Flower of Life

C.C wondered what possessed Lelouch. He suddenly decided to go to the Ashford Academy Greenhouse with her. It was definitely for Order business because he hadn't stopped talking on his cell-phone since they got there.

She went to investigate the flowers growing on shrubbery and pots. The smell of roses scented the air. A deep breath gave her a heady feeling. She felt like she was drowning in flowers.

Lelouch snapped the phone shut. He turned to her, curious. "C.C, what are you doing? You're not allowed to pluck flowers from there."

The green-haired girl straightened up with a red rose on one hand. She lifted her voluminous hair to the side and tucked the now thornless rose into her ear. It complimented her hair; it brought out the color of her eyes. She gave him a secret smile. "I've taken the rose."

"You should follow the rules, you know." Lelouch chided as he approached her with a small frown. His violet eyes ran through her beautiful face and long hair that possessed an unnerving sensual innocence. "You should be punished for that."

C.C laughed aloud. She retorted with a sharp "If you'll find me."

The dark-haired prince stared in complete shock when C.C broke into a run. She headed towards the tangle of various flora. There was a flash of green as her hair rippled in the sunlight and then she was gone.

Lelouch smiled to himself. It became clear to him. He did not know that his witch still liked to play hide and seek. So he walked towards her direction in a leisurely place. She never failed to surprise him.

Her green hair camouflaged her well. Violet eyes scanned the surrounding flora in an attempt to locate her. She fought back giggles when Lelouch came too close. He moved on without a glance. She watched him search for her to no avail.

You won't catch me, Britannian Prince. C.C thought gleefully. She lowered herself slowly to the ground before trying to move her location. Her rear bumped into a pot of flowers that immediately fell to the floor. The sound alerted Lelouch who immediately turned towards her direction.

C.C stayed still.

The dark-haired prince walked closer and closer. Her heartbeats raced. She even held her breath. Lelouch wasn't going to find her that easily...

"Found one flower," Lelouch said calmly as he bent down and pulled her arm. She got to her feet with an indifferent expression but she was seething insider. Her golden eyes flashed. "Still thinking of running away, flower?"

"How'd you find me?" C.C asked evenly.

He reached out to tuck her stray green bangs at the back of an ear. His eyes were gentle and kind. She felt her breath catch. "What's the purpose of that game?"

"Adventure is the flower of life," she said crossly. "I don't follow rules and I don't intend to be a hothouse flower."

Lelouch's laugh sent shivers up her spine.

"I'm sorry if you were bored," he said and she couldn't take her eyes away from his amethyst gaze. "A beautiful flower should be left on its own. Roses become you, C.C."

Her cheeks burned when he leaned forward to close the inches between their faces. It was too cliche, too corny. Roses, isolation and a couple of accomplices sounded like a plot in a bad romance novel. She wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.

So C.C turned around to walk away. Lelouch laughed again. "Let's play again soon," she said over her shoulder.

His gaze never left her retreating back.

oOoOoOo

Written for warangel88 at LJ.