Chapter 8
It was about a day after the Minerva had arrived in Orb.
And while most of the crew was enjoying having some time to slack of for a bit.
Somebody on the ship, was not nearly as delighted with the situation as the rest of the crew members was.
Actually he had badly left his room, since the grey space ship gotten there, the only times he stepped outside from the chamber, was when he need to eat, or had to go to the bathroom.
But right now he was just laying on his bed looking up at a pink mobile phone, while thinking about that certain person it had once belong to.
He truly missed her a lot at the moment, and he deeply wish that he could see and talk with her again, at least just one more time.
But the boy already knew, that a wish like that would never come true, his little sister was after all dead, and there was nothing in this whole world that could bring her back.
"Damn it, why did we have to go here of all places, I would much rather have taken a small trip to hell, than set foot in this damn country ever again!" He muttered to himself in a angry tone.
Just as his thoughts slowly drifted away from his sister and over at a person, he didn't have nearly as much love for, truth be told he hate her with a passion.
And he frankly wished, that he would never ran in to that stupid blond girl ever again, she and her entire family was, after all the once, that had cost him to lose his little sister in the first place.
Why the hell did Orb had to stay neutral in the first place, why the heck couldn't they just have joined up with somebody, if they had done that both his parents and his sister would still be alive today.
But even as his thoughts continued staying on that subject, he slowly sat up on the bed, and pressed down on one of the buttons on the phone, making it so that he could hear the soft sweet voice of the previous owner, of the pink little device.
"Damn Mayu, why the heck did I have to meet, one of those who actually killed you?" He asked, with a great deal of hatred in his voice, he did however not get any kind of reply, seeing as he was the only one in the room.
Which meant that the only thing he could do was try and come up with a reply on his own.
And ever true he would honestly, have liked very much to find some kind of answer to his question, he just couldn't think of one.
So after sitting there for a few more minutes, he finally stood up from the bed and began walking towards the door, determined to at least take a small look around Orb, as long as the Minerva was stuck there.
And it wasn't long after that, before he was walking slowly down the ships halls heading straight towards the exit.
He did however not get very far, before he saw the two Hawke sisters and Nicol standing by the mess hall talking with each other about something. But he seriously didn't feel like getting in to a conversation with any of them right now, so he just walked right past them like they where not even there.
Unfortunately much to his slight irritation, he wasn't allowed to get very far, before the oldest of the two girls called out after him.
"Well good morning to you too Shinn, did you sleep well?" The red hair ZAKU pilot asked, making him turn around and look back at her, where after a few very long tense seconds, where both Meyrin and Nicol thought he was going to say something rude back.
But what actually surprised the two of them a bit, was that instead of saying anything that would have gotten him on thin ice with Lunamaria, after just making up with her, he just nodded slowly a few times, while smiling a bit her.
"Yes I slept fine Luna thank you for asking, but if it's all right with you I'm not really in the mood to talk right now, so if you can wait till after I get back from my walk then we can talk for as long as you want" he promised.
Just as he turned around, and once more began walking down the halls, not even bothering to wait long enough, for Lunamaria to come up with some kind of reply, to everything he had just said to her.
And it didn't take all that much time, before he was completely out of side.
Seeing that, Meyrin slowly turned, and looked back at Nicol and her sister.
"I do wonder a bit where he is going, he really did seemed to have a lot on his mind, I don't think I ever seen Shinn look that thoughtful before" the youngish of the two red haired girls said.
Truly feeling a bit worried about him, even true she had never been as close to Shinn as her big sister was.
But maybe that was because, the two of them where both mobile suit pilots, which meant that they properly had to rely on each other a lot, while they where out in battle.
Maybe that was the reason why, she had never been able to form as strong a bond with the Impulse pilot as her sister had, there was just so many things, that she honestly didn't understand about Shinn.
But as those thoughts was going through her head, she didn't noticed Nicol take a single step over towards her.
It was first when she felt a hand being placed on her shoulder, that she finally turned her attention away, from the direction Shinn had disappeared and back at her green hair friend.
"I don't think you have to worry to much about him Meyrin, I'm sure he will be all right after he gets a little time to on his own to think, he did after all lose a lot here, not that long ago!" Nicol said in a quiet tone, while smiling sadly at the red hair girl.
That didn't say a single thing back, she just nodded slowly a few times in understanding, as she looked over at her sister that looked just as thoughtful, as she herself was.
