Chapter 64
It was a few hours after the battle with the Minerva.
Yet while most of the Archangel was pretty quiet right now seeing as most of the crew was sound asleep in their rooms.
There was a certain somebody who was slowly regaining consciousness. After having been knock out, by the enormous explosion, that had completely destroyed his long time friend, and mobile suit.
And as Kira laid there looking somewhat absent minded up at the blank ceiling, he could not stop himself but think back to that very moment where he had been given the Freedom.
"Mr Siegel...Lacus...I'm...I'm so sorry..." he whispered while thinking about how many battles he had fought in his second mobile suit.
The white and blue gundam truly had help him and everybody else on the Archangel, through some tough situations, since the Freedom had been handed over to him by Siegel Clyne.
And now that he had lost his long time sword and companion. The brown haired man honestly felt quite a bit like he had failed both his father-in-law and his beautiful loving wife, Kira had after all been given the Freedom gundam to protect Lacus, and everybody else he cared about. And now the yellow eyed machine was gone for good.
"Just how the heck, am I suppose to stop Gilbert Durandal without the Freedom?" He questioned himself loudly.
Yet while he quite frankly hadn't expected a response of any kind to that question. A certain highly familiar voice, suddenly interrupted his thoughts. "I'm sure you will manage just fine, kid. You did after all do a pretty good job against the Forbidden, Calamity and Raider. By the way Kira, what did you do with that ring I asked you to look after?" The blond man over on the other bed asked softly.
And just hearing his big brother figure say that, was almost enough, to make Kira fall out of the otherwise comfortable bed, right then and there. As he hastily tried to sit up.
"What the?...Mu...Mu...you...you actually remember that?" Kira questioned in a deeply bewildered tone of voice, just as he hurried reached over and turned on the small light beside him.
And once Kira could finally see everything in there clearly. He saw that the Hawk of Endymion sitting silently on his own bed, staring intensely down into his own lap, like it was the most interesting thing in the world. And once Kira noticed the far away expression, Mu currently had on his face. It immediately became completely obvious to him, that the blond man had more then just a few things on his mind at the moment.
So even though Kira could barely wait for Mu to give him some sort of response to his highly important question, he quickly decided to remain quiet until Mu was done going over whatever he was thinking about. And finally after what felt like an eternity the long haired man slowly turned his attention over on the teenager.
Yet it still took a couple of long tense minutes, before he finally open his mouth.
"Yeah I remember a few things. Truth be told buddy, I actually have for quite awhile now. Even before I got on board the Archangel. Unfortunately while I do realize that you, the pink haired girl, the Captain, and just about everybody else here on this ship is really important to me. No matter how hard I try, I just can't remember the emotions behind it" the blond haired man explained loudly, not bothering to do anything to hide just how totally rattled up he was over all of this.
Thinking hard about everything Mu had just told him. It now became Kira's turn, to stare at his lap for a few long moment, and no matter how many times he twisted and turned it in his head, there was simply noway that the young man could shake away the great deal of disappointment he felt over finding out, that his big brother figure still wasn't back to his usual somewhat childish self.
"So what you are telling me Mu, is that you actually do remember us. But not why you care about us?" Kira asked in a low far away tone.
Hearing such a accurate and up front description of the problem. Neo Roanoke let out a long tired sigh, while he brought his tied up hands up, and slowly rubbed his forehead in a deeply frustrated manner. "Yeah that's pretty much it, kid. So please do me a favor and keep it to yourself. I do not want the Captain or anybody else to know yet!" The former pilot of the Strike said, also using a low tone of voice.
Blinking a couple of times at that, Kira tilted his head a bit to the left side. "Then why tell me about it, Mu?" He asked softly, with a slightly curious look in both of his purple eyes.
Again looking down into his lap for an unknown number of seconds. Neo found himself wishing that he could get something to drink. His mouth just felt so unbelievable dry right now.
But of course knowing that it hadn't been long since the young man, had been shoot down by the Impulse gundam. Neo simply couldn't bring himself to ask the slightly beaten up teenager to leave his bed, for something as trivial as getting him some water.
So after taking a brief glance over at the small sink, located near the entrance to the room. Neo gave his lower lips a light thoughtful bite, before he once again turned his blue gaze back at the teen.
"Because I know that I can trust you, kid. I do after all remember entrusting you, with that overly expensive looking ring. Not that I know for sure, what in the world I was going to use that thing for. But I do believe, that it is a pretty obvious sign that you wont betray me. And to be honest with you buddy there is just so many things I need answers to right now" Neo said, while giving the young man a look that was filled with as much seriousness as possible.
Nodding slowly in understanding to that, Kira smiled slightly at his big brother figure before softly telling him to ask away.
Truly appreciating the 'Freedom pilot's' willingness to help him out, Neo Roanoke smiled back at the brown haired teenager, as he used a brief moment or two, to try and figure out which question he should ask first.
Not that it was overly difficult for him to figure out, what he mostly wanted to know right now, seeing as a certain gorgeous Captain, had been occupying his thoughts quite a bit, since he had gotten on board the Archangel.
"What is...was my relationship with the Captain?" The blond man asked in a hesitant tone of voice, which was more then enough to make it completely obvious to Kira, that the Hawk of Endymion was somewhat nervous about hearing the response.
And truth be told, Kira was to say it mildly far from delighted about discoursing this subject. Seeing as it had hurt miss Murrue deeply when the man she loved so sincerely, had supposedly gotten killed by the Dominion's last attack. And just thinking about how depressed the kind woman had been through so many weeks after the last war, was all that was needed to make, a highly bitter expression appear on Kira's face.
So while still trying his uttermost to decide, how the hell he could best answer this highly important question, Kira slowly reached up and scratch his uncombed hair in a somewhat frustrated manner.
