Disclaimer: Gundam Seed characters are not mine… I'm just going to borrow them for this sick idea of a story. :) Thank you for your err… consideration. :P

Author's Notes: This story was written without the author having any idea what in the world is happening in Gundam Seed Destiny. In this story, Yzak is a member of the High Council as well as his mother.

"…" – dialogue

:…: (in italics) - thoughts

Yzak Joule leaned against a column, sighing with boredom. He was in a spacious gathering hall on Earth, attending a supposedly "benefit-ball" or whatever-it's-called. This is, as his mother called it, another "practice of peace", where the Naturals and Coordinators gather together. Yzak snorted. It's just another excuse for a party. Whether a Natural or a Coordinator, humans never seem to lose their addiction to such nonsense.

It has already been four years since the war between the Naturals and the Coordinators, and Yzak was a member of the High Council, so naturally, he was invited.

Personally, he hated coming to these kinds of things. But he had no choice, because, as his mother already told him, 'A person of high position has obligations.'

Besides, compared to the wrath that his mother will bestow upon him…

Yzak shuddered at the thought.

So here he is, slowly killing himself with boredom, while the rich and powerful OLD men and women of both the Earth and of the Plants danced the night away. He was already hoping that that Athrun and his girlfriend Cagalli were here. That's how bored he was. Fortunately for them, they had some urgent thing at Orb.

Yzak gave another yawn. He had given up trying to stifle or even conceal it, with him yawning fifteen minutes after he had arrived, and every fifteen minutes afterwards.

"Oh, Minister Joule?" A voice broke his concentration from his boredom. He looked down and saw an middle-aged plump lady.

"Yes?" He asked apprehensively. What could she possibly want?

"Oh forgive me. I'm Suzari Rosenberg. I would just like to introduce you to my stepdaughter, Reinaria." She tugged at someone behind her.

Yzak wasn't really listening. But it did catch his attention when he saw the woman turn her back against him, and get into, most likely, an argument with someone. He could faintly hear their verbal sparring. It sounded like the person the woman was talking to didn't really want to meet him. Yzak smirked. The night was turning out to be interesting, at least.

He watched them for a few more minutes until, it seemed, that the woman won. Finally, a girl came from behind her and stiffly stood beside the older woman.

"Well, I shall leave you two now." The plump woman practically bounced out of sight. Yzak followed her movement with his eyes, looking bored again.

"I'm really sorry about this." The girl spoke up.

He almost forgot about her.

He returned his gaze back to her. She had green eyes and raven hair, which was tied into, what could be a bun, maybe? He wasn't really sure… But there were strips of her hair… How do women call it?

Tendrils…?

Anyway, they were framing her face.

He had to admit that she was acceptable in the physical appearance department.

She was wearing a simple dress…quite different from the others. He had observed (He is a Coordinator after all) that most wore those weird dresses that looked like they would get ripped with one wrong move. Every form with the '-less': strapless, backless…

Who knows…?

It's like there's always something 'missing' in those dresses.

With the colors usually in those red or off-white, maybe even black…

But she was in a dress that covered every inch of herself, save the head.

She's also the only one who was wearing a dress that's in a dark shade of green.

Maybe to complement her eyes?

Well, he had to admit the dress looked good on her.

It made her look…

What's the right word?

:…Refined…? Classic? Proper: Yzak enumerated in his head.

He bent his head a little to further observer her.

She was only up to his shoulders. He saw her roll her eyes and then look at him apologetically.

"I think me Ma is hoping we'd hit it off or something like that." She blew air from her mouth, making her bangs fly.

Yzak raised an eyebrow.

He didn't expect that type of action to come from her.

So much for being refined… or proper.

She sensed him looking at her, and smiled. "With that bewildered look on your face, I bet you're thinking 'hey, that's not how a lady speaks and acts,' aren't you?"

"Huh?"

She gave a loud, hearty laugh that made those nearby give them a mixture of stares ranging from shock to curiosity to disapproval. "Oh don't look so shocked! Oh well… I guess I must not be acting 'accordingly'... I don't want to embarrass me Ma and Pa."

She extended her hand. "Well, it's been nice to meet you. But don't worry I'm not going to stick around. You look like you're having the time of your life standing here…" She chuckled. "…I also need to get back on my reading. If you could point me to a really quiet spot, I'll leave you alone. Don't worry. I'll give you an excuse so that me Ma would leave you alone."

