Author's note: Ta da! Here's the next chapter! I must say, I think the tempo of this chapter is way off. After writing so many chapters with so much action in them, this chapter is like an anti-climax… But it's necessary, I think, in order to set the stage for what's happening next. One thing good that came out of this, I guess, is the fact that I finallyyyyyy managed to salvage a role for Mu La Flaga. I've been trying to fit him in for ages! It's a small role, but still a role nonetheless!

Chapter 56

Lacus was sure that she was crazy. Out of her mind. Insane. Whatever word that described one's descent into lunacy. Because no one in the right mind would offer up absolute trust to his or her kidnapper. No one except her. Hence, she concluded that she was nuts.

She should have run the moment he opened the van doors. Just shove him aside and run as fast as she could without turning back. Maybe that would take him by surprise, make her escape easier. Besides, he was hurt.

But no. Being the foolish person that she was, she had sat herself down, and ripped her dress to bandage his wound.

Moreover, when he had explained, with a voice that sounded icy-cold, very befitting of a murderer that had no interest in his victims at all, that he was supposed to kill her, she had actually listened patiently to him with an odd calmness. "My mission is to get rid of you," he said, his eyes searching her face, looking for some kind of reaction to his words. Perhaps it was getting dark – they were facing each other, standing in the cold and the fading light, the sky overhead changing from orange-red to deep-blue to inky-black – because he saw nothing on her face. No wide eyes, or strained facial features. No sign that she was freaking out at the preposterous words that he was uttering.

"I'm supposed to kill you," he said again, as if he thought that she hadn't understood his words the first time.

But Lacus had heard him, and understood him. And strangely enough, she felt calm and composed. "I know," she said, "but you didn't. Even when you had so many chances." Her gaze softened and she gave him a weak smile. "Why not?"

Kira didn't reply. He just gave her a nonchalant shrug and broke the eye contact between them for a moment. Hesitance and confusion flickered through his gaze. Changing the subject, he muttered quickly, "Anyway, I can't send you home yet, you understand?" Cold eyes turned back on her again. "I'm not the only one out there. Someone else will come for you if they find out you're still alive," he warned.

Lacus watched as he fidgeted in the dark. He looked disturbed; there was a nervous vibe all about him. In fact, Lacus thought to herself, he hadn't looked quite normal since he had first pointed the gun at her, then left without pulling the trigger. For a second, the idea that this could be the start of his so-called 'side-effects' made her cringe with horror, but then she thought about what he had said, and was saying to her.

'Not the only one out there'? 'Someone else'? Who was that 'someone else'? Lacus had noticed that he was alone – the rest of his team was nowhere to be found. Where were they? Did they constitute the 'someone else' he was talking about? Or were there really others who wanted to take her life, and for what reason? She realised that she had no answers at all. In fact, she wasn't even sure why she was being held hostage. Was it for money? Or for that serum that Athrun and her father were dead-set on protecting?

And where did this man stand? Was he really protecting her from the 'someone else' out there? Could he really be trusted?

Again, Lacus had no answers. But she also concluded that she had no choice - she didn't know of anyone else to trust in her circumstances. So she decided to cooperate. "Is this where I'm supposed to hide out until then?" She asked, gesturing across the parking lot at the diner.

His face was concealed from her view, but from the amused glint in his eyes and rise of his cheekbones underneath the black cloth, Lacus guessed that he was giving her a wry smile. "It belongs to someone-" Then a slight pause as his voice faltered for a second and his eyes flicked sideways. "-someone I trust. She'll keep you safe until then."

Again that strange behaviour. That awkwardness and nervous tension.

But before she could ask another question, he had turned and walked away from the van, casting a look at her over his shoulder just to make sure she was following. And Lacus did. Which was another reason why she concluded that she was on her way to lunacy.

At 9 p.m., Flay hung up the "Closed" sign on the glass door. The customers who were still in the diner took the hint and polished off their plates. One by one, they left and by 9:30 p.m., the diner was empty.

Her boyfriend Sai Argyle put his head around the kitchen door. "I'm almost done here," he said, "You?"

Flay nodded, smiling. "I'll just take the trash out and we can shut this place down."

From behind the Formica counter, she grasped the black trash bag and hauled it out of its metal container. Making her way through the kitchen, where Sai was washing the last of the dishes, she headed for the back door, a heavy steel panel with an oval glass window that overlooked the carpark. Through the glass, she saw the vast area stretching outwards, dark and empty. As she lugged the door open, a bitter-cold wind whipped into the kitchen, stinging her flesh with little ice-cold needles. Hastily, she stepped out of the diner, shutting the door behind her to keep the wind from entering, and with a neat flick of her wrist, tossed the trash bag into the open dumpster pushed up against the concrete back of the greasy spoon.

