A/N: Thank you to everyone who reviews. You are all amazing. Anyway, sorry this took so long, but I have warned you all that updates won't always be quick.

I also hope things are starting to piece together for all of you.

Extra; I am sorry for those who wanted me to show the bombing in detail – I did try but I couldn't do the scene any justice. Also, this story is a blend of different techniques which shows that you don't always have to read about something to know it has happened and for it to be touching. I am glad some appreciated the difference and noticed this. I promise not all action will only be shown through memories etc. Remember, this is still an angst, violent story and the darker parts are still to come.

To Green Fire; No, Neo will not be evil in this story…Stella needed a family member and he fit the part even though in the canon he and Mu are one in the same…For this story we shall just pretend he is a separate entity ;-) Secondly, I know names and such are spelt differently depending on country and language, but Badjiroul is just how I know it…but if it bothers many readers I will alter it Thanks for the reviews.

The Scars We Hide

Phase 10: "Breathe Today, Never Too Late"

The narrow alley was dark and the small amount of light provided from the closest street lamp, did little to reveal more than broken shadows and dim outlines of the boxes that littered the ground or the rats that fought over discarded rubbish.

A man stood in this backstreet hidden by the gloom, a small envelope in hand while his eyes roamed the street ahead nervously.

It was taking too long. Where was the contact? Why hadn't he shown yet?

I shouldn't have got involved.

Maybe there's time to get out…

But no, they wouldn't allow that now.

Then again, they were giving him something in return.

Why couldn't this be easier?

Damnit!

"Not getting cold feet, are we?" A quiet voice asked and the apprehensive figure jumped, swiveling around to meet yellow eyes.

"Phantom Pain?" He asked, ignoring the question completely and glancing behind the newcomer to see if there was anyone else. The man's ratty attire was certainly unexpected and rather repulsive.

Yellow eyes laughed, the sound harsh and his cold eyes seemingly knowing.

"That would be correct." He smirked. "Do you have it?"

"Y-yes." He quickly handed the man the envelope and backed away slightly. "It's all there like requested."

Yellow eyes ripped the package open and briefly went through the contents, his smirk growing, before he pocketed the items and looked up again.

"Very good Seiran…" The man cheered and turned with a jaunty wave. "There may be hope for you in Phantom Pain."

"What will you use them for?" He asked, the words leaving his lips before he could think. He regretted it when Yellow eyes stopped and turned slightly, his smirk now a full-fledged grin with something dangerous lurking behind the cheerful façade.

Idiot, you couldn't just let him take the key cards and leave.

"Now, now Yuna…you're not that ready to join the big boys just yet." Yellow eyes sneered and disappeared around the corner and out of sight.

Yuna Roma Seiran sagged ungracefully against the alley wall beside him and took a deep breath.

I hope they pull through on their side of the deal…

Blue eyes glared at shaking hands.

Or all this effort would have been for nothing.

Following the horrific accident from the weekend and the strange encounter with Shani and Monday's events, the next two days were coated in an almost tangible sense of tension along with a defined awkwardness that could not be ignored and yet was not something anyone tried to explore for fear of exploring possibilities they would rather avoid.

It was as though the subject was taboo and considering the people involved and their backgrounds, it wasn't too hard to believe that they would pretend as though nothing was remotely wrong.

A certain brunet in particular, wished Monday could have gone about a little differently, or not happened at all. Said brunet was residing in his usual seat at the cafeteria, staring at his dinner with an expression he hoped was not too vacant, so as not to garner any unwanted attention.

Thankfully, the table's other occupants seemed too engrossed in their own conversations; the guys debating some famous soccer player who had recently been arrested for multiple counts of fraud, while the girls were all huddled close together, whispering excitedly and occasionally dissolving into massive fit of giggles. Their behaviour had been like that since Tuesday morning and Kira didn't think he wanted to know what exactly had caused it.

…It was probably safer to remain ignorant.

Kira sighed and stirred his food listlessly, not feeling hungry anymore even though he had barely eaten anything and it was now disgustingly cold.

He blamed his thoughts.

In the last forty-eight hours he had been restless and agitated. The constant stares and unasked questions were beginning to grate at his nerves, setting the brunet on edge (probably more so than usual) and giving him the feeling that he no longer had any control over the tarnished pieces that were his life.

Kira mentally scoffed.

Control? Was he serious? He had lost all control a long time ago.

He smothered the urge to let out a sigh or run his hands through his hair; both actions would probably warrant some attention and he didn't need or want that right now.

So Kira continued to push around his half-eaten food, feeling dejected and hoping time would speed up, if only for this one night.

He was just so tired.

The movement of chairs alerted the brunet to someone's departure and he glanced up to find Athrun, Dearka, Yzak, Shinn and Rey standing to leave.

"Night everyone." Athrun announced. "We want to get our assignments done, so that we are completely free for this weekend you girls have planned."

Cagalli laughed.

"Sounds good."

Kira frowned slightly remembering that the girls had made arrangements for them to all go out on the Saturday and had invited everyone (including him, much to his displeasure). He couldn't even avoid it by utilizing the fact that he was still grounded, since Cagalli had realized he might pull that card and already spoken to their father who had relented for the one night.

Talk about mixed agenda's.

"You want to join us?"

It took the brunet a few seconds to realize that Dearka had been asking him the question.

"What?"

"We're tackling that Bio case study among other things." Rey added though he glanced at Dearka thoughtfully, a look that would suggest confusion. "Want to contribute?"

Kira's mind was blank.

"I've already finished it…" He murmured quietly, not quite sure why they would invite him.

"Expected answer. I don't know why you thought any different Dearka." Shinn said with a roll of his eyes.

Dearka shrugged, not put out in the least.

"Always next time."

Kira blinked, wondering what that had been about.

"You could have at least offered to help them out." Cagalli informed him once they were gone. "It's those little things that tend to make socializing easier."

The rest of the girls, Sting and Auel all made a point of starting another conversation, but Kira knew they were listening intently as Cagalli continued to lecture him on his lack of effort.

Finally fed up with just stirring his soup in circles, Kira pushed his bowl away, easily ignoring the way his twins' eyes narrowed at the action.

5…4…3…2…

"You've barely eaten." She announced, eying the food as if to emphasize the point.

"Oh, you did notice. I was starting to wonder when I would get that lecture." He said laconically. "Besides, not hungry."

"You need to eat." She calmly replied, even though he could hear the carefully concealed exasperation.

"I know."

Waiting for her full on rant to begin, Kira was more than surprised when she simply nodded and turned away to join in the conversation with Stella and Lacus.

He watched her silently for a moment, wondering if he should be wary of her easy acceptance. After a minute's contemplation, he shrugged and turned away, deciding not to tempt fate.

"Why did you let it go so quickly?" Miriallia asked, leaning closer to the blonde Princess so that no one else could hear. "Doesn't his medication require him to eat properly?"

Cagalli nodded.

"Of course." She began. "And Kira understands that too. So I know he understands the risks."

The blonde sighed, smiling ruefully before adding.

"And we both know nothing really good comes from me preaching to him."

Miriallia chuckled.

"Depends on the subject you're preaching."

"Which happens to be most of them." Cagalli murmured.

Miriallia gave her friend an understanding look until a large smile graced her lips.

"At least this weekend isn't counted as one of them. You can preach all you want for it."

The effect was instantaneous. Cagalli enveloped the auburn-haired girl in a big hug and exclaimed loudly that she was indeed quite correct.

-O-

Kira got back to his room and after a quick shower, had a seat on his bed and fished his medication from the bottom drawer.

He quickly swallowed an anti-depressant then toyed with the idea of taking a sleeping pill as well.

Since the tragedy during the Silver Rose Charity and the fight with his father, the nightmares had been that much more active, meaning his sleep had been more interrupted and thus he had got little of it. It was starting to affect his eating and abilities.

Even so, the sleeping aid were a last resort in the brunet's mind. The chemically-induced sleep they gave, only served to rest his body, not his warring mind and that meant the dreams still occurred, the only difference was he battled to wake in order to escape the nightmares.

Without pause, Kira uncapped the bottle and swallowed one anyway.

I need the sleep…and it doesn't make much difference, does it? The nightmares are there regardless of whether I can wake or not.

Glancing at the second drawer of his side table, Kira idly considering going through its contents.

You made a promise to get rid of them…his traitorous conscience reminded. You said you wouldn't do it anymore. Just like you promise all the time with everything else.

Purple eyes narrowed with a glint of defiance and he pushed the momentary guilt away.

They also promised no more attempts at therapy, guess equal exchange is fair…and some promises just can't be kept.

Ignoring all other thoughts and feelings, Kira sat up and opened the drawer, pulling out two thick folders and a small box.