:What's with the term 'me Ma'? What is that? Like Old English…? Why not just say 'my mom'? What, did she get blasted from the past or something: Yzak wondered.

Weird.

But she's one spirited girl, that's for sure.

She frowned and put down her hand when he didn't move. "Oh okay. I guess you're not familiar with this place either?" She sighed. "Well, it's been nice to meet you, Mr. Joule."

She turned around, looked both ways, probably checking if her 'Ma' might see her, and then quickly ducked towards the edge of the ball room.

"Hey wait!" Yzak followed her. He saw her open a glass door leading to a vast garden. She wasn't paying attention and was about to close the door when she hit Yzak flat on the face. He was about to take the door handle so at least the door didn't hit his nose.

"Ow!"

"Eh? Oh! Mr. Joule! Ooops… I'm sorry. I didn't know that the there was somebody standing there." She smiled sheepishly at him as she opened the door again.

He was seeing stars.

Coupled with multiple dark-haired, green-eyed girls.

"Watch what you're doing!" He snapped.

He expected her to apologize. Instead, she snorted and stared straight at him. "Well, excuuuse meeee, Yee're Hiiiighnesssss." She emphasized.

Then he heard her mutter, "Jerk."

"Who are you calling a jerk?"

"None of your business." She spewed off without stopping for breath.

He stood there, stupefied. :What's with the attitude: He wondered, rubbing his forehead. He could feel a lump forming.

"Oh great." He muttered. Just what he needed.

Glancing up at him and his newly-formed lump, she looked at him apologetically. "I'm sorry. I should have been more careful."

She removed his hand and inspected it. Yzak became uncomfortable at their sudden proximity. He heard her sigh and look straight at him. "You're not too tall. But you hold you're head too highly. I can't inspect it well. Come with me." She extended her hand.

"What do you mean I hold my head too highly?" Yzak asked indignantly.

"It means you're too proud and sure of yourself, what else? I can see it in your manners. Now come with me and stop complaining." She withdrew her hand and started walking away.

Yzak followed her.

Why WAS he following her?

It's a mystery.

She stopped at a stone bench and pointed at it. "Sit down, now."

Yzak didn't move. Why was she ordering him around?

"What? You lost your capacity for comprehension…? Oh yeah, I was supposed to check for concussion first, right?"

She was blabbering away.

He was starting to have a migraine.

"What's you're name?"

"Huh?" Yzak muttered. "You already know my name."

Her eye twitched. "I'm checking for concussion. Did I hit you that hard…?"

"My name is Yzak Joule, young lady." He straightened his shoulders. "And I don't appreciate your tone with me."

She simply snorted. Why can't he intimidate her?

"Hmmph. You don't scare me. We're only the same age. Just let me see your forehead! It's not much to ask, is it?"

Yzak narrowed his eyes, but before he was able to protest, she pushed him--making him lose his balance, made him sit down, and completely checked his forehead.

All in a span of three seconds.

:Man, she's quick. She can be a soldier.: Yzak thought, almost in awe.

"Don't worry. I think you'll live." She straightened up and smiled at him. She clapped her hands. "Oh wait! I know!"

She bent lower and blew softly on the lump on his forehead. Before he was even able to react, she has already straightened up and was looking at him.

"There. My mum used to do that." Her gaze softened. "I hope it made you feel a little better."

Yzak felt his blood rushing to his face. "W-who knows?"

His comment made one of the corners of her mouth to turn upwards.

"I guess we got off on the wrong foot. I'm sorry." She sat down next to him. "You live in the Plants, right? Do the Plants also emit light like the stars?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, looking up at the night sky, right now, could one of those lights be from the Plants?"

"Now why would you ask something as stupid like that?" He looked at her, eyebrows raised.

"Just curious." She glanced at him. "I'm sorry. It's just that I've never really gone to outer space."

Yzak snorted. "In this day and age? Are you for real?"

"Yeah. I've lived all my life on Earth. I'm not complaining. I like it here. To be born and to die on the same Earth… I think it's something…"

"Geez. It's nothing special."

"Maybe." She replied, still looking up at the night sky. Yzak couldn't help but follow her example. She just had that ridiculously satisfied look on her face he couldn't help but just see what she's so happy about.

:What's she looking at anyway…: He thought as he gazed up at the sky.

It's just the stars. What's so special about them?

This is a waste of time.

"Hey."

"Huh?" She looked like she just came out of a trance. "What is it…?"

"What are you doing?"

"What am I doing…? I'm…uh…heh…it's a secret."

