AN: Yes, i Know. I apologize. It has been a REALLY long time since i last updated, but the truth is i am like most authors. I do this for fun and when i dont get a lot of reviews on a fiction i tend to lose interest. However i always complete every story that i start so here is the next chapter. Enjoy and please Read and Review.
Two titans clashed violently with each other as what started out as a simple sparring event to impress the girls turned into a battle for Athrun's life as he fought off a desire to murder he had never seen before in his comrade. No that was a lie; the amethyst eyed killer fighting him now was certainly not the same Kira he loved like a brother.
That thing which fought him so vigorously now was a monster whose shackles were broken and allowed him freedom from the cage it was confined to within the boy. That thing was what filled many stories that parents often told their children in order to get them to behave. That thing was not human.
The match had started playfully, innocent even. How could two gentlemen refuse an opportunity to flaunt their manliness in front of prospective ladies? Then again how could two seemingly well rounded gentlemen fail to understand that most ladies are hardly impressed with such acts of bravado?
Nevertheless neither opponent wished to be bested. Their mutual pride was at stake and vanity can be the silent killer of all the sins. Immediately Kira and Athrun both realized that their counterpart had learned much since their last meeting though the two shared the same basic movements. It was a match that should have proven most interesting.
However the longer the battle raged on, the more vicious Kira's assault grew. At first any onlooker would have written it off as steadfast dedication and a drive to succeed at all costs, but there were other signs that could not be ignored.
The most obvious change observed was the dilution of Kira's vibrant eyes. Soon it was as if he was born without pupils as he looked on with soulless windows upon his surroundings. His body increased only slightly in mass though his speed, agility, and strength was now bordering on a level never before recorded. Yet the most peculiar change of all was the tear that leaked away from his eyes as he continued to fight.
The sadness within could only be unbearable for the kindhearted man whose life's work would now be betrayed by a moment of aggression that he could no longer control. All Kira wanted was a way to bring and retain peace in the kingdom he called home. He wanted to love and be loved. Now he could only be seen as a man capable of unmentionable atrocities as it became more and more aware that he would slay his best friend if it just meant that he would win.
Athrun was not the only one aware to his friend's sudden change in behavior. Both Lacus and Cagalli watched the battle with the knowledge that there was little either could do. However while stunned, they both exhibited vastly differing reactions to the changes witnessed.
Cagalli was struck with fear as the one who charmed her faced what must be assured death against a battle in which he continued to falter with each passing moment. Only the guards may have the manpower necessary to break apart the battle but how many would die in the process? More importantly to her, how quickly will her brother's name be tarnished by the same people who cheered for him?
Curious blue eyes fell upon the beast that lay within Kira as Lacus tucked aside her shimmering strands of passionate pink hair away from her heart shaped face. She leaned forward slightly in anticipation of the events that should follow and rested her head against one of her hands to act as support.
It was not because of some hidden part of her personality that caused Lacus to watch a battle with such lack of fear or disgust. Another emotion was predominant. One that could not be described. No a better way of putting it would be to say one that cannot yet be revealed.
The duel quickly took a turn for the worse when Athrun was relieved of his sword. The Sword of Justice was knocked up and out of his hand and sent flipping through the air while its master was sent sprawling unconscious on the floor. The whole seen was majestic, almost beautiful in the way the sword and the man were repelled away from one another.
While Athrun had nothing to cushion his fall, his blade certainly did. It met with the gentle yet firm embrace of Kira's hand. That was all that was needed to complete the transformation and relinquish the hold his demonic self had with the more timid, more angelic side of his personality.
An unholy roar screeched throughout the training room that sent shivers down the frail bodies of all who occupied it. Yes, frail. Suddenly everyone and everything around Kira felt so delicate, so fragile, so….in need of destruction.
His skin started to darken while his usually charismatic smile was now replaced by a toothy grin when his fangs fully grew in. All his senses deepened while his ears elongated in just the slightest manner to compliment his new look. No, there was no fur. There were no wings sprouting from his back. He was not some figure of legend created for the sole purpose of scaring children.
What Kira became is what all such stories sprouted and were exaggerated from. The man beast looked around as the need to feed his hunger rose more and more. What did he hunger for? Human flesh? Blood? No, nothing nearly as cliché. What he desired was far more simple and easily acquired. Death.
In his mind only a deep threatening voice echoed about. 'All of this. Everything must die. Nothing here deserves to live any longer.' His feral like instincts landed on the pink princess who still only looked on with curiosity. Or was it expectation?
Now the thoughts in his mind were no longer alone when a harmonious melody in the form of a girl's voice now intruded upon his privacy. 'Why, why do all these people deserve to die?'
'Because they all live.'
Kira quickly cast aside his glance from the pink one whose presence seems to be disturbing his bloodlust. He once again found his fallen prey which was unable or unwilling to move of his own accord.
