Staircase to Heaven

Disclaimer: I don't own this and don't make money from writing this.

AN: Ever since I have seen the first picture drama of S1, I wanted to write something concerning Lelouch, Nunally and Suzaku's childhood. This fanfiction will begin from the point where Lelouch and Nunally see their new home for the first time, meet Suzaku, and will follow them during their times together. I am not sure where this will go, yet I will think about something along the way. But I am sure there will be no Geass. Hence, the events caused by it won't happen here.

There will probably be some Shounen-ai in the beginnings which I plan to evolve into yaoi as the boys get older, but you'll wait for it, since I will have to formulate a plot for it :D

This first chapter is mostly the retelling of the events from the first picture drama of the S1...

Chapter 1

Lelouch tried to relocate his sister's weight on his back to a more comfortable position to carry her more easily. His back was fine but his arms and legs were shaking no matter how much he tried to suppress the burning ache that strained his muscles.

Every single step he took upon the seemingly never-ending stairs his breath came raggedly and small drops of sweat were glistening on his pale face and neck. He was tired. He was so tired that all he could do was looking at his own steps, not daring to count them or look ahead to see how far he had to go.

At least his sister was asking questions to keep his mind off of the task he volunteered to undergo himself.

"A shrine?"

"Yes, it is the Japanese equivalent of a church, Nunally..." he rasped.

"Is the Pope the Emperor of Japan?"

Though he was crushed under the strain, he couldn't help uttering a small chuckle to his sister's sweet naivety.

"No, Nunally... Japan doesn't have an Emperor. The person who gets selected during an election becomes the Prime Minister. It is by coincidence that the Prime Minister Kururugi's personal residence is a Shinto Shrine."

She couldn't know, could she? She had lost her eyes and thus the means to learn from common methods all too early. Yet, she was not only blind but also her legs were crippled. Hence, he was carrying her on his back, not letting any of the Japanese guards to touch her who were sent by the Prime Minister. He stubbornly shouldered her weight, always reminding himself that he was enough to be her eyes and her legs whenever she needed him. She was all he had left, so he was not about to leave her to the care of the strangers in this stranger land that was so far away from their home.

"Onii-sama, are you alright? These stairs seem to be fairly long?" Her worried voice asked him near his ear.

Though his brow furrowed, he tried to lace his voice with aloofness to cover how tired and rasped it sounded.

"Oh, this is nothing, I can handle it..." He assured his sister with a smile in his voice and swallowed harshly. If I can't do at least this much for you, then what am I good for?

He stepped the old stairs with renewed vigor, holding her unfeeling legs under his arms more securely. Her tiny arms around his neck tightened a little bit in response as if to give courage to him and he smiled as the stairs slowly let him to a forest-like garden which was not well-kept and was let astray into the hands of the mother nature to do as She pleased with it.

He placed her in to her wheelchair that one of the guardsmen carried up and started to follow the men on the stony path that was obscured by untended lawn. Everywhere was covered with high trees and long forgotten pathways. It was not unpleasant to the eye, but Lelouch immediately understood that to where ever they were going, somehow it had to be away from the main residence of the Prime Minister.

After sometime they spent on the obscure stone pathways, they reached a clearing which was bordered by yet more trees; there he saw their new home.

Lelouch felt himself speechless. The place was a rundown small storeroom which was apparently not used for at least five years. The main door was of wood and ajar, baring the equally dark and forsaken state of the interiors. His heart clenched and involuntarily his eyes blurred with tears. He swallowed yet again, reminding himself that he had to be brave for his sister if not for himself.

The guardsmen placed their few luggage at the door and left them like that without a word. Lelouch didn't even spared them a glance. He knew... They were now alone in every sense that the word implied. A forsaken house for forsaken children... Their new home seemed like the embodiment of their fate.

"Are we there yet, Onii-sama?" Nunally's sweet voice interrupted his down spiraling thoughts. He gripped the handles of the chair tightly and started to wheel her into the house.

"A... Y-Yes... Nunally." And he quickly got frustrated with the way he sounded. He had to be brave... He had to be...

"What kind of a room is it? How is the new home for Onii-sama and I?"

New home... A lump sank in his throat at the way how Nunally's voice held bright hope... Eyes, her eyes... For the first time after that event, Lelouch was somewhat glad that she was unable to see the wretchedness of the situation they were abandoned to... He could be her eyes, right? He could see what she wished to see, and he would carry the burden of seeing the truth by himself...

"It is a wonderful place..." He blurted, enthusiastically putting a smile in his voice.

"The walls are white as snow, and there are windows with flower decorations." He couldn't help but cringe as he lied to her deliberately. It somehow didn't feel alright even though he was lying for Nunally's sake.