But in the end, even though Kira Yamato would quite frankly, have preferred avoiding this overly sensitive subject. The young man realized, that if Mu knew just what exactly had been going on between him and miss Murrue.
There was the minor possibility, that he might be able to regain even more of his old memories. And with that in mind, Kira let out a short breath as he slowly opened his mouth, and began talking in a low tone. "The two...The two of your where loves, Mu...Heck you where practically engaged, you where planning on proposing to her, after the last war had ended" Kira explained softly, doing less then nothing to hide that he was still far from happy, talking about this highly depressing subject.
Swiftly going over everything the brown haired teenager had just told him. Neo found himself thinking back to that one moment, where he had made the lovely Captain of the Archangel cry.
Back then, he had frankly no idea about why exactly it had made his heart ache so badly, when he had seen the large amount of tears running down the beautiful woman's face.
And now that he knew what the two of them used to have together. It was simply impossible for him, not to feel even more guilty about making her cry. "Damn, I guess that I really screwed things up, when I joked around about her crying when she first saw me. But I honestly didn't know, that she and I used to be that close. But at the very least, it does explains the ring. I was actually planning on asking you about that too kid" Neo said quietly. Quite seriously wondering if there would ever come a day where he would be able to fully remember just what his emotions where, for the people here on the Archangel. Especially the woman who had been so utterly important to him in the past.
Yet once the blond haired man found himself considering the possibility, that another hard knock on the head, might just be what he needed. To cure himself of his amnesia like state.
He instantaneously shook his head a few times. In a slightly desperate attempt, to get his mind away from that somewhat crazy idea. There was after all the possibility that if he actually did something as utterly brain dead as slam his head against the wall a half dozen of times, that he might just end up worsting his condition instead of improving it.
So while feeling more then just a little annoyed, that there wasn't anything he himself could do, about his lack of memories. Neo could do nothing to stop a long highly discontent sigh from leaving his mouth, as slowly got out the next question on his mind.
"Another thing I really want to know about is what I am to you and that pink haired girl, I so often remember you together with?"
Definitely far more happy with this subject then the last one, Kira moved around slightly on the bed to get into a more comfortable position. And even though there was no denying that the small injury on his forehead did hurt a tiny bit right now, and that he was getting quite tired again. Kira was absolutely determined, to keep on talking with his big brother figure, for as long as his overly exhausted body would allow him to. Truth be told, while this conversation might not be the most cheerful one, up until now.
It kinda remind Kira about some of the chats the two of them would have, when they had been the only pilots on board the Archangel.
And now that he was giving it some serious thoughts, Kira realized that there was actually a small part of him, that had really missed, all the joking around he, Mu and Murdoch would usually do down in the hangar. Until Miss Natarle would shown up and tell the three of them to knock it off in her own friendly manner.
Yet as entertaining as Kira found the thought of some of their more childish and foolish bantering. It didn't take many seconds, before he slowly opened his mouth, and gave Mu the answer, to his latest question. "The reason why you probably remember Lacus and I together, is because the two of us is happily married, and while that truly was one of the most important events in both of you lives. I do seriously doubt Mu, that you remember that you where the one. Who came up with the idea to get us married, to hide who Lacus really is. You might not realize it, but Lacus is the daughter of Siegel Clyne. I'm certain that you at least knows who he is, from your time with the Earth Alliance" the young man said. While his wife's beautiful smile was running rampage through his mind.
Yet with him somewhat preoccupied with the thought of his gorgeous pink haired wife, Kira did not notice, that Mu was nodding yes a few times. To knowing who Siegel Clyne was.
Actually it was only once Mu started talking that Kira snapped back out of his deep longing thoughts about the woman he loved so sincerely. "Ok that's actually quite a surprise. So I was the one who thought that it was wise that you two crazy kids got hitched. But you did mention that the two of you were happy. So I guess that it worked out all right! Which means that you may now call me the Cupid of Endymion" Neo joked loudly, with a large grin covering most of his face.
Blinking one or two times at that, the young husband let out a couple of light chuckles. "If that's what you want, Mu. Then I'll be certain, to mention to the others that, you want your otherwise cool nickname, changed over to that" Kira said. Using in a tone of voice that would be enough to make it completely clear even to the most dense person in existence, that he too was joking around right now.
So while Neo could of course easily figure out what the 'Freedom pilot' was doing. He didn't hesitate even one instant about shaking his head in a protesting manner at Kira's words.
"Ahhhh there is no need to do that buddy! I seriously don't get where I have gotten that nickname from in the first place and what it means to me. But even so I really do think I would prefer if we don't make such major change to it. So let's just stick with Hawk for now kid...! Man isn't there anybody around this ship who can take a joke?" He hastily asked.
And once he heard the teen let out a small tired laugh. The blond haired man rolled his eyes a single just as he slowly laid back down on the bed. Where he looked quietly up at the blank ceiling, for a few short seconds. It did however not take all that long, before his somewhat thoughtful voice could once more be heard echoing softly through the small barely lighten room.
"Well seeing as it's pretty easy to tell, that you are still not feeling to chipper buddy. I think that it would probably be best if I cut my many questions down, to just one more. The Captain's daughter where exactly does she fit in to the picture? I actually do remember a few images of her. But not nearly as many as everybody else here on the Archangel. So who exactly is the little loud-mouth?" Neo asked curious. Having long since realized, that it was definitely not the Captain who had given birth to the loud child.
Yet even though Kira Yamato honestly had nothing against answering that question. The deep exhaustion which he was currently feeling after all of yesterday's hardship. Made it completely almost impossible for him to keep an enormous yawn from leaving his mouth, as he slowly sank back down into the bed, where he quietly rested his head on the soft comfortable pillow, for almost entire minute without saying anything.
And just when Neo was actually starting to think, that the 'Freedom pilot' had fallen asleep again, Kira chose that very moment to force both of his tired purple eyes back open. And as he laid there staring directly up at the slightly boring ceiling he began telling Mu what he wanted to know.