He laid the items on the bed carefully and opened the box first where a few recently cut out newspaper clippings lay and the invitation from Ezalia Joule's Silver Rose charity event.

Kira stared at them blankly, then opened the thinner of the two folders and on a new page, neatly stuck the items down.

The story of the recent bombing glared up at him from next to the invite as he picked up a pen and wrote next to it.

Five deceased. All targets with influence in Orb council or areas of importance. Method of death; bombing – similar method to last four car bombings recorded throughout course of last year. Previous victims have included; Eileen Canaver – secretary to Lord Siegel Clyne, Richard Price and Dominic Seidall – members of law enforcement. All with ties to Orb council or the Atha family.

Kira paused, staring at his words before writing one final sentence at the bottom.

Suspect; Phantom Pain – enigmatic criminal organization. Suspected member; Ulen Hibiki. Status – unknown.

Kira put the pen down and closed the folder, placing everything back in the drawer before climbing under his covers and switching off his lamp.

Violet eyes stared unseeingly at the ceiling above, medication kicking in and his thoughts racing.

The folders may seem unhealthy to his family, who thought he had an unhealthy obsession with death and morbid 'accidents', but to Kira, they were a key to a mystery that had yet to be solved. Somehow, he knew that if he solved the mystery, he'd find a bit of himself again…after all, the folders dated back quite far and documented numerous cases and tragedies…tragedies that all inter-linked in some way and held common traits with other events in his life.

Rolling onto his side with a mocking smile as he closed his eyes.

Or maybe he would lose whatever it was he had left…Either way, there was no going back. He would see this little 'obsession' through and nothing would stop him now.

Not even three feet down the hall from Kira; Athrun, Rey and Shinn were seated in Dearka and Yzak's room with a considerable amount of books and scrunched up paper between them.

"This is going nowhere fast." Shinn declared, scratching out his fourth mistake and contemplating simply adding it to the rest of his discarded collection and starting again.

"It's just an essay on the history and causes of tragedies in space." Rey stated, barely glancing up from the notes he was reading and the other boys chuckled. "You shouldn't be having a problem."

"I'm not saying it's hard." Shinn muttered. "I'm just having trouble wording it."

"Don't worry Shinn, I'm in the same boat." Athrun smiled. Essays really were one of his weak points.

"Kira could probably help you." Dearka said absently. "Guys a fucking genius. I don't think I have ever heard any of the teachers complain about his work, not even Le Creuset and you can tell that guy doesn't like Kira one bit."

The rest of the group exchanged glances at the comment. They had been debating this matter for a while, regarding whether they should confront Dearka on why he tried so hard to include Kira and had decided once he brought up the anti-social Prince again, they would do so.

"Dearka." Athrun began. "What's with you and Atha?"

The tanned blond frowned, looking puzzled.

"Nothing, why?" He said. "I mean she's cute and all but you guys know I've always had a thing for Miriallia."

Yzak sighed while Athrun's green eyes swirled with an unknown, almost conflicted emotion.

"No, you moron." He said, smacking his friend on the shoulder for his density. "We're talking about the other Atha…You know, the male version."

If anything, Dearka looked more confused.

"What do you mean?"

"Oh man." Shinn exclaimed. "We want to know why you are going through so much trouble to get to know Kira, always trying to include him and all that."

"We've ignored it for the most part." Rey said. "And as amusing as the interactions are, we don't understand what you're trying to achieve."

"Oh."

Dearka was silent as he thought.

Should he reveal the truth about why he had his constant conversations with the brunet? Or would it be simpler if they came to terms with it on their own?

Dearka scratched at his face thoughtfully and took in his friends impatient expressions yet with a slight curiosity in their gazes even if they tried to hide it.

Truth it is.

"He reminds me of Nicol."

The statement garnered different reactions among the group. Athrun and Rey went still, their expressions blank. Yzak's face darkened and his blue eyes lit up with anger. Shinn as always was vocal about his feelings.

"What?! How in the world does Prince emotionally constipated prick, remind you of Nicol?"

And naturally, that got Yzak started.

"He's nothing like Nicol at all!"

"Don't get the wrong idea, I'm not trying to replace Nicol with him or anything like that." Dearka added soothingly. "It's just…despite the awkwardness sometimes, the friction and those moments of disinterest, I feel that he fills the gap where Nicol used to be and that they would have got on well."

Athrun's hands balled into fists.

What was Dearka thinking? Kira was nothing like Nicol…

Dearka sighed and shrugged and threw up his hands as though surrendering.

"You all asked."

"Maybe we shouldn't have." Rey said softly, blue eyes thoughtful but also dismissive. "Kira's not such a bad guy when he's trying, but I don't ever see him becoming closer than an acquaintance and the son of our Lord."

"Yeah." Shinn agreed, nodding furiously. "He has his awesome moments but it's not like he wants to be friends. Look at how he treats people sometimes."

It was no secret that the Prince of Orb had strange mood changes. While attached yet compassionate the one moment, he could then be cold and callous in the next. They all seen the swops in personality, and each found it concerning.

"Let's just forget I said anything." Dearka muttered irritably, wishing that statement was true.

The group went back to their essays but now the easy atmosphere they had previously shared, was now riddled with tension and awkwardness.

Dearka sighed.

Kira was a part of their group, the tanned blond thought to himself. Whether his friends, or even Kira himself could see it yet…

Andrew Waltfeld entered the Teacher's Lounge, his brown eyes twinkling merrily as he made a beeline for the espresso machine, just like he usually did every other morning. It wasn't a secret that his daily caffeine dosage was a running joke among many of the staff (as well as students), but at least his intake this very morning happened to be for a very substantial reason.

It was turning out to be a chilly Thursday, with the sun literally forcing its way through the thick, grey clouds that had formulated overnight and a crisp wind rustling through the trees and across the campus grounds.

However, the ominous weather did little to effect the Science teacher's good mood. He whistled a random tune while the little coffee-maker did its thing, and once it was completed, he lifted a steaming mug towards his face and inhaled deeply, a contented expression dawning on his rugged features.

"There's no better way to start the day." The brunet murmured reverently.

"I see that I'm just in time for our daily caffeine worship." Mu announced, appearing beside him and grinning mischievously. "So what will it be today; a long speech of dedication or just praise in general?"

Andrew cast a half-hearted glare in his friend's direction, not wanting to ruin his peaceful moment or give the blond further ammunition with which to tease him.

"Shut up and pour your own coffee."

"Oh I'm sorry, did I spoil that blinding good mood you waltzed in with?" Mu teased.

"I don't know what you mean." Andrew sniffed as he sipped his coffee and took a seat at an empty table. To his dismay, Mu did as well.

"Oh please…You rarely drink coffee not brewed by your own hands, especially the machine coffee made here." Mu retorted. "There for, you must be in a good mood and I wish to know why?"

Andrew frowned.

"I'm not that picky am I?"

Mu snorted.

"Andy, the first and last time I offered to make coffee, I barely had a chance to add sugar before you were taking over."

"That's because you make shit coffee." Andrew replied haughtily. "I have standards and you can't expect me to drink any old crap. Can you imagine what that would so to my refined senses?"

Mu thought about commenting but changed his mind as quickly as it would take you to flick a switch. When it came to coffee, it was more than just a beverage for his friend and the debate that could arise, would not end well.

"Oh well." The blonde bodyguard shrugged instead then grinned. "So, are you going to tell me why you're so happy?"

Surprisingly, Andrew suddenly blushed.

"No reason, just happy it's Thursday and closer to the weekend."

Mu's grin turned Cheshire as he leaned back in his chair.

"Really now?"

From across the room, Murrue watched the two men converse with an amused smile before turning towards her companions.

"I wonder what Mu's trying to interrogate from Andrew?"

"Easy." Aisha answered, her cobalt eyes shining fondly. "Andy finally asked me on a proper date. That's why he's been smiling like a loon all morning"

"That's great." Talia over some report or the other and Murrue clapped her hands together happily.

"About time." She said. "After how many months of trying?"

Aisha giggled.

"Only several months or so." She replied. "He finally worked up the courage last weekend."

Aisha's expression then sobered up before she added.

"I think he got a dose of reality when we lost Nina to that bombing on Saturday. He told me life is short and he didn't want to have any regrets."

Talia sighed and put down her work.

"It is truly sad, how tragedies have a way of bringing people together."

Murrue nodded, lapsing into a thoughtful silence thinking of the twins and how they had got to know of their real father.

"Now Murrue just needs to accept Mu on his offer and all us girls will be taken." Aisha smiled, interrupting Murrue's melancholy thoughts.

"Yes- wait, what?"