But when Nicol told them there was nothing they could do for Shinn, at the moment, and even if they could do something, it was highly unlikely that he was going to accept their help.
Seeing as the only person he would ever talk to about personal problems was Rey.
So instead of standing around out there, not doing anything, they could just as well get some breakfast, before they had to get to work, and with that decision made, the three teenagers slowly turned around and enter the mess hall, without saying anything else.
000000
Meanwhile Shinn was quickly stepping out of the giant Morgenroete facilities where the Minerva, was supposed to be until it was completely repaired again, not that he cared much about that, at the moment.
The only thing he want right now, was to find someplace, where he didn't have to think about Mayu and his past.
And if the city was still as it used to be, when he was living there, he knew that there was a game arcade a few miles away.
There he was sure he could find something to do to past the time, and get his mind over on something else.
Like defeating whatever game was there, something he was truly confident he could do without too much trouble, he was after all the pilot of the Impulse gundam and flying that mobile suit, was certainly a much harder task then beating a few old video games.
Luckily it didn't take him much time, to get there, where he was happy to see that even after two years the arcade was still there.
So after just looking at it for a few minutes, he slowly walked over to the building where he immediately reached out and opened the door.
Once inside, he stopped and just stood there for a bit taking a small looked around, where he quickly noticed, that the place had change a lot, since the last time he had been here.
He did however not look around for long, before he began walking deeper in to the arcade, trying to decided which game he should play first.
And it didn't take him many minutes, before he found something that looked somewhat interesting. So after looking at it a bit longer, he turned and went over to the man, that could give him just the right kind of chance for the machine.
Once that was over with, it didn't take long before he was back by the machine, where he immediately throw in a few coins, which of course got the machine to start up.
And it didn't take more then a few seconds, before he was shooting and fighting whatever strange alien creature, that would appear up on the screen, and even true this was the very first time he tried this game.
He really didn't have all that many problems getting far in the game, whatever creature that attacking him was much easier to beat, then most of the mobile suits he at some point in time had been facing in the past.
Especially the three stolen gundams, was a much more serious and deadly challenge then this lousy game. But even after realizing that, the boy did not stop playing, it wasn't like he had anything else to do, right now.
And before he knew it, a few hours had gone by, and he was now fighting against the last boss of the game.
Which was actually that much harder to beat, then any of the other creatures he had been fighting in the game.
That however did not stop him from blowing a few very nice holes, straight through the stomach area of the ugly thing on the screen, which made the monster scream loudly, as it slammed it's claw out after him.
But he just made his own character duck under the thing, while shooting of his most powerful weapon directly in to the face of the creature. Which made it fall to the floor, finally dead after the truly pitiful fight it had just put him through, seeing that Shinn slowly raised one of his eyebrows.
"What a pathetic game, I seriously didn't think it was going to be that easy to beat!" He grumble in a unhappy tone, while fighting back those feelings that told him to give the worthless game machine a hard kick.
Yet once he got some control over his emotions, he turned around and began walking towards the exit of the arcade, not even bothering to take the time and write in his name on the screen.
000000
Once back outside Shinn didn't really do much he just stood there quietly for almost ten minutes, thinking about where he should go next.
He really didn't want to go back to the Minerva already, seeing as he seriously didn't feel like just sitting in his room right now, just waiting for the grey space ship to be repaired, that frankly would get boring very quickly.
But as he stood there trying to figure out where he should go.
His stomach suddenly made a loud growling sound, which reminded him, that he hadn't even gotten a crumb to eat all day, and that he was in fact quite hungry and thirsty.
"Better find a place to eat" he mutter, while looking around for a place that wouldn't have to many people, he still didn't quite feel like having company at the moment.
He did however not have to search for long, before he saw a small ramen shop over on the other side of the street, and without giving it a second thought he began making his way over there.
"Hmm does look like a nice little place" he quietly said to himself, not caring one bit, that there was actually a few people his own age, looking at him right now.
He just reached out and opened the door, and entered the small shop, without giving any of the teenagers out there, any kind of attention.
Once inside the shop, he slowly moved over and sat down by the counter, which made the older chef turned around and looked back at him, immediately asking him what he wanted.
"I'll just take a single bowl of your chicken ramen and a soda!" He said, while smiling a bit at the man, as his stomach again made a growling sound, that could clearly be heard all over the shop, not that there was anybody else in there to hear it.
Looking at him for a few seconds, the man nodded slowly in understanding, as he quickly turned around, and hurried began preparing the boy's meal.