It was then that she saw him.

A dark shadow moving across the parking lot, coming at her.

Instinctively, Flay opened her mouth to shriek, and she had just managed to get her vocal cords to work, when the figure dove towards her and cold, stiff fingers clamped around her mouth. The beginning of her scream died off in the wind, and she struggled against the hard body pinning her down. She tossed an elbow back, trying to clock her attacker on the side of the head, but her blow was deflected easily and then she felt the warm breath of the stranger against her cheek.

"It's me, Flay," the voice whispered in her ear.

She froze, and when the hands released their grip on her, she spun around and stared.

The first thing she recognised was the messy mop of brown hair. Beneath those brown locks, was a pair of eyes hidden behind a mask with tinted glass. Flay squinted in the darkness. The eyes were more difficult to place because she couldn't see the colour of the irises, but the soft gaze was definitely recognizable. And the familiar sadness too.

"Kira?" She whispered.

The stranger raised a hand and tugged down the balaclava covering the lower part of his face, but he left the mask in place. This time, Flay recognized the handsome jaw line and the grim set of his mouth. "Oh my god, Kira," she gasped, "are you alright? Where have you been? What's going on?"

Kira concealed his face again and scanned the parking lots around them. Flay noticed that he paused a little longer at a point in the distance and she glanced over her shoulder too, trying to see what he was seeing. But there was nothing there. She decided that she was just feeling a little freaked out by the tension radiating off him.

His eyes were back on her again and he said, "Are you closed for the night? Can we go in and talk?"

"S-sure," Flay stuttered, wondering at the severe tone of his voice. "Of course, come on."

She stepped around him and gave the heavy steel door a shove with her shoulder. It opened and the warm light from the kitchen spilled out.

In the kitchen, they found Sai drying his hands on a kitchen towel. His back was to them when he began to speak. "Okay, Flay," he drawled, "I'm done. Let's-" He turned and the smile on his face froze for a second before fading quickly, replaced by first a look of surprise, then horror. "Who're you? What do you want?"

Flay had stepped into the kitchen already and she turned around to see that Kira was now filling the doorway. She could imagine how terrifying the scene looked – a masked man, covered from head to toe in camouflage gear, and what was it on his trousers? Something dark and sticky… Was that blood?

All of a sudden, her elbow was caught in a rough hand and Flay found herself being yanked aside by Sai. "Stay back!" Her fiancé yelled, shoving her out of the kitchen. "Call the cops, Flay!"

Twisting around, Flay shook her head, red curls bobbing with the rigorous motion. "No, Sai. It's alright," she soothed, resting a hand on Sai's chest to restrain him. "This is Kira."

"What?" Sai's exclamation was so loud, it deafened her a little.

"It's Kira," Flay repeated, smiling.

Sai was staring at her in bewilderment. Then he returned his attention to the man standing in the doorway and raked his eyes over their guest. "You've gotta be kidding," he muttered softly. A deep crease had worked its way onto his brow. "Kira?"

"It's me, Sai," Kira affirmed.

"What are you doing? What the hell are you wearing? Have you been camping? You hurt yourself?" The torrent of questions didn't just stop with Sai. Flay took it up too. "What's going on, Kira?" She demanded, "You've been gone for weeks and the police said you were in an accident! For heaven's sakes, are you alright?"

"I'm fine," assured Kira. Again, he glanced over his shoulder at the empty carpark behind him, focusing on that same point in the horizon. He turned back to the astounded couple and said, "I know this is sudden, but I'm involved in something." His face was hidden from view, but from the grim set of his eyes and the tone of his voice, Flay could tell it was bad. "I need help," he continued. Again, the same anxious glance over his shoulder. "I want you to meet someone. Is that okay?"

From the corner of his eye, Flay caught Sai glancing at her and she turned to meet his gaze. There were questions in his eyes and she shook her head and shrugged in response.

"I guess so," she winced, "I suppose there's no harm in that."

As if on cue, Kira surprised her by stepping back out through the backdoor. He gazed out at the carpark and put two fingers to his lips. A long, low whistle split the silence of the night. They waited, the three of them standing still in the kitchen, bathed in warm orange light, a familiar assortment of food smells wafting around them.

