Hello all! Welcome to another one of my new AsuCaga fics. I'm easing my way back into writing and thought short fics would be a perfect way. I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1

Athrun's hands tapped rapidly across the keyboard; his eyes scanned the screen at a pace that would seem eerie to most. He stayed that way, slouched over in the cockpit of the Strike Rouge, for hours. Moments ago, the orphaned children entered the hangar noisily, hoping he'd stop and play with them, but their efforts were in vain. Not too long after their departure, Lacus had walked in carrying a paper bag and a radiant smile.

"I brought you lunch," she had told him.

Athrun had looked down and smiled at her.

"Would you like to join me? Maybe you, Kira and I could eat together. I think that—"

"Thank you," he had told her, "but maybe tomorrow."

She kept her smile, but even from the distance Athrun could see the disappointment in her eyes She had silently placed the bag on the table by the foot of the Gundam before taking her leave.

Athrun's eyes began to drift to the bag below. He stared at it for a couple of minutes before heaving a sigh and carefully climbing down Strike Rouge. He walked over to the table and opened the bag. Peering inside, he saw an apple, a sandwich wrapped in plastic, and something wrapped in foil. He took the foil covered item out of the bag and began twirling it between his fingers before unraveling it.

Inside were two pieces of jerky. Athrun sniffed them. One had a sweet aroma and one— the one covered in orange, red seasoning— smelled peppery. Athrun smiled before taking a bite of the former piece.

"I would have gone for the spicy."

Athrun quickly turned around. No one was behind him.

"Up here."

He looked up and there she was, sitting on Strike Rouge's shoulder. As usual, she was bare, translucent, with light emanating from and around her.

"If I could, I would share with you," Athrun said.

She grinned.

"I was wondering when you would appear, Cagalli."

Cagalli stood up and floated down to him. She stared at the jerky before looking him in the eye.

"Do you remember the day we ate them?"

Athrun sighed.

"I wonder if coordinators fear spicy food."

He stared at her with a sullen look on his face.

"I really miss the taste of food."

There was silence.

"You know I can't stay long, why don't you say—"

"Cagalli, I…"

He reached out to grab her, but his hand went through her arm. A chilly, tingling sensations, almost like static, ran through Athrun's hand. He stared at it, mouth agape. His shoulders slumped and he looked to the ground, defeatedly.

Cagalli frowned as she watched him. Feeling a deep sadness course through her soul, the white aura around her turned a blue reminiscent to the daytime sky. She slowly lifted her arms and cupped his face in her hands. The contact was cold to touch, but, even so, Athrun felt warm inside. For a while, they stared into each other's eyes.

"This cuts my time short," she sounded winded.

Athrun nodded, "I know."

Was it worth it? He thought.

He felt that, in a way, it was. He could not touch her, a realization he came to over and over again, but, with the strength she was given, she sometimes could touch him, and when she did, for that moment, he felt at peace.

"Athrun?"

He opened his eyes, not realizing that he had closed them. She was fading now. The air sparkled whenever she did. The chill on his cheeks faded along with her.

"I don't want you to go." His eyes stung.

She pouted.

"You know what you have to do."

"No I don't!"

"Yes you do," she said. "You have to find a way...and soon—"

She was gone.

Athrun wanted to drop to his knees and scream, but how many times was he going to do that? It wouldn't fix anything.

"I know what to do, huh?" he turned and leaned on the table. "I don't! I do not know how I am supposed to bring you back, I just don't…"

Tear drops stained the wood under him. He swung the jerk across the room. Leaving his lunch at the table, he climbed up the Gundam, sat in the head's cockpit and began to type.

This is another drabble/flash fic, just so you have an idea of the chapters. Hope my writing and/or chapter didn't suck. Please leave a review!

Until next time...xoxo.