Indelible: Punishment
She was running, accelerating her pace.
Where am I? What's this…place?
She was in a desolate place of absolute darkness. She could barely see anything. She tried to yell 'hello, is anybody here?', but she was unable to.
What… is happening?
She then noticed a solitary figure far away. Before she realized who he was, she had to squint at the figure for a few seconds.
Athrun? Ath…run?
She tried to scream his name, but to no avail. All that came out was air. She quickly dart to him.
As the guy turned around, she gave a relief, thinking that he was giving a response to her presence which was now right in front of him.
Athrun…
The guy, Athrun, gave a strangely no-feeling look, which dumbfounded her. She knew Athrun well- too well. He would always give her a very calm and happy face. He would always smile to her no matter what, which put her mind at ease peacefully. Those smiles were the ones who melted her heart.
Athrun, why you…what's wrong with you?
Athrun, giving a no-comment look, turned around. His back was now what she could see. She widened her hazel eyes, surprised at his reaction. Athrun walked away, leaving her unnoticed. She tried to chase him, but something blocked her. Her feet could not move, as if they were glued to the ground.
Athrun! Wait! Athrun! Are you angry with me?
The surrounding atmosphere was changing. It was now a pale blank of mist and cloud. She could barely see Athrun's back.
Athrun! Wait! Don't leave me! Athrun!
"Cagalli",
Cagalli suddenly opened her eyes widely, as if thunder had struck her. She was panting. She was sweating. Drops of sweat trickled down her neck and were sensible of somewhat pungent fear.
"Cagalli, Daijobuka?"
"Ms …", Cagalli, still in trauma, did not know how to respond.
"Daijobuka? Shall I get you a glass of water?"
She gave her a wan nod, still shivering.
That was just a dream, phew…Calm down…
"Here is your water. Drink it",
"Arigatou…" Cagalli sipped it, and then drank it all slowly.
"Feeling better?"
"Hai…"
"You'd better get going or else everyone will be worried. It's snowing outside, so put on your jacket. It was freezing cold."
"Hai…"
Cagalli then looked at the sweater that was seated on her lap.
Ah yes. I have not finished it yet…
"Oh, the sweater!"
"Well, yeah, it is half-knitted. The other side of the sleeve is not yet finished…"
Cagalli bowed her head. Her glittering eyes of fear and disappointment showed her weakness despite of the strong personality of hers.
"Don't be dejected. Remember! What's important is your own best effort because of love. Not the gift. If you're seeing that the beauty of the gift is the most crucial, then your perspective point of view is wrong. The beauty of the gift is imprudence. What is the most appreciated is the best effort you have put and your sacrifice."
Hearing this, Cagalli grinned, but her eyes still showed some hidden fear.
"Okay. Now I will bring you home with my lovely car."
"Hai…"
Dang! I should have brought my car!
Athrun was exhausted, panting. He had been running for like 45 minutes to find out where Cagalli was.
Where is Neko-neko shop? I don't see it…
He felt giddy for he had been running forcefully. He then put his palm on his forehead, trying to let the giddiness out, but it would not go away. For that, he had to go to the nearest café shop to take a short break there so as to feel better.
"Arigatou, Ms…"
"Don't mention it! Okay, I will drop you here. See you!"
"Hai. Be careful!"
Cagalli then drew a heavy sigh, as she opened the entrance of the orphanage house.
"Tadaima…" Cagalli said as loud as possible so that her voice would be audible.
There was no reply.
Geez… think they are in the living room?
Cagalli then walked pass the visionary hollow hallway, which now looked colder and darker than in reality. Yes. She still had this anxiousness which made her heartbeat going unsteady. As she reached the living room, she opened the door.
"Tadai…" Her greeting paused short as she noticed the tense and grieving atmosphere in the room.
"Ca…Cagalli?" Kira said. He seemed to be trying to pacify Lacus, but stopped as he said , "Where have you been?"
Lacus who was sobbing just now, stopped and stoned at Kira's word and sudden gesture.
"What's wrong? Something happened?" Cagalli looked confused, and noticed that Athrun was not there.
"Where is Ath…"
"We're all worried about you!" Kira interrupted. His hollow voice cut the air effortlessly.
"uhm… well…I overslept at the shop…" Cagalli replied. Her answer was vague that everyone seemed to not be able to understand and comprehend it.
"Kira, I think we will just close the case and call Athrun to come back here since Cagalli is now safe and sound here?" Yzak suggested.
"Roger!" Kira took his mobile phone from his pocket, and dialed Athrun's number.
Meanwhile, Athrun who was in a café received Kira's call.
"Kira? What's wrong?"
"You sounded weak…"
"Not anymore. Why are you calling me?"
"Oh, yes! Cagalli is here already. She is okay, and nothing's wrong. You'd better come here soon before she…"
Just before Kira finished his sentence, Athrun hung up the call and quickly paid the bill, and dashed to the orphanage.
"Sigh! He is one aggressive guy…" Kira said, drawing a smile.
