We Met Two Years Ago

by Ben Firebird

The sequel to the story But We Just Meet, many of the pairings will remain the same, like Lacus/Kira and Cagalli/Athrun, but there will of course also be a few new once. This goes on in the Second Bloody Valentine War with quite a few change, like Shinn's sister Mayu still being alive.

23. Chapter 23

I'm sorry guys that this took so long. But I have been kinda busy this month.

Chapter 23

It was about seven hours since the meeting with the Chairman.

And right now Athrun was laying in his bed sound asleep. But as he began slowly waking up.

It did not take him long to realize. That he was not the only person in this bed, there was somebody else in there just beside him. At first he was somewhat convinced that it was his lovely fiancée who was resting there next to him.

But when his tired brain remind him that Cagalli was no where near this place, that she was with the Archangel right now, and couldn't be laying there beside him like she loved to do.

And with that in mind his two eyes immediately flew open to take a look at whoever this strange person was. And it did not even take him a second to recognize the intruder.

He only knew two people with pink hair. And there was just no way the real Lacus would ever be sleeping beside him like this.

But apparently the fake one did not feel the same way. Seeing as she had at some point during the night taken the opportunity to sneak in here and crawl in to bed beside him.

So after using a few minor seconds to get over the shock at seeing Meer Campbell sleeping beside him like this. He didn't waste anytime in getting out of the bed and away from the pink haired girl.

Once up on his feet, he immediately reached down and picked up his pants, which he got in to in a hurry. After that he again looked over at the fast asleep girl.

Just seeing her peaceful sleeping expression was more then enough to make a deep angry vein ran over his forehead. All of the pink haired girl's foolish attempts to get his attention, was seriously starting to get on his nervous.

And with that in mind he took a couple of short breaths.

"Meer wake up!" He called out in a loud tone that immediately made the fake Lacus sit up straight on the bed, where she hurried took a small look around the room to figure out where exactly she was.

And when her two blue eyes made their way over to him. It did not take much time before a truly happy expression appear on her face.

But just before Athrun had the opportunity to ask what the hell she was doing in there. She let the thick cover fall away from the upper part of her body. So he could now see how little clothes she had on.

Honestly expecting that the almost see through white nightgown covering her lovely body. Would finally make Athrun realize just how utterly sexy she truly was. And that if he was interested in her, she was more then ready to accept him with open arms.

And to make completely sure that he knew what she had in mind, she slowly ran her tongue over her red lips a single time.

But even true her choice of clothes did distract Athrun for a brief moment.

He hurried shook his head a few times, before he again looked directly in to Meer's eyes, where he could easily tell by her somewhat smug look that was was expecting something to happen.

And his next words obviously shocked her a great deal. Not that he cared one bit about that right now.

"Meer get your clothes on and get out of here!" He told her in a tone that could only be described as very unfriendly. He really didn't felt like dealing anymore with all of the fake Lacus' attempts to seduce him.

So he had to get rid of her before anybody showed up and realized that she was in there.

If somebody actually figured out that she had been spending the entire night in his bed. They would without a doubt believe, that the two of them hadn't been sleeping much this night.

And there was simply no way he wanted gossip like that spread out all over the base. If Cagalli ever heard rumours like that, it would certainly take a very long time before he would be able to make it up to her again.

And with that in mind he again yelled out for Meer to hurry and get out of there.

"But Athrun, if I stay the two of us can have a lot of fun together. You do realize that the two of us are meant for each other" she said in a sweet tone, while doing her best to try and show of her slender body and her big breasts to him.

But seeing her do that just made Athrun even more determined to get rid of the pink haired girl.

"No Meer we are not meant for each other! You have to realize, that I don't have those kind of feelings for you. And that I don't like the way you keep on clinging to me every time you see me!" Athrun told her loudly.

Just as he walked over and pinked up her dress and throw it down on the bed beside her.

Hearing him say all of that to her a very, very displeased look immediately ran over her face, as she tried to figure out what she was doing wrong. Why was it that he kept on resisting all of her attempts to bring the two of them closer together.

It was not like she wasn't attractive. So there had to be something else he wasn't telling her.

And while still thinking about that she again looked over at him, doing her best not to show him her disappointment. She had seriously believed that by crawling in to bed with him, dressed like this was enough to make him fall for her.

"Do you have somebody else that you like Athrun, is there another girl somewhere that you are in-love with?" She asked in a somewhat unhappy tone.

She truly needed to know if she had a rival for his affection.

But when he heard her ask that he just got a somewhat far away look on his face, that made it completely clear for her that he was thinking very hard about somebody else right now.

But after standing there for a few seconds he slowly shook his head a few times. "That's none of your business Meer. Now hurry up and get going, the two of us have already spend way to much time together" he said in tone, that made it obvious that if she didn't get out of there now. He was going to get even more angry and upset with her.

So even true she was still looking somewhat sad about the whole thing. She slowly stood up from the bed and began getting in to her normal day clothes.

But no matter how much she tried to make Athrun feel guilty about being so impolite to her. He just turned around and waited until he was sure that she had all of her clothes back on.

"I guess that I'll be seeing you later then" she told him. Still trying to make it seemed like, she was completely crushed about him throwing her out of there.

But Athrun just lifted his hand and gave her a short wave.

Seeing him do that. She hurried turned and left the room without saying another word to him.

And even true a small part of her had hoped that he would call out after her, and ask her to stay in there with him. It did not take long, before she was slowly walking down the hall with a truly depressed look on her face.