Aisha and Talia laughed at Murrue's dark blush.

"Denial is one of the roads towards acceptance." Talia teased and Murrue huffed, taking a sip of her tea, glancing at Mu where he still sat interrogating Andrew.

Absently, her free hand wondered to the rose-embossed locket she always wore (would always wear).

Sure, he was gorgeous…but she had been hurt before and every attempt to find happiness had failed since. Why should she get Mu's hopes up only to break his heart because of her own weaknesses?

The answer was not to.

Lacus sat in the back of her Art class along with Stella and Meyrin, since they were the only three from their group who took the subject.

"I'm so glad it's almost Friday." Meyrin yawned having not slept well the last few days. Beside her, Stella smiled, setting up her easel slowly since the wooden contraption was a bit taller than the much smaller girl and difficult to manage.

"Too bad there will be little time to relax with what we've planned."

Lacus smiled softly, though her thoughts were on something else as she listened to her two friends chat about the oncoming weekend.

Athrun had seemed alright during breakfast, she thought absently. He had been a little quiet, but at least he had joined in the conversation every now and then. However, the pink-haired girl still felt a touch of concern.

As she had been preparing for bed last night while Cagalli had been busy in the shower, Lacus had been surprised to hear her cell phone go off, wandering who on earth could be phoning at that time of night. When she had seen Athrun's name as the caller I.D, she'd answered quickly. Athrun hated talking on the phone and never called unless it was important or serious.

Lacus sighed and quietly went about preparing her art equipment.

She recalled the hesitation in his voice and how he had made up some excuse about the reason he called. Apparently he wanted to know how she was doing, since they had not spoken much personally, ever since school began. It had been a lie, obviously, so Lacus had questioned him, wanting to know what the real matter was.

'Nothing's wrong Lacus.' He had said. She knew better and had persisted until he caved and told her the truth.

'I don't want to go to sleep.' He had admitted softly. 'I've been having nightmares again.'

Lacus slowly began her sketch of two yellow roses in a vase, as was situated in front each student, for that was their assignment for the day. Her thoughts were still focused on a certain blue-haired teen.

It wasn't as if this was something new. Ever since the car accident, Athrun had been suffering from nightmares and mild insomnia, and although his therapy had been helping, he still had relapses every now and then and sometimes they led to more severe problems like heavy drinking.

Lacus cringed, thinking about the time he had destroyed the mechanical present he had been making for Nicol's birthday…To this day, she still didn't know what it had been.

'Do you want to talk about it?' She had asked, even though she knew what his answer would be. It was always the same.

'No, I'm okay now. I just needed someone to talk to and I didn't want to bother any of the guys.' Was his quiet reply. 'They have enough of their own problems and, well, things have been a little tense lately…'

Lacus frowned at that but let it be, knowing the boys could sort out most of their problems on their own. Instead, she offered comfort and understanding.

'You know Athrun, I'll always be here for you.'

'I know Lacus...and thank you.'

Lacus sighed, finishing the outline of her first rose.

It was difficult to watch her friends smile and know they were truly hurting on the inside. Sometimes she wished she could reverse the past, so that they didn't have to feel this pain, but in the end that was just a foolish fantasy. For in reality, you could not change what had happened in the past, you could only try to make it better and hope that eventually you would succeed.

"Oh Lacus, that's going to look really beautiful." Meyrin exclaimed softly, staring at the pink-haired girl's sketch in awe.

Lacus felt a true smile tug at her lips even if she was burning with sadness on the inside.

To think, in a few days, it would have been Meyrin and Nicol's two year anniversary…

"Thanks Meyrin. Your rose is looking wonderful as well." She told her friend and pushed aside any further thoughts of the past to focus on the lesson.

"So, have you girls decided on what to wear Saturday night?"

Kira absently brushed a stray piece of hair away from his eyes as he listened to Waltfeld explain about their newest project; a project that required all members of the table to work together as a group, as well as counting for almost thirty percent of their final grade.

"For once you don't have a reason not to do an assignment with us." Dearka announced cheerfully when Waltfeld allowed them to converse for the remainder of the period. "Especially considering how long this project will take to complete."

The assignment had a maximum of three months in which to be completed, a saving grace really seeing as though there were many aspects to it like essays, surveys and a practical example of whatever topic they should choose.

Kira blinked.

"You make it sound like I can't work with people." He answered, quietly noticing that the rest of the group tensed at their blond friend's statement. If Kira cared what other people thought, he'd be curious as to what they were thinking right at that moment. He would also wonder why they had all been so rigid lately.

Dearka choked on a laugh.

"That's because you can't from what I've seen."

Kira sighed.

"Whatever." He said, not bothering to respond as that would only offer encouragement to the blond. He looked away and absently tugged on his one wristband, not noticing how the others followed the movement almost unconsciously.

"I heard you're joining us this weekend." Dearka continued, unfazed by the intended brush off. "How did your sister manage to pull that one off?"

Kira scoffed lightly and rolled his eyes.

"Black mail, how else?"

Dearka grinned while Kira internally castigated himself for answering.

"I heard she does that often."

Kira sighed. Keeping up the cold persona was obviously not working today.

"She has many unnatural abilities."

"I'd say." Shinn interrupted, seemingly over his strange behavior for the moment. "You don't seem like the type to allow blackmail."

Kira shrugged.

"She's my sister. For anyone else, it would most likely not be possible."

"You sound sure of yourself." Rey stated quietly, now curious.

Kira met the blond teens eyes for a moment then looked away before replying.

"It comes with the status. As children of the Atha family, we can't afford to let people take advantage of us unless we allow it or it needs to be done. I'm sure all of you, as members of respectable families, can understand that notion."

This was the first time family status had been brought up, aside from the general questions regarding the Atha twin's life as prince and princess.

"And what would you know of our families?" Yzak snapped. "Even with your high social standing, you and your sister are still fairly new to the political ring from what I've seen."

Athrun attempted to change the conversation, knowing his friend's short temper would not benefit this type of discussion but anything he was about to say, was cut short by his roommates smirk and response.

"Then you've seen very little, Yzak Joule. It's not my fault I'm better at blending in than you are."

Athrun covered his surprise at the almost challenging tone in Kira's voice and instead placed a hand on Yzak's shoulder to calm him down.

"Leave it alone." He suggested and Yzak nodded shortly, even though his blue eyes were cold with fury.

Meanwhile, Dearka had the biggest grin on his face.

Well, that had been entertaining.

"What do you know?" He decided to ask, ignoring his friend's groans and irritated looks.

"Enough." Kira answered shortly, his violet eyes going blank and his posture stiffening as if he was uncomfortable.

Dearka noted the change and figured he had pushed enough for today.

"Good to know." He said and then nudged Shinn and challenged him to a game of naughts and crosses, his other friends masking their relief.

Kira eyed the tanned blond after the sudden dismissal, suspicious of why he had stopped his interrogation so soon but then brushed off the concern. Out of all the things he had to worry about, Dearka leaving him alone, was certainly the least of them.

In Sociology, Miguel sighed audibly as the two girls beside him continued to giggle and talk in hushed tones. It had been this way ever since the first week, and now that the second week was nearing its end, the blond boy was starting to get tired of their constant blushing and not-so-subtle comments regarding him.

In the beginning, he had been able to ignore it, hoping that the two of them would grow bored with his very obvious lack of interest. However, that didn't seem to be happening anytime soon and he really wished they would go drool on someone who actually fancied the female species. It also did not help that the guy he thought was hot, was currently sitting in front of him, nor did it help that he and his friends (though he knew all their names by now, there were too many to list) were all aware of the situation and thought it to be rather hilarious.

Sighing inwardly when he felt a finger gently tap his shoulder, Miguel turned reluctantly towards the blond girl next to him and regarded her coolly.

"Yes?"

She instantly blushed bright red and smiled shyly before saying in a soft voice, so as not to attract the teachers' attention.

"My friend and I were wondering if you're free this weekend." On cue, the brunette girl next to her waved slightly. "If so, there's this party at my place that you're more than welcome to attend."

Miguel kept his expression neutral, though distinctly heard a snort of laughter erupt from the group in front of him.

"Why doesn't he just get with one of them already?" He heard the amber-eyed Princess whisper.

"Yeah." Agreed the one with turquoise eyes, Miriallia. "They're not really hiding the fact that they like him."

"The desperation is starting to become very sad." Commented the redhead Luna and her sister Meyrin nodded.

"Maybe he doesn't want to hurt them?" The rosette Lacus next to her replied.

"Maybe he's just cruel and likes toying with girls?" The brunette Shiho added frostily.

"Or he's just got specific preferences." The petite blond Stella, who Rusty thought was cute said.

