AN: Ok, so here it is. The last chapter to the last story in my "A child of No God" line of works. I woudl like to thank each of the reviewers who have consistently provided thier comments, critiques and encouraging words throught my workings. It has truly helped more than you could possibly imagine. I think i have accomplished what i set out to do. Basically i just wanted to provide some insights as to what i think happened in that two year gap between Seed and Destiny. And yes, i believe Kira and Lacus were this close, just off camera. We got to see there personal growth as well as dreams and desires. Hopefully this chapter will answer one last detail i think went unexplained. I hope you enjoy it though i am afraid it wasnt very good. It seems like i am always in a rush to write but hopefully no one will think it too bad. As always, Please Read and Review.
"I know what you want me to do. I don't think I can." Her stern voice and face never looked appropriate for any serious situation. It was almost becoming a handicap to be seen as incredibly cute.
"It was never about what you want Lacus. I don't think any of us wanted the situation to come down to this." The tall dark man took a sip of coffee before he continued on. "Like it or not this is how things are. You have the power to make a difference. Do you really want to look back a year from now and regret not having been prepared?"
Despite the harshness he intended to have, his voice was light and warm. It was impossible to speak in an imposing manner towards Lacus. She often reminded him of that daughter he always wanted to have. The same daughter he would never get.
"No. I know we must be prepared, but there must be some other way. I won't let him do that anymore!" her tiny voice raised in pitch.
"He has to. He is the only one who can. I have heard about what makes him stand out from everyone else, what makes him…unique." Strangely the well-brewed coffee failed to bring about the comfort it usually did. He did not want to have this conversation with her, with anyone really.
"Why are you trying to get him killed? Hasn't he done enough? Hasn't he helped just as much if not more than everyone else?" The pink haired princess broke down to her knees as her eyes filled with sorrowful tears. Her hands crept up her body and hid her face as they captured the little droplets that tried to plummet to the floor.
Her spirit and will to fight on was shattering. They were all still children. They were supposed to be entitled to enjoying fun time with friends, discovering new sweets, and spending every waking moment with one another over breezy summers while class was out.
Fate had not been so kind to them. They worried not about spending time with their friends, but losing them. The sweet taste of new foods was replaced by the bitter taste of death. Long breezy summers were replaced by the cold vacuum of space where no one could hear you scream no matter how hard you tried.
The chance to enjoy first dates was stolen from them. The right to talk about boys or girls they had a crush on was gone. There would be no long arguments with parent's who didn't 'get them'. All the little things kids enjoyed would never be claimed by their memories. And now, fate has returned to thrust them back to the same horror that engulfed them little over a year ago.
"Fighting again will kill him. I know it will. He's just started to make some progress. To be ok again. He can't go through those nightmares again." Her voice shattered along with her heart as she recalled the screams that echoed through the house back in their sanctuary. Too many nights had passed with a trembling Kira clutching to Lacus as if his very life depended on it. Too many nights had their children sat just outside the door crying and afraid of what was happening to their new daddy. When the little brunette girl tugged on Lacus' dress the next morning asking if this daddy was going to be taken from her as well, Lacus had to show strength. Now she could release all the pain she held deep within, safe from Kira's eyes. They could not go through that all over again.
The teary eyed girl soon found a comforting hand rest upon her shoulder causing her to look up as the remaining tears clung to her soft pink cheeks. She sniffled several times awaiting what words may come from the one who bore ill news.
"Do you really think you can stop him? If war breaks out do you really think Kira will just be able to stand on the sidelines while the ones he cares about are in harm's way?
No Lacus, fighting won't kill him. It would be having to do so without you to support him and stand by his side. He needs you. If you don't do this one thing, you know he will find another way. Do you really want him to find another sword? Would it be any better were he to pilot anything else?"
Her voice was very small and meek, but grew resolved. "No. No I wouldn't want him piloting anything else."
"The way things are going now, Athrun and Cagalli may not be able to contain this much longer. The truth is a funny thing Lacus. You can hide yourself from it as much as you want, but once you see it with your own eyes, you can never deny it" Her sad tears dripped like acid as they stung both their eyes with pain.
"There is a call for Freedom Lacus. He must answer it. Help him."
The commander was embraced by the pink princess as she sobbed silently into his shirt. She wiped away her tears against him as she once gain felt weak in the knees. She had made her decision.
"There there. Dry your tears. If Kira returns and finds out you had been crying, I'm afraid we would all be done for." His jest had been successful in raising a tiny giggle. "Tell you what. You should hang on to the keys. Then if the moment comes, and there is no guarantee that it will, you can decide to give it to him or not. But you have to hide it from him. Let's see, where to hide things from the ultimate coordinator. It would have to be something that would repel him…"
Just as the scarred commander finished speaking, a pink bouncing robot entered the room while an annoying voice came from it. The word Haro echoed throughout the area as the one-eyed commander was suddenly inspired.
While Lacus was dealing with the turmoil to come with Andy, another man was dealing with problems of another nature.
Our hero sat next to his parents while he held his head in between his hands as the battle that raged on in his mind left him with various aches.
His parents looked at one another with a smile on their faces as they looked forward to the day their son would come to them with such a situation.
Kira Yamato could have fought every battle and killed all his enemies and would not be more of a man than he was the day before. No, it took falling in love with an enchanting lady to turn a battle hardened soldier into something more than just a mere boy.
It was obvious to them how he felt, despite the uncertainty that was racking his brain. He had all the classic signs. Kira was extremely uncomfortable being separated from her right now. They could see his hand in his pocket, which clutched tightly to a pink ribbon that had the slight smell of a certain pink songstress.