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At the same time back in Athrun's room. The blue haired young man couldn't help but let out a big sigh of relief. As he fell back on to his bed, truly happy that he had finally manage to get rid of the pink haired girl. Even true a small part of him did feel a bit guilty for being so mean to her.

But for some reason, no matter how much he tried to show her, that he wasn't interested in her.

She kept on hanging on to him at ever given opportunity, so what in the world was he suppose to do. He surely didn't want his engagement to Cagalli ruined because a girl he badly knew had crawled in to bed with him while he was asleep.

"Damn it, I really hope she doesn't try anything like that again, one time was bad enough!" He said to himself, as he closed his eyes for a few minutes.

Doing his best to forget everything that had happened this morning. But as he was resting there, it didn't take him long to realize that even true he hadn't done a single thing with Meer.

He was still smelling a great deal of the perfume she was apparently using. And if somebody caught him smelling like that, he would surely get a great deal of very uncomfortable explaining to do.

And knowing that he hurried got back up from the bed, and made his way over to the bathroom. Once in there he immediately turned on his shower, truly hoping this was enough to get rid of the somewhat bad scent of Meer's perfume.

But as he stood there with the water running down over him. He began to wonder how in world she had manage to tiptoe in there without him noticing it.

Having been both a soldier and a bodyguard for a very long time. It wasn't like he hadn't been thoroughly trained, in sensing when something wasn't right.

Yet Meer had for some reason, been able to get both in to his room, and crawl in to bed beside him.

If she had been somebody else, that had snuck in to his room to kill him. He would most definitely be dead now.

Just the thought alone was more then enough to send a small shiver through him. Even with all that hot water falling down over him, how the heck could he have slept over something like that.

Maybe it was because he had gotten pretty use to Cagalli sneaking in to his room to sleep beside him. The first few times she had done that, he had woken up almost instantly after she had step foot in to his room.

But after a little while, her nightly visits had end up becoming a habit to him.

So now he had no trouble at all sleeping over it. Even when she was making a great deal of noise. Like that time she had accidently knocked over the small lamp that had been standing on his bedside table, which had far from been enough to wake him up.

It was only when she had began softly kissing and licking his neck, that he had finally returned from dreamworld.

But before he could really get in to the thoughts about one of his and Cagalli's more passionate and down right sweaty nights. He quickly shook his head a few times to get his wandering mind over on something else.

"I really miss her a lot right now" he quietly mumbled to himself.

Just as he happy smiling face ran through his head. And without even thinking about it, he slowly began counting just how many days it had been since he had last seen his lovely fiancée.

He did however not get the opportunity to finish doing that before somebody knocked quite loudly on his door.

"Just a minute!" He hurried called out in a very loud tone. Seriously hoping that whoever was out there, wasn't Meer Campbell again, he really didn't feel like spending anymore time with that girl today.

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So while Athrun was trying his best to remove all the traces his unwanted guest had left behind.

Lunamaria and Nicol was standing just outside of his room, waiting for some kind of signal that would show them that they where welcome to enter the room.

It did however not take long before the red haired girl began running slowly out of patience.

"What do you think he is doing in there? I really don't want to stand out here all day. I haven't gotten a single thing to eat yet, so I'm hungry" Luna complained, while glaring a bit at the door. Hoping that whatever her handsome teammate was doing in there it wouldn't take too long.

But just as Nicol was about to tell her that he was sure that it wouldn't be long now Athrun was ready to let them in. The door to the room got slammed open.

So now both of them could see the Saviour piloted busy using a towel to dry his blue hair, and dressed in nothing else but a pair of pants and a T-shirt. That showed of a great deal of the hard muscles on the upper part of his body.

"Ohh it's you guys, what are you doing here so early in the morning? I thought for sure that the two of you would still be sleeping at this hour. We do have the day off you know?" He asked in a friendly tone, as he slowly turned around and walked back in to the room, still wiping the rest of the water out of his hair.

Once he got over beside the bed. He immediately throw the towel down on the floor, and picked up the red coat that belonged to his uniform.

So after quickly brushing away a few pink hairs that at some point doing the night had land on it.

He hurried pulled the coat on and looked over at his two teammates, a bit curious about why they had both chosen to leave their beds this early.

Especially when they had permutation to sleep the entire day away, he did however not have to wait all that long for some kind of reply. "Well Lunamaria and I was wondering if you wanted to have breakfast with us? We have already tried to find both Rey and Shinn to ask them to join us. But unfortunately neither of them where in their rooms" Nicol explained, while taking a brief glance around the room.

Thinking a brief moment about what his two friends was asking him. Athrun was just about to give them a reply. When suddenly out of nowhere Luna interrupted him with a completely different question.

"What is that strange smell that's in here?" She asked in a somewhat far away tone. While trying her best to figure out where exactly that weird fragrant was coming from. For some reason a small part of her found the smell oddly familiar. She just couldn't figure out when she had encounter that almost spring like scent before.

Quickly realizing that the room was still smelling a great deal of Meer's perfume.

Athrun immediately knew that he had to hurry and get the red haired girl out of there before she could figure out what the smell was.

So without wasting anytime. He reached out and got the only window in the room open, hoping that some nice fresh air would be able to reduce the perfume fragrant.

After that he hurried stepped over beside Lunamaria and took a hold on her right arm. "Well to tell you the truth I'm actually quite hungry myself, so lets hurry up and get out of here!" He said trying to sound very excited about the whole thing.