"When the Earth Alliance launched their inversion of Orb two years ago. We all fought to defend the country and during the ensuring chaos, you found Mayu buried underneath a great deal of branches and other stuff. You saved her life back there, Mu" Kira explained softly. Then did everything he could think of to prevent another huge yawn from leaving his mouth. But that was simply impossible.
Using a few brief moments to go over everything the teenager had just told him. It did not take very long before Neo nodded slowly to himself. "Thank you very much for telling me all of this, buddy, I really appreciate it. Now hurry up and go back to sleep, we can talk more tomorrow once you are feeling a little better. Yet if it's not to much to ask could you please turn off the light before you drift off?" The blond man kindly asked the 'Freedom pilot'.
Which of course meant that it was only a short second later when the small room was once more completely bathe in darkness.
And as Neo laid there listening to the teenager's calm yet steady breathing. It wasn't really much of a surprise that he found himself thinking very hard about everything the now already sound asleep kid, had told him.
It wasn't like he in anyway thought, that the teenager had lied to him or anything like that. But there was just noway to deny, that this entire predicament was confusing as hell. "Mu La Flaga! Neo Roanoke! I just don't know who the heck I am any longer!" He growled out softly.
Just as he lift his head slightly from the soft pillow only to slam it back down in to the feathery object a second later.
And even though the blond man could not deny that he too was unbelievable tired right now. It took over an hour, before he was able to gain just a little control over his rummaging thoughts, and drift off to sleep.
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A little over four hours had gone by since 'Neo' and Kira's small chat.
Which meant that it was about eight-thirty in the morning. And even though it was pretty easy to tell that most of the Archangel crew, was still quite beaten-up and exhaust after everything they had been through yesterday.
Murdoch and the rest of the uninjured mechanics was already up and about. Working on what damage they could repair inside the ship. And they where not the only once who had decided to get an early morning.
The kitchen was also quite busy preparing a good solid and healthy breakfast after all of yesterday's hardship.
Yet there was however one certain person, who had left her otherwise comfortable bed, without having a reason to do so. And the few people Mayu Ramius past as she made her way down one of the Archangel's halls.
Instantly came to the conclusion, that the only reason why the brown haired troublemaker would be awake at this hour of the day, was to play some sort of prank on either Murdoch or Amagi.
But truthfully causing trouble, was actually the very last thing on the eleven-year-old's mind.
Frankly all Mayu wanted to do at the moment, was to get to her mother's room as quickly as possible. So she could ask if it was all right if she went down to visit big brother Kira now.
When she had been about to do that yesterday evening, her mother had immediately told her. That it was probably best that they left him alone, so he had some time to rest up and recover after being shoot down.
And so while Mayu had done what she had been told, she had far from been happy about it.
The girl might not remember it, but Mayu had long since realized that she had lost some very important people, in the last war. And there was just noway she wanted to lose anybody else, which meant that when she woke up not that long ago, the first thought that had enter her mind, was figuring out if big brother Kira was all right after his battle, with the moron who had been inside the Impulse.
And she had actually been about to head in a straight line to the med-bay, immediately after stepping out of her room. She did however not get all that far, before she before she came to the realization that if she where to ask her mother first, there was less chances for her to end up getting scolding over this.
Even though the girl was actually planning on visiting Kira shortly even if she was told not to. But there was the possibility that her mother wouldn't mind if she went down there now, perhaps she might even wanted to accompany her down there.
And so while her mother had been more busy yesterday than Mayu had EVER seen her before. The eleven-year-old girl had easily been able to tell that she too had been greatly concerned about Kira, after seeing the Freedom gundam getting demolished in such a gruesome manner.
Truth be told, now that Mayu was giving it some thought. The girl realized that it was actually going to be somewhat weird to enter the hangar in the future and not see the yellow eyed mobile suit, stand on that very spot closed to the entrance of the hangar.
Frankly there was simply noway for Mayu Ramius to deny, that there was a part of her, that was kinda going to miss the Archangel's blue winged giant and guardian angel.
"I wonder how depressed big brother Kira is over losing the Freedom? I think he almost saw that big fellow, as a true comrade, that he could always count on to be there whenever he needed to protect us or somebody else" the clever eleven-year-old girl mused softly.
While she found herself thinking briefly about, how unbelievable hard big brother Kira had fought against those, ugly green Zaft mobile suits. Which had completely destroyed their home, in their almost insane effort, to try and kill big sister Lacus and everybody else in Mayu's, at times weird, yet still special family.
"I might not totally understand why exactly, we have help out the Minerva up until now. But I seriously do hope, we are going to quit doing that now. The whole thing with us always assisting that damn trash can of a Zaft ship, when it's in trouble. Is kinda like Spider-Man actually trying helping out the Green Goblin. One just knows that it is bound to go wrong in the end" the smaller Ramius growled out under her breath.
While she thought briefly about, how many times her favorite superhero had faced off against the badly dressed lunatic on the flying surfboard.
And seeing as most of her comic book collection had gone up in smoke, when those dumb ASH type mobile suits, had blown their house to smithereens. Just served to make Mayu hope even further, that they would now start beating the crap out of the real bad guys in this war.
"We seriously needs to avenge all of my poor comic books and that video game console that was in the living room" the girl joked softly to herself.
Only to immediately find herself wondering just how the heck they where suppose to do that, with the Freedom gundam destroyed. And with both the Archangel and big brother Dearka's Murasame in the highly beat-up condition, they where presently in now.
"I have no idea about, how exactly we are going to stop the Chairman's crazy scheme. But one thing I am sure about is that the Archangel definitely needs to be repaired first. So I should probably stop playing pranks on grandpa Murdoch for awhile. That way he and the other mechanics, can concentrate fully on the repairs, and besides if I do get bored I can always torture grandpa Amagi" the girl said with a wicked smirk on her face.