Thoughts of her always gave him the strength to do the things he found hardest to accomplish. "Mom. Dad. What is love?"
You could expect that question all your lives and still never be prepared to answer it when asked. All the rehearsal conversations and pamphlets were useless once the time was upon them.
Somewhat startled, they looked at their son with great fondness. If he could focus on love, does that mean he finally got past all the hate and fear that had tormented him? That girl truly was a blessing to all those who were surrounded by her. This however, was a job for dad. A stern gentle voice provided the answers he sought. "Son. You remember the last Christmas we all spent together?"
"Of course" Those memories helped fight off all the bad times that came later.
"Love is that feeling that fills the room when you just stop opening presents, and just listen." A smile grew on the kindly man's face.
His wife shot him an enraptured look as she was reminded at just how big of a romantic her husband really was.
She however, was not about to be left out of this little chat. "Kira, You'll know love when you just clear your mind and stop worrying about it so much." That response was not exactly the mathematical formula complete with constraints and values the young prodigy had been hoping for.
Looking to explain further, Kira's mom offered a few additional examples. "Love Kira, is when a girl tells a boy that she likes the shirt he is wearing, and he wears thar same one everyday for a week. "
Kira remembered that week very well. It wasn't every week that your father wore the same tacky Hawaiian shirt everyday.
"Or my dear child, have you forgotten when you imparted us your feelings on what love was back when you were just a little child?" It was true. Moms never forget anything.
Kira's father laughed as he remembered being lectured by his son on this very same topic some 10 years ago. The image of a little Kira appeared in his mind as a shy little boy sat in-between his parents on a giant red sofa.
'Mom. Dad. Listen carefully. I know what love is. It's when you give all your french fries to someone, and you don't ask for any in return. Or like when mommy gave daddy the best piece of chicken for dinner. I think that's love. I hope you took notes cause I won't be able to teach you all the time.'
The little boy was rewarded by hugs from both of his parents as they were only too happy to receive what wisdom their child had to part with.
As Mr. and Mrs. Yamato watched their son now, they could still see that little boy hidden deep within him, somewhere lost within his eyes yearning to be free and reclaim his innocence once more.
Their hopes and their dreams to see that child be set free lay in the all too eager arms of a wonderful girl whom they hoped they could one day call their daughter-in-law. They would never tell Lacus about what they wished of her. It would place too great a burden on someone so young and innocent, but like good parents they could pray. They could hope for the best for their child.
"Kira, just know one thing. We may not be able to tell you exactly what love is, but there is another bit of wisdom we can impart upon you."
Eager for any form of assistance, Kira's undivided attention was focused upon his parents while his vivid violet eyes dissected them for information.
He saw his father gently take the hand of his mom while he gazed deeply into her eyes. "You should only say I love you if you mean it. But if you do, you should say it a lot. Because people forget."
Soon Kira found himself with the one he always envisioned whenever he cleared his mind. He found himself with the one whom always 'inspired' him to dress a certain way. And yes, if she asked, Kira would even share his french fries with Lacus.
They sat huddled together back on the same boat that brought them to this island, the events of the past few days weighing heavily upon them. They experienced new highs with each other, and lows while separated. That in itself provided a lesson they would not soon forget.
It had not proved as difficult as he originally thought to leave both Andy and Murrue to return to their island, though he never did speak to the latter. Murrue had some growing of her own to do. When it was time for the two comrades in arms turned older sister and little brother to speak, they would just know.
His arm draped around her shoulder as he held Lacus close to him, the memory of their latest attempt to get to know one better still lingered on both their minds. The slight fragrance that naturally escaped her overpowered the powerful smell of the sea.
Something had bothered her. He could tell something was wrong when he returned from his parent's home. She immediately pounced and cuddled him before he had time to even acknowledge her presence. He wasn't about to stop her displays of affection as she eagerly whispered that she wanted to share one last moment with him alone before returning to their home with the children.
Though as the passion of their time together left, he could feel the troubles that dwelled in her thoughts. He hadn't learned to read her mind well, but emotions were often clearly transmitted. Despite that, he would not pressure her to reveal to him what bothered her. When she was ready to discuss what happened, he would be there with her, waiting.
The conversations and meetings they had these past few days certainly made this trip rather depressing, but it was worth it. The things he had learned and the growing the both of them had done were worth any amount of insurmountable odds.
But had Kira learned all that he wished to? Despite all the questions he asked and expert advice he sought, where was the answer he needed?
Then it dawned on him .A smile came to his face and grew upon his lips as he focused upon the dainty woman who rested against him. It was amazing how foolish men can be. Sometimes the answer you were looking for so hard required just the simplest moments to trigger.
Here, this feeling of being with her. That was love.
He spoke in a deep determined voice as he drowned out the sound of the waves and engine of the boat. He never had to say it, Lacus had said as much. She knew exactly how he felt and thought whenever they were together thanks to their link. And yet there was something about actually hearing those words spoken.
And with that newfound determination he spoke the words he so badly wanted to say, the same one she needed to hear.
"Lacus?"
She looked at him adoringly while she cooed his name. "Yes Kira?"
"Lacus. I….I….
Did he say it? Did something interupt? Hate me now? Think you know why i ended it that way? Want to know why i ended it that way? Leave a review and i'll say as much.
Also, this by no means says i am done with the Gundam Seed universe. I still have my AU story that i am working on as a pet project. However, i plan to focus on events that are Post Destiny featuring our favorite couple. Now i have not started writing anything along those lines yet, but it is coming. I have some stories for other animes/games that i am also working on so we shall see. I will try to start this week, but no promises.
Of course, many reviews always seems to get me going:-)
Its been fun guys, thanks.