And without giving them the possibility to say anything back. He pulled Lunamaria along with him out of the chamber.

With Nicol following closely behind them with a deeply confused expression on his face. He really didn't understand why Athrun was in such a big hurry to get out of that room. It was almost like he had been trying to hide something.

But no matter how hard Nicol thought about it. He just couldn't figure out why exactly Athrun had been so utterly keen on, getting both Luna and him out of there in such a great haste. What was it with that peculiar smell that almost send his normally calm friend in to a small panic. And why was it that Lunamaria found that weird smell familiar.

This entire matter was just so strange.

And even true Nicol honestly wanted to ask his friend about the smell. He could easily tell by Athrun's expression that he really didn't want to talk about it. Especially now that he had finally succeed in getting Lunamaria's attention over on something else. Right now both of them where busy discussing the ZAKU and GOUF mobile suit. And which one was the most powerful.

Something Lunamaria was apparently very eager to give her opinion on, seeing as she herself was the pilot of a ZAKU.

And just by hearing the tone of voice she was using while talking about her mobile suit. Made it very clear that she was very, very proud of being the pilot of her red ZAKU Warrior.

"I'm telling you Athrun that big cannon can blow pretty much everything apart. It really is the much cool weapon ever!" She said in a loud tone, while crossing both of her arms over her chest, giving both of the boys a look, that clearly told them that they could just try and disagree with her. She was more then ready to a argue back if they had something insulting to say about her mobile suit.

And as much as Nicol quite frankly wanted to stay out of this discussion. He just couldn't stop himself from sharing his opinion, about Zaft's new national mobile suit with his two friends.

"Well I do think that the ZAKU is an ok machine. But I find it a bit annoying that it can't fly without the help of a Guul. And I also think it could use a few more close combat weapons!" Nicol said, thinking back to how utterly limited he had found the ZAKU the few times he had actually tried piloting such a machine.

It was only when he had been assigned one of the very first GOUFs that had been made. That he honestly felt like he could fight just as well as he had done with the Blitz two years ago.

The GOUF might not have Mirage Colloid but it was still quite fast and very maneuvrable.

And that type of mobile suit truly did suited his fighting style, much better then the ZAKU.

He did however not get long to think about that before Lunamaria interrupted his thoughts quite loudly.

"Hmm you should really consider taking a spin around the base in a ZAKU Nicol. Then you would surely realize that if you had just the right Wizard pack equipped, then you would no doubt be able to beat almost anything!" the girl explained. While thinking about how many advantage there was in having a mobile suit that could do that.

But it didn't take long before she once more began talking in the same wise tone as before.

"And if you are really that hung up on having a bunch of close combat weapons Nicol! Then you could always use the Slash Wizard pack!" The female ZAKU pilot said, while looking directly in to Nicol's two brown eyes.

Waiting impatiently to hear what he now had to say about the ZAKU mobile suit.

"I do agree with you Luna that the ZAKU is very effective with all of it's Wizard packs. But it still can't fly on it's own down here in the atmosphere, and that's quite frankly one of the ZAKU's main weakness" Nicol said. Somewhat hoping that these words wouldn't lead to another argument with the girl.

For some reason the two of them had been fighting a lot these last few days. And he seriously didn't feel like getting in to yet another big loud discussion, with the red haired girl, about who was right and who was wrong.

But fortunately to his relief the only thing Lunamaria did, when she heard those words was get a slightly thoughtful look on her face, as she slowly turned her attention over to the last person there. That for the last couple of minutes had been pretty quiet.

"And what about you Athrun, which do you think that is the strongest the ZAKU or the GOUF?" She asked in a slightly curious tone. While at the same time giving him a small yet cute smile that she somehow hope was enough to get him to say ZAKU.

But he apparently didn't even notice her cute expression.

He just took a glance up at the ceiling, obviously think hard what she had just asked him. Yet before neither Nicol or Lunamaria could lose their patient waiting for a reply of some kind.

Athrun looked away from the ceiling and back over at them.

"I don't really know which one of them is the most powerful. I have never tried piloting a GOUF!" He said in a far away voice. Thinking back to how well Nicol had fought using such a machine.

It really had been quite impressive some of the things Nicol could pull of with his GOUF.

Yet before he could really start thinking about that. He got his thoughts over to the other mobile suit they had been asking him about. "And the few times I have been trying out a ZAKU it didn't really go all that well. The first time the machine could badly walk in a straight line, which wasn't really all that fun seeing as I was going up against the Gaia. And the second time I pretty much fell half way through the atmosphere, before Shinn caught me" the blue haired teen said. Thinking about how bad an experience that had been.

And with that in mind, he again looked back over on the two other mobile suit pilots.

Where he immediately noticing the somewhat curious expression they had on their faces. Which made it pretty obvious that both of them wanted an answer soon.

"Well if I really have to tell you guys the truth. I think that if I had to use one of those mobile suits, I would honestly choose the GOUF. I too do like the idea of being able to fly down in the atmosphere" Athrun said in a voice.

Which made it very clear for both Luna and Nicol that he was taking this whole conversation quite serious. And that he really had meant every word he had just said.

But even true Luna wasn't all that happy about him choosing the GOUF. She found herself nodding slowly in understanding. But before either of her or Nicol had the opportunity to say anything back about Athrun's choice of mass-produced mobile suit.

