Stage Zero The Stolen Mask

The morning sunlight shines through the open curtains of a single dorm room at Ashford Academy. A beautiful teenage girl lies underneath a wrinkled sheet wrapped around her body. Her wavey blonde hair covers some of her face while it almost seems as if she were a sleeping beauty. The girl let out a groan while she moved her hand to her forehead brushing hair out of her eyes. "It's morning already?" Her eyes blink showing their exotic jade green color while her forearm moved to her forehead. Her eyes stare out the corner at the small digital alarm clock on the nearby desk. "I guess I should get ready…" The girl rolls out of the bed holding the white sheet to her body while creeping slowly to the closet. The sheet drops to the ground while she reaches pulling out a towel and a school uniform. The girl looks hesitantly at the clock while she walked to the door.

The teenage girl leaps out of the dormitory entrance holding her school bag over her chest while she sprints alongside the large courtyard of the campus. A few teachers look over and yell from the distance. "Don't run on campus!" The teenager let out a laugh and rushed up the steps to the main school building. Her shoes tap against the floor while she flies down the hallway.

The door slides open revealing the class just starting, and the girl was hunched over completely out of breath from the run. "You're late again Ms. Avalon." Everyone stares over while some of the class members laugh. Lelouch stares over at the girl, and lets out a smile while turning a page in his notebook. "Please take your feat." The teenage girl bowed her head, and rushes over to the desk at the back of the room. "You didn't wake me up Shirley." Shirley holds up her finger and moves it in a nagging fashion. "If I woke you up you wouldn't have learned your lesson. You need to start setting your alarm clock…" She pauses and stares at her hair. "Did you even have a chance to shower Feite?" Feite groans under her breath, and lets out a smile to her classmate. "No, I didn't have enough time since you didn't wake me up properly." The teacher clears his throat and glares over at the pair. "Shall I being class you two?" Feite salutes and laughs to herself. "Sorry sir."

During a small break, Feite looks over at the new transfer student everyone was chatting about. She packs her things into her book bag and stood out of her seat. A few of the students turn to catch a glimpse at Feite approaching his desk. "So you're its relieving to have another irregular person at this school for a change." Suzaku looks over at Feite with confusion in his eyes. "I see…" She put her hands on his desk and leaned into him stopping a few inches from his face. "I'm Feite Avalon, it's nice to meet you. Kururugi Suzaku…." Suzaku jumps from embarrassment while the class turns over with a more intense gaze. "Yes, it's a pleasure, but call me Suzaku please."

In the back of class Nina shakes in fright seeing the two talk to each other. "What's wrong Nina you look so scared." Shirley looked over while also staring over at Feite talk over to Suzaku. Nina looked at the two once more and played with her handkerchief. "He's an eleven, and she's an exile." Rivalz let out a sigh, "He's an honorary Britannian, and you should stop calling Feite that. It's the reason you two don't get along." Shirley let out a nod and crossed her arms. "You should go talk to him, he doesn't look like a terrible person Feite is doing it." She takes a step only to have Rivalz stop her. "You're too direct."

Lelouch stands up from his seat, and starts to walk off towards the doorway. Feite turns around quickly and grins. "Where are you off to?" Lelouch looks back, and holds his hand to her. "I'm going out for a breath of fresh air. Do you want to follow me?" He pans across the room, to catch Suzaku's gaze at him. Lelouch adjusts his collar, while Feite grabbed her bag. "No, I have to talk to someone." She glared at Nina and walked towards her. "Very well…"

Shirley walked in front of Feite while she simply brushed past her. "Feite, please calm down." She held her hand only for it to be shaken away by Feite. Rivalz stood in front of Feite and shook his head. "Feite calm down, what is wrong with you?" Feite glared up at Rivals and spoke in a cold and antagonizing tone. "Get out of my way Rivalz." Rivalz shook his head while Feite grabbed him by the collar. "Are you defending someone that called me an Exile?" Her hand pulled back while Suzaku grabbed her by the wrist. "Please don't fight each other. We all have our opinions, and fighting won't solve anything." The entire class looked over while Feite releases Rivalz and turned around quickly. "What ever you say Kururugi…"She pulled her arm from him and walked out the doorway.

On the rooftop, Feite pushes the door open and growled loudly. "Damn that Nina, if only she wasn't always protected by those two!" Lelouch looked back at Feite, and shook his head. "That word is still taboo isn't it Feite?" Feite walked over to the railing, and leaned over with her face still full with anger. "Yes, it's annoying because like you I'm not allowed to visit my family or do anything on the mainland." Lelouch sighed, "because of that incident at the Royal Academy? You still won't tell me about it will you?" Feite crossed her arms, and turned her head away from him. "You don't need to know about it Lelouch."

Suzaku steps onto the rooftop, and looks over at the arguing pair. Lelouch let out a smile while turning to the approaching Suzaku. "It's been seven years since I used this signal." Suzaku steps in between Lelouch and Feite mimicking the gesture. "Let's talk on the roof." Lelouch turns over to Feite, and then back at Suzaku.