"Sounds like Euphie Nee-sama's room..." She chirped, pleased.

"Yes... But it is a bit small." told Lelouch truthfully. "But, since it is only you and me, we..." He suddenly stopped, his ears catching the sound of soft pitter patters of foot steps on the second story of the storeroom. Who could be there?

"Who is it?" Lelouch asked, his voice quickly assuming an aggressive edge. "You over there, come out!"

"Don't speak so arrogantly!" Came an equally aggressive and challenging voice from above and a child clad in a traditional gray kimono and dark blue hakama slowly descended from the wooden stairs.

"This room used to be mine, after all..." Said the child with an air of superiority around him.

"Yours?" Lelouch looked up at the kid who regarded him with distaste, head held high.

"So the Brittanians are really shameless..." The boy remarked. "Do you intend to colonize Japan, too?" It wasn't a question, the boy spoke as if he was stating the obvious. Lelouch was momentarily at a loss of words, his mind not able to grasp why this boy knew who they were. Then it clicked as if a piece of puzzle falling into its place.

"Japan is trying to enforce dominance as well." Lelouch argued. "You enforce sanctions to the countries you deal with." He was not trying to defend Brittania, but the boy before him had to have thought so since he stood speechless for a few seconds, unable to counter his argument.

By now Lelouch's voice was devoid of its initial aggressiveness and he looked at the Japanese boy without any menace. To assert that he didn't approve either side's actions, he told,

"In this aspect, Japan and Brittania aren't very different from each other."

Yet, the Japanese boy didn't back down from his ground. "Lies!" He blurted, rekindling the baseless animosity between them.

"They are not lies!" Lelouch countered. "Try asking your father."

"You are a liar!" The boy declared. "What is this about the white walls?"

Nunally's small surprised gasp made Lelouch see red. He was... He was not a liar... Not like the adults who twisted their ways around a world of lies they created with their own hands... He was... Just for Nunally's happiness...

"Where are the decorated windows in this storeroom?"

"Stop it!" Lelouch shouted in alarm, without even thinking, he attacked to the Japanese boy intend on stopping him from further destroying the illusion he created for his sister.

But the boy threw a well aimed punch at his face in an instant, making Lelouch collapse at his feet breathless. It was not hard to figure out that he was no match for the boy as he sprawled on the dirty dusty floor trying to get up.

Yet, that didn't seem to cool down the anger of the boy and he continued to kick Lelouch without holding back, not letting him to regain his footing.

"How is that, you Brittanian bastard? Don't look down on the Japanese!"

Lelouch's already tired body strained itself against the abuse as he tried to shield himself from the blows which hurt like hell. This was the first time he experienced bodily humiliation but despite himself he shouted,

"S-stop it!" But blows came down all the more forcefully, making him gasp for a tiny bit of air.

"You barbarian!" The boy was insulting, unaware of how his cruel kicks were proving him to be the real brute there.

"Please stop!" Nunally pleaded from her seat, grasping the armrests of the chair as if she was dying to stand up to go to her brother's aid.

"I don't know who you are, but I'll do anything you tell me..." She offered in urgency with tear drops shining on the corners of her eternally closed eyes.

The boy stopped, his interest quickly drawn to Nunally and felt surprised, realizing her situation for the first time.

"You...Don't tell me you can't see..." His voice betrayed a flicker of uncertainty and shame.

"Yes... So please don't be alarmed. I can't do anything... Whether it is fighting or running away. That's why..."

Lelouch felt sick upon hearing the surrender in her voice and he tried to get up to go for her. He was the big brother here, damn it... She... It wasn't meant for a little sister to defend her fallen brother.

But the boy was no longer a threat, he seemed completely baffled, shame and guilt written all over his face.

"Then..." He murmured, not knowing what to say as his fists trembled and his eyes darted around frantically.

"I- I am sorry!" He blurted and left the storeroom in a tottery hurry leaving Lelouch and Nunally to themselves as if running away from something.

"Onii-sama, are you alright?" Nunally asked, her body language screamed how agitated she was for being unable to stand up to go and help her brother.

"Onii-sama?"

Oh, it was so very hard to smile as if nothing had happened, just for making sure that Nunally didn't feel anxious for him.

"I am fine, Nunally. Don't worry for me. It was nothing serious." He assured her as he shakily got up from the ground not even bothering to dust himself off, for the was terribly bruised and every muscle in his body was screaming.

"Who was that person, he sounded like a child..."

Lelouch sighed and approached her to take her further into the house as best as he could.

"Most likely... Kururugi Suzaku... The child of the Prime Minister."

Nunally turned back and rested her hand on her brother's.

"He... What if he hurts you again?"

His eyes narrowing down, Lelouch held her hand tightly.