He once more began talking, this time using a less serious tone then before. "But seeing as I have the Saviour. I really don't have to worry about which one of them to choose. That gundam has more then enough weapons, and it's quite handy when engaged in aerial combat" he said, while thinking about how useful the Saviour's high speed had been, that one time he had been facing of against the Chaos gundam.

Thinking a bit about his response. Lunamaria got a small yet unhappy frown on her forehead. "Ok I do get why you prefer a gundam, over a mass-produced mobile suit. But unfortunately some of us here are not so lucky being assigned to such a machine!" The girl said in a cranky voice. While at the same time wondering slightly how things would have turn out, had she been the one who had been chosen to pilot either the Saviour or the Impulse.

She however not get much time to really dream about what she could accomplish in one of those mobile suits, when suddenly Nicol let out a small coughing sound.

And just as she turned her attention over at him. He began talking in a thoughtful tone.

"I do understand why you find the idea of piloting a gundam appealing Lunamaria. But just remember that being the pilot of such a machine doesn't mean you can accomplish and handle everything. There is just so many things I truly wish I could have done differently while piloting the Blitz" Nicol said quietly.

Just as he slowly shook away those awful pictures of the Calamity killing Mayura almost directly in front of him.

Wondering a second or two what in the world he was talking about. Lunamaria was just about to ask him about it. When he quickly shook his head a few times, and again looked back at them.

"Let's hurry up and get down to the cafeteria, I'm hungry" he said then continued onward without saying anything else to them. He really did not feel like talking about the past right now.

Seeing her friend disappear so quickly down the hall. Lunamaria got a slightly worried look in both of her eyes, as she turned and looked over at Athrun.

"Do you have any idea about what he was just talking about?" She asked concerned, while taking another glance in that direction Nicol had disappeared in, for some reason it was always bothering her, when he got that depressed look on his face.

Slowly going over the female pilot's question. Athrun too got a slightly sad look on his face too.

"I might Luna. But it's not really my place to tell you, maybe someday in the future, he will perhaps be ready to talk with you about it" Athrun said in a somewhat sad tone.

Just as he slowly reach up to remove some of his blue hair. That was at this very moment was covering up both of his eyes.

Hearing Athrun say that.

Lunamaria felt even more curious about the matter. But seeing how much sadness this subject brought her two friends, she quietly decided to keep her mouth shut and not to ask anymore about it, before she was absolutely certain that Nicol, was completely ready to tell her about whatever it was that made both him and Athrun feel so depressed.

And with that in mind she once more turned her attention over towards the only other person there. "Let's get moving too Athrun. I'm pretty sure that Nicol is already down in the cafeteria, just waiting for the two of us to show up" she said, while watching Athrun nod a single time in agreement.

So with that decision made the two of them turned. And began walking slowly down the hall, without saying another word to each other.

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Meanwhile quite far away from the giant building the Minerva's pilots had been spending the night in.

Shinn was walking slowly around town, with an lolly stick in his mouth. It had been a little while since he had finished of the ice lolly. But for some strange reason he kinda liked chewing on the small piece of wood.

But even while he was busy doing that, he still had quite a big smile on his face. Seeing as it wasn't long since he had left a video game arcade, where he had shown a bunch of high school jerks how one was really suppose to play a racing game.

The leader of them had actually ended up getting very hostile when he had broken his high score in the game. And if it hadn't been for the own of the small arcade.

Shinn was pretty sure that he would be in the middle of a fist fight against the three morons. Yet once the old man who apparently own the place had told them if they began fighting in there, they would never be allowed to enter the arcade again.

And a threat like that was more then enough to make them stop provoking him.

So after making sure that they where once again playing the racing game, trying to regain the top spot on the machine. Shinn had slowly left the arcade making extra sure that those guys wasn't following him.

He really didn't feel like fighting with a bunch civilians. Seeing as that would most like earn him quite a big scolding from the captain. And properly a few others of the Minerva's high ups'

And he seriously didn't feel like dealing with that today.

He would much rather have the possibility to go outside and get some fresh air, then being forced to stay on board the Minerva until it was time for them to leave this place.

Yet as he continued onward quite far away in his own thoughts, he arrived at the very top of a big hill that showed a truly unbelievable view of the ocean, and the city he had just left not long ago.

He could even see the Minerva from all the way up here. Not that he watched the ship for long, it wasn't like this was the very first time he had ever laid eyes on the grey space ship.

So once he again was looking out over the ocean, the smile on his face grew a little bigger.

"I really like this place. If I ever had to find somewhere down here to live, this would definitely be in the top ten of my choices!" He said, while again letting his eyes ran over the view. Still busy making a few minor bite marks in the small lolly stick, that had been dangling in his mouth all of this time.

But as he stood there doing that. He suddenly noticed a blond angle like girl, dancing softly around not all that far away from him. "Wow she is cute! I wonder what's making her so happy?" He quietly asked himself. Still watching as the beautiful blond haired girl began slowly spinning around herself, while at the same time humming and singing in a soft tone.

"Why the heck can't there be a few girls like her on the Minerva? She seems so gentle and kind, like she could never hurt another human being. Unlike Lunamaria who really does seem ready to hit me just for saying one or two wrong words to her" the boy said. Thinking back to how many lumps the red haired girl had given him the time he had known her.

But after doing that for a few seconds he decided that it wasn't really worth the effort standing around up there counting something like that. But one thing was certain it was more then a few times, he had succeed in getting Lunamaria mad at him.

Which had been very entertaining. Until she had started hitting him every time he found someway to pissed her off. And the threat of getting beaten up had kinda taken some of the fun out of the little game.