"…What?"

She suppressed a laugh. "That's right. It's a secret. Sorry…"

"Hmph… You don't sound too sorry to me."

"Don't be like that." She smirked at him.

"What's with the smirk?"

"Heh. I'm just… amused."

"With what?"

"Many things." She replied cryptically.

Yzak sighed. It's impossible to have a normal conversation with this girl.

"Ooops. I almost forgot…" She muttered as she stood up and faced him.

"I'm really sorry for the trouble. I guess I should be going now. You probably need to get back inside anyway." She bowed low and walked away.

"Hey, where are you going?" Yzak called out. He stood up and went after her.

"Nowhere special. I just want to get away from that place and read." She held up a book for him and grinned. "It's a book on short stories! I'm so excited!"

:Where did that book come from…:

"Just what are you so excited about?"

"Well, I just finished reading the short story 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson. Have you read it? It's really good."

"No, I haven't."

"Heh. You've missed half of you're life. It's about this lottery that is held in a town, but instead of being happy about it, the villagers don't want to be picked."

"Why not?"

She grinned. "Because they will be stoned if they're picked."

Yzak's mouth hung open. "Then why are you smiling?"

She just gave him a mischievous smirk.

"Aren't you being just a little bit too morbid?"

"There's another short story by Edgar Allan Poe. I'm reading it right now. 'The Tell-Tale Heart'. Do you know of it?"

"I don't want to know..."

"Why not?"

"Your preference of stories is too..."

"Well, alright. Geez… Don't get too worked up if you're creeped out."

They continued down the path that eventually led to a gazebo.

"I'm not creeped out!"

"Hm…You're lying."

"I'm not!"

"Oh really? Then read it."

"I just didn't like the outcome of 'The Lottery'."

"Hmph. For someone who was in the war before, you're certainly err… different from the type I've expected."

"You're not exactly hitting the jackpot here, lady."

They both sat down, glaring at each other. She sighed and handed him the book.

"Don't be so judgmental! Look..." She stood up and waved her arms, like she's a teacher and he's the student. "Isn't it interesting? I mean, usually, lotteries make you think of a good prize, not bad! But in this story, the person that was picked ends up with what can be considered a –err… heh…– a bad prize. Life is like the lottery too…"

"No, it's not! You speak of life as if it's based on chance. We make our own destinies."

"Hm? Oh really? Well, maybe destiny itself can be likened to a lottery."

"Why would you even think that?"

She stood with her back towards him. She'd already stopped from animatedly waving her arms and looked like she's deep in thought. After a few moments of silence, she replied. "Does this 'fate' or destiny always turn out nice? Don't we all have this tendency to wonder, 'why of all people, am I dealt with this kind of fate?' Maybe chance and fate have a tendency to work together. Especially in terms of…how you're going to die." She faced him and went nearer. "Am I wrong?"

"You're wrong."

With that reply she looked straight into his eyes. "Do you really believe that?"

It's like they were on a staring match. Yzak could feel his eyes watering but he didn't dare blink. He will not lose to this girl!

But she just looked calm while staring down at him, while he looked increasingly agitated as the time passed.

Maybe he's at a disadvantage.

:Just a little more…: Yzak convinced himself. :She'll give up! I'll win for sure:

But he could really feel the strain in his eyes.

Yzak almost jumped for joy (but of course he's too proud to) when she finally looked away from him. But he saw a hint of a smile, as if she just let him win.

Of course, his pride will not admit this.

"Ah! What have I been blabbering about now?" She laughed out loud and sat down. "I'm sorry! I tend to babble nonsense sometimes!"

She took her book from him and opened it. "I really appreciate you taking the time to walk with me. If you want to return to the party, I'll be fine here."

"What? You mean with those old people? No thanks. I think I'll stay here." Yzak cleared his throat. "…That is, if you don't mind."

She glanced at him and smiled. "No, not really. I don't mind… So do you want to read with me?"

"Just no morbid stuff."

"It's not morbid."

"Yeah right."

She laughed. "You're funny, Mr. Joule."

"What's with the formality? Just call me Yzak."

"Oh okay."

"So..."

"So…what…?"

"What can I call you?" He phrased carefully.

The truth is; he couldn't remember her name.

To be more accurate, he wasn't really listening at the time.

"You can call me Midori. Me Ma told you already."

"Oh, right."

She burst out laughing. "I got you!"

Yzak looked at her with wide eyes. :Uh-oh.:

Wait.

He mustn't let her know that he couldn't remember!