"You just wait a few minutes, then it should be done!" The man said, with his back turned towards the young Coordinator, that on the other hand only said a small thank you back, as he watched the man get the food ready for him.
And not long after, the food and the soda was place down in front of him, where Shinn hurried took a big bite of it, chewing it slowly a few times before, he swallowed it.
"Hmmm this stuff is good" he said, while taking yet another bite of the delicious chicken ramen, enjoying the taste of it ever more this time, it wasn't often that he got food like this, seeing as the chef on the Minerva couldn't make a real meal even if his life was at stake.
So while slowly finishing of the first bowl of ramen, he decided that he want another portion before he left the small shop.
But as he continued eating the food, he just couldn't help but noticed, that there wasn't really many customers in there, which in his eyes was a bit strange, with the food this tasty.
"This place seems kinda quiet, why ain't there any more people in here?" He asked in a somewhat curious tone, while taking a small look around the shop.
Hearing the boy ask that, the man turned and looked back at him, where he gave him a small smile. "Normally the customers only shows up when it's around lunch time, and as far as I know, most of them are at work right now. But you are right, it is a bit remarkable that none of the regulars haven't shown up yet, I guess all of them are quite busy with that big job, I heard a few of them discourse yesterday" he explained, while wondering slightly if this boy was going to be the only customer, he would get today.
Hearing that Shinn nodded a few times in understanding, while he reached out after his soda can, holding on to it in a tight grip.
"I see, so where exactly does your regulars customers work?" He asked a bit curious, as he took a small sip of his soda, before he once again place the can back on the counter, then kept eating his food, while waiting for the man to give him some kind of reply to his question.
Looking a bit at the boy, the man got a slightly thoughtful look on his face. "I think most of them works over at the Morgenroete facilities nearby, but truth be told most of them seems to have been rather busy since yesterday" the man explained.
Which immediately made Shinn realize that the big job, some of them had been talking about, was most likely all the repairs, that needed to be done on the Minerva.
Not that he was going to tell the man that, so he just nodded a single time, while asking for another portion of ramen, which immediately made the chef turn around where he once again, began making the food the boy had asked for.
And even true the ramen chef, would have liked very much to have continued, the conversation with his only customer.
The boy unfortunately didn't say anything else, he pretty much kept all of his attention, turned towards the new portion ramen.
He had just placed in front of the boy, so with nothing else to do, the man reached out and picked up a water bottle that was standing beside him, and took a big mouthful from it.
Still keeping an eye on the boy, that seemed to be quite far away in his own thoughts, which seriously made him wonder, just what exactly he was thinking about.
But he didn't get anytime to ask, before the door flew open, and in stepped three more people he knew quite well.
And just seeing who they where, was enough for him to know what they wanted, so without giving the boy any more thought, he quickly turned around, and began preparing the food for them.
Which meant that he didn't see the boy stand up and throw some money on the counter, then began walking slowly towards the exit, still holding on to his can of soda, taking a small sip of it.
Just as he left the shop, with a small goodbye, that the ramen chef apparently didn't hear, seeing as he was far to busy, concentrating on making the food for his other customers.
000000
At the same time at another part of the island, Athrun was sitting on the terrace at his girlfriends house, working hard on the reports, about what had happened to Cagalli and him back at the Plants.
And while he knew that it was properly best, to write something about the whole mobile suit incident, and that he actually took Cagalli in to a mobile suit, and fought the three stolen gundams.
But he knew that if he wrote something like that, and Yuna end up reading the reports, there was very little doubt, that the purple hair man would ever let him hear the end of it.
He would most likely blame him for putting Cagalli in danger, and Athrun seriously didn't feel like, getting in to another argument with that man, he just didn't know when the heck to shut up.
He could whine for hours when somebody did something wrong, which yet was another reason why Athrun did not like him, he acted almost like he really believed that he was infallible, and the very same thing could be said about his father.
If Athrun had a real choice, he would have very much preferred, not to have anything at all, to do with any of the Seirans.
And he knew that he wasn't really the only one who felt that way, he had once heard Dearka mention, that more then a few of the mechanics, truly want to give the youngest Seiran a good serious beating, when he couldn't let them work in peace.
It wasn't like repairing a Murasame or an M1 Astray was the most easy task to do, and it really didn't help having some idiot, complain about every damn thing that wasn't right on the mobile suit.
He did however not get long to think about that, before a pair of slender arms was wrapped around him from behind.