And so while the brown haired troublemaker was trying her very best to figure out how exactly she could best get on grandpa Amagi's nerves. The still smirking child increased her speed slightly. Mayu did however not get very far, before she spotted the back of the very person, who's room she was heading towards.
"Hey mom wait up I need to talk with you!" She yelled out loudly.
Honestly more than just a little surprised over hearing that well-known voice. Murrue immediately turned around, and looked back at her brown haired daughter, with a slightly astonished expression on her face. "Mayu dear you are actually the last person I expected to see up and about at this hour of the day. I thought for sure that you would at least be sleeping a few hours more" the older Ramius informed the girl who she had adopted two years ago.
And as Murrue Ramius stood there wondering briefly just who exactly this person was, and what in God's name she had done with her daughter. It was after all a pretty well known fact around the Archangel, that the ship's youngish crew member, would only leave her otherwise comfortable bed this early, was when she was told to by either Murrue or somebody else. And what frankly made the whole thing even more bizarre was that Mayu didn't really seem all that tired.
Truth be told, it had actually been quite awhile now since Murrue Ramius had last seen her little troublemaker looking this well rest and energetic in the morning.
And judging from that determined look, which the Archangel Captain could see in both of Mayu's eyes. She honestly thought that the girl was just about ready to take off full speed and go give either Amagi or Murdoch a nervous breakdown or two.
The young mother did however not get long to figure out what purpose Mayu could have for leaving her bed at this early hour of the day.
When the brown haired girl decided to interrupt her somewhat bewildered thoughts, by telling her exactly what she wanted to know. "With everything that's going on around the ship right now, I just couldn't sleep any longer mom! Beside I am kinda worried about big brother Kira. So I was hoping that you would go with me down there to see him!" The eleven-year-old girl explained in a loud tone of voice, while making absolute certain to give her mother the most adorable puppy dog look she could manage right now.
But even though it was simply impossible for the older Ramius not to notice the sweet look her daughter was currently sending her, it did not really have the huge effect on her. Seeing as this was far from the first time Mayu had used the puppy dog routine on her.
There was actually times where the troublemaker would almost use that look daily when there was something she really wanted. So Murrue was pretty much immune to that trick by now. But that most certainly did not mean that the Archangel Captain wasn't giving what Mayu had just said some very serious thought.
Yet before she had enough time to figure out, if it was actually a good idea for them to disturb Kira now. Somebody else made the decision for her.
"It should be just fine, Miss Murrue. If that dumbass is still asleep we just have to wake him up!" A certain blond pregnant woman said in a wicked tone, as she along with Miriallia and Dearka came straight towards them.
Not able to keep a devious smirk from appearing on his face after hearing that comment. The only male currently present, quickly decided to share his opinion about what he thought they should incase Kira was still sleeping once they got down to the med-bay.
"Well if the case Cagalli, then I got the perfect alarm clock right here" Dearka Elsman said, with a somewhat evil glimmer in both of his purple eyes. And while making a threatening cracking sound with left fists, that made it completely obvious to the four women, that he was still planning on making Kira pay for what he had done to his mobile suit.
Unfortunately he did however not get very long to daydream about avenging his poor beat-up Murasame when the person beside him suddenly gave him quite a hard slap at the back of his head. "Don't you even think about it Elsman. You are not going to hit him anytime soon, when he was just shoot down yesterday" Miriallia said in a bossy tone of voice that left little room for disagreement.
But while the former pilot of the Buster gundam could honestly say that the small slap hadn't really hurt overly much. Dearka still reached around, and rubbed the spot where his girlfriend had hit him. "Geez Mir take it easy on my poor head! There is no need to get violent here I was only kidding" he complained softly, doing a splendid job of making it sound like he was ready to start crying at any moment now.
Blinking one or two times at that, Miriallia smiled innocently at him. Before she hurried reached over, and took a hold on his left hand. "I did not realize that you where joking, Dearka! Had I known that, I would never have hit you!" The girl proclaimed loudly, obviously not meaning even a single word she had just said.
And while that did make the three other women present chuckle slightly. The blond haired teenage settle for rolling his eyes instead, only to pull the gorgeous woman he loved so dearly, into a hug immediately afterwards. "I'm just so...so relieved to hear you say that, Mir. If you weren't truly sorry about hitting me I don't know if I would ever be able to get over it" Dearka sarcastically explained to her. Then took the opportunity to tickle each one of her sensitive sides in a gentle manner.
Which instantly made the brunette haired girl giggle loudly, as she hurried tried to back away from him. Not that she had much luck with that, seeing as Dearka had a pretty good hold on her, and wasn't willing to let her escape from his torturers fingers just yet.
And as Miriallia continued struggling almost desperately to get away from her boyfriend's mischievous hands. The blond haired Coordinator slowly leaned in towards her, where he stared into her lovely blue orbs for a few short seconds.
And once he noticed the small hint of tears slowly gather in her eyes over the tickling. Dearka immediately ceased with his somewhat playful torture of his girlfriend, and asked her one simple question. "Now then gorgeous, are you sincerely sorry about hitting me?" Dearka asked, not doing anything to hide the great deal of mischief in his voice, as he made absolutely certain that there was noway she could get away from him.
Quickly taking a couple of deep breath, Miriallia slowly moved her gaze up, and glared slightly at the goofball she loved so much. "Of course I'm sorry Dearka" she mumbled just barely loud enough for him and the three other women to hear it.
Narrowing his purple eyes a tiny bit at those words. The Coordinator thoroughly studied Miriallia's cute face for a brief moment or two, and just when it seemed like he was actually going to release her.
The mischievous grin which had been on his lips this entire time grew slightly in size. "I don't think I believe you my dear, Miriallia Haw" he loudly informed her. Then once more began tickling her without mercy.