"Feite why were you acting so annoyed in the class room, why did she call you Exile?" Lelouch held his hand up while Feite turned her back to him. "Don't say that word Suzaku." Her hand shook while Suzaku stood in confusion. "Why do you call you that?" Feite shook her head and turned back around. "Suzaku, leave it at there, the subject is sensitive and you don't want to provoke Feite any more then you already did." Suzaku let out a sigh, and placed his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry; I won't say that word to you Feite." Feite exhaled and gripped the railing tightly. "You've grown up so much Suzaku…you still have that gallant persona." Suzaku turned towards the view of the settlement and nodded. "Yes, and you've changed a lot…" He blushed for a moment while staring at Feite's adult body. "Don't get perverted on me Suzaku, I'm not that type of person, or rather I'm too aggressive for anyone at this school. People are starting to think I'm Lelouch's mistress." Lelouch turned over with a scowl on his face. "Shut up…" The three started to laugh while the reminisced about old times.

Feite took a few steps off and stopped. "Feite what did you do after you left Japan when the war started?" She looked over her shoulder at Suzaku, and sighed. "I guess there's no keeping it away from you. I went to the Royal Military Academy…." Suzaku gasped while Lelouch nodded. "Yes, but don't ask anything else about it Suzaku." Feite reached into her pocket and pulled out her cell phone. "Hello?" She walked off across to the other side of the rooftop.

Suzaku turned back to Lelouch. "I'm glad you're safe." Lelouch looks at Feite talking across the rooftop and nodded. "It was all thanks to you for covering for me…" Suzaku leaned on the railing and shook his head. "No, I was just paying a debt from seven years ago." His eyes widen while turning back to Lelouch. "What about that girl? You know the one that was inside the capsule." Lelouch moves his hand through his hair, and shakes his head. "We got separated in the fray. Wouldn't you know more about it then me?" Suzaku once again shook his head with a saddened expression stretched across his face. "No, the only ones that knew about was the Special Forces, but they were all found dead."

"Okay, I'll be there in a while…" Feite paused for a moment and rubbed the back of her head. "Looks like I have to speak to the principal again." Lelouch shook his head while Suzaku looked over at her. "Again?" Feite closed her cell phone, and put her hands on her hips. "It seems someone told the principle about my escapade against Nina earlier today." She paced slowly over to the doorway, and sighed while placing her hand on the edge of the frame. "I'm getting sick of this place Lelouch….I feel like a bird with her wings clipped." She disappeared into the school while Suzaku looked back at Lelouch.

Several hours quickly pass by with Feite walking out of the detention room with her bag resting over her shoulder. She held a discontent glare on her face while down the hall Milly stood with Shirley and Nina. "What do you guys want?" Milly looked forward with an intense look on her face. "Nina, do you have something to say to Feite?" Nina took a step forward, and looked up at Feite with a hint of fright forming on her brow. "I'm…." Feite let out a grin and walked over with her hand moving forward. Nina's body locked up while Feite poked her in the center of the forehead. "Don't call me Exile anymore…" Milly let out a smile, while Shirley let out a sigh while holding her chest. "You almost made me have a heart attack." Nina looked up while Feite smiled back at her. "I'm sorry for what a said." Feite put her hands against her hips and laughed. "Don't worry about it…"

Feite walked off with her hands tucked into her skirt pockets. Due to having detention Feite would neglect going to the Track and Field club for the day. She casually strolled off while the others went to perform their club duties. A teacher walked by and paused to see Feite walking nonchalantly nearby. "Oh Ms. Avalon, I wanted to ask you something would you mind becoming the class representative? You have the grades, and everyone respects you." Feite shrugged her shoulders and sighed. "I don't know, but I'll think about it." The teacher held up his hand and waved. "Good, I'll wait for your answer and have a good day."

She exhaled softly, and continued down the pathway to spot a black cat walking effortlessly around the campus. "Huh?" The small cat wore a helmet on its head while it pranced around the campus with Lelouch chasing after it. "Wait a minute that mask looks so familiar." Feite stretched her arms out while she bent over several times. "I'm going to get that cute cat for myself! I'm not the lead track star for nothing!" Feite dashed off with her shoes tapping on sidewalk while she rushed after Lelouch. "Lelouch what are you chasing after?" Lelouch looked over at Feite while he hobbled around. "A cat, but you don't need to…" Feite waved her hand to him and past him quickly. "Later Lelouch!"

Feite rushed into the school building, and skidded through the hallway past a pair of girls. "That cat was just wearing a Zero mask?" The other girl shook her head while Feite overheard the two. "Zero's mask? That's even more interesting that cat is mine!" Feite turned around the corner and a janitor turns to her. "Hey don't run on the…." Feite's eyes widen while she slips and falls on her back. The Janitor looks over and covers his eyes. Feite rubbed her side while the cat rushed off somewhere. "Ouch my butt…." She looked down and gasped while she pushed her skirt back down.