Especially since the red haired girl had quite a powerful right hook, something he had been shown more then at one occasion.

"Man we really do need a few more nice girls back on the ship" he said. While again turning his attention back towards the still dancing girl, truly enjoying the sight of her being so happy.

It did however not take long before he slowly moved his gazes away from her. If the cute looking girl somehow realized that he was actually staring at her. She might just consider him a pervert. And that surely wasn't something he wanted to be regard as.

But while he stood there taking in the clear view of the blue ocean, which could be seen so far below him, he suddenly heard a small scream.

Which got him to once more look in the direction of the blond haired girl. Only to realize that she was gone now, and seeing as there was no way she could have left without him seeing it.

There was only one single place she could have disappeared to. And that was straight down in to the ocean.

"Ahh damn it all!" He yelled loudly. Just as he took of full speed, towards the place where he knew the girl had last been. And without even giving it a second thought he jumped right of the hill and down in to the ocean. Where he could see the girl struggling hard to keep her head above the salt water.

And the sight of the way she kept on rummaging around, made it pretty clear that she didn't know a single thing about how to swim.

So once he hit the water he immediately began making his way over to her. Once close enough, he tried to wrap his arms around her, so she could somehow use him to stay above the water.

But when he did that, she began fighting and struggling even harder. It was almost like she was somehow expecting that he was there to try and pull her down under the water, so she would drown.

"Hey take it easy already!" He yelled doing his best to calm the obviously panicky girl down. But his words did not really get through to her. She kept on fighting with both him and the water. She even went so far as to tear up his skin with her long finger nails, so his blood began seeping out in to the water.

Which made him worry a bit that there might be sharks nearby.

Even true he might be a Coordinator and a soldier. He seriously didn't feel like fighting with something that deadly with his bar hands. While at the same time trying to rescue this girl.

"Oww! Please come down! I'm trying to help you, if you continued like this we are both going to die!" He yelled, as he tried his best to ignore the pain her nails and the salt water was sending up through his arms.

But unfortunately his words didn't have much effect on her. If anything she was now doing everything possible to get out of his arms and away from him.

It was almost like he had just said something, that made her feel even more afraid. And when he was really concentrating on screaming voice, he could make out that it was something about not wanting to die, and that she wanted to stay alive.

Which immediately made him realize, that this girl was totally terrified at the very thought of death.

And with that in mind he shouted out the only thing he could think of. "You are not going to die! I promise you that I will protect you! So please try and come down so we can get back to the shore!" He yelled directly in to her left ear, that just happened to be right beside his mouth.

But even true his words did somewhat have a calming effect on her.

She still didn't loosen her grip at all, which meant that each and every single one of her long sharp nails was slowly piercing them self deeper and deeper in to the skin on his right arm.

So now more and more of the damn salt which was in the ocean water, was slowly seeping in to all of the small wounds. Which was actually begin to make him feel somewhat dizzy and confused.

And he realize that if he didn't get her back on land soon, both of them might just end up drowning out here, so the only option he had now was to somehow get her to stop fighting him and get her to realize that he was actually trying to help her.

So even with her damn nails digging in to his right arm. He tighten his already secure grip on her, and once more began talking in a loud yet somewhat calm tone.

"There is no way you are going to die out here! I'll make sure of that! So will you please stop struggling. Before we end up getting seriously hurt out here!" he yelled loudly. As he tried not to show just how painful her long nails felt halfway through his arm.

He might not be that much of a genius about women. But this was honestly one of the few times he didn't get. Why exactly did their nails have to be so freaking long.

Why couldn't they realize that those thing could almost be used as weapons.

But perhaps that was the reason why they had them like that. Yet even as he was floating around there wondering about that, he slowly began paddling back towards land.

Truly happy that the girl had finally decided to calm down a bit, or perhaps she had simply tired herself out with all of her struggling. But no matter what had brought about the change in her behavior.

Now he could finally begin the hard task off bring the two of them back to the shore. That was actually quite far away now.

Which made him course slightly, while still being careful not to do anything that would frightened the girl. He wasn't entirely certain that he had enough strength left to handle another one of her panic attacks.

He too was quite exhaust both mentally and physically after all of this. It wasn't really a normal everyday occasion for him, to jump of a cliff and down in to the ocean after a girl.

So if anybody asked him, he seriously wouldn't mind getting a few hours of rest, and perhaps a couple of bandages to all of the wounds he had on his arms.

Not that he blame the girl for her scared reaction. If he had been the one to fall from such a high cliff and down in to ocean without being able to swim. He too would definitely be freaked out.

And with those thoughts in mind he took another glance down at the blond haired girl, where he immediately noticed the frightened expression that was pretty much covering her entire face.

And still feeling somewhat worried that she might freak out one more time. He began speaking to her, in the most calm tone he could muster under these circumstances.

"It wouldn't take long now before we are back on land. So please hold out a bit longer!" He explained to her. While taking a short glance over his left shoulder at the rocky shore that they where approaching in a slow speed.

But unfortunately he couldn't really paddle any faster with just one arm.

He was pretty certain that if he even tried to remove his right arm from her. Then she would once more began using him as a scratching post, which wasn't really something he felt like trying again anytime soon.

And the very thought about how painful her ten long claws had been, when they where tearing through his arm. Was pretty much all he need to tighten his grip on her, trying his very best to reassure his obviously still scared passenger that nothing was going to happen to her, while he was there.