Miguel smirked. Of course he had preferences. Then he remembered something his roommate had told him once, when he'd been complaining about the unwanted attention.

'If you're so sick of girls fawning all over you. Give it to them straight. It will solve all your problems and it will give the rest of us guys (who actually like girls) a chance with all the hearts you're going to break.'

Rusty had a point. It's not like he was ashamed of who he was and there was really no reason to keep deluding these girls into thinking they had a chance.

"So?" The blond beside him questioned uncertainly.

Miguel took a deep breath.

"Listen, as flattered as I am with all the attention-" Not."-I don't do girls." The two girls looked a little bit crestfallen and Miguel noted that it had gone oddly quiet in front of him. Then the one girl's expression brightened considerably and she leaned forward a little.

"I'm sure I could give you a reason to turn straight." She whispered and Miguel shuddered at the thought.

"Not interested." He stated coldly, turning away from them. He had to remember to thank Rusty later on.

The first thing he noticed, was that the blue-haired boy (Auel) began whispering furiously to Sting (Hot guy, crush, take pick of description), who was scowling with a light blush adorning his cheeks. He also saw all the girls giggling and glancing back at him with mischievous twinkles in their eyes.

Miguel's one eyebrow rose ever so slightly. Why did he feel like he was missing something important here?

Sting threw his best friend a heated glare before promptly turning to face the front, the blush not quite gone from his face.

"What?" Auel asked looking thoroughly confused, and this just made the girls laugh harder.

"You can be dense Auel." Shiho muttered. "Must we explain everything?"

Miguel sighed.

He wished someone would explain it to him.

"You should come out with us this weekend." Lacus announced and Miguel frowned in surprise as did the rest of her group.

The pink-haired girl smiled.

"We're going to the Genesis Club in Valley Park." She said. "It will be fun."

"Yeah, the more the merrier." Cagalli said after exchanging a glance with her friend and suddenly smiling brightly. "All the guys are going to be there as well and you can invite your roommate if you want?"

Miguel wondered why this felt strange but then again, it would give him a chance to get to know Sting better. Glancing at the boy who had caught his attention, Miguel smirked as he made his decision.

"Sure, not like I had any plans."

Beside him, the brunette and blonde began whispering furiously about the unfairness of royalty while the Princess shrugged with a wry smile.

"Cool, we'll exchange numbers and finalize plans later on today."

As their group turned back to focus on the teacher's lesson, Sting sighed.

"No subtlety amongst any of you, is there?"

"Not at all, dear friend." Miriallia said and all the girls giggled. "Consider us your match-makers."

Auel bit back a laugh.

"And you were worried about what I would do?"

Sting huffed and glared at his friend.

"Oh shut up."

"I've been thinking about this weekend Cagalli, and I was wondering about our transport arrangements." Miriallia said to her blond friend as all the girls, plus Sting and Auel were making their way towards the cafeteria, each of them absorbed in their own little conversations. "We could have used my car, but it's gone in for a service and Luna's Polo wont seat us all."

"Hey! It's my car too, you know." Meyrin inserted with a huff while Luna rolled her eyes.

Meyrin was always touchy about the subject as both sisters actually shared the little white VW Polo 1.2 yet people tended to just assume it belonged to the older sister. Luna sighed. She didn't really understand why Meyrin got so worked up over the matter as she rarely drove it anyway.

"Oh yeah. Sorry Mey." The auburn-haired girl amended quickly and Meyrin accepted the apology.

"Mir's right." Lacus said softly. Though the rosette had a license, she had yet to buy her own car even when her father had on countless occasions, offered to pay for it. "What are we going to do?"

"Well. Luna and Meyrin can bring Shiho and Stella. You all live near each other." Cagalli began, then glanced at Lacus and Miriallia. "And if you two want, you can sleep at my house this weekend and we can just borrow Kira's car on Saturday?"

"I'd like that." Lacus replied happily, eager to meet Cagalli's family...and spending time with the blonde's twin would just be a bonus. Miriallia nodded.

"Yeah. I'd like that too." She said.

Cagalli grinned then huffed quietly. "Now all I have to do is ask my brother if I can borrow his car."

"I'm sure he won't mind." Stella said.

Cagalli sighed.

"If only that was true." The girls didn't bother to ask what she meant because when it came to Kira, it could have meant many things.

They arrived at the entrance to the cafeteria and headed towards their table, where Athrun, Kira and all the others already sat.

"You're learning so well." Miriallia commented as she sat down, blissfully ignoring the slight glare Kira directed in her direction. Meanwhile, Cagalli was trying to decide how best to approach the subject of borrowing her brothers car. She figured now was as good as time as any to ask him.

"So Kira, there's something important I've been wanting to ask you-"

"No."

"W-What?" Cagalli faltered and the rest of the table turned to listen to the conversation.

"B-But you don't even know what I wanted to ask." The amber-eyed blond complained.

Kira shrugged. He was having a hard time sitting here and ignoring his nausea that had seemingly risen from nowhere.

"I know I won't like it." He replied simply, fishing in his pockets for the sugarless sweets he usually carried around. "You're using that too-sweet-to-be-true voice."

The table couldn't help laughing at the description.

"That's not fair Kira." Cagalli snapped testily. Even if her brother was right, she wasn't about to admit that. "You don't even know what I'm going to ask, so you can't possibly know that you won't like it."

Kira spared his sister a measured glance, making the girl squirm slightly.

"Cagalli." He said levelly. "We both know there's only one thing you really have to ask me for...and you know full well, the answer is no."

"But-"

"No."

"Kira-"

"No."

"You're being un-"

"I said no."

The tables' occupants shared amused yet slightly puzzled looks. None of them had any clue what was going on, but thought it best not to interrupt just yet. Even Miriallia and Stella looked confused and they were the ones who knew the twins the best.

"But I just-"

"No.

"Why?" The blond girl pouted.

"They're my cars." Was the stern answer. Athrun shook his head slightly in amazement while many of them started to laugh.

All this fuss was over a car? Athrun wondered.

"I'll be careful with any one you let me use." And Kira snorted.

"Forgive me if I sound skeptical."

"It will only be for half the morning." Cagalli pleaded.

"Not happening."

"Please, I will be really careful."

"I've heard that before."

Cagalli blushed deep pink, looking horrified.

"Come on. It's been almost two years. Are you seriously still holding that against me?"

Kira nodded without hesitation.

"Yes."

Cagalli sat back in her chair and glared at her twin fiercely, not that he cared in the slightest.

"Dad lets me use his car, so do aunt Caridad and uncle Hiruma." She said in an accusatory tone and was notably irked when Kira just shrugged. "Even Teruko and Kisaka let me drive."

"So, that's their cars and their problem." Kira said while glancing at her. "And if you haven't noticed, it's not like any of them are willing to buy you a new car, then there's the fact that eighty percent of the time you're still supervised."

"I'm probably not the only one who wants to ask this and it's probably not my business." Rey said, interrupting whatever remark Cagalli had been about to make and drawing every one's attention his way. "Why won't you let her borrow your car?"

Kira didn't answer immediately as he glanced at his sister, who had gone bright red all of a sudden, then he turned back to Rey.

"Ask her."

All eyes focused on the amber-eyed blond, who instantly went a darker shade of red (something Athrun didn't think was possible) and cast a dark look at her impassive twin.

"Well?" Miriallia asked after a long period of silence. Cagalli just shrugged, looking at anything except the people at the table.

"What is it?" Sting asked, since even he didn't know what they were talking about and he got the feeling that Auel and Stella didn't either. His question was also met with silence.

"There has to be a reason why your own brother won't lend you his car?" Lacus asked gently. Athrun had to agree as he didn't think Kira was the kind to say no for petty reasons.

"Could someone just tell us already?" Yzak snapped, his patience reaching an end. The silver-haired teen's icy gaze flicked between both twins while Shiho rolled her eyes at him. Cagalli simply pursed her lips adamantly and Kira sighed when all eyes turned towards him expectantly.

"Spill." Miriallia commanded.

"She has terrible road rage…"

There was a pause of disbelief and then Kira added.

"…there is also the fact that she wrapped her own car around a tree like an idiot."

This simple, emotionless response garnered several different reactions.

"What!" Shinn spluttered, choking on the water he had just taken a sip of while Rey calmly patted him on the back, all the while, his light blue eyes fixed on Cagalli. Athrun, Dearka and Yzak had fallen oddly silent while the others looked mildly shocked.

"And when were you planning on telling me this?" Miriallia shrieked, getting to her feet, her temper rising when Cagalli replied with a short "Never." A few people at other tables turned to stare and Meyrin pulled the auburn-haired girl back into her seat, whispering quietly for her friend to calm down as she was starting to cause a scene, although Meyrin herself looked rather pale.