"Hey, you working hard I see" Cagalli told him in a sweet tone, as she slowly leaned in to take a closer look at what he was writing on, and she could now see that it was the reports, about their somewhat amusing experiences, since they had arrived at the Plants.
But she didn't really read all that much of it, before she quickly moved in and gave his left cheek a light kiss, then slowly pulled away from him and stood up straight, where she couldn't help but smile a little at him.
"So after the meeting I have to go too, in just a little while, do you want to go see a movie or something?" She asked in a somewhat hopeful tone.
She just want to spend some time with him so badly right now.
Especially after how the meeting yesterday had ended, she still had a very tough time believing, that the Seirans and most of the other politicians, was so damn keen on joining up with the Earth Alliance.
They where after all the once who invaded them two years ago.
And even true she honestly didn't hate them too much, she just couldn't image having Orb suddenly work together with them, they where after all the once, that took her father away from her.
Why the heck did the Seirans think, it was such a good idea to join up with those people, that had killed so many Orb civilians and soldiers.
Why in God's good name was Zaft the once to blame, because a bunch of morons had been using GINNs to move Junius Seven, in her eyes Zaft had truly done everything they could, to prevent the colony from falling.
And that task would no doubt have been much easier, if Athrun and the rest of the Minervas pilots, didn't have to go up against the three stolen gundams.
If one really did take a logical look at the entire mess, it really was the Earth Forces fault that it dragged on for such a long time.
If they hadn't been up there, it would clearly have been all the much easier moving something as big as a space colony, and there might not have been nearly so much damage on the earth surface, if the Earth Forces had just minded their own business and stayed out of the way.
Unfortunately she really didn't get much time, to think about how idiotic she thought the Earth Forces truly was, before the other person on the terrace suddenly pulled her in to a soft embrace.
"I really would love to do something together Cagalli all by our self. But after considering it a long time, I have made the decision, that I need to do something about all of this, before this whole situation can escalate in to a war, that's why I'm going back to the Plants, Cagalli, to talk with the Chairman about everything that's going on" Athrun said.
While taking a short glance in to her two beautiful eyes, where he could clearly see a little sadness over the fact, that he was leaving her at a time like this.
But once he took a closer look, he could tell that she understood why he had to go. "I see, are you really sure that it is what you want?" She asked, trying her best not to show him, how uncomfortably she really was with the whole idea.
But she just couldn't bring herself, to try and stop him.
He was after going all the way back up there, in the hopes that he could help to stop another war from breaking out, and if that was something he felt like he need to do, there was no way she would stand in his way.
"Yes Cagalli, this is something I really have to do. I don't want a repeat of everything that happened two years ago, we all lost so many we cared about!" Athrun said as a few smiling faces of the more important people he had lost, quickly flashed through his mind.
And just thinking about them, was enough to make a determined look ran over both his eyes, he did not want to lose anybody else, that was something he was going to make sure of.
He was actually so busy thinking about everything, that he didn't even hear it, when Cagalli told him, that she would support him no matter what he did now.
And if going to the Plants, was what he wanted to do.
Then she would surely be here, waiting for him to come back. But just as the blond girl finished telling him all of that, she noticed that he wasn't even listening to her right now.
Seeing that Cagalli narrowed her eyes a bit, as she slowly reached down with one hand, and gave his butt a nice yet hard pinch, making sure to put just a bit of her nails in to it. Which was more then enough, to make him yell out a bit in pain.
As he immediately got back out of his thoughts, and look back at the beautiful girl in his arms, where he immediately notice the innocent cute, look that was on her face. It was obvious, that she was trying to act like, she hadn't done anything.
Something which made Athrun roll his eyes a single time, as he tighten his hold on her and smiled a bit back. And one small glance at her face, was all he need to tell, that she was happy having his attention back again.
"Here I am talking to you, and you don't even listen to me" she told him in a sweet voice, while giving him a small naughty smile.
Which again made Athrun roll his eyes at her. "Ok I'm sorry for not listening to you Cagalli, I just have a lot on my mind. But never mind that now, there was actually something I would like to ask you before I have to go" he told her in a quiet tone, while slowly reaching down to make sure that the thing he had bought a few weeks ago, was still located in his right pocket.
"What is it Athrun?" The girl asked, not doing anything to hide, how curious she was right now.
For some unknown reason, her heart was beating so much faster then usual. But what was really weird about it, was that she didn't even know why, she just had this feeling, that something very important, was about to happen.