A minute inched past slowly, and Flay was about to start asking questions again. When, from a distance, they caught sight of a figure crossing the area, moving slowly towards the diner. It had emerged from that particular point across the carpark that Kira had so frequently glanced at and Flay realised that he had actually been looking at someone. She squinted hard and stared as the figure morphed into a woman. Long pink hair bellowing around her, the hem of her white and pink dress fluttered in the wind limply.

What the hell was going on?

They waited in silence until the woman stepped past the threshold and into the kitchen. She glanced up to meet their eyes and the warm orange glow of the kitchen lights lit up her face. The woman's long hair was mussed up and hung around her like a heavy curtain, weighed down by dust. Her face was a terrible sight, streaked with dirt and stained makeup. Twin lines of faded mascara curved over her cheeks from the corner of her eyes, as if she had been crying. A pink smear across her lips. The dress she was wearing had been ripped and torn; its sleeve hung loosely, exposing her flawless shoulder and the hem was jagged and trailing threads.

"You're-" Flay stared at the flowing pink hair caked in dirt and dust. The fine features framed beneath the pink locks looked awfully familiar. She couldn't be… But then again, during the morning rush hour, she had caught a glimpse of this very face gracing the newspaper headlines. Of course, that face had looked much neater, much cleaner, much more sophisticated, but there was no mistaking it.

"Ain't it a pity?" the customer had said when he saw Flay staring at his newspapers. "They say she's been kidnapped for more than 48 hours. What're the chances of her survival? Pity, huh. She was a good singer and actress too. Yes, such a pity, Lacus Clyne sure is unfortunate."

Impossible…

"You're-" Flay's voice came out hoarse and constricted, and she swallowed hard. Her throat felt tight; she couldn't speak with the million thoughts jarring her mind. The woman that the police had been searching for for days had actually turned up in her diner!

How was that possible?

"You're Lacus Clyne," she gasped out finally. "But you're… they said… I thought you were…"

"Kidnapped," the woman finished. She smiled, and Flay could definitely see why people were so easily charmed by her. Even underneath the grey smears on her face, her beaming smile still came through. Her hands were linked in front of her, as if she were taking a bow on stage at one of her theatre shows. Despite the fact that she was wearing a ripped and stained frock, she still looked so elegant, still so beautiful. It seemed like nothing could tear down her composure.

Flay's eyes flickered towards Kira, who was standing off to the sides, almost as if he was taking himself out of the picture. A brewing suspicion in Flay began to make itself known and she was suddenly afraid of what was to come. "Kira, are you-"

His eyes were hard diamonds when he looked at her and nodded. "Yes, I'm the kidnapper."

Night had approached fast, but they didn't realise it because they had the blinds drawn down tight over the window. Every half an hour, Cagalli would watch as Athrun got up from the armchair and peeked through the rusted metal slats, gazing down at the parking lots in front of the motel. Mostly, he saw nothing worthy of attention; only stragglers and vagrants who loitered around for an hour or so, then made their way elsewhere.

Once, he spotted the flashing strobes of a police car, but it simply sped past the motel without stopping.

Then Athrun would sink back into the armchair and return his attention to the documents that detailed everything there was on DEX enterprises. His Sig-Sauer, still fully loaded, was laid in his lap.

At 10 p.m., Cagalli stretched out on the bed with a low groan. The papers strewn all over the mattress crinkled under her weight.

"Tired?" Athrun glanced up from his file and smiled at the blonde woman, who gazed back at him upside-down. He set his documents aside and linked both hands over his head, arching his back. His back popped in protest. "Let me change your dressing, and you can get some sleep. How does that sound?"

"Terrible," replied Cagalli bluntly, "I couldn't possibly sleep knowing Lacus is still in the danger zone." She turned onto her stomach and propped her chin on steepled hands. "How long has it been since Miriallia and the guys left? How long more do you think she needs for the DNA comparison?" She gave Athrun a look of curiosity, which he returned with one of disapproval.

"That wasn't a wise idea. You know the results aren't going to be conclusive," Athrun shook his head, a frown creasing his brow. "You're fraternal twins, for god's sake. Fraternal twins do not share the same DNA."

"Fraternal twins share half of their DNA," Cagalli corrected, "and half is better than none."

"Fifty percent isn't good enough to conclude that he's your twin."

"Fifty percent means that there is a fifty percent possibility," Cagalli snapped. "That beats zero percent."