"I'm sorry Cagalli." Lacus said softly while Miriallia took deep breaths to calm herself. "We shouldn't have insisted-"

"Don't be sorry." Kira's voice interrupted, thought it didn't seem as if he was paying attention since his eyes were fixed on the ceiling. "If anything, you should feel sorry for the Mercedes or the tree. Car was a complete write-off and I don't think the tree has ever been the same since."

Athrun stared at his roommate with an incredulous expression, one that he knew everyone else shared as well.

"Kira! What the fuck do you mean by that?" Miriallia demanded hotly, unable to believe how insensitive he was being. "Cagalli was in a car accident so bad that the car was unable to be saved and that's how you talk about it?"

Kira eyes snapped back to the table in surprise then let his face settle into a neutral mask.

Stupid thing to say. He inwardly cursed at his lack of tact. It must be the nausea, I'm not thinking clearly.

"That's not very nice." Stella said quietly as if unable to believe anyone could say something so uncaring. Cagalli's own brother no less. Though he was such an unapproachable person, even Stella couldn't believe he was that cold.

Dearka noticed Athrun's clenched hands and saw how Yzak's blue eyes narrow. Rey had placed a hand on Shinn's shoulder as the raven appeared to be seconds away from standing up and knocking Kira into next week.

Dearka understood how they all felt. Car accidents were a tender topic for them and it stung to hear Kira speak so callously about his own sisters' crash.

"Chill everyone." Cagalli intervened, sensing the cold atmosphere and not wanting her brother to get in any trouble because of his indifferent attitude that they didn't understand. "Kira's right. Don't feel sorry for me, because it is my fault I crashed. I just didn't want to say anything because the whole event embarrasses me."

She watched Athrun and his friends relax fractionally and realized that the topic was rather sensitive for all of them, so she understood their reactions completely.

"Sorry." Kira murmured, pretending not to understand their serious reactions. "I guess that was a bad choice of words."

"You think?" Miriallia breathed, her turquoise eyes flinty and the brunet twin shrugged.

"Not everyone can deal with events the same way and for what it's worth, you don't know the whole story."

The atmosphere became awkward.

"So, why did you crash?" Luna decided to ask in an attempt to redirect the conversation.

Cagalli bit her lip, trying to find a way to explain the event without revealing how serious it had actually been. The reason Kira and her joked about it, was the fact that it was the only way they could deal with it, along with every other trauma in their life.

"It was shortly after I passed my driver's and while driving home one day I got distracted and didn't see the tree until it was too late." Was Cagalli's casual reply. "Wrote off my brand new Mercedes and Kira hasn't let me live it down since, hence the fact that he won't let me use any of his cars."

Athrun felt the last of his tension fade away, though he still felt a little angry at his roommate's unconcerned appearance and perturbed by his statement regarding how people dealt with things differently.

"What do you drive anyway?" Dearka suddenly asked, realizing that this was one question he had never thought to include during their lessons. He also figured getting the topic off crashes was for the best.

"A car." Kira answered listlessly and Cagalli swatted his arm while giving him a stern look.

"No shit." Shinn mumbled grumpily, still disgruntled.

"A couple of cars." He then said and Cagalli smacked him again.

"A Peugeot 407 coupe', a Nissan GTR and a Chev SS." He listed with a sigh then looked at his twin as if to say 'happy now?'

"Kira's cars are his babies." Cagalli then crooned mockingly as the boys voiced their appreciation of fine cars and Kira scowled.

"They are not."

"Oh no, you just spent a whole bunch of money on them for fun." His sister said airily. "Not to mention the fact that you take apart their engines about twice a week and use every bit of money you earn to tinker with them."

"Seriously?" Shiho asked in amazement then smirked. "Sounds like how much effort Yzak puts into avoiding females."

Luna smacked her arm in response while Yzak's expression remained stony.

Cagalli just grinned.

"Yes, every one of them is modified."

Kira felt himself growing uncomfortably warm with all the attention now focused on him.

"Everyone has a hobby." He shrugged. "I like cars."

"Hobby?" Shinn questioned with a grin, perking up at the chance to tease the Prince. "Your sister makes it sound like a fetish."

"It might as well be." Cagalli giggled

"It's not." Kira growled, crossing his arms even as half the table laughed at his expense.

"Oh Kira." Miriallia chuckled. "You're so cute when you pout."

The table erupted into more laughter and Kira rolled his eyes.

"The answers still no Cagalli." He said. The blonde scowled at him and huffed. "I'll take you in the morning though if you're ready before I leave for work."

Cagalli sighed in mock defeat but then smiled happily.

"I can live with that."

Kira simply rolled his eyes.

What he wouldn't do for her.

He glanced at the lunch and knew he was fighting a losing battle with how his body was rebelling.

Will probably have to get more sweets this weekend.

Sting and Auel waited patiently outside the dance hall, for Lacus, Stella and Meyrin to finish changing, so they could all head to dinner together.

"You and Meyrin seem to be getting along rather nicely?" Sting asked and Auel blushed heavily.

"So? She's a nice girl." He snapped in reply, staring at anything but his friend.

Sting smirked and crossed his arms.

Payback.

"Just a nice girl?"

Auel shrugged almost carelessly.

"And pretty I suppose."

Sting nodded.

"I heard that boy Kuzzey is interested in asking her out."

"What?" Auel shouted, blue eyes flashing. "He can't! She's mine."

Sting raised an eyebrow questioningly and Auel's blush deepened.

"What I mean is- No, that didn't come out right. I meant…" He fell silent and groaned, closing his eyes. "Oh go away, that wasn't fair."

Sting laughed.

"No, it wasn't." He admitted. "It sure was fun though."

Auel huffed.

"You're a dick, you know that right?"

Sting ruffled his friend's hair and smiled innocently.

"Me? How rude of you to be so mean to your best friend."

"I could have said something worse." Auel muttered and rolled his eyes.

Sting laughed again.

"I'm just teasing." He said and kept prodding until Auel finally smiled a little. "Just be careful with Meyrin, alright?"

Auel frowned and then nodded.

"I know, Luna has already spoken with me…" He said quietly. "She told me that if I wanted to be with her sister, I had to mean it and not just toy with her feelings."

"Understandable."

Auel nodded.

"There's more to it but Luna said I'd find out when Meyrin was ready to tell me." He said. "Besides, I have no reason to rush."

Their conversation was interrupted by Stella flinging her arms around Auel's waist and hugging him tightly.

"Hello boys. Have you been waiting for us?"

Auel hugged her back, noticing how it was no longer awkward to hug the girl he used to crush on and eventually learn to love like you would a little sister.

"Of course. Beautiful girls need bodyguards, don't they?" he said, winking at Meyrin, who smiled and blushed.

Lacus giggled.

"How thoughtful good sirs." She said in a dramatized majestic tone. "Please escort us to dinner."

Sting bowed low, earning more giggles from the girls.

"Whatever you ladies desire."

Sting linked arms with Lacus while Auel did the same with Meyrin and Stella.

"Let's go ladies, the food awaits." Auel cheered and they marched grandly to the cafeteria, ignoring the strange looks they received along the way.

Athrun exited the shower and glanced up only briefly as Kira walked past him with towel and clothes in hand to have his turn. Upon some unspoken agreement, both boys had fallen into an awkward yet effective routine that had neither of them complaining or getting in the others way too often.

Though polite to each other when public demanded it, both ignored the other in the confines of their room.

Which is fine by me, Athrun thought as he collected his stuff and left the room to visit Rey and Shinn. Not like I have some insane idea like Dearka to befriend the guy that goes out of his way to be anti-social.

Besides, he had enough friends. Good friends and it simply didn't feel right categorizing Kira as if he was like Nicol.

In the shower, Kira had similar sentiments to his roommate.

After all, this is kind of the atmosphere he had hoped to achieve for his entire existence here…then again, he always forgot to factor in Cagalli.

Then there was Dearka to consider…

Kira rolled his eyes as he exited the room.

There was nothing to consider. Dearka Elsman was just an annoying menace whose ability to pry information was an abnormality, nothing special. Almost like Cagalli, only they weren't related so therefor Kira didn't owe him anything.

"Or so I keep telling myself." He muttered while rubbing a towel through his hair roughly.

Waltfeld's words continued to haunt him.

"It keeps your mind off certain things, doesn't it?"

Kira glared at his own reflection in the bathroom mirror.

"More like it confuses the hell out of me."

He sighed and washed his face, trying to drown out his thoughts. He had been tense and agitated the last few hours and was desperate for something to distract his turbulent thoughts.