Using the powerful legs he only recently gained access to, Kira propped himself for a powerful lunge when a familiar voice was now spoken out loud instead of just being heard by him alone.
"Kira stop!" Lacus abandoned the position she had held for the entire duel from its humble beginnings to its malicious result. Her hair flowed softly behind her as she now stood up with open arms almost like she was inviting Kira in. Perhaps it was an offering. Her life for Athrun's. Her eyes shined like two endless pools of water that glistened with tears that gathered yet refused to leave the sanctuary they had created with her.
Lacus was no longer content to merely be a spectator as she saw the stance Kira took to land a death strike against one who was helpless. She had gathered all the knowledge she needed from him. One could only hope that it was enough cast things in her favor. No, their favor.
With two snap movements Kira responded to the princess' outcry. He initially dropped the two swords that he held and made no movement to prevent their unglamorous fall to the ground. Now weaponless his head snapped towards the one who caused the outburst and created such discord to his beloved chaos.
Kira had not changed back to the way he was before, the way all knew and respected him to be. His eyes fought a change to revert back to its natural state. Which did he prefer? He had gained access to a world with no limitations. A world that was not constructed by false ethical guidelines used to create a so called moral code which people were unjustly forced to live by. There was a level of freedom he had never been granted access to in that life.
Kira quickly lunged at Lacus and pinned her slender form not only tightly against him, but also against the cold stone wall behind her. He could feel the gentle rise and fall of her chest beneath him which begged him to look down yet he could not. Kira was entranced by her eyes which did not release even a remote amount of fear. Instead what he saw was concern. What he saw was kindness. What he saw was love.
Perhaps complete and total freedom was not nearly everything he imagined it to be. What good was freedom if it meant one had to be alone to enjoy it? Something made all those ethics and all those mindless values meaningful. What was that thing for Kira? Love?
Hardly. What use did a man like himself have for such a generic 4 letter word?
What made it all worth it was Lacus. A far more complicated 5 letter word which represented one so uncompromising in her compassion and tenderness that it could cut through even the densest of satanic vulgarities.
Kira's body fell limp against her though he retained his cognitive assets. Unlike his previous transformation, the warrior was left very much aware of all the actions he had committed. There would be no sparing his mind from what surely would be an unequivocally harsh recovery. IF he deserved to be healed. Kira was after all, a threat to those that lived.
"I…I almost…He…Athrun…Lacus I..." the nonsense that sputtered forth from him would be poor reconciliation for what he had almost done.
Poor reconciliation for anyone but Lacus. She gingerly kissed his forehead while she gazed upon his face with a concerned smile. One of her dainty hands quickly founds its way into Kira's hair and allowed her to stroke it in the most soothing fashion.
Kira did not feel like smiling. That human emotion was not something he felt worthy of. However he could not help himself as Lacus' radiance washed away his concerns with a pure light that emanated from her. She could absolve him of all his sins.
Though in truth they were sins of acts he had not yet committed. Only those he was capable of. Those he had killed his previous time were not those the world benefited from because they lived. In fact they had been men who proved that it was indeed possible to reverse themselves on the evolutionary scale with each additional act of terrorism they performed.
A woman had saved him back then. A woman had saved him now.
Kira began to separate his lips and offer what request for forgiveness he could except he found Lacus' finger pressed against them in a hushing manner. Her face told him all that he needed to know.
There was no need for apologies and no need for justification of actions that were out of his sphere of influence. Lacus could and would fix everything for him. For no other reason than the fact she loved the prince she held in her arms.
They only knew each other a few short days but so much was clear. Why make love complicated? Why murk around the baggage everyone brings to the table. Love is simple. It always has been and always will be. It took people to make things complicated.
The pink princess looked over at Cagalli and signaled for her to tend to the other fallen hero. Athrun should be alright. His agility and skill had aided him in avoiding a direct hit. "Athrun was injured during a training exercise with Kira. The doctors need not here anything more. Kira suffered mild injuries but suffers from exhaustion do to his strenuous schedule since his return. I will nurse him the remainder of the day. Expect to see him again at the ball this evening."
'He is after all, my escort.' Lacus thought with a wide smile.
Her vision was once again replaced with the brunette enigma who was now sleeping comfortably in her embrace. No fatigue had not finally caught up to the would be king even though he was very tired. The truth was Kira could not bear to let the integrity of Lacus' claim be tainted by even the smallest white lie. Even the dimmest pearly white star is visible against the shroud of darkness that surrounds it.
Kira knew and did this much because in turn, he loved Lacus as much as she loved him. It was his obligation and duty to his title and to his love that he tell her with the utmost haste.
Well, at least until after the nursing back to health. He was after all 'beat.'
I am still a big fan of KiraXLacus. However i do tend to focus where the reviews are. My vanity getting in the way i suppose. Oh well. I do hope it provided some degree of enjoyment and i do hope that you guys will take the time to review after reading this fiction. Thank you for your time, loyalty and patience.