Athrun kept his mouth shut and stared back unflinchingly into the blazing amber-gold eyes glaring at him. When Cagalli was out of it, there was no way to convince her otherwise. They would just have to wait for Miriallia's news, which would either give her false hope, or more disappointment. Until then, he was resigned to whatever theory that Cagalli had in mind. "Let's just put that aside," he changed the subject, "and let me change your dressing, 'kay?"

He had just finished dapping her head wound with antiseptic and was unfurling the new bandage, when Cagalli gave a shriek. The file she was poring over was thrust unceremoniously under his nose. "Look here, Athrun," Cagalli pointed excitedly.

He stilled her vibrating hands so that he could see what she was indicating. It was a copy of a faded police report, dating back seven years ago. The case involved a product recall. A sampler of DEX enterprises' newly developed medication had been released to the public for testing, but scientists from a different lab had discovered that it contained a dangerous excess of a particular restricted chemical and the samples had to be recalled. Members of the public had been chagrined and alarmed and there was a campaign for police intervention. A team was set up by the Commissioner to deal with the case and the officers and agents had treated it very seriously. Their investigation had included running through the premises of DEX enterprises from head to toe with a fine-toothed comb, as well as all the laboratories under its property. The familiar name that Athrun recognised was STAN Labs – the workplace of Brad Harvey who apparently owned the apartment that Kira Hbiki was living in. But one thing that stood out for Athrun, was the mention of Le Creuset Corporation.

He snatched the file out of Cagalli's hands and stared at the document. It stated that the team's investigation had taken them all the way to Le Creuset Corporation but nothing suspicious was found. Eventually, it was revealed that it was the carelessness of DEX Enterprises' lab scientists that resulted in the problematic samples and since there had been no casualties due to the rapid product recall, the case had closed. The rest of DEX enterprises, as well as Le Creuset Corporation, hadn't been implicated.

What Athrun was curious to know was why there was no reason given for Le Creuset Corporation's involvement in the first place.

"Suspicious, huh?" Cagalli said when he was done reading. "Where does Le Creuset Corporation fit in the equation?"

Athrun didn't reply, because he had the same question but no answer. He flipped through the police report again and found what he was looking for. The leader of the team that had been set up to probe into DEX enterprises was Agent Mu La Flaga.

Kira watched as Flay and Sai exchanged nervous glances. They didn't look as if they believed what he had said and he didn't blame them. Point was, he had hardly revealed anything to them at all. All he had told them was that he worked for an organisation and he had been asked to kidnap Lacus Clyne for something that his boss wanted. And now, he had been asked to kill her, so technically, Lacus Clyne had to disappear from the surface of the earth. He couldn't simply return her back to where she came from. Or his boss would just send in another waste disposal team to take out the 'trash'. Therefore, he needed their help to house her, until matters died down.

His story was full of loopholes and he knew it. He hadn't told them what organisation he was working for, or what that 'something' was, or the identity of his boss. He didn't tell them that he had no idea when or how matters would die down. Heck, he wasn't even sure if things would ever die down.

But overall, Kira felt that they were taking the news quite well. At least neither of them were reaching for the phone and dialling the police hotline.

Yet.

"It's unconvincing, I know," He said, "But you need to trust me on this. I'm trying to save her, but I can't do this alone."

He glanced at Lacus. Throughout it all, Lacus hadn't said a thing, just looked at him with her large cerulean eyes. She didn't seem upset that he was handing her over to another person like a rag doll. Or furious that he had kidnapped her and tried to kill her. Damn. Kira had no idea what the woman was thinking at all.

"You want us to house her?" Sai said slowly, his voice full of disbelief. "When police all over the city are looking for her? I'm pretty sure that's against the law. We'll be considered accomplices in this kidnapping. You need to take her back to… wherever you picked her up from!"

But Kira couldn't, and he had already told them so once. He rubbed at his forehead with his palm. The balaclava and the mask covering his face were becoming too hot, too warm. He could feel exasperation setting in. But he knew he didn't have a right to be frustrated. None of them knew the Facility as well as he did. None of them knew Rau Le Creuset. He couldn't release Lacus Clyne yet, because the moment Rau discovered that she wasn't dead… Kira forced that thought aside. In any case, Lacus had to remain MIA until things died down. And he had to do his best to convince them.

"I know it sounds preposterous," he said, "but I'm saving Lacus Clyne by doing this. By keeping her away."

Flay was staring hard at him. It was almost as if she was trying to see right through him. And there was a sad slant to her eyes, like she pitied him. "Are you in some kind of trouble, Kira?" She reached across the table and rested gentle fingers on the back of his hand. "Tell us what's happening. Maybe we can help."

