Chapter 1: A student

Disclaimer: TTAA has ended, this is chapter one of the newly uploaded Sequel 'Umbilical', I just thought that this will make it easier for everyone to find the story. In order not to violate Fafic rule of uploading a chapter in two titles, I will take it down in a week.

Whatever happens here took place between seed and destiny, a sequel to 'Ten things about Athrun'. (Not much of a sequel, considering that the former was fluff, and the latter is fluffier fluff!)

After the battle of Jarkin Due, Dearka and Yzak went back to PLANTs. Archangel and crew joined the Orb army and is now in military school for retraining. Cagalli, the princess of Orb, is in school with the rest of them. And here goes chapter 1…

Enjoy!

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Athrun Zala thought he was hallucinating when he heard what was required of him as a new employee of Orb Union Military secret unit. He did not reply, he could not muster one. It was only after a good ten seconds that he finally asked.

"What?"

Oooooooo

Cagalli sighed. She was utterly bored, and not to mention quite tired.

The lecturer is currently droning on about the Mayan Civilisation without a care in the world.

Normally she has a healthy appetite for knowledge, it is just the fact that she was in a new school-Orb military school- with new classmates and no one she knows or cared to know.

In this school, no one was her equal.

She was not being haughty or arrogant, it simply stood as a fact that she has been on the frontline in the last war (although she was not supposed to let anyone know). She has seen and tasted war. She has fought in hand-dug sand trenches and witnessed the grittiest fights, death and gore.

While her classmates-all military wannabes and rick kids- are still ogling over anyone who could hold a gun and actually hit something with it, she was not impressed. She knew some of her classmates are not military wannabes at all. For this school is a one that caters for the prince and princess of various nations to be taught in protocol and later be married to a suitable royalty, as for the very reason she's here for. This is the best and most expensive school in all of Orb Union, host to the rich and the powerful.

She knew she'll be missing half her lessons anyway, her emirs are just seeing that she finishes her formal education, they still need her in council. Coupled with the fact that her life pretty much starts only after her curriculum time, it was enough to put her in very sullen spirits.

Her emirs had caught her the moment she stepped foot on Orbian soil and it seemed as if every single one had sworn a blood oath to make her a real princess; a real queen. They arranged these 'education programs' that will 'equip her with the skills to govern Orb effectively over the next 50 years'. First and for most, she had to finish her formal education, which will take place over the next one and a half year in military school. Her Princess training, which is nothing but a continuation of the nightmare she ran away from 6 years ago; it includes cheesy things like dancing lessons, wine appreciation and dining etiquette.

She rotated her ankles, and frowned.

Not to forget the high-heel-shoes training.

And when she is not in school and not in training, Mana will bring 700-page documents from the office for her to read, sign and approve. Resultantly, her life was tied down and overall uninteresting all apart from the artillery classes when she can pretend the target board was someone's head; and fire at it till she feels happier.

She has not seen Kira, Lacus or Kisaka in ages due to her more-than-hectic schedule, insane is more like the word.

And Athrun…Athrun who is now under Kisaka as the newest member of Orb secret unit. Cagalli was happy when he said he wanted to come to Orb, she wanted to do all she can to ensure that he will not have to dirty his hands again.

A gentle and kind soul like him should not be made to kill.

He had been quite forcibly separated from her a month ago on the grounds of having to orientate the new member, and she has not seen him since.

She sighed again.

Basically, she was an imprisoned, bored princess who needed about 48 hours a day. It was alright that she was chronically tired, it is acceptable to be forced to learn court dance, but all she wanted was to have someone to complain to. Someone to talk to when she makes her way home after work...

She is now a governor in hiding, studying in military school under an alias for security reasons, living in a large, empty rented house with a mute, cleaning lady and security guards disguised as neighbors for companionship and work she cannot hope to finish within a lifetime. The least they could do was to provide her some decent person she could have a somewhat heart-to-heart talk with.

Kisaka had promised her a housemate, but she was not sure if she won't kill the fella on the spot; she might incinerate whichever airhead who dares complain about her nail polish being chipped.

After another hour, the history lecturer was continuing his saga about the Mayan calendar and the end of the world when their homeroom teacher, Miss Silvanus politely knocked on the door, saying she is sorry to interrupt the class, but she needs to settle some issues.

Cagalli liked that woman, she was a no-nonsense, gritty fighter to the core and had demonstrated her talent for lightning-fast, cold-blooded murder in hand-to-hand combat class.

Miss Silvanus cleared her throat softly to get the class's attention, she did not need to, they were happy to oblige. It was anything to be temporarily rescued from the hypnosis spell that the vile history lecturer has placed them under.

Her voice carried well over the heads of the 86 people when she spoke.

"Good morning class, we have a new student from the PLANTs, please help me welcome him."

Cagalli's jaw dropped, literally, as the new student stepped in. Cagalli wondered if she had gone mad from boredom, because there is not way the person who walked in could be for real. She rubbed and kneaded her eyes just to make sure he is not just a figment of her imagination. All the while, she was trying to suppress her elation, afraid that he will vanish the next second and her hopes will be dashed.