"What you doing?" Cagalli asked her roommate as she exited the shower while toweling her short blonde hair dry.

She was sure she had heard singing.

Lacus smiled and held up her notebook so the girl could see for herself.

"…Your shadow reflects a smile, hiding your teardrops. Knowing the hope of the earth. And the proof of the water. And the loneliness of the things you couldn't say…" Cagalli read then whistled and looked up.

"Wow." She breathed. "Is this one of your original songs?"

Lacus smiled and nodded.

"I've been working on it for a while but it's not quite finished yet."

Cagalli sat on her bed and continued with the job of drying her hair.

"Well, what you have so far is fantastic." She said and laughed. "Even if I may be a little biased on the matter with you being my roommate and a good friend."

Lacus laughed and put her notebook away to have her turn in the shower, humming as she went.

Truth was, she had not written any new songs in a while but recently, she had come to an understanding within herself. That even though life threw you hardships, it didn't mean you had to stop living.

She had been so focused on everyone else since Nicol's death, that she hadn't really made time for her own grief and acceptance. They were all stuck, as if suspended and not really moving forward yet at the same time, believing that they were.

Smiling softly, Lacus stepped under the spray of hot water.

Well, that's going to change.

It's time for us to start living again. Truly living.

Her humming turned into actual singing and for the first time in months, Lacus felt peace.

Kira could not recall the exact details of the dream which had woken him, but if the pounding of his heart was anything to go by, then he didn't want to remember any details.

Sweat made the shirt he wore sticky and he was sure the room was closing in around him. Forcing himself to take deep breaths, he climbed out of bed and headed to the bathroom, closing the door quietly behind him.

The bathroom was too small as well and his head spun.

Panic…I'm panicking…his mind supplied numbly. Have to calm down…

Athrun watched the door and listened to the taps turn on. He was half-concerned and only a little irritated since his own nightmare had woken him long before his roommate had woken.

Whatever his confusions or opinions regarding the enigmatic prince of Orb, purely despising him simply for the sake of being able to do so, was quickly disappearing off his list.

How could you hate someone when they were just as haunted as you?

Athrun groaned and buried his head under his pillow. Dearka would love to hear that.

Friday

Athrun made it to breakfast later than usual on Friday morning, having slept in a little since his first class was only at ten and after last night's lack of sleep, he hardly felt guilty.

When he reached their usual table in the cafeteria, he found only a few of the girls present and remembered that Lacus, Stella and Meyrin had Art early on a Friday, though found it a little strange that Cagalli and Miriallia were missing.

He took a seat at the table just in time to catch the tail end of Shiho and Luna's conversation.

"…and she won't even tell anyone what happened."

"If Cagalli feels it was no big deal, then maybe we should just leave it alone?" Shiho suggested.

"What's going on?" He asked Shinn, who along with Dearka and Kira, were the only other boys at the table.

Shinn shrugged.

"Don't know, but his royal highness has been in a mood since he got to the table, the girls are all concerned about something Cagalli won't tell them and Rey took Yzak to class early before he could get a chance to have a go at Shiho again."

Athrun sighed and snatched a piece of toast from the multiple pile on the raven's plate.

There went his hopes for a peaceful Friday.

"At least it's almost the weekend." Dearka mumbled, still moody over Miriallia's disappearance to wherever she went to sit with her boyfriend Tolle.

He couldn't even find the energy to irritate Kira, since the brunet looked just as depressed as he was after showing up from his Tech class with Cagalli in tow before she vanished (or was he angry?). Dearka unconsciously shrugged. Whatever, he just didn't have the heart to bug the sullen prince at that current moment.

"Well, we should get going. Class starts soon and you know how Badjiroul is." Athrun suggested as he grabbed another piece of toast and quickly smeared it with strawberry jam.

"You might as well walk with us." Dearka added to Kira who simply shrugged and stood as well. Athrun and Shinn exchanged a look but said nothing.

Shiho turned to Luna since the redhead didn't have a class next.

"You going to be alright on your own?"

Luna smiled brightly and stood up from the table.

"Yeah, I'm going to meet up with Meyrin and Stella at their art class."

"Guess I'm walking with you boys." Shiho smiled, waving goodbye to Luna as she exited the cafeteria.

Athrun turned and felt something collide with his chest and the toast disappeared from his hands. He was about to apologize but a sharp curse stopped him mid-sentence. Shani Andras was standing before them with toast stuck to his chest.

Athrun bit back a smile and behind him, he could hear Dearka and Shinn trying to muffle their laughter and next to him, Kira shifted, his purple eyes dark.

"Think this is funny." Shani snarled, taking a step forward. The toast slid down his shirt as he advanced and hit the floor with a soft splat.

"Even the food wants nothing to do with you." Kira murmured, his gaze fixed on the toast. "Look at how it ran away."

Athrun and Dearka stared at Kira in shocked amusement while Shani's eyes narrowed angrily and Shinn didn't bother to contain his laughter. Shiho arched an eyebrow, wondering what this was all about.

"What was that Atha?" Shani snapped, flushing angrily.

Kira just tilted his head slightly as if in thought before saying.

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were hearing-impaired. I can talk louder and slower if that helps?"

Athrun stared at his roommate, wondering where this attitude had sprung up from. Next to him, it seemed Dearka and Shinn felt that way too with the way their mouths were hanging open.

Athrun refocused on the scene as Shani stepped forward with a snarl.

"You can't speak to me that way!" He growled in Kira's face but the Prince didn't seem at all fazed.

"Shame." Kira sighed, eyes mocking. "Did I hurt your feelings? Are you going to tell your father?"

Shani advanced and this time, Kira's left hand rose up and met the teen's shoulder while his other hand fisted into his shirt.

The entire cafeteria seemed to have stilled at the confrontation and Athrun could not believe what he was seeing. Kira on the other hand, seemed oblivious to all the attention, his purple eyes dark.

"If you touch Cagalli again, you'll wish you hadn't."

Wait, what? Athrun felt himself grow angry. When did that happen?

Shani grinned.

"How cute. Does the baby sister need defending?" He mocked. "I think it's safe to say she enjoyed our encounter this morning."

A hot fury boiled up inside Athrun. This disgusting piece of filth had tried to force himself on Cagalli? Caught up in his thoughts, Athrun didn't notice Shiho's arm circle around his waist nor the way Dearka and Shinn exchanged concerned glances. Though all of them seemed just as shocked.

Kira stared at the other teen, his features still impassive before a feral smirk graced his lips.

"No, she doesn't need defending, but after she's done mangling your pretty face, I'll make you pray you'd rethought your pathetic attempts to touch her."

"Fuck you!" Shani screamed. "How dare you-."

"Now boys, are we making this kind of meeting a habit?" A voice interrupted and Athrun recognized Heine Westernfluss from their Science class. As a student teacher, he wasn't all that bad.

Kira let go of Shani and stepped back, his emotionless mask easily falling back into place.

"Sorry Mr Westernfluss- uh, I mean Heine." Kira said softly, correcting himself at the affronted look he got for not using said man's name at first. "Just friendly warnings, that's all."

Heine smiled, his green eyes sharp and calculating.

"Well, let's try to keep these warnings at a minimum, alright?" He said and turned to Shani with the same large grin even though the teen was glaring daggers at him. "Run along then, class will be starting soon."

Shani swore and stalked off, still rubbing at his shirt stained with Athrun's strawberry jam. Heine glanced at Kira and raised an eyebrow.

"Is this rescuing you thing, going to become regular?"

Kira huffed while the others wondered when the two had become such good acquaintances, they barely interacted in Science.

"I've told you before, I don't need your help."

Heine laughed.

"Aww, but I quite like the idea of having a constant damsel in distress."

Kira rolled his eyes while the boys chuckled at the description. For someone to categorize the prince of Orb as a damsel, was laughable.

Heine then turned to the rest of them.

"Wow, I didn't realize you had made friends." He exclaimed happily before his eyes landed on Shiho. He whistled. "And even a girl that's not your sister. Amazing."

Kira sighed and collected his bags that he had dropped while confronting Shani Andras.

Just what he needed…

The group stood there awkwardly, most of them not knowing what to say though Dearka was grinning like a loon.

The tanned blond threw his arm around Kira's shoulder, ignoring the tensing of the boys' muscles and the way his eyes flashed with what almost seemed to be panic.

"Oh yes Mr Westernfluss, we're turning out to be the best of buddies." He said.

"Please, call me Heine."

"Yeah, we wouldn't want you to feel old." Kira mumbled under his breath and Heine smirked.

"Exactly." He replied with a wink. "Well, I best be off. You all have a great Friday and try not to cause any more trouble. I may be awesome, but I'm not a super hero. I can't be there to save the day every time."