"Cotto matte! You called him? Where….where is he?" Cagalli felt a wave of panic
"I don't know", his twin brother said, looking clueless.
"But… but… I am not ready with the sweater!"
"sweater?" everyone was confused.
"Don't worry, Cagalli! He will accept it." Lacus said in her verge of tears. Lacus turned around, and though she still had tears in her eyes, she still smiled. It seemed that Lacus was the only who understood the situation.
"Lacus…, arigatou…"
As he made his way through the streets, his green eyes gleamed with foreboding. He was not convinced enough by Kira's words.
As he reached the orphanage, he opened the front door and wanted to dash in, but instead, he stopped his pace suddenly. He saw Cagalli standing right in front of him, looking bewildered.
"Ath…Athrun…" she mumbled.
Athrun bit his lips. He was full of anger and at the same time relieved and was jubilant, seeing her.
"Where the hell have you been…"
"Ne?"
"Do you know that we are all worried about you! You almost made me have a heart attack!" Athrun snapped.
"Gomen ne… I was just…"
"Athrun, she just wanted to give you surprises, right? Don't take it too seriously. She's back already." Lacus tried to placate the situation in order to prevent unnecessary fight or debate. She was always like that, acting as a tranquilizer to achieve peace.
"Well, yeah! But, next time, don't do it again! You're driving me mad!"
Of course. Cagalli had never seen Athrun in rage like that. She did not even want and wish to see him angry. She loved his calmness and aloofness about everything and anything. She loved his patience when he was guiding her. She loved him for being so considerate and kind towards her. Seeing Athrun fuming like this hurt Cagalli. She really expected the part where he was worried about her but not the part where he was provoking her.
She then suddenly put her body close to Athrun. She didn't know what to do but this.
"Gomen, Athrun for making you worry about me, and for driving you mad and crazy. I really didn't mean to…" Cagalli said to him softly.
Athrun did not know how to react. He arched his eyebrows and wrinkled his forehead. He was so overjoyed that Cagalli was safe and sound, but he was angry at her carelessness and insensitivity. Did she care about his feelings at all when she disappeared last night?
"Fine then. I forgive you. But you have to be punished."
"Punished?"
"Follow me later. You have to go with me to a place this evening at 3."
"Place? What place?"
"You'll know later." He replied, his response sounding harshly efficient.
Athrun held Cagalli's arms tight, his face was expressionless. Then, he let them go and walked past Cagalli and into his room. He was too tired to rebuke her.
"sob…sob…" Cagalli seemed to be crying.
"Cagalli, daijobuka?"
"He's really angry… I'm so scared…"
"Don't worry. Talk to him nicely later in the evening."
"But…but…"
"About the sweater, no problem. There are still 6 hours more to go. I will help you, though I am not quite good at it. At least, I can help…"
Cagalli quickly hugged Lacus.
"Arigatou, Lacus!" Tears still in her eyes.
"Now, don't cry like a little baby…It's so unlike you…"
"Hai…"
At 1 pm,
"Lacus, I'm hungry…"
"Hai, hai. I finish helping Cagalli. Now I can make you a lunch."
"Miriallia, can you be more like Lacus, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner for me?" Dearka whined, being jealous towards Athrun.
"As if I have a lot of time for a freak like you…" Miriallia gave a cold shoulder.
"Aww… Am I a freak, Yzak?"
"Yes…." Yzak replied.
"Geez, yzak! Since when do you have a feminine side…."
"Baka! That's not it! No wonder Miriallia said you're a freak. You truly are, in fact!" Yzak groaned.
Cagalli could only laugh at her friends.
"Cagalli, you want lunch?"
"Nope. I don't feel like eating it. Besides, dinner later may be a sumptuous one."
"okay, if you insist…After eating my lunch, Miriallia and I will help Cagalli with her appearance."
"Ne? Appearance?"
"Yup."
"But, no make up okay? I hate it."
As Cagalli, Lacus, and Miriallia walked towards Cagalli's room, they passed Athrun's. Cagalli stopped short for a while, placing her hand on the door of his room. It felt warm. She then drew a plastered smile.
"Cagalli, come on. One and a half hours to go." Lacus said.
"Hai…"
Meanwhile, Athrun, inside the room, was lying on his bed. From his face, he was definitely not angry anymore, but on cloud nine. He chuckled at Cagalli's reaction back there. He thought that her face was cute when she looked baffled and was afraid of Athrun provoking her. He quickly jumped from his bed, planning to take a shower. This evening, he had to make memories with her.
At 3 pm,
Athrun was waiting outside. He looked at his wrist-watch. 2.55. There were 5 minutes left. He was excited. Wearing a white long-sleeve t-shirt and dark blue waterproof long pants, he looked simple but charming. He wore his jacket on, waiting for Cagalli's appearance. He could not wait to go to that place with her. No one knew that place except him, and now, he wanted the person he truly loved, knew this place and made memories there with him. That was his wish for his birthday today.
As he looked up to the grayish-blue sky, Cagalli came out and noticed Athrun was waiting for her in the cold.