But even as he continued the difficult task of bring the two of them back on dry land.

He kept on talking to her no matter what. So she wouldn't somehow get the idea that something wasn't right.

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It was about five minutes later, when Shinn was finally able to pull both himself and the girl up on the rocky beach. And once he was absolutely sure that both of them where safe.

He immediately collapsed on a small stone free sport.

Trying hard to get some much needed air down in to his lungs. But as he was laying there busy doing that, he didn't noticed that the blond girl was looking at him with a somewhat unreadable expression on her face.

And it was only when she dropped down beside him.

That he slowly opened his eyes and looked over at her, where he couldn't help but notice how incredibly pretty her purple eyes was. So after spending a few very long minutes just watching each other.

Shinn finally asked the one question he had one his mind. "Are...are you all right?" He somewhat breathlessly got out. Not doing anything to hide just how concerned he was about the completely soaked girl.

But when he saw her nod yes a single time. He couldn't stop himself from letting out a deep breath, as he told her that he was happy to hear that.

So after being silent a bit longer. The girl finally said her first words to him. "Thank you for helping me" she said pretty much in a whisper, that could easily have been missed, if there had been even one thing nearby that was making noise.

But seeing as they where completely alone there, Shinn had very little trouble hearing the cute girls words.

Which was more then enough to make him smile a bit at her.

"You are welcome, I'm just relieved that I reached you in time" he explained, while slowly sitting back up. And once he was somewhat comfortable he took a small glance down at all the scratches she had so kindly given him out in the water.

And now that he was really getting a good look at them. He could see two of her long finger nails embedded in his right arm.

Which was quite frankly somewhat painful. But still not willing to frightened the girl more then she already was, he stealthily reached over and began slowly pulling the two minor weapons out of his body.

Yet even true that seriously did hurt like hell. He kept on smiling calmly at her no matter what. "So miss, what's you name?" He asked in a sweet tone, while trying his best to hide what he was working on.

But the girl didn't really give him any kind of reply. She just sat there looking at him for a very long time. Before she slowly reached out and took a hold on his arm.

And before he could do anything to protest, she pulled out the first one of her nails. Which felt just as nice and pleasurable, as when she had put them there in the first place.

"I'm...I'm Stella..." she told him in a tone that held a great deal of hesitation.

Happy to finally know the cute girl's name. Shinn was just about to explain to her what his name was, when she began removing her other minor knife like weapon.

Which was more then enough to get him to quiet down with his introduction until she was done.

"I'm Shinn Asuka! It's...it's somewhat nice to meet you Stella. But I kinda do wish it had been under better circumstances" he said, while taking a look up at the very place he had leaped out from not that long ago.

And now that he could really see how high up it was. He knew that it was actually a bit of a miracle that none of them had ended up getting seriously hurt by their not so entertaining trip down there.

Yet one thing that would be clear, for even the most stupid person alive, was that they where trapped down here.

And as he stood there quietly growling over that. The girl began talking once more in a small tone.

"What...what are we going to do now?" She asked obviously still very worried and scared about this whole thing. But even while feeling like that she couldn't help but try and get some warm back in to her slightly cold body.

Which meant that it only took a few minor seconds before she was once more sitting on the rocky surface, slowly hugged herself tightly. Even true it was still summer and somewhat warm out here. The water had still been way to cold to swim in.

But as she was sitting there resting her head against her knees.

She couldn't help but take a small glance up at her saviour. Just as he pulled out some kind of strange looking device, which he immediately began pressing a few buttons on.

"There now that should do it, now somebody should show up to help us soon or later!" He said in a confident voice.

Just as he looked at the girl freezing girl, with a small grin on his face.

That quickly disappeared when he let out a big sneeze that could be heard far and wide. And also made him realize just how cold it really was down here. Especially after their little swim.

The girl however couldn't help but smile a bit she was happy to know that she wasn't the only one who was freezing at the moment. And she could only watch him as began collecting all the pieces of wood on the small sea shore.

"We need to get a fire going, before we both end up as two popsicles. Who the heck could ever have image that there would be so cold down here" he complained almost forgetting how easily the other person down there was to scare.

And it was only when he was about to ask her to give him a hand that he realized his mistake. So in an attempt to calm here down again, he hurried reached down and picked up a big white seashell which was laying beside him.

And before the girl had the time to freak out again, he hurried took a couple of steps back over to her where he immediately kneel down next to her.

"Try holding this up to your ear. If you do that you should be able to hear the sound of the ocean" he explained now again using a calm and friendly tone, that he truly hoped would be enough to calm her down again.

And even true she only took the seashell with a bit of hesitation, it did not take much time before she was holding it up to her ear, clearly very interested in the sounds that was coming out of the seashell.

Seeing her listening so intently to the shell. Shinn just couldn't stop himself from smiling a bit. As he throw a few pieces of wood down on the exact sport he had been resting on not long ago.

"Can you hear anything?" He kindly asked, while searching around for anything else that could burn. Not that a almost completely insulated beach was the most logical place to find stuff like that.

It did however not take him long before he was busy digging out small wood piece that was sticking out of the ground, being somewhat cautious about throwing the sand around to much. He seriously didn't feel like getting something like that in to all of his minor wounds, that would most likely make them hurt even more then they already did.

Hearing him ask her that. It took Stella a few minutes to get her attention away from all of the sounds, that could be heard inside the seashell.