The orange-haired teacher waved and walked off whistling some merry tune. Dearka released Kira and laughed.

"Never noticed before, but is he always like that?"

Kira tried not to shudder at the return of his personal space and just sighed.

"If you mean his bubbly annoying, slightly airy attitude, then yes he's always like that."

"Nice." Dearka commented. "Well let's be off. Who knew you could be so vicious?"

Dearka monopolized the princes' attention all the way to class, while Athrun followed quietly behind them with Shinn and Shiho.

Deep breaths, calm down…deep breaths…

Athrun rubbed a hand across his eyes and continued his mantra all the way to class. Damn Cagalli for getting under his skin like this…

Le Creuset was late for class and since such an event had never occurred thus far, the students were making the most of their free time while they could.

Dearka, for example, was taking this opportunity to one again interrogate the silent prince of Orb, who after the display in the cafeteria this morning, was proving to be hundred times more fascinating than Dearka ever imagined, though he decided to stay away from the topic involving Shani or Cagalli.

"So what's it like being royal. I know I've asked you many times before, but you conveniently don't bother to explain every single time." He asked with a grin.

Luna was confused (having never noticed this before) but Rey had quietly told her not to get involved and she decided to just watch for now, even if what Dearka was doing, seemed weird.

The rest of the group waited for Kira's response since they were slowly adjusting to this even if they denied it, that it had become a sort of entertainment for them.

"You shouldn't interrupt people when they're spacing out." The brunet muttered without looking away from what he was writing in his exam pad. "It's rude."

Dearka laughed.

"So that's what you call it."

Kira shrugged, half-resigned to whatever it was this boy was trying to achieve with his constant questions.

"Everything needs a name, or so they say."

"Well, I think you're being rude by not answering my questions with a proper answer." Dearka responded smugly. "What do you say to that?"

"You know it's not murder if they can't find your body." Kira deadpanned, his eyes still fixed on his writing. The rest of the table tensed slightly but Dearka was now grinning madly.

"True, but if you kill me, you'll just be proving my homicidal sociopath theory we discussed yesterday, and after this morning's run in with Andras, well that's all the evidence right there, isn't it..."

Kira finally looked up and met the tanned blonde's gaze.

"Was that conversation in History or Sciences?"

"Sciences."

"Ah." The brunet said as if confirming his own thoughts, then went back to his writing.

"Does this happen a lot?" Luna asked quietly.

"Yip." Shinn answered her. "Dearka seems to have joined Cagalli's crusade in curing Kira's lacking socialization skills."

Luna frowned in thought and then smiled brightly.

"Cool."

"You don't think it's a bit weird?" Rey asked his girlfriend curiously and she shook her head.

"I think it's a good thing and Kira's not such a bad person once you look past the rough edges." She replied. "I mean, after defending his sister like how Dearka described. How can I see him only as just a moody royal with a stick lodged somewhere?"

"You can't deny that he has problems though." Athrun added, not wanting to have such contradicting thoughts regarding his odd roommate and he scowled when Luna simply shrugged.

"Who doesn't though?" She said pointedly. "None of us are without our own problems and quirks, after all."

"I don't think he's so bad." Tolle added from the seat in front of them. He had started spending a bit more time with the group considering his girlfriend was good friends with everyone. "A bit intimidating, but my friend Sai has nothing but good things to say about him."

Athrun couldn't deny that but still…part of him didn't want people giving the stoic prince glowing reviews.

He shrugged, deciding not to comment further and let the topic slide. Dearka, oblivious to everyone else and their opinions, was already moving onto a new topic.

Ten minutes later, Rau Le Creuset entered the room and voiced his displeasure at finding them not attempting to learn something despite his absence, which he explained to have been an important discipline issue that couldn't wait.

For their lack of trying to further their knowledge, he gave a pop quiz and marked it right then and there before narrating on their results and whatever he thought was a poor answer.

"And Mr Williams, your ability to add in unnecessary information and go on a tangent, really astounds me."

Said boy blushed red and stared at his desk.

"Wow, he's on a roll." Auel commented in a low voice. "Did someone shit in his coffee this morning?"

Shinn shrugged.

"Nah, I think that's how he usually is."

Rey sighed.

"Both of you shut up unless you want him singling you out next."

It seemed that the teacher had another victim in mind.

"It's been pleasing to discover that your personal problems don't affect your grades." Rau Le Creuset smirked as he handed Kira his test back.

"Yeah." Kira responded with little thought, staring at the mark just three percent short of one hundred. "It's just as pleasing to know your personal opinion of me, doesn't affect my grade either."

Rau Le Creuset's smirk gained something of an edge as he replied, his manner scathing.

"Unfortunately, there are things like morality and an ethic as a teacher to be unbiased, no matter who you are teaching."

Kira grinned sharply, something that was beginning to surprise Athrun less and mostly set him on edge.

"Well, it just goes to show you learn something new every day." The brunet said in an awed tone, laced with sarcasm. "Who would ever use the words morality and ethics in a sentence describing you?"

"Mr Atha, may I remind you that I am also in charge of discipline and won't hesitate to take required action regarding your less than polite attitude."

Kira just shrugged.

"I'm sure you would so don't let me stop you."

The bell rang and Rau Le Creuset stalked away without another word.

"I wonder what that was about." Athrun murmured as Kira strode past them.

"I know Le Creuset can be a pain but what the hell was that?" Dearka asked.

"Cagalli says it's because they don't get along." Luna said, glancing up from the process of packing away her belongings and when she saw their puzzled expressions, went on to explain. "I asked her about it sometime last week, after thinking it strange for a teacher to have such a vendetta against a student for what seemed like no reason."

"Why did you ask?" Athrun questioned.

Luna shrugged.

"I figured if you wanted to know anything about Kira that was the honest truth, then Cagalli is the person to ask." She said. "And I was curious."

"So, which version do you prefer?" Luna quietly asked her boyfriend as they sat together in his room. Shinn had been kind enough to give them some time on their own before they had to pack for the weekend. "When they fought, or this strained air of hostility?"

"The fighting." Rey answered immediately as he looked down to where she lay cuddled in his arms. "At least it was entertaining. Now we have to walk on eggshells with them."

Lunamaria smothered a laugh.

"Yeah, else they'll take out their sexual frustration for one another on us or some innocent bystanders."

Rey snorted.

"Yzak already does that, so what's your point?"

Luna thought about then laughed.

"True. I think Shiho secretly enjoys his abrasive attitude."

"Hopefully, they'll solve their issues soon." Rey said and glanced at the time. They still had a few minutes so he pulled Luna on top of his and smirked at her surprised gasp. "But for now, I'd like to focus on a more important matter Ms Hawke."

Luna batted her eyelashes with feigned innocence, answering in a voice that was anything but innocent.

"Oh really?" She queried. "And what would that be?"

Rey pulled her down and claimed her lips for a heated kiss before letting her go.

"Must I explain further?"

Luna cupped his face, hovering just above his lips with a teasing smile.

"I think so, after all, I didn't quite get what you were implying."

"So, I heard from Luna that you promised a dance to Stella on Saturday night." Rey inquired casually from his bed, where he was reading. Luna had left so they could get their packing finishes and since he was done, all he had to do now was wait for Shinn.

Shinn froze and looked up from where he was attempting to locate a specific shirt from the black hole he called a cupboard.

How would Luna know? And why would she tell Rey? Then again, it's not like it was a major secret and Stella had most likely told all the girls, then there was the fact that Luna and Rey were dating and never kept secrets from one another…

Shinn huffed.

"So?" He questioned, stopping his internal panic attack before it progress any further. Rey thought his raven-haired friend sounded defensive…or was he nervous?

"Just asking, it's been a while since you actively asked a girl anything."

Shinn blushed and resumed his searching. Rey frowned thoughtfully then his eyes widened.

"Do you have a crush on Stella?" He asked curiously.

"What?" Shinn stammered, his red-eyes widening. "Uh, no it's not like that…I mean she is cute and she has nice eyes but why would I- what I mean is…uh…" The raven-haired teen trailed off as he blushed profusely, then he sighed in defeat. "Is it that obvious?"

Rey laughed.

"Yes, yes it is." He told his best friend. "But don't worry, I have a feeling she may like you as well."

Shinn grinned hopefully.

"Serious?"

Rey shrugged and returned to the book he had been reading.

"Well, it's not as if she isn't discouraging you."

That's true, Shinn thought happily, remembering the pink blush that dusted Stella's cheeks when he asked her to save him a dance on Saturday. The pink had clashed wonderfully with her magenta eyes.