And she could see Athrun open and close his mouth a few time, it was clear, that he was having a little trouble, finding just the right things to say.
So after standing there for a few minutes, just waiting to hear what he was going to say.
The blond curious girl was about to ask him, what was on his mind, when he suddenly pulled just a bit away from her, and got down on one knee, where he slowly pulled out a small, shiny ring box from his pocket.
And before Cagalli could get a real good look at it, he reached up and gently took her right hand, then opened the box, and took out the very expensive looking ring that was inside it.
Then before she had time, to realize what was happening, Athrun slowly slide the small piece of jewelry on her ring finger, not saying anything to her.
He just kept on sitting down there on his knee, while she slowly lifted her hand, and took a closer look at what he had just placed on her finger, and before she could do anything to stop it, a few tears slowly left both of her eyes and ran down her cheeks.
Seeing that Athrun was just about to asked her what was wrong, when she sat down in front of him and hugged him tightly.
"Of course I will marry you Athrun, there is nobody else in this world I would rather spend my life with!" She told him.
Just as a few more happy tears ran down her face, not that the newly engaged couple noticed that, they where far to busy watching each other, while their lips slowly came together.
Each of them kissing each other with as much passion, as they could right now, they where actually so far away in their little moment.
That they didn't even noticed. that Myrna was watching them also with a few happy tears running down her face.
Seeing Athrun propose to Cagalli like this, was just so sweet and romantic. And it really was a delight to see, so after just standing there looking at them a bit longer, she slowly turned away and left with the tea she had decide to bring to them.
There was no way, she could bring herself to disturbe them at a time like this, they truly did deserved to be by them self right now.
And if anybody want to talk with Cagalli about anything, they just had to wait until the couple was done celebrate their engagement. But even as she was thinking about that, she could not help, but smile happily to herself, as she softly mumbled a few words.
"Congratulations you two" she quietly said to herself in a light tone, that nobody else could hear, as she placed the tray she was carrying on a small table, then pulled out a silky handkerchief from her pocket.
Which she quickly used, to dry away the few tears on her cheeks, to make absolutely certain that nobody of the other house staff, could see that she had crying just now.
She seriously didn't want to tell anybody, about what she had just witnessed.
And once she was completely sure that all the tears was gone, she again picked up the tray and continued the rest of the way to the kitchen, still with a truly pleased and happy smile on her face.
000000
Meanwhile another place on the island, a certain married couple was walking slowly along the beach holding hands, each of them enjoying the sight of the bright blue ocean.
They where however not alone, Mayu was walking a bit behind.
But instead of looking at the nice view, she had all of her attention turned downwards towards the sand, obviously looking for amber, something she was actually quite good at.
She had already found a few minor pieces, not something she really felt like showing of to Kira and Lacus, seeing as they where all quite small.
She was completely determined right now, to try and find a much bigger piece, then the one she had given her mom last year at her birthday, the almost giant piece that was now hanging around Murrue's neck, together with a truly beautiful looking ring. Her step-mother had once told her, that somebody very special had given to her.
And even true Mayu had been curious about knowing who exactly that was, she could easily tell that it brought her mother a great deal of sadness just thinking about it. So in the end she had decided not to ask about it back then.
But after some time her, curiosity had won her over, and she had decided to ask Kira about, who had given her mother that pretty ring.
He however, had looked just as depressed about the subject as her mother.
But after a few long minutes, he did tell her a few things about the man, who had given the ring to Murrue.
And just by hearing that tone of voice, her big brother figure had used when he was talking about this person, was more then enough to tell Mayu, that he had a great deal of respected for the blond man.
Something Mayu had also gotten, when Kira had mention that Mu had been the one to save both herself, and her mother at some point in time.
And even true Mayu honestly had no memories, of ever meeting the blond man.
She was still grateful for everything he had done for her, and the most precious person in her life right now, she didn't even want to thinking about what kind of crazy family, she could have end up with, had Murrue not adopted her.
"Hey Mayu! Any luck back there?" Lacus asked, interrupting her thoughts about her mother and the blond man, she only knew through stories and the few pictures she had seen of him.
Not that she had anything against talking with Lacus.
It wasn't like she had volunteer to join them on their walk, to just wander around in her own mind. She had already done that more then enough yesterday, while she was walking home from school.
So after picking up yet another small piece of amber, she turned her eyes over on Lacus.