"Don't worry yourself with things like that... And... I don't think that he will ever come here again. His face was so troubled when he left here."

Nunally didn't tell anything and he stopped the chair in the middle of the room.

"I will bring in our luggage." He informed her and went out slightly limping. He took in the two packs with much difficulty but didn't even utter a single complaint. There were things to do for him before he could even dream of taking a rest. He closed the creaky old door and looked at the storeroom with a new eye.

"You must be tired, Nunally... I will arrange your bed for you to rest."

Nunally's head was bowed, her face seemed sad in the dim light of the room.

"Onii-sama... What kind of a place is this... really?" She asked causing his heart to sink.

"That boy... He said..."

Lelouch's hand went to the side of his face, unconsciously nursing his swelling cheek. His eyes shimmered with rapidly collecting tears as he remained silent.

"I don't care, Onii-sama." She whispered with determination. "Even if this place is the worst place on the whole world, I don't care... Since I know you are here with me, since I have you by my side, I don't care."

Lelouch quickly wiped the fallen tears from his face, hiding the fact that her sincerity could undone him so easily.

"So tell me Onii-sama, what kind of a place is this?" Lelouch went to her side, sitting on the floor. She quickly reached for him and without further invitation, Lelouch dropped his head on her knees. As her small fingers treaded among his black locks he found his voice.

"This is a two story storeroom, Nunally." His voice was that of a story teller's. Soft and comforting yet far away... "It seems that it was not used for a long time. Everywhere is covered with dust and dirt." Her fingers never ceased their soothing caress even though he choked on his words.

"There are boxes here and there, I will remove them or use them as tables. And there are two windows on our left and right. There is no illumination. It is dim here. I will ask for candles and lamps." He sighed. "I think we can use upstairs as our bedroom, I will look if there are beddings. Maybe I can even cook our own meals here, since there is an old chimney here on the left side. That Suzaku boy said that he had been using here before us, so I believe there must be a toilet and bathroom somewhere here, maybe upstairs..."

He stopped again fighting back his tears. This was so cruel. To treat two small abandoned children in this way was so cruel. Yet what did he expect? They were political hostages here, not guests of honor. Nevertheless, knowing that they were by themselves against a world where they knew simply nothing about, left into the mercy of the strangers was such a hard blow for Lelouch that his insides were burning with hatred and fury.

"So we are alone..." Murmured Nunally, uttering the painful truth.

"We have only each other." Confirmed Lelouch biting his lower lip.

"But I have my Onii-sama." Nunally smiled down at him and Lelouch felt that if there was anything left for to continue this hopeless struggle of theirs, then his life line was Nunally's smile. He would do anything for her smile to survive in this desolate place.

"Rest, Onii-sama. You must be hurting." She said affectionately.

"I will... Once I put this place into a little order."

And he got up from the floor, leaning into place a kiss on her head, earning a small giggle from her. This gave him enough energy and courage he needed. So he started to look around to get to know the place better.

Upstairs, he found two beddings that the Japanese called futons. They were comfortable enough and new. There was a box near the pile and he opened it to find a pair of blankets, sheets and small pillows. The bathroom and the toilet was upstairs as he guessed. The taps were working. There was a small window on the ceiling which opened to the sky, providing at least a small amount of illumination.

He went down the wooden stairs and they creaked under his steps. Nunally was following his every movement as he talked about what he found here and there, his voice trying to lift up the heavy feeling that surrounded them before.

There was a board under the flight of stairs, still accommodating some porcelain plates and glasses. In the further left end of the room, there was a table and a few chairs which seemed damaged. Across them was a washbasin and more cupboards with something seemed like a small kitchen island. And the chimney near them was placed high enough to cook and large enough to provide warmness in the winter.

Lelouch smiled heartily for the first time since they came in the house. The place was old, covered with accumulated dust and dirt, with torn spider webs and deserted unnecessary furniture, but it seemed like a place which was good enough to allow a small family to reside in. Maybe he couldn't provide Nunally with somewhere like their half sister Euphemia's room, but he certainly could turn this place into a home of sorts.

As Lelouch bubbled about what he would do first and then next in a voice full of hope, his sure foot steps echoing in the darkness around her, Nunally tried to hide her tears by quickly wiping them away with the back of her trembling hand. She was aware of everything, the way they were deserted by their family, the way that they were treated here... But, she knew she had to be strong for her Onii-sama, smile for him, encourage him, for he was the one who faced the harshness of the world in her place, too.

As she nodded her head to his quickly forming plans, she gripped her legs, hoping that the strength that was stolen from her in that incident was bestowed to her brother's heart.

She was a lucky little girl, for she had such a brave, strong, loving big brother...

TBC...

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