Instantly making the beautiful woman, Dearka Elsman had realized so long ago he cherished more then everything else in this world squeal loudly.
But even as Miriallia tried everything she could think of in the heat of the moment, to get away from him. It quickly became obvious to her, that he wasn't going to let her go anytime soon. "All right already...I'm really sorry that I hit you...now would you please let go of me...!" She practically screamed.
And when the brunette felt him loosing his grip on her. She did not waste anytime in leaping full speed away from him, seriously not wanting to take the risk of getting tickled like that one more time. But even though Miriallia was definitely going to need a little time to regain her breath. She still had more then enough strength left to give her boyfriend yet another highly displeased glare. "God...you are just such an idiot at times..." the girl gasped out. While using her left sleeve to remove some of the sweat on her forehead.
Tilting his head slightly to the side. Dearka gave her a huge somewhat childish smirk. "You would be totally shock at how many times I have been told that Mir...but even so...you still love me anyway" he pridefully declared in a tone that matched that foolish grin he had on his face almost perfectly.
Looking quietly at him for an unknown number of second, Miriallia slowly brought her left hand up, and scratched her hair in a thoughtful manner. "Yeah how did that happen by the way?" She questioned in a deep sigh.
It was at that point during the conversation, that Cagalli decided to cut in, and share two cents about the subject. "Well if it wasn't because, you once told Lacus and me a little about how you guys got together in the first place. I would otherwise say, that you where probably either very, very drunk or totally stoned Miriallia" the blond haired pregnant woman said in a slightly wicked tone.
Slowly raising an eyebrow at those words, all four women saw the former pilot of the Buster nod a single time in agreement. While he slowly reached up and rubbed his chin in a somewhat thoughtful manner. "Yeah that is probably the reason why she decided to date me...! Hey wait a sec here that wasn't a compliment it was an insult!" Dearka proclaim loudly.
Honestly finding the overly skeptical looks he was getting from the ladies highly amusing, but even as he continued standing there smiling like a completely nut case he reached over and gently wrapped his arm around Miriallia waist. And after pulling her in close he whispered into her ear just how he felt about her.
Which was more then enough, to make a light red glow appear on both of Miriallia's cheeks, just as she whispered almost the exact same words back to him. "I love you too, Dearka"
Yet while this was going on between the two of them. The youngish Archangel crew member, was starting to run kinda low on patience, Mayu did honestly think that both big sister Miriallia and big brother Dearka made a real adorable couple.
But with her so overly eager to see how big brother Kira was doing after he was shoot down yesterday. The girl quite frankly wasn't in the mood to watch the two of them being all sweet and lovey-dovey right now.
So after quietly watching the two of them holding each other for almost an entire minute. The smaller Ramius let out a small breath. "Each of you really do look unbelievable cute together. But if it's not to much to ask could you put your flirting on hold until after we are done visiting big brother Kira?" She asked in a mousy tone of voice, as her puppy dog look once more returned to her face.
Yet unlike Murrue who hadn't react to that look at all. Miriallia simply couldn't stop herself from letting out a light chuckle. As she slowly moved away from Dearka and over next to the girl. Where she gently wrapped left one arm around the troublemaker. And before Mayu had anytime to figure out just what her big sister character could be up to, Miriallia hurried took the opportunity to mess up the eleven-year-old's hair by giving her a noogie.
But even as she was doing that, Miriallia said a few highly reasonable words to the girl.
"Geez Mayu! What is it with you disliking it, when Dearka and I flirt? You really have been complaining about that quite a bit recently. But anyway I honestly do not think you have to worry so much about, Kira. I'm absolutely certain he is going to stay put down in the med-bay. Otherwise his highly cranky pregnant sister will most likely break a few bones in his body" the Archangel CIC jokingly said.
Yet the small smile that was on her lips as she spoke those words. Immediately disappeared when she took notice of the slightly dreamy expression, Cagalli now had on her face.
It was pretty obvious to Miriallia that her blond friend, really did find the thought of beating up her brother somewhat appealing at the moment. 'Wow! If I ever get pregnant I seriously hope that I'm going to act less like a lunatic than Cagalli. She is behaving like the devil on steroids at times' the brunette haired girl thought. Only to find herself blushing slightly afterwards, at the thought of having a child.
There was after all only one person, who she could imagine as the father to the kid. And as her face was getting more and more red, Miriallia slowly turned her gaze over on Dearka.
The young woman did however not get long to daydream about, what the future might have in store for the two of them. When very person occupying her mind choose that exact moment to interrupt her thoughts.
"Why is Cagalli allowed the beat up Kira when I'm not?! That's totally unfair!" He pouted loudly, sounding very much like a small child that just couldn't get it's way.
But with all of them pretty use to Dearka's childish behavior by now. Neither Miriallia or any of the other's gave him a response.
Actually the only thing Miriallia did, was reach up and rub her forehead, in a frustrated manner. But even as the young woman, slowly roll her blue eyes a single time at her boyfriend's child like behavior.
She smiled slightly to herself. 'Well at least with him being so immature from time to time I can be sure, that he is going to make a good father! Now that I think about it, he is quite popular with both Mayu and all of the kids at Reverend Malchio's place' the Archangel CIC muse happily.
And so while Miriallia was sincerely wondering if there would ever come a day in the future, where Dearka and her would actually start a family together. The still far away brunette hurried went off after the others, as they continued onwards towards the med-bay.
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It wasn't long after that before the five of them arrive at the med-bay.
Where Mayu immediately raced over and opened the door. And as they all stepped inside the small chamber, they where each a little taken back at discovering that Kira wasn't fast asleep like they had expect. And that he was actually sitting up on the bed busy playing a game of solitaire with himself.