"No there isn't that much out here Lacus, I really want to find a much bigger piece, then the one I gave mom at her birthday. But I really don't think I'm going to be that lucky, it really does seems like somebody else have clean the beach from all the amber that is down here, those pieces I found, can't really be used for anything" the girl said, a bit angry that she hadn't found what she was really looking for.
Hearing the brown hair girl say that, Lacus dropped her husband hand and walked back to Mayu, where her eyes slowly ran over the sand, hoping to find just what the younger girl was looking so hard for.
But unfortunately, the pink hair girl didn't have as much experience, in finding amber as Mayu had.
That on the other hand, did not mean she hadn't found something, just not nearly as big a piece, as the one miss Murrue had around her neck.
Seeing that the two girls, was now busy trying to find amber, Kira made the decision, to continue a bit on his own, there was actually a place not that far from there he would like to see.
Up until now he had never really taken the time for that. Even true he knew, that it was around that place, Mu had picked up Mayu in the last war, and taken her in to the Strike.
So after watching the two girls a bit longer, he turned and walked of not saying anything to either of them. Seeing as he really did not want to disturb them, now that they where busy.
It only took the brown hair teen, about ten minutes to reach the place he was heading for, once there he slowly walked over, to the small memorial, that was located at the end, of the somewhat strange place.
For some unknown reason, he just couldn't help but feel like this place, was somewhat empty.
It almost felt a bit like he was the first person, to set foot there in years.
But after feeling like that for a few seconds, he quickly gave his head a small yet hard shook, trying to get rid of those unwanted feelings, and once he succeed in that, he again turned his attention back towards the monument.
Wondering slightly who exactly it was for, not that he got much time to try and figure that out, before he heard steps behind, which he of course expect to be Lacus and Mayu.
But he was a bit surprised, by seeing a another boy, that looked a bit like he was a few years younger then him.
Yet before Kira had anytime, to figure out where exactly this boy had suddenly showed up from, he took a few steps closer to him, and looked at the cenotaph.
"Is this a memorial?" He asked Kira, sounding somewhat angry about the whole thing, it was obvious that he was far from happy, finding something like that here.
Which really made Kira confused, he didn't understand why this person was sounding so upset. But he figure that it might be best, to just answer him, he seriously didn't feel like getting in to a argument, with a complete stranger.
So after looking at the other boy a bit longer, he turned and took another glance back at the monument.
"Yes it is, but to tell you the truth, it's the first time I have ever been here, so I don't really know all that much about it" Kira explained, while smiling sadly at the other boy, that just nodded a single time, as he reached out and ran his hand over the stone in front of them.
He did however not do that for long, before he turned and got ready to leave again.
But before he got very far, Kira heard him muttered something that sounded very much like, he truly hated this place, and that Orb could have done so much more.
"What do you mean by that?" Kira asked, while blinking a few times in confusion, he really didn't understand that boy.
But the boy didn't really gave him much of an answer he just smiled sadly at him, before he began talking again.
"I'm sorry, it's nothing I was just thinking out loud" he said, while glaring a bit more at the monument, before he turned away again and walked of with great haste, obviously not planing to spend any more time there, then he had too.
Which meant it didn't take long before, the only thing Kira could see of the strange person was his back disappearing in the distance.
"He really was a odd person!" Kira mumbled loudly, as he slowly turned his eyes away from the boy he had just been talking with, and back towards the monument, still thinking about the bizarre conversation he had just had.
It was just about the same time, another voice interrupted his thoughts. "Who exactly is weird Kira? I don't see anybody else here then you!" Mayu said in a slightly loud tone, while taking a good look around the place, clearly trying to find, whoever it was Kira had just been talking about.
But as far as she could tell, there wasn't anybody else nearby, so in the end she again looked back at Kira, that was now holding on to Lacus' hand, and was busy looking at the monument again.
But even as he was doing that, he still gave her a reply. "I didn't really knew him Mayu, he just showed up from out of nowhere, and watched the monument for a bit, after that he said something about hating this place, and then disappeared even fast then he had showed up" Kira said, in a somewhat thoughtful tone, as he felt Lacus give his left hand a small gentle squeeze, which he immediately returned.
Hearing Kira tell her that, what the person that had been here before had said about this place.
Mayu couldn't help, but get a deep unhappy frown on her forehead. For some inexplicable reason, she always felt like this very place, was suppose to be important to her.
Even true she just couldn't figure out why, it was like at it had something to do with her past, but she just couldn't recall what exactly it was.
But the few times she had been here before, a small part of her always felt like crying, not that she ever did.