"You can catch a cold…" By then, she just realized how handsome he was despite his ordinary appearance and style.
Athrun threw his sight at Cagalli after hearing Cagalli's remarks. He was amazed. She wore a grey jacket. Beneath that grey jacket, she was donned with a doubled-layer mahogany shirt. The plunging neckline made her chest visible to him. She wore quite baggy long black pants. Her tomboyish appearance was what interested him.
"Ready to go?" Athrun gave a smile as he said.
Cagalli blushed, looking at Athrun. How handsome! Seeing his smile, she realized that her Athrun was back.
"Hai!" she answered excitedly, drawing a not-plastered smile, but a sincere and delirious one.
Off they went. Athrun planned not to drive, but to walk to the destination because of two reasons. He wanted Cagalli and him to scan the countryside together and had a fun chit-chatting. Second reason, the destination was quite near from the orphanage.
Looking at Cagalli, who was blowing a warm air to her both hands, Athrun took one of them, and held it tightly.
"This way, you will get warmer right?"
Cagalli smiled at Athrun. She was happy. She could feel his warmth and kindness as he held her hand. Athrun too, felt her warmth.
"We are here."
"Eh..? Isn't this…"
"Yup my house. But I won't take you there. I will take you to the most beautiful part of the house."
"Which is?"
"My secret garden."
"Garden? I never know you like gardening…"
"Now you know. Well, I don't quite like it though, but it was my favourite place, and I can't help but to take care of it, until now."
"I see. Then, it must be very precious and pretty place, I believe?"
Athrun nodded. As they reached the garden house, Cagalli was mesmerized by the building's striking transparent design. From outside, you could see what was inside.
"Let's go in, shall we?"
"Hai."
As they went in, Athrun turned on the lamp. Cagalli's eyes were gleamed with euphoria. It was apparent that Cagalli loved and adored the place, which made Athrun thrilled too.
Overhead, the bluish glass roof shimmered in the evening sun, casting rays of geometric patterns in the air and giving the room a sense of grandeur. The air smelled clean, sterile. Cagalli loved the atmosphere. Like Athrun said, it was the most beautiful part of the house. It might be, Cagalli thought absently.
Suddenly, a sudden realization dawned upon her. It was his birthday today, and she planned to give him the sweater. Luckily, Lacus and Miriallia helped her to finish it.
"Happy Birthday, Athrun." By saying that, Cagalli drew a small smile.
Athrun was surprised. He was too overjoyed that words failed him. Cagalli offered him a birthday gift that is wrapped quite messily.
"Gomen, but I'm not good at wrapping, so… but I took my best effort to wrap it… and the gift too. It was my handmade debut." Cagalli said, shameful of her low ability.
Athrun accepted it. His emerald eyes showed respect and blithe.
"Arigatou…" was the word he could-- would say. Cagalli blushed, her face turned crimson.
As Athrun opened the gift, Cagalli's heart was beating faster. I hope you will keep it or even use it, Athrun. As Athrun saw what was inside, he guffawed. Cagalli was puzzled by his reaction.
"How is it?" Cagalli queried.
"It's okay. You are good at knitting. It was neat. And I like the colour."
"It is your favourite colour. There's no reason you won't like the colour."
"Yeah, I know. I like the sweater. Thank you." He patted her head, then hugged her. Cagalli was shocked at his doing.
"Ne?"
"You know what? You're truly adorable when you look confused.: Athrun chuckled, making Cagalli to blush.
"Athrun is a meanie…"
With that, Athrun wore the sweater. It fitted him right.
"Waahh! Don't wear it now! Not now…." Cagalli bawled
"Why not?"
"Because, Athrun looked handsome with the long-sleeve shirt. The sweater ruined it all." Cagalli explained.
Once again, Athrun laughed at her response. Now, he knew why he loved her so much. He loved her being her true self.
"Okay, okay, but before that…." Athrun's face was going closer to Cagalli's.
"A kiss to punish you.." Athrun smiled.
Cagalli blushed and was kind of freaking out. But, she was so glad. So she smiled back, and hugged Athrun. He was the man she loved the most. Simultaneously, Athrun knew that he had made an unforgettable memory with her right here, in his favourite place. His birthday wish had came true, and he was filled with gleeful satisfaction solely by achieving his wish.
Author's note:
Is it lame, I mean, the ending? -- I did this after watching Naruto, and so my mind was quite into Naruto, and in the end, I spent 3 hours doing this. Distraction….;
But, anyway, this fanfic is dedicated to all of you, especially those who encourage AthrunxCagalli. So thank you for all your supports and suggestions, which give me inspiration and ideas to make a better plot. I know I'm sucked at making a phrase, so if there's any mistake, don't blame me. But, I really hope you all do enjoy the storyline. Though I know it is a bit too much….I mean, well, unbelievable? Dunno wat's the apt word Anyway, thanks to you all who give me supports and suggestions. I really appreciated it. T-T I'm so touched! I love you guys!