Yet one single look at his face made it pretty obvious to all of them that he had more then just the one person game on his mind at the moment. And it was only when Mayu leaped up and landed with full force at the foot of the bed. Thereby making Kira gasp loudly in surprise and make a total mess of the few cards he had placed on his lap, and as he finally snapped back out of his deep thoughts and realized that he had company now.
The young conflict man slowly moved his eyes over each of them. He had next to no trouble at all telling that they were all kinda worried about him. "Ohhh hey guys I didn't hear you come in" Kira explained in a low tone, only to immediately disappear right back into whatever world he had been visiting when they had enter the small room.
Yet that action alone and the sight of the brown haired teenager being so utterly distracted, was more then enough to make the newly arrive people in there take a few worried glance at each other, there wasn't one person present that liked seeing Kira behave so absent minded.
And it kinda may each and every one of them wish that Lacus was there. The pink haired songster would without a doubt be the best choice to help Kira get through whatever was bothering him right now. But with Lacus so far away on the Eternal, it was up to them to try and get him to open up.
So after watching the young man, who had almost been like a little brother to her, since the very first time she had push him into the Strike. Murrue took a couple of steps over to the bed. Where she carefully studied his unfocused purple eyes for a few short seconds, before she slowly brought her hand up, and place it gently on his forehead to try and determined if the reason why he was acting so strange, was actually because he actually had a fever.
Yet not even a moment after Kira felt somebody touch his face, the young man instantly blinked a couple of times. As he once more got back to reality and gave the kind brunette haired Captain of the Archangel a slightly curious look. Seriously wondering just what exactly she was doing.
"Wha...what is it miss Murrue?" He questioned softly.
Murrue did however not get the chance to come up with a reply to what Kira had just asked her.
Before a certain pregnant girl decided to cut in and gave him a response, that was obviously a lot less friendly than the one Murrue would have given him. "We are all really worried about you, dumbass! And to be honest, it seriously doesn't help all that much on our concern. That you are just sitting there, staring of into space like a complete moron!" The blond haired woman kindly informed him.
Not saying anything to that at first, Kira sat quietly on the bed, looking up at his extremely cranky sister. Quite honestly wondering just how much longer these delightful mood swings of her's was going to last.
'I guess she is as cheerful as ever. The next time I see Arhrun, I'm SURELY going to throw him into one of the Archangel's missile launchers. Only to see how far he can fly the next time we enter a battle! With him being the father of the kid it's not really fair, that we are the once who are left to deal with all of Cagalli's weird new habits and her mood swings' the 'Freedom pilot' thought sourly. Seriously hoping that Cagalli would allow him to watch the day, when she was planning on telling Athrun, that he was going to change the kid's diaper for the next year.
And while still thinking about that, Kira smiled slightly at his sibling. "I'm 'of course' also happy to see you, Cagalli. And if it's any consolation sis I really am sorry that I worried you guys. Both yesterday when I fought against the Impulse and now" he said. Not bothering to do anything to hide the fact, that he was still greatly displeased with the the outcome of his highly savage encounter with the Strike look-alike.
And as Kira yet again found himself wondering if he could have done anything differently to get out of that battle without losing the Freedom. The young man let out a small yet still highly displeased sigh.
Then began explaining the reason why he hadn't paid any attention to them when they had first enter the room.
"I was...was trying to figure out how in the world I'm suppose to tell Lacus that the Freedom has been destroyed...Her father was after all killed for giving me that mobile suit" Kira said. With a deeply sadden look in each one of his eyes. As he thought back to his last conversation with his father-in-law. Where the blond kind man had told him to choose between the Freedom and it's likewise powerful brother unit the Justice, and then use that machine to protect Lacus no matter the cost.
Of course knowing just like everybody else on board the Archangel, that the Freedom gundam had been quite important to Kira. There was nothing Cagalli could do to prevent a low spirited expression from appearing on her face too. As she tried to come up with something to say, that would help brighten her little brother's mood over the lose of his blue winged mobile suit and friend.
Yet before the young rightful leader of Orb could think of anything, Dearka Elsman slowly stepped past the blond haired woman, and over beside Kira's bed. Where he glared angrily at his fellow pilot and friend for a few seconds.
And before Kira had the chance to ask the former Zaft soldier what he was up to. Dearka squeezed his one of fist together tightly then gave Kira a immensely painful punch on the upper part of his right leg, and as Kira yelped out in surprise and pain, the blond slightly older teenager began scolding him immensely.
"You really are an idiot from time to time, Kira! And not just because you made a total mess of my Murasame! You should already know better then anybody else in here, that Lacus is not going to blame you for losing the Freedom. Knowing her, she is most likely just going to be relieved, that you escaped from that battle without getting seriously injured!" Dearka said, then took a couple of deep breaths before he continued.
"And I for one don't believe even for a second that you father-in-law would be angry at you, if he had been here now! I honestly think that he would be very proud of you, Kira. You have after all save both Lacus, and a great many other people's lives, while fighting in the Freedom" the blond haired Coordinator said. Just before he gave his friend a small encouraging slap on his back.
After doing that. Dearka turned around, and made his way back over next to his girlfriend, where Miriallia did not hesitate at all about leaning over, to whisper a few words into his left ear. "That was really sweet of you. You big softy, I'm definitely going to reward you for that when we go to bed tonight" the brown haired woman promised him, with a slightly naughty look in her eyes, that only he could see.
Instantly knowing what that look meant. It was simply impossible for Dearka to stop a wide smirk, from appearing on his lips. "Well I really didn't tell him those things to get a reward, Mir. But if insist on giving me one, you are most CERTAINLY not going to hear any complains from me" he said. Already looking forward quite a bit to this evening.
Yet while those two where busy making plans. Kira was thinking quite hard about everything Dearka had just said to him, and it did not really take him a whole lot of time to realize that his at time crazy friend was absolutely right about everything.