It was after all a bit stupid, crying for over something you didn't knew what was, that however didn't mean that she liked it, when other people was saying bad things about this place.
"We should find that guy, and give him a good beating, this is a memorial after all, so he really shouldn't be so disrespectful!" The girl said, in a loud tone, while taking another look around, after the guy who had been badmouthing this place.
Smiling a bit at his little sister figure's anger, Kira reached out and placed his free hand on her head.
"I think it's best we just let him go Mayu, we can't really expect everybody to like such place like this. I'm sure, a lot people out there don't like being remind of the last war, and maybe he is one of them" the brown hair man said, before he again looked back at the memorial.
Thinking a few minutes about Kira's words, the girl finally nodded slowly in agreement. "Ok I guess you are right Kira, but I really hope he wouldn't show up here again, and do something bad to this place, like knocking that stone over, it has to stay there no matter what" Mayu said in a far away tone, as she tried to figure out just why, this place was so important to her.
And why she was feeling upset, that some stranger she didn't even know, had said something nasty about the memorial.
And it was just about that time, when a few tears left her eyes and began running slowly down her cheeks.
Seeing that Lacus immediately pulled away from Kira, and moved over and pulled the smaller girl in to a tight embrace, slowly rubbing her hands up and down her back.
"Just let it out Mayu" Lacus told her in a gentle voice, deeply hoping to make the small brown hair girl feel better.
This was far from the first time, Mayu had began crying for no reason at all, that frequently happened, when she was trying to remember something from her past.
But she never actually did regain any of her memories, so in the end she would always began crying softly instead.
And that one time, they had asked her why she did that, she could not find any kind of reply, it was like the whole thing was completely locked away, some place far in the back of her mind.
Kira on the other hand didn't really say anything, as he stood there watching his wife hold on to the eleven-year-old girl.
Even true it really didn't happen all that often any more, neither of them liked it, when Mayu had one of her episodes, it was always such a painful thing to witness.
And what made it even worse, was that there was nothing they could do to help her out, the only once that could comfort her a bit when she was like this, was miss Murrue and at rare times Lacus.
So after standing there looking at the two females a bit more, Kira took a single step forward and kneel down beside them.
"Maybe it would be a good idea, for us to get home, it wouldn't be long before it gets dark out here" he said in a quiet tone, that made both of the girls look over at him, where he gave each of them a small yet a caring smile.
But none of them really said anything back, Lacus just took a small glance over the horizon, where she could see the sun descending slowly.
Which mean that Kira was right, it wouldn't be that long now, before it got dark out there, and even true Lacus truly disliked, pulling away from Mayu when she was like this.
The pink hair girl knew, that it was a very good idea to get her home as quickly as possible, so after giving the girl one last squeeze, Lacus slowly got up on her feet and reached down to help the brown hair girl up.
But she didn't show any kind of a reaction to Lacus hand, she just continued sitting there on the ground, with a far away expression on her face.
It was only when Kira reached down, to pick up the girl so he could carry her back to the house, that she finally snapped out of her light depression and stood up on her own.
"Lets get going, I really miss mom right now" she said in a tired tone, as she reached out and took a hold on both of their hands, for some reason every time she had one of her small outburst, she was always very keen on being near the people she was close to.
With that the three of them slowly left the memorial. But even as they where walking home like that, the married couple couldn't help, but take a few small glances both at the brown hair girl and over at each other.
But as far as they could tell, she did seem to be feeling better, not that they knew for sure, the only one that could really tell if Mayu was ok after this, was Murrue and unfortunately she wasn't there at the moment.
So they just had to get home, in a hurry incase she would have another outburst. But when Mayu softly began singing, Lacus' favorite song, both of the teenagers let out small relieved sigh, as they each visibly relax.
Once Mayu began singing, there wasn't many chance of another outburst, and it didn't take long, before her voice got even louder, which showed them, that she was back to her usual happy mood.
Something both Lacus and Kira was where very happy about, not that they said anything about it, they just kept walking enjoying Mayu's song.
As she kept trying to get it just right, but there was always a certain part of the song she would get wrong no matter how many times she would try singing it.
And this time was really no different, which was more then enough to make her mumble out a few small courses, just as she once again began practicing on the song, now all the more determined to get the whole thing correct.
000000
At the same time not that far away from where the married couple and Mayu was, a certain person was slowly heading back to Minerva.