Rey smirked at his friend's sappy expression and sincerely hoped he never looked that way when with Luna.

Yzak banged on the bathroom door for what seemed like the hundredth time in the last ten minutes.

"Dearka, what the fuck are you doing?" He yelled, finally losing his patience and honestly not caring if anyone heard or reported him. With these last few days finally catching up with him and this strange friction he and Shiho had going on, it was a wonder he hadn't lost his mind yet. "It's time to leave and I still need some things from the shower. You've been in there forever you prick-"

There was a clatter of what sounded like glass and Yzak froze mid-sentence.

"Dearka?" He called. "Are you ok?

No answer and only the sound of running water.

"Dearka, open the door."

The sound of water stopped and then the bathroom door edged open slowly. Dearka's tired eyes met his and Yzak glanced only briefly at the scene of broken glass from the mirror and red water in the basin.

"Can you get the first aid kit?" Dearka asked quietly and Yzak nodded before leaving the room.

Once they had cleaned up the mess and Dearka's hand had been properly wrapped, Yzak fixed his friend with a meaningful stare and the tanned blond sighed.

"I let my thoughts get the best of me." He explained simply while staring at the ceiling, knowing he wouldn't have to offer anything else. "Sorry if I caused any worry."

"Don't worry about it…Just…" Yzak rubbed a hand over his face before going on. "Next time, don't lock the door. You know the rules."

Dearka smiled faintly and Yzak snorted.

"Come on idiot, let's go."

Homura Kano Atha, though he was the younger brother in their family and therefore not an heir, had always known that his role would be no less important in life.

After all, who else would be there to keep his older brother out of trouble or be the one to smack sense into the Lord when he was being too obstinate?

Certainly not his Council, that's for sure.

"…Bunch of two-faced, hypocritical jackasses, that's what most of them are." He mumbled under his breath and entered the elevator that lead to his brother's office. He had been summoned just as he was packing up for the day and sincerely hoped Lord Atha had a good reason for it.

The elevator ascended mush too slowly for his taste and he began to tap his foot irritably, sighing when the door finally opened as he reached his destined floor.

Homura paused briefly at the two guards outside the door and the officer standing with them.

What on earth had happened now?

He nodded at them after flashing his identity card and entered his brothers' office which was a hive of movement and noise.

Seiran and Sohaku were both trying to speak at the same time. Lewis Halberton and Kyo Asuka from the OPD were present along with a CSI team.

Homura walked directly to his brother and flinched at the blood-stained box that lay unopened on his desk and everyone quieted down.

"What is that?"

Uzumi sighed but his eyes were sharp and angry.

"A warning from Phantom Pain."

"And?"

"They want us to leave them alone and stop our investigations into anything their group is suspected of." Kyo answered gravely. "There's apparently more information inside the box."

"Anything else?" Homura asked quietly. Threats were nothing new but gifts along with threats, that was something else entirely.

"We've scanned it for harmful substances or bombs and it's clean." Halberton murmured. "Aside from the blood, there's nothing apparently dangerous about it."

Homura met his brothers' gaze and saw the plea in his dark eyes.

"I'll open it, if that's alright?"

Halberton nodded and the room seemed to freeze as Homura ripped open the tarnished packaging and lifted the lid off of an ordinary shoebox. He dropped the lid with a horrified expression and took a step back.

There was the sound of someone emptying the contents of their stomach while Uzumi closed his eyes. Halberton was already on his phone and Kyo had pulled on a surgical gloves and was picking up the torn paper that lay on top.

"Hearts and tongues from agents who have got too close…continue meddling and more will meet the same end. You do not understand the influence we have and we hope this message is perfectly understood." Kyo recited. "We are not merciful."

Homura met his brothers' gaze once again while the CSI team began documenting everything.

"We will just have to be more careful about how we do things from now on." He said, ignoring Seiran's attempt to interrupt. "We can't allow this to go on."

Uzumi nodded.

"Schedule a meeting for early tomorrow morning. We will meet with all who are involved with the case and decide on how to proceed forward."

Homura turned and left, pulling out his phone as he strode for the elevator.

"Kisaka. Inform Mu that there will be a meeting tomorrow morning early." He said sharply, no time for pleasantries. "Also, keep a more watchful eye over the twins. I will explain everything when we meet."

Hearing an affirmative on the other end, Homura ended the call to phone the next person on his list.

So much for going home…

-O-

Kira was currently heading down to the car park, where Cagalli, Lacus and Miriallia were no doubt waiting for him to take them home.

Truthfully, he was almost nervous about this weekend. Sure, Cagalli had friends over in the past and he was no stranger when it came to seeing either Stella, sting or Auel at their home on occasion, but never had she invited people to spend the night (or in this case nights).

It was a little strange. Not in a bad way, just something he would probably have to get used to. It helped a little that they weren't a bad group of friends.

Kira smirked a bit at his own train of thoughts.

I bet they'd all love to hear my good opinion.

He sighed as he rounded another corner and finally reached the exit to where his car was parked. As expected, the girls stood amongst some of the group (it seemed Shiho and Auel had already left) chatting and laughing before they all departed for the weekend.

"About time." Cagalli complained when he drew near. "I almost thought you had left without us until I saw your car."

"Don't be so dramatic." He responded with a roll of his eyes, ignoring Shinn's laughing and how the rest all smiled. "It would be more trouble than it's worth to leave you behind. I'd never hear the end of it from you or our family."

"You're so mean." Cagalli pouted and then turned to Stella. "Tell him how mean he's being Stel."

The small blond just shook her head.

"I'm not getting involved."

"Like Kira stated, more trouble than it's worth." Sting added cheekily and Cagalli swatted his arm playfully.

"At least he's honest." Lacus giggled while smiling at Kira. The brunet shifted awkwardly and glanced at his feet.

"Are you all ready to go?" He asked.

Cagalli nodded.

"Yeah, just need to say our good byes."

She turned to the crowd and smiled.

"So, the girls are going to get together tomorrow morning and then we'll see everyone in the evening?"

"Definitely." Luna replied, linking her arm with Rey's. "What time did we decide on?"

"Seven." Miriallia said. "Not too early for the place to be empty but not too late either so we have time to enjoy the night."

"Awesome." Dearka cheered, carefully hiding his bandaged knuckles from view. "I've needed some mindless fun."

Few noticed the look Yzak sent his friend, and those that did, decided not to comment.

"Well, see you all soon." Athrun said hesitating for a moment. He had wanted a chance to ask Cagalli if she was truly alright, even though everyone had already grinded her about the Shani incident but would have to settle with what she had already given them. "If I don't leave soon, my mom is going to be impossible."

Shinn laughed.

"Tell me about it, mine already says I don't spend enough time at home and my little sister has been a nightmare."

"They're moms, it's in their nature." Meyrin joked and grabbed her bags and moved towards the cars while the others followed suit.

Kira eyed the cars appreciatively as each respective owner made its way towards them, knowing a good machine when he saw one. Despite his issues with the group, he was rather glad they had good taste…although he would always prefer his own vehicles above all.

"And?" Cagalli grinned, poking his ribcage suddenly.

"And what?" He asked, confused.

Cagalli rolled her eyes.

"Don't deny it. I can tell when you are dissecting cars."

Kira fought a blush as all eyes swiftly trained on him.

"Dissecting?" Shinn questioned with a cheeky grin and Kira inwardly groaned.

"You're right Shinn, it does sound like a fetish." Luna laughed.

"It's not." Kira murmured through gritted teeth and stalked off, calling to the girls as he did. "Hurry up or you can all walk."

Miriallia whistled.

"Someone's grumpy." She said with a cheeky grin.

Cagalli laughed.

"And we have the whole weekend to drive him nutty." She said. "Isn't it fantastic?"

Lacus giggled and shook her head fondly. Poor Kira…

The group parted ways and now the weekend could really begin.

A/N: NOTE! Not entirely happy with chapter. Most likely will undergo edit as some point just to refine the flow of the chapter.

I'm trying to add in subtle time skips because more apparent ones will be happening soon. I am also adding in short scenes just to give more character interaction and thoughts between them. It's hard keeping track of everyone, especially because I have so many main characters. However I am trying and I hope that effort shows.

I hope it's not too confusing. I also apologise for Athrun's confusing emotions and constant idea changes. He' very conflicted.

Also, remember I have never attended a university or college officially. I do all studies online or through home-based courses, so if stuff does not feel accurate, I apologise.

Lastly, it will be a short while (I will try not to take too long) before the next chapter is up. I want to catch up with the rest of my stories and maybe write ahead so that you guys don't wait so long for updates.

Chapter title inspired by Breathe Today by Flyleaf and Never Too Late by Three days grace..

Please review.