With Lacus being as sweet and forgiving as she was. There simply noway she was going to be mad at him for losing the Freedom. She was most likely going to react exactly like Dearka had said by being happy that he had escaped mostly uninjured when the Freedom had exploded.
And with that in mind. Kira slowly turned his attention over on the former member of the Le Creuset team.
"Thank you for the pep talk Dearka. I guess I really was a little down in the dumps. But I just miss Lacus so unbelievable much, right now. It's kinda hard for me to believe that it has only been a few weeks since she left to join up with the Eternal. It almost feels like it has been years since I have last seen her" the young husband explained. As he sincerely wondered when he would next be able to see his beautiful pink haired wife again.
The male Yamato did however not get long to do that. Before Dearka slowly tore his deep purple gaze away from Miriallia, and over on his fellow pilot. But while the blond haired teen had no trouble at all understanding Kira's deep longing to be reunited with the one he loved so dearly.
Dearka Elsman honestly didn't know what to say about it. Seeing as he had less than no idea about, when exactly the Pink Princess would return back to earth.
So in the end, he made the decision. That it was probably best to talk about something else entirely. "Don't mention it old friend. Just remember if you ever do require somebody to beat a little sense into you, all you have to do is say the word buddy, and I will be more then HAPPY, to lend my assistance" the at times childish man sarcastically offered.
Slowly raising an eyebrow at that, Kira let out a light chuckle.
"Please don't get me wrong, Dearka I do appreciate your generous offer. But unfortunately I don't think that I can accept it. With my 'sweet kind-hearted sister' being pregnant, and cranky almost twenty-four seven. I already have one person to beat me up. And with her I don't need to be depressed beforehand" the male twin said with a great deal of humor in his voice.
Simply not able to keep himself from laughing loudly at that comment. It only took a brief moment or two, for Dearka to come up with something to say back. "Heh! Guess you are right about that, Kira. I had almost completely forgotten all about Cagalli, and with all the delightful complaining she does on daily basic. That is actually something that is getting more and more difficult!" He joked loudly.
Yet even as he was doing that, the young man turned his head a bit to the side, and took a small glance over at Cagalli's slightly round stomach. And just the thought of the tiny life that was presently growing in there, was more then enough to make him smile slightly. The former Zaft soldier might not have told anybody about it other than Miriallia, but he truthfully was very, very happy on both Cagalli's and Athrun's behalf.
Those two definitely deserve all the happiness they could get. That however certainly did not in anyway mean, that Kira and him was suddenly going to stop teasing the blond woman about her otherwise cheerful mood these last few weeks.
And with Cagalli's fuse almost constantly being on the short end. The pregnant woman was far to occupied with glaring at the two Archangel pilots to notice the small yet playful smirk each one of them was sending her.
"My God you two morons are just so stupid. Remind me to beat the living daylight out of you later!" She angrily growled out at the two men.
But while Kira although had been expecting a threat or two from his cranky sister over his and Dearka's teasing, the brown haired teenager still leaned backwards on the bed with a terrified look on his face that was obviously as fake, as it could possibly be.
"That does not sound nice, we are definitely not going to remind her about that right, Dearka?!" Who immediately nodded a single time in agreement as one single word left his smirking mouth.
"Right!" Dearka said loudly.
After that, the people in there was completely silent for a few long seconds. Which Cagalli Yula Athha used to rub her frowning forehead in a highly frustrated manner as she sincerely wondered just why exactly, she had the huge misfortune of knowing such idiots.
But as tempted as Cagalli truly found the idea of tearing the two of them apart right here and now. The young blond haired woman, amazingly did somehow managed to control her boiling temper. "Uuhhh I'm so going to make both you and Dearka suffer more than ever before, once you are fully recovered my dear little brother" Cagalli wickedly told him. Then spend the next minute or so giving the two men, the most evil look she could produce.
After that the sulky expression on Cagalli's face soften immensely, while she slowly moved over and wrapped both of her arms around her brother. "I'm just relieved that you are all right, Kira. I know for sure that I speak for the both of us when I say! That both Athrun and I, would very much like, for our kid to have the chance to get to know, it's favorite uncle"
And with that said. Cagalli rubbed her face back and forth a few times against Kira's left shoulder, using the flimsy white T-shirt he was wearing, to get rid of a couple of tears, that had left her eyes when she had started telling him all of these things.
Smiling sincerely at his sister's sweet words, Kira slowly lift his hands and brought them up around Cagalli, softly hugging her back. "I also want...want to see my nephew or niece Cagalli. So you don't have to worry, I'm definitely going to return from whatever battle I enter" the brown haired man firmly promised his still slightly weeping sister.
And as Kira continued gently stroking his twin sister's back. He simply could not help but think briefly about, how he was going to be an uncle in about seven short month, and have yet another person which he knew without a doubt he would do anything possible to protect, no matter the cost.
Truly happy to hear her brother tell her those things. Cagalli smiled slightly to herself before slowly breaking the embrace and moving downwards on the bed until she ended up sitting beside Mayu, near the foot of the bed. "You better make certain that you keep that promise to me, Kira" Cagalli softly told him.
Only to force back a small sob immediately afterwards just as it was about to leave her body.
And of course knowing just how utterly important this was, not only to Cagalli but everybody else in his life, especially Lacus.
The male Yamato did not hesitate even one second, about nodding a single time to what Cagalli had just said. "I don't know what the future will bring. But one thing I do know for sure is that I want to experience it, with all of the people I care about! So you guys can be absolutely sure, that I'm going to do everything I can to make sure that I wont break that promise!" Kira said with a slightly confident expression on his face.
Which was quickly replaced by a more curious one as he turned his attention over on Murrue who he softly asked how the Archangel was holding up. He might have been shoot down only a short moment afterwards, but Kira could clearly remember seeing the submerging Archangel getting hit by the Minerva's positron cannon.