He quickly changed his expression into an innocent, but dignified, mixed with a confused and blank look.

"Just what are you talking about?"

She smirked. "I knew you weren't listening when me Ma told you my name."

"I was." He was quickly losing his cool.

She raised her eyebrows. "Oh really?"

"Oh just tell me your name already! Or else I'll call you 'old lady'."

"So what? You're the one who would sound ridiculous."

Yzak turned red with anger.

"Just like a kid. If you can't control your anger, how can you be in the High Council?" She teased. "Oh alright! I'll give you a break this time. My name is Reinaria Rosenberg. You can just call me Rei."

"Where did 'Midori' come from?"

"C'mon. Let's just start reading!" She slapped his back, marking the end of that conversation.

---

"What is this?" Yzak practically yelled.

"What?" Rei asked innocently.

"This-this story!"

Rei chuckled. "Give me a break! Why are you getting so worked up?"

"She was foolish!"

"That was the point."

"She should have just come clean from the beginning!"

"Again, that was the point…"

They had just finished reading 'The Necklace' by Guy de Maupassant, and Yzak was definitely shocked at the ending.

"Well, Yzak. That's life, mixed with irony, and comedy." She grinned at him.

Yzak snorted. "Yeah, whatever…"

"Well…One decision can affect the rest of your life."

"Yeah…I know someone whose decision changed his position in the war and almost became enemies with his best friend."

Rei gazed at him with wide eyes and smiled. "Hey…You opened up to me…I'm glad."

"I wasn't talking about myself!" Yzak protested.

"I know. But I still think it's nice."

He tensed. Is she admiring him or something?

She's pretty easy to please.

What should he say…?

"W-what are you blabbering about now?"

She smirked. "Heh. Don't get so nervous. You're acting like I'm going to slobber all over you or something. Don't worry. I'm not going to worship the ground you walk on or whatever nonsense you're thinking about."

Yzak could feel himself blushing. "I wasn't thinking about that!"

"Geez… You really need to control your temper, you know?" Rei chuckled. "You're so easy to tease!"

"And you're starting to annoy me." Yzak retorted.

He expected her to be taken aback, but if she were, she didn't show it.

"Well, Yzak, I didn't know that my mere words can affect you that much." She smirked. "Getting so affected could mean that you're being defensive. Which could mean I hit the bull's eye."

"This is unbelievable…!" Yzak muttered disbelievingly.

She was impossible!

She was annoying.

Unyielding.

Never stopped teasing him.

But even so…

She…was funny.

Funny?

:Yeah…And interesting…: Yzak finally, although reluctantly, admitted. He couldn't believe it himself. But she interested him.

With that realization, he started laughing.

"H-hey, Yzak? Are you okay? Hey!" Rei asked, panicking.

Did he finally blow a fuse because of her teasing…?

Yzak nodded while laughing. Pretty soon, she was laughing with him.

"I-I don't know e-exactly why y-you're laughing…" She managed to say in-between laughs. "But you're m-making me laugh t-too."

"Reinaria! Where are you?" A voice rang out.

Author's Ridiculous Blabber: Hello there:) I just wanted to test this story out... I'm not sure if it's good or anything... Bear with me for a while :). I guess the idea is in my head and it won't even let me sleep properly that I just HAD to write it... (sigh). I hope it wasn't confusing or that boring...

I hope it wasn't too out of character... Yzak has always struck me as a competitive, hot headed boy. As for his mother, I'm not sure about her personality, but she seems to be a really strong woman, and Yzak usually obeys her. I hope it's correct. :)

Oh yeah... did I get the "Minister" part right? I wasn't sure if they call the members of the High Council as "Minister". Sorry about that, I missed some episodes of Gundam Seed. Heheh... School work...

Oh yeah, for those who can't remember or haven't read these stories, "The Lottery" (as was already mentioned), takes place in an ordinary town, and well, the 'winner' will be stoned. "The Tell-Tale Heart" ismore of a suspense...I'm not sure if it is alright to write the summary here... :) "The Necklace" is about a woman who lost her friend's diamond necklace. She didn't tell her friend that she lost it. Instead, she replaced it. But since she and her husband were not that rich, they ended up loaning for money and became really poor and all that. Well, anyway, some time after they've finally repaid all of their debts, she confronts her friend and tells the truth... But then her friend tells her that the necklace she originally owned was really a fake. :) (LOL)

Maa… I decided to edit this chapter… too many boo-boos. :)