Author's note: Yay! My next chapter's up! Read on, read on!

Chapter 8:

"So you'll be my date for that night?"

Athrun could detect the hopefulness in Lacus' voice. "I don't know, Lacus," He groaned, running a hand through disheveled navy blue hair. He could sense a severe headache coming on.

"Come on, Athrun." Lacus was as persistent as ever. "Pretty please. Just one night. What are friends for, eh? There's going to be socializing, there's going to drinks: wine, champagne, cocktails-"

He glanced up when he heard a knock and saw Meyrin standing in his doorway, holding a file. Need you to sign this, she mouthed at him. He nodded and fiddled with the phone receiver, balancing it between his left ear and shoulder so he could scrawl over the document Meyrin held. Lacus was still engaged in her monologue when Meyrin left his office.

"-there's going to be songs, there's going to be dancing-"

"I don't dance, Lacus," Athrun breathed out in exasperation. He covered his eyes with his free hand and sank back into his leather chair.

"I know, I know. But there's a lot more you can do. I'm just asking you to accompany me for that night, Athrun. I can't possibly turn up dateless during a party which my father organizes to welcome me home, right? The hostess can't be dateless, Athrun!"

Despair had begun to creep into Lacus' voice. Damn! He could just predict how this conversation was going to end. Lacus could be so… manipulative, when she wanted to be. He tried one last attempt at rejecting her. "You know how busy I am, Lacus. I've got that car accident down at the highway, and the bank robbery from last month, and the third attempt at infiltrating your father's corporation, and-"

"Did I mention that Father's inviting many of his business associates as well? There's going to be close to a hundred guests at the party, many of whom are big names in the pharmaceutical industry. The invitations were sent out weeks ago and I only have two days, Athrun, TWO days to find a date. You absolutely cannot leave me in the lurch-"

Athrun went silent.

"-so you have got to help me. It's just three hours, Athrun, THREE hours of your time. But I'll be indebted to you forever… Are you listening, Athrun?"

Athrun chewed on his bottom lip. His fingers drummed the table nervously. "What did you say just now? About the guests invited?"

There was a pause on the other side of the phone. "That most of them are Father's business associates?"

"And?" Athrun snapped impatiently.

"That they're big names in the industry? What's going on, Athrun?"

Athrun bit the tip of his thumb thoughtfully, a nervous frown on his face. Damn. He had a pretty good idea what was going to happen at that party. "Listen Lacus, I've gotta run. I'll be your date for that night. Promise. And I'll like to drop by later this evening, to talk to you and your father about the party. Understand?"

When Lacus had finally hung up, he got up from behind his desk. He poked his head round the door of his office. His department was an utter zoo. Phones were ringing incessantly. Meyrin was juggling three phones in her hands. Lunamaria was buried behind a stack of files, a pencil balanced behind her ear. Shinn was chomping rapidly through a packet of chips, his eyes zipping quickly across his computer screen. Behind him, Dearka was chewing down on the end of a pen, his fingers typing furiously on the keyboard. At the other end of the room, Nicol was scribbling furiously on a notepad, watching as Yzak screamed down the phone at someone who had gotten on his nerves.

He waited till Yzak had slammed the phone down in the phone cradle, then yelled across the room. "I want a meeting in five minutes, people. Drop everything you are doing immediately!"

"What's wrong?" Luna glanced up from behind the stack of reports.

"I know when the Clyne corporation perpetrators are going to strike next," Athrun replied grimly.

Orga Sabnak was in the lounge, reclining in a plush armchair, a novel in his hands. He raised his head to gaze at Kira and his team when they entered the room and an arrogant smirk played across his lips. "Well, look who's come to pay us another visit." He sneered, swinging his legs over the armrest to stand up.

One of his mates glanced up from where he lay sprawled on the ground. A mop of pale green hair covered his left eye. When he saw the newcomers, his expression turned murderous. He tore off his headphones and stood up, advancing quickly towards Kira. Then he started to run and threw his fist forward, aiming for Kira's face, only to be stopped by Orga Sabnak who put out a hand to hold him back.

"Get the fuck out of my way," Shani Andras snarled, trying to get past. "That guy blackened my eye last time. I'm not going to take that lying down."

"Ssh, Shani," Orga grinned. Even though he was addressing his teammate, he was staring straight at Kira. "Don't worry. Let me handle this."

Kira's dark eyes remained expressionless even as Orga Sabnak approached him, the pompous leer staring at him right in the face. "Did Rau send you as a human punching bag again?" He laughed and made a show of cracking his knuckles and flexing his hands. "Rau sure knows what we like." The rest of his teammates stood and came to stand beside their leader, forming an impervious semicircle barrier in front of Kira. Cornering him. Threatening him.

Kira didn't move. Just concentrated his glare on the obnoxious bastard that was chewing on his tether. A firm hand landed on his shoulder, squeezing gently and Stellar stepped forward. "Back off, Sabnak." She hissed.

The smirk on Orga's face merely widened. "Am I supposed to feel threatened?"

"Touch him and you'll have to deal with us. No more like last time, Sabnak. Those were Rau's orders and it was four against one. This time, it's different."

"Bite me."

"My pleasure."

Stellar took a menacing step forward and Orga reacted instantly, ducking as she swung a roundhouse kick at his head. The momentum drove her round, spinning on her left foot and she threw a punch at his face, but found herself restrained by Kira's hand which shot out and grasped her wrist.

"Stop it," he growled, shaking her roughly.

She spun around and glared at him, "Kira-" but he cut her off with a curt "That's enough."

She shot a malicious glare at Orga who simply smirked back at her. "That's right, kitty. You should listen to him."

Kira released her and pushed her in the direction of Auel and Sting, who caught his cue and surrounded Stellar. Just in case she decided to react further to Orga's insults. And Kira knew from experience that she would. Then he faced his tormentor and gave him a charming smile. "I'm only here on Rau's instructions. You too, I suppose. Now, without Rau's orders, you wouldn't be able to touch me, would you?"

The grin on Orga's face subsided slightly. That was the truth. They only answered to Rau. Without his permission, he could never touch Kira or any of his team. But he didn't back down and merely smirked, "You're safe," he purred and ran his tongue over his upper lip, like he was savouring a dish, "For now." He gave a soft laugh, "won't be long before Rau serves you up on a platter, Kira. And when he does, I'm not going to stop Shani from doing what he wants." The grin on his face had become feral and his eyes were large and wild.

Stellar lunged forward but Auel threw an arm around her shoulders and Sting stood in front, using his body to block her advance. Kira remained motionless, his violet eyes challenging. Yeah, it wouldn't take long. But he wouldn't be the one trussed up on that platter.

The door of the lounge flew open, hitting the wall with a loud bang that caught all their attention. There was a man in a white lab coat standing in the doorway, a hand pressed against the door. His face was stern and cold and all he said was "Rau's waiting."

Author's note: Expect a little more action to come in the next chapter! Don't forget to review, review, review!