"As much as I wish that I could tell you otherwise, Kira. There is just no denying that the Archangel is in a pretty bad shape ,right now. If it was not because we where fortunate enough to be mostly under water when their last attack hit, we would surely have been destroyed. But while we definitely should be thankful that they didn't manage to fire that cannon earlier. It doesn't change the fact that we still received quite a beating in that battle and that it will take Murdoch and the other mechanics a very long time to repair it all!" The Archangel Captain explained.
And knowing just how much damage the ship had taken and how many things that was in need of some serious repair, Murrue moved her gaze away from Kira and down at her little troublemaker who was still sitting calmly beside Cagalli, and seeing as there was just no way for the young mother to have known, that her daughter had already made a decision about this matter.
Murrue began seriously considering asking the girl to put a damper on all of her pranks, now that Murdoch had so many things around the Archangel which required his attention.
Yet before Murrue had the chance to bring up the subject. A certain former Zaft pilot, unintentionally cut her off with a question he had been thinking about for a little while now.
"By the way Cagalli, seeing as you are the only one of us that has ever been on board the Minerva. Would you mind telling me what the heck the name of the Impulse pilot is? I have actually been quite curious about that for awhile now" Dearka said, with a hint of sourness in his voice.
One thing the blond Coordinator had not really bothered to hide, was the fact that he honestly hated the Minerva with a passion. And that included all of it's annoying mobile suits too. Especially the Impulse gundam.
Not at all pleased with the idea of having to talk about the stupid moron who had nearly kill her brother a few hours ago. The short temper woman narrowed both of her eyes in a sulky manner.
There was no denying that both Kira and Dearka had the highly annoying ability to get under her skin and really piss her off. Yet it was quite frankly nothing compared to how angry Shinn Asuka had made her the few times she had really spoken with the brat.
To be honest, he had just barely needed to open his damn mouth, for Cagalli to feel like strangling him at a moments notice.
But as much as Cagalli truly despised the pilot of the Impulse and the very thought of talking about him. She just couldn't find a really good excuse not to give Dearka a response to his question. "Well even though I do have a pretty long list of things I would like to call that dumb childish idiot...his real name is Shinn...Shinn...hmm what was it now? Ohhh right...Asuka...Shinn Asuka!" Cagalli practically shouted as loud as she could.
Definitely pleased with the fact, that he now had the knowledge he wanted about the Impulse pilot. Dearka Elsman mentally promised himself that he would tear both the brat and his mobile suit apart, the next time they ran into him and the Minerva.
Yet with Dearka busy making his not so cheerful plans for his next encounter with the Strike look-alike, and with the others mildly distracted with the subject of when exactly they would get back to Orb.
None of them noticed that the smallest Ramius had a deeply far away expression on her tiny face, as she sat there staring of into space. Obviously thinking very hard about something. "Why...why does that name Shinn sound so familiar to me?" The child asked herself in such a low tone. That not even Cagalli who was locate just next to her could hear.
And as the eleven-year-old continued trying to make just a little sense of those feelings that kept on telling her, that she had once known a person that was call Shinn and that whoever he was, was suppose to be important to her for some reason.
But no matter how hard the girl tried, she just couldn't recall why she felt like she had at some point in the past had heard that name on daily basic.
And as Mayu practically fought with her mind about remembering what she had forgotten so long ago, there was simply nothing she could do, to prevent a couple of tears from leaving her eyes and descend slowly down each one of her cheeks.
"I want to remember!...Why can't I remember?" The girl sobbed loudly.
Instantaneously getting the attention of everybody else in the small room over on her. And the mere sight of the large amount of tears that was presently running down Mayu's face, was a clear indication that she had once more tried to regain some of the memories she had lost two years ago.
And knowing how utterly difficult it truly was for her daughter not being able to remember anything from the age of nine and down, Murrue Ramius show not one hint of hesitation as she immediately moved over, and tightly wrapped the weeping child in her arms.
"It's all right sweetheart! It's all right just let it out" the young mother whispered into the girl's ear, while she kept on gently rocking her back and forth in an attempt to comfort her as much as possible.
But with all those highly conflicting emotions that was literally racing full speed through the conflicted girl's confused mind. It was simply impossible for her understand any of the soft smoothing words that her mother kept on saying to her, as she snuggled even deeper into the secure embrace where she instantly began crying almost hysterically over what she did not remember.
And as Mayu kept on crying as loud as her small lungs would permit her to. The sobbing child continuously asked her mother, what she had forgotten and why exactly she had forgotten it in the first place.
Unfortunately no matter how much Murrue sincerely wished with all of her being, that she had some kind of response to the girl's questions. The young mother simply did not know what she could say to her daughter, to make her feel just a little better about all of this.
Just the mere sight of her little girl in this completely broken down condition was almost enough to make Murrue cry too. Pretty much the only reason why she forced the tears back was because she realized deep inside that it simply would not do Mayu any good is she too was crying.
So while Murrue tried almost desperately, to make the girl feel better. Everybody else was quietly watching the depressing scene. Each of them with a deeply sadden look in their eyes, there was of course not one person present, that actually like it when Mayu had one of her episodes.
Even Neo, who had pretend to be sound asleep all of this time, truly disliked seeing the otherwise happy and high spirited child, in this state. To be completely honest he really did prefer it when the girl had that usual cheerful smile on her face.
Yet there was one certain blond haired woman present. That was really giving the cause of Mayu's breakdown some very serious thought, along with her first not so pleasant encounter with Shinn Asuka where the boneheaded brat had told her that it was her father, who he blamed for the death of his family.
'Was it the mentioning of Shinn's name that made Mayu react like this...could Mayu be...?' Cagalli mused quietly, while seriously wondering if there was anyway that she could figure out what exactly happened to the brat's family.
And perhaps if her small suspicion was proved correct, then maybe Mayu's too.
To be continued.