"I have reasons for doing this. I can't explain."

And it's better if you didn't know anymore than you already did, he thought to himself, even though he didn't say it. Flay gave him a long look, then her head bobbed once, uncertainly. Then again. "Fine," she glanced over at her boyfriend who gave her a look of bafflement, "We'll be host to Miss Clyne."

"Flay!" Sai exclaimed.

"Kira wouldn't get us into trouble," she said, "Besides, he does make some sense. You live a high-profile life, don't you, Miss Clyne?" Her eyes darted from Kira to Lacus, and the pink-haired woman smiled. "Yes, I suppose I do,"

"Then, maybe he's right," Flay continued, watching Kira closely. Kira endured the scrutiny, hoping that Flay would find whatever trust she was looking for in him. "If Kira's… boss… or whoever it is, wants to harm Miss Clyne, she can't go out there, back into the spotlight. Everyone will know she's alive and then there'll be trouble."

The roll of Sai's eyes told Kira that he wasn't happy at all, learning that Flay was in support of the whole affair, but from the drop of his tensed shoulders, it looked as if he might just agree to it. Then, finally, he let out a loud sigh and sank back into his chair. "Okay," he snapped out, glaring at Kira. "But this is crazy. You better have an explanation when all this blows over."

Kira didn't say anything. He couldn't. He wasn't sure that he would reveal everything when things blew over, or if they even blew over.

"We'll take you home, I guess," Flay said, eyeing Lacus' ragged appearance. "You'll probably want a bath or something. Food? Are you hungry?"

"Famished," Lacus smiled gratefully. "I'm sorry for the inconvenience."

"Well," Flay laughed, "I would say 'Kira's friend is our friend', but then again, I'm not quite sure if that explains the relationship between the two of you."

Kira pushed his chair back from the table and stood up. The sudden action surprised the three of them a little and they gazed up at him curiously. "I need to go," Kira said, checking his watch. "They're expecting me." Again, there was no explanation as to who the 'they' was.

But they had concluded that they wouldn't get an answer if they asked, so none of them did. Instead, they walked him through the kitchen, to the back entrance. Standing in the doorway, the cold air whipping all around them, Kira turned and glanced at Lacus. "Stay low, understand?" He said. His voice was serious and grim, "No phone calls, no going out, nothing. Pretend you've vanished from the surface of the earth. Pretend you're dead. That's the only way for you to stay alive, got it?"

Lacus nodded, sobered by the severity of the words he was saying to her. She felt suddenly lost and insecure. There were so many things she wanted to say, to ask. Feeling like this was a last chance, she decided to gamble. "Call I ask you some questions?" She expected him to reject her request, but he didn't say anything. And he didn't turn around and walk away either, so Lacus took that as silent consent. "First question, have you got what you're looking for?"

A pause. The eyes behind the mask shifted for a second, like he was debating the implications of answering her question. Then, he made up his mind. "Yes."

Lacus felt her blood run cold. "Is it a serum?"

The same curt reply. "Yes."

"What is your boss going to do with it?"

"I don't know."

The tone of his voice told Lacus that he was telling the truth – that he really wasn't sure, but what was more frightening was that it seemed like he didn't care either. "Did you see a police officer? Dark-blue hair. Green eyes. His name is Athrun Zala. Did you see him? Is he alright?"

"I don't know."

He was starting to look impatient, making small glances over his shoulder at the carpark and the van parked a distance away. Lacus took a deep breath and plunged in. "Do you know a man with brown hair? Purple eyes? His name is 'Kira Yamato'."

There was a pause as his eyes focused on her. He stared at her for a long time. Then the balaclava shifted slightly as his lips parted. "I don't know him."

Lacus met his gaze, lips pursed. Just staring. She had no idea what she was hoping to see. Some sort of resemblance? Some sort of psychological breakdown so that he would admit that he was indeed Kira? But she got nothing, except a hard, challenging glare.

"Last question," she said softly. "It's not really a question. It's more of a request. I'll like to see your face, please."

He said nothing, and he didn't move either. For a long minute, they just continued looking at each other. Then abruptly, he turned on his heel and stepped out of the diner, walking away, disappearing into the darkness. Leaving her behind, silhouetted in the doorway as she stared at his vanishing figure.

Author's note: So, what d'ya think? I know, it's a little boring, a little lacking action. But the next one should be better… I hope… Meantime, just bear with me and keep reviewing!