagalli's mood turned for good.
"You should tell him." Lacus encouraged.
"Don't wanna." Cagalli pout and crossed his arms.
They we're starled when they heard a loud shout just outside the comfort room.
"I said I don't need to see a doctor. My stomach just upset. Get it?"
They looked at each other with the exemption of Cagalli, "Another lover's quarrel?"
It suddenly got quiet only thing they heard people whispering. Cagalli with her expressionless face stared at the door and opened it after a while.
They came back at Murrue's room. As she about to opened the door she heard Athrun and Mu's whispering. She became curious. She glanced at her shoulder and saw Miriallia and Cagalli approaching her.
"Why you're stack there?" Cagalli says as she opened the door.
"Ah!" Lacus pouted at Cagalli.
"What is it?" Cagalli frowned. Cagalli was inside the room now and she turned around to looked at her.
"Nothing!"
She frowned as she looked at Athrun and Mu. She knows that they're talking about something but when they entered that room they suddenly stop talking and stared at them. She really got curious the way they acted. She feels that they were having this staring contest. Miriallia were the one who break the silence.
"Sorry but we have to go. We will visit you next time. Congratulation again! Lacus, we'll go first." Miriallia turned to Dearka, "Dearka!" Miriallia walked away as she called out Dearka.
Dearka just followed her but stop and turned around, "See you next time. Congrats!"
She tried to hold back from laughing. Girl now a days tend to have much power over men.
"We also have to go." Athrun says.
Lacus turned when she feels a dark aura emiting from someone and she saw Cagalli totally pissed off while Athrun didn't even notice it. Cagalli walked away. She didn't even wait for Athrun to follow her. She bid goodbye to Murrue and Mu and she followed Cagalli and Athrun. Suddenly, Cagalli run without warning as if she's been running away from death. Athrun called her but she didn't even truned to looked or even stop. Athrun had to run to catch up to Cagalli. Athrun didn't even notice that he drop something from his pocket. She run for it and picked it up, a photo.
"Athrun, you left this.." Lacus squinted her eyes but no here's no Athrun. "Wah.. They left me. Meanie.."
She curiously looked at the photo while she pout. A photo of Dearka in his back a pack of people passing by. She frowned. The thing that caught her is the image of a brown haired man holding an ice cream. She gulped it's Kira. A picture of him.
When did they take it? Why does Athrun carry this?
She looked where Athrun run to as if she can find the answer by doing that. She hid the photo at her pocket. She looked around and search for the taxi stop. As she walked, she looked around her once more. She feels that her surrounding became too wide.
I feel light-headed.
"That's why I says you should see a doctor." She heard Kira's voice.
Another one of my daydream? I don't need one. Wait... Why did she feel that one doesn't came from her mind? It feels more it came from her behind.
She turned around to see 'Kira' talking to a girl in the passenger seat of the purple car. "Kira' kissed the girl on the forehead before he sit in the driver sit. She stand still there. She looked like she saw a ghost. She didn't move and keep staring at the purple car. Even when the car has long gone, she just stand there as if the car was still there and 'Kira' was just getting on the car.
Was she dreaming? Yes, she's dreaming! No, more like she's having hallucination.
"Lacus!"
She feel she woke up from her dream when she heard Athrun called her name.
Yes, she is dreaming.
A single tear slid down from his warm eyes, followed by another one, and another one, until soon, a steady stream of salty tears flowed it's way down his pale cheek. She didn't even notice it. She was silently crying.
"Is there something wrong, Lacus?"
"I can't... I can't stop crying. I don't know why."
She can't stop crying. She kept on wiping her tears away. Her tears won't dried up.
"It hurts.."
"Lacus... I'm sorry."
She turned around to see a worried look of Cagalli. She laughed.
Why does the one who doesn't hurt her has to be the one who need to apologize?
"Why are you looking at me like that? There's a dirt on my eye. That's why my tears won't stop pouring." She finally like smiling but her tears won't stop. What a pain.
Who are you? I've been dreaming about you for years but I can't see your face clearly. Everyday in my dreams you hunt me. Why can't I see you? I want to know who are you. Why does your voice sounds lonely? No! I know your lonely. Everyday in my dreams, I feel your looking at my back with that expressions that I won't come back. I know I promise you that I'll come back but if you won't show your face I won't know who are you. Please, tell me who are you.