Even true the day had far from been perfect, Shinn was still feeling somewhat satisfied with everything he had done today, he had been over most of the city seeing all of the place he used to spend time with his family, he had both been back at their house.
Where a guy, with some strange looking glasses was apparently living together with his wife, or girlfriend.
Not that Shinn was entirely sure about what she was to the boy, the only thing he had noticed about her was that she had long red hair and seemed very bossy and loud.
By the way she kept yelling at the boy, that much to his small amazement seemed to do pretty much everything she told him to do, not that he stayed there to watch them for long.
Before he had turned around, and left the place, he really didn't want any of them to ask him what, he was hanging around there for.
After that, he had gone to the small park, he and the rest of the family, used to go to, when they need a few hours away from the house.
Not that there had been much to see there, other then a few children playing together and their parents making a barbecue or something like that, he hadn't really stay there long, before he had quickly turned away and left the park again.
He seriously didn't feel like standing around there, watching other people having a good time.
So once he got out of the annoying cheerful park, he had found himself walking in the direction of the dreadful place, where he had lose both of his parents and his little sister.
And even true, the entire trip there, had felt like it had taken a forever, it only took him about a small half hour to get there.
But once he got there, he hadn't really stayed there for all that long, it wasn't like he want to go there in the first place, there was just a small part of him that felt like it was very important that he pay a visit to the damn place, where his entire life had been thrown in to disaster, before the Minerva was fully repaired, and was ready to leave Orb.
Unfortunately much to his small irritation, he wasn't the only person there, some other guy had been there looking at the memorial.
And it wasn't like he could just tell that guy to leave the place, because he want to be alone. So without giving it much thought, he had quickly decided to leave the place, before he would said something, to the other boy, that would get him in trouble.
It wasn't like all the damage on the Minervas was already fixed, so he could always head back there at some point tomorrow.
Not that he was entirely sure, if he really want to see that place again, he truly hated just how it looked now, why couldn't Orb have given his family a grave, that was at least a bit more honorable, instead of some small pitiful memorial, nobody but him knew the true meaning of.
"Damn! I wonder when we can get out of here" the boy sigh loudly in a tired tone, while thinking about how many days, it would take getting the Minerva ready to kick the ass, of everything that got in the ships way.
Unfortunately the dark hair teenager had no idea, about how much time it would take, getting everything on the grey space ship up and running again.
As he didn't have the slightest idea, about what kind of condition, the Minerva was in. Seeing as he hadn't really given the ship all that much attention, when he had left her, hopefully it would only take a few short days, before they could leave Orb.
It was only shortly there after. before he could see the Morgenroete facilities he had left early this morning.
And it wasn't much later, before he was directly in front of the two guards, that was standing by the entrance of the giant harbor, where one of them immediately asked him in a loud tone, if he had any kind of business there, and if he didn't he should hurry and go home.
Hearing the guard talk to him like that, Shinn couldn't help but narrow his eyes just a bit, he seriously wasn't in the mood to deal with a guy like this right now.
The only thing he really want at the moment, was get a little dinner and then get to bed and sleep for a few hours.
But he already knew, that the guard was just doing his job, not something Shinn could really blame him for, no matter how idiotic he found the whole idea of working for Orb.
So after looking at the guard a bit long he slowly pulled out his ID and showed it to the man.
That hurried scratch it out of his hand, and investigated it thoroughly, and it only took him about a small minute, to realize that the boy was a part of the Minerva's crew and was fully permitted to enter the harbor.
"Hmm everything seems to be in order, here you go" the man said in a somewhat thoughtful tone, while giving Shinn back his ID.
That took it in the same hasty way, the man had taken it from Shinn in the first place.
And once it was place securely back in his right pocket, the boy hurried reached out and opened the door to the harbor, not waiting to hear, if any of the guards had anything else to say to him, he seriously didn't feel like talking with those two any more then he had too.
He might have promised Nicol, not to pick on the blond bitch, but that of course, did not mean he couldn't be a bit rude, to the rest of the Orb personnel.
Truth be told, he actually thought those two guards he had just meet deserved his rude behaviour, they seriously did act like, they own the God damn place.
And there was just no way in hell, he would let them think something like that, when he was around.
He did however not think about the two morons all that long, before he slowly shook his head and continued making his way towards Minerva, determined not to think any more about Orb tonight.
To be continued.
I'm sorry to disappoint you guys, who where hoping to see the green swimsuit from the last chapter, but there wasn't really any places where I could fit it in, to this chapter.