But when he spoke, his tone was quiet yet authoritative, he did not sound deliberate or flaky, he does not need to; he is a natural-born leader. She recognized and liked that voice, it made her heart beat a little faster.

"It's a pleasure to meet you all, My name is Arthur Zelos from Aprilius."

What is he doing here?

Oooooooooooooo

Cagalli finally grabbed the chance to catch Athrun when he was alone after school.

"Athr…I mean Arthur! What are you doing here?" she hissed, trying to not allow her happiness to show on her face.

"To study." He said with a dissatisfied frown, he was unhappy with someone.

"By the way, girl." She was taken aback, Athrun actually called her 'Girl'. "What's your name?"

She sighed, "Catherine Yule Alfate."

He laughed at the inside joke only the two of them understood, and extended his hand, "Arthur."

She took it, and shook it real hard. "Catherine."

"Catherine…Let's walk." It was not a command, yet not a request. He just said it for the sake of it being done. She started walking obediently.

When they were making their way down the roadside, he told her quietly, "We can converse more freely this way."

Cagalli understood, if they remained on one spot, everything they said might be remembered and understood by one person.

"…I've been followed." He said quietly as they quickened their pace a little.

Cagalli did not turn around, she was well-trained enough to know better. "Whom, how many. Armed?"

"Three, not a threat. Schoolgirls." He said shortly.

"Why are they stalking you?"

"I…don't know."

Her sarcastic reply went back down her throat as he took her elbow and they suddenly turned the corner. They took a series of turns, and after a few more times, ended up exactly where they were six minutes ago.

"Cagalli." She was startled, not many people call by her real name nowadays. It were as if the girl who had died was reborn in that instant, someone remembers her name.

She replied with what she thought was an equivalent answer.

"Athrun."

They walked in silence for a while longer, many things left unsaid between them. A gentle evening breeze picked up, idly sifting through her hair and carrying with it the voices of their hearts.

She stole a peek at him.

It was the first time she saw him in any uniform other than the red Zaft one. He looked sharp and resplendent in the Orb military school uniform. It fit him like a glove, effectively accentuating the V shape of his body, bringing out the muscles on his chest and shoulders.

His face was thoughtful, and Cagalli realized that he looked a little different from a month ago. His boyish face is now a little more mature, his jaw a tad more defined, with a bit less baby fats on his cheeks. She suddenly realized that Athrun had grown taller over the last month, for the best she could manage was to stare at his ear, where a tiny ear piece peeked out. The only thing that remained unchanged was his eyes, which are bright and lustrously beautiful.

Those green eyes suddenly turned in her direction. She looked away hastily, unwilling to be caught in the act of ogling.

He caught her anyway.

"…Why are you staring at me like that?"

She bit her lip.

"…I missed you…" She whispered in a low voice, both wishing he would and would not hear. She regretted it the moment she said it and hoped that the wind had carried her words away before they reach his ears.

She hoped that it was not the voice of the wind that said, "…Me too."

She turned to gaze at him in wonder.

There were walking past a small meadow that was lined by the road, and a stream flowed through it. A light breeze blew through the place, ruffling the grass and sifted through their hair. Beyond the horizon laid the setting sun, its dying hues of reds and oranges mixing with the chromes of blues and midnight, as if proclaiming to all creation that day has ended and night will reign.

It was a pleasant evening, and Cagalli would call it romantic, especially when there is a handsome young man beside her…

The colours dusted a shade of reddishness onto Athrun's cheeks, and Cagalli wondered if it were the light…or was Athrun actually blushing. Him blushing was a sight to behold as he was by nature, very fair. The pink formed a stark contrast to his milky complexion.

She chuckled.

He blinked, frowned a little, then turned away insistently. Not wanting her to see his face.

Then his fingers quietly interlaced with hers.

She gasped inwardly, but did not do anything to respond except to squeeze his hand back and anneal to his arm.

Though Athrun did not speak at all, it was comfortable companionship, his mere presence filled a longing in her heart. And she realized she had missed the feeling so much it aches. And dread began to fill her as her house came into view.

Now, she will have to leave him, and return to the life where there was no life for her. She will have to return the place where there was no Cagalli…

At the main gate, he released her hand, and Cagalli almost wanted to grab him back but held herself back just in time. She had no rightful claim over him…she had no right to hold on to his hand…

Then he did something that caused her to stop and stare.

He drew a key from his pocket and unlocked the main gate, then went through the garden and unlocked the door as well. Then leisurely, he turned around and asked, "Coming in?"

"Why…Why do you have the key to my house?" She stammered, by virtue of not wanting to alarmed her neighbours (her guards), she had forced herself not to shout.

He blinked, and replied, "I'll be staying here from today onwards."

Outwardly, she screamed, yelling and raging at Kisaka for giving her a male housemate.

Inwardly, she was all happy.

Oooooo

This is the first chapter of the new series, "Umbilical'. Hope you guys like it!