"Yes it's sounds so pretty. I never knew one could hear the ocean like this" she told him, while looking the white seashell over with a wondering expression on her face. That showed quite clear, that she was very curious about where exactly the sea like sounds was coming from. And it did not take long, before she once more had the seashell back up beside her ear.

Still looking at her Shinn slowly blinked a few times, honestly a bit surprise that she didn't know anything about being able to hear the ocean in a seashell. In his eyes it was pretty much commented knowledge. It was those kinds of thing that once father would show one, the very first time the family went to the beach.

Yet this girl knew nothing about it.

Which honestly made Shinn wonder if she had stayed inside most of her life. And had only been let out a few days ago, yet before he could really give it all that much thought.

Stella apparently noticed that he was staring at her. "Do you want to listen too?" She asked, while holding the big seashell out towards him.

And even true he was still trying to figure out how in the world somebody could have missed such a simple experience in once childhood. He slowly reached out and took the seashell away from her, and brought it up to his ear.

Where he stood quietly listening to it for a few seconds, while at the same time watching the pretty girl.

He just couldn't figure her out, for some reason she seemed so alone and insulated in so many ways. Like she been living on the street ever since she had first learned how to walk.

And just thinking about how many terrible things this cute girl had most likely experienced, was more then enough for him to wanting to protect her.

And with those thoughts racing through his head, he again gave her the seashell. "You are right it really does sound nice. Now please wait here, until I find a few more things that we can burn" he said in a gentle tone.

Just as he turned around and began making his way over to a good thick board that seemed like it would burn quite well.

Not really saying anything. Stella just sat quietly watching her companion with a thoughtful look on her face.

It had been a very long time since anybody she had just meet had been this nice to her.

The only other person she could remember that had ever done that, was Neo. He always treat her like she was truly something special. Which was one of the reason why she liked the mask man so much.

And now that she was really thinking about it, this Shinn guy did remind her quite a bit about Neo. Which made her realize, that it would truly be nice having a person like this on their team.

She might consider both Sting and Auel like the two older brothers she had never had. But from time to time she couldn't help but find the two of them annoying.

Especially Auel had the tendency to say something that would make her her feel so frightened. That the only thing she could think about, was running away and find a secure place where nobody could find her.

Yet other times he was very protective of her. Especially when newer crew members was trying to flirt with her. She really didn't like that at all.

And she was quite happy that Auel was always ready to break a bone or two on whatever guy that was trying to get close to her. Mostly just hearing that they where apart of Phantom Pain, was enough to frightened most people off.

Yet a few of them was brave enough to continue talking to her. Even after gaining the knowledge of which team she belonged to.

And it was at times like those that Auel truly showed that he cared about her in his own ways. He was after all quite good at getting the more dense rookie soldiers away from her.

He had even taken it so far as to pull out his gun on one of her more serious admires. Yet that had only work for a short while, the next time that stupid pilot had attempted to flirt with her.

Auel had not been nearly as kind. He had given the womanizer a nice looking blue eye. Then pulled the bad excuse of a soldier up on the John Paul Jones' deck, and thrown him straight over the side of the enormous warship.

After that neither him or anybody else went anywhere near her. Pretty much the entire crew on the Spengler class knew that flirting with her, was quite an easy way to get a few nice looking bruises.

But before she could get much time to think anymore about her two team mates. Her new friend got back over next to her, where he immediately placed a great deal somewhat dry wood beside her.

"Just hold out a bit longer. It shouldn't take me much time getting a nice little fire going!" He told her in a determined tone, while pulling a nice looking silver lighter out of his pocket.

And after just standing there a few seconds looking at the Zaft logo pattern that was engrave in it.

He slowly bend down, and tried to light a small piece of old paper on fire. But much to his irritation, the zippo lighter just badly gave of a small spark.

Not nearly enough to actually get the paper to burn. Yet that did not stop him from trying one more time. He was completely determined to get a fire going on matter what, even if he had to rub two sticks together.

"Damn it, why wouldn't you work you small piece of junk" he muttered to himself. Being careful not to show Stella just how thin his patient was getting.

He realized that if he began cursing out loud. He might just end up scaring her again.

And he wasn't entirely sure, that the seashell trick would work one more time. And there wasn't much else down there, that could somehow be used to make her forget how frightened she was.

But after nearly five whole minutes, he finally succeed in getting the lighter to work again, which meant that it did not take much time, before the two of them could at long last get some warm back in to their almost completely chill bodies.

Yet as they where sitting there. Stella slowly reached down and pulled her long blue dress up over her head, so now the only thing she was dressed in was a white bra and pair of panties.

A bit surprised by her sudden actions. Shinn hurried turned his gaze away from her, doing everything not to show her the deep blush he now had on his face.

But even true he wasn't directly looking at her.

He was still having quite a tough time keeping his two wide spread eyes away from her.

There was no denying that she had been incredibly beautiful in that blue dress. Yet now she almost looked like some kind of angel, that had descend down to earth not long ago.

"What...what...are you doing Stella...?" He asked taking a single glance away from the ocean and over at her.

Yet just the sight of her cute little belly button. Was pretty much all he need to once again turn his attention back out towards enormous sea, which both of them had almost drown in, only a half hour ago.

But even true he wasn't looking at her anymore. It was a somewhat hard task for him to forget what he had just seen.

He wasn't really use to be around a girls, that was dressed in nothing else, other then her underwear.

So he didn't have the slightest idea about how he was suppose to react in this kind of situation.

And he was even more afraid of getting caught watching her now, then he was before when he had first seen her dance around up on the cliff. Yet her next words did calm him down a tiny bit.

"When one is soaked and cold, the best thing to do is get out of your wet clothes, to warm up" she said, while holding her hands out towards the fire. For some reason both of her hands was freezing a lot right now, and she knew that by doing this it wouldn't take nearly as long to get them warmed back up again.

But as she slowly began rubbing her hands together. She realized that she was getting quite hungry and thirst.

Yet a single glance around the beach made it clear that there was nothing around, that could help with that little problem. Unless one actually felt like taking a small sip of the sea water.

And there was certainly no way. She was desperate enough to get something like that, down in to her mostly empty belly.

So with a somewhat disappointeded look in her eyes. She once more turned her slightly unfocused gaze back at their orange glowing bonfire.

Truly enjoying how warm it was making her feel. She wasn't nearly as chilly now, as when her new dear friend, had first brought her up on the insulated rocky beach.

And as she continued sitting there hugging her own legs. She again moved her eyes away from the fire and over at Shinn. Where she almost immediately noticed that he was shaking a lot right now, which kinda made her wonder why he wasn't getting out of his wet clothes to.

But just as she was about to say something about it to him. A big bright light suddenly shined out over the beach.

"Juhuu Shiiiinnnnnn! Wheerrrrreee areeee yoooooouuuuuu!" A very, very loud voice sang out all over the place. Making extra certain, that everybody close by could hear it clearly.

And even true Shinn couldn't help but roll his eyes a single time at Heine's strange way of asking if he was in there.

He was still quite happy that one of his comrades had finally showed up to help them. It was just so damn cold sitting around down here in all of this wet clothes, and his stomach had told him more then a few times that he was hungry.

So after taking one small look over at the truly beautiful girl he had spend the last hour with. He slowly got back up on his feet.

"We are right over here Heine! Hurry up will you, it's kinda cold out here!" Shinn yelled loudly just as the boats projector was turned over at them. Which made both Shinn and Stella cover up their eyes, that stupid thing was almost blinding.

Yet before the Impulse pilot could complain about it. The power of the light got dim down so much, that it didn't hurt any longer.

And just as the two of them again looked out at the boat. They again heard the same voice as before talk in a very loud tone.

"Yo Shinn good to see you. By the way if you don't mind me saying so, you really do find the most bizarre places to hang out. Why couldn't you just have used a street corner or something like that when picking up girls? Did you really have to crawl all the way down here. When you can't get up again?" Heine asked with a big grin on his face.

Just as he turned his eyes over at the lightly dressed girl.

"But I most say that you choice in company ain't bad. Where in the world did you meet a babe like her?" He asked. Just as the boat finally got so close to the beach that both Shinn and Stella could get on board.

Once up there.

Heine immediately handed both of them a nice thick looking blanket, telling them to go sit down beside each other. That way it would be much easy for them to regain their body heat.

And once they where somewhat comfortable the small boat slowly turned around, and took off in the same direction it had just appeared from.

"Now then, do one of you mind telling me how in the world you two end up on that beach?" The orange haired man asked in a kind tone. While slowly looking a few times between them.

Yet one look at the girl made it pretty obvious that she wasn't in the mood to talk right now. She was far too busy studying a nice looking seashell she had with her on to the boat.

So knowing that she wasn't going to give him any kind of response. He turned his attention over on the pilot of the Impulse.

That was watching him with a displeased look on his face. That was more then enough to tell him, that his babe comment about the cute blond haired girl, wasn't really appreciated.

Smiling a bit about that, Heine quickly realized that Shinn was most likely developing a crush on this girl.

So not wanting to anger his friend any further then he already had. He decide that it was properly best not to say anything else about, how cute and pretty this quiet girl truly was.

"Will you stop glaring at me like that already? And tell me how you two ended up taking a vacation, at such an out of place location? That beach isn't really the most easy place to get to" he said.

Hearing his fellow piloted ask him that. Shinn immediately snapped back out of his somewhat unhappy thoughts.

"Well if it's not to much trouble Heine, do you mind giving Stella and me something to drink first? I can't even remember the last time I was this thirst. And I'm pretty sure that Stella feels the same way!" The dark haired boy said, while taking a glance over at the girl that was sitting beside him, where he saw her nod a single time in agreement.

Just as she slowly moved over and rested head against Shinn's left shoulder, not doing anything to hide how tired she was right now. Yet before she had enough time to actually fall asleep.

The orange haired guy she had meet only a few minutes ago, handed her a bottle of water, which she immediately opened and hurried pour about half of it's contents down in to her mouth.

"Thank you" she mumbled in quiet tone, while taking another sip of the nice cold liquid. Truly enjoying how nice it felt, as it was making it's way through her dry up throat.

"You are welcome. Now then seeing as you are both done satisfied your thirst. Who of you wants the honour, of telling me about your little adventure?" Heine asked kindly. As he sat down directly in front of them, where he looked a few times between the two still somewhat frozen teenagers.

Yet one look at them made it pretty obvious. That their blankets was helping them slowly regain their normal body temperature.

And as Heine was sitting there waiting for an explanation.

Shinn took a small glance over at Stella, where he immediately realized that she had drifted off to sleep resting against him. And with everything the two of them had been through, he quickly decided that it was best not to disturb her.

If there was anybody in this world that truly deserve to get some rest. It was certainly her.

And with that in mind. He let out a tired breath, as he began telling his friend about the circumstances that had made Stella and him end up down on the beach.

To be continued.