Lelouch entered seconds behind Feite, and rushed past the corner after using his Geass on the pair of students. "Ouch that's going to bruise…" Feite got to her feet and looked around while Lelouch came into sight. "Feite, wait a minute!" Feite shook her head while Lelouch used his Geass. The janitor stood stationary while he fell under the effect. Lelouch growled while Feite bolted off after the cats presumed location. "Clean up the mess!"

Feite rushed down the hallway while she pouted from her wet uniform. "This is president Milly Ashford of the Student Council. It's a cat!" Feite came to a stop while her shoes squeaked on the polished floor of the hallway. "How does Milly know about?" Milly's voice continues to play over the PA system. "Catch the cat that is running through the school right now! All club activities will be canceled temporarily. Any clubs that participate will have their funding increased. Also there's a super reward for anyone that catches it! A kiss from a student council member!"

Moments quickly pass while Feite looks over her shoulder and caught her breath while she lost track of the cat. She looks around while a loud uproar overcame the schools. Her eyes widen while several girls bump into her pushing her to the wall. "I'm going to get a kiss from Lelouch!" The girls all shouted in unison while they frantically rushed through the hallway. Feite paused while her cheeks turned red. "Wait a minute if I had caught the cat…" She shook the idea out of her head and continued on. "I can't let those other girls beat me!"

The entire school roared loudly while the students rushed in frantic search for the cat. Feite turned the corner and ran directly into Shirley. Feite fell backward, and hit the ground hard while Shirley looked over from the opposite side. "Are you okay Shirley?" Kallen looked over while Feite sat up and stared at the two. "You couldn't be possibly searching for the cat as well." Shirley sat up with blush on her cheeks. "Feite why are you chasing after it, you can't possibly want a kiss from Lelouch!" Feite let out a devious smirk while she got to her feet. "I'll ask the same why are you two after it?" Kallen's face turned red while she shook her head. "It's to protect our own kisses!"

The cat runs up the clock tower while everyone gathers in front of the building. Feite looks over with her uniform jacket wrapped around her waist. A few scratches were on her face while Shirley and Kallen stand by her. "So it looks like you three went all out to find the cat." Milly let out a laugh while staring over at Feite. "Maybe I should make an amends to the rule, I bet a lot of students would love service from you Feite-chan!" Milly wrapped her arms around Feite's neck. "What are you doing Milly stop it!"

Suzaku rushes up ahead of Lelouch gaining more ground then before. "Suzaku wait…" Suzaku looks up ahead with dedication while he passes by each step. "But the student council said to capture it." Lelouch shook his head while he started to lose his endurance. "Don't listen to her just go back I'll catch the cat." Suzaku shook his head while he pushed on ahead. "I'm better at physical activity."

Feite looked over while she stared up at the rooftop window. She held her hand over her eyes while the cat rushed out the window and into the bell tower. "There it is!" Shirley pointed up while Feite nodded. "Look at that, it's the transfer student!" Suzaku climbed out of the window and started to climb up after the lone cat. Lelouch poked his head out and started to follow only to slip. The crowd gasped while Feite readied to put herself as a cushion if her were to fall. She took a step only to catch a view of Suzaku catching Lelouch in a heroic fashion. "Phew that was close."

Nunally turned over in response to the crowd's surprised voices and looked over in Milly's general direction. She leaned over and spoke into Nunally's ear. "The transfer student just saved Lelouch from his pinch." Nunally let out a sigh of relief while Feite crossed her arms over her chest. Suzaku walked over holding the cat in his folded arms while he looked up. The crowd was still a little hesitant with Feite looking at them with a disgusted expression on her face before Shirley ran up to him breaking the tension. "Thank you for saving Lulu!" Rivals rushes up after and gives him a thumbs up. "Way to go transfer student." Milly walked up with a smile on her face. "That cat was holding something wasn't it?" Suzaku looked up lost in thought and shrugged his shoulders. "It was wearing something, but I couldn't really see. It vanished somewhere along the way." Feite put her arms behind her head and let out a sigh. "Well those were some cool moves; you seemed like some action hero saving a damsel except Lelouch is a guy…." She let out a laugh, while Shirley leaned forward with concern in her eyes. "What about Lulu?" Suzaku looked over his shoulder at the clock tower. "He said he there is something he forgot and I should head back down here first." Milly gasped and pointed her finger. "That's it, Lelouch's secret!" Feite turned her back to the large group, and started to walk off waving her hand over her shoulder. "This is boring; I'm going back to my dorm room." Milly rushed over, and grabbed Feite by her ear. "No way, you're going to stay here…"

Lelouch walked out from the shadows with a smirk on his face. "So that is what it was all about President." Feite looked over while she smacked Milly's hand off her ear. "Ouch…Milly you…" Milly puts her hands on her hips and lets out a depressed sigh. "Ah, just when I thought I'd get a weakness from you." Feite glared over and sighed. "You won't be able to get a weakness out of him; this guy is like a fortress for secrets. Trust me I tried everything to get Lelouch to crack…" Kallen takes a step forward, "Excuse me, but do you two know each other?" Nina holds her hands over her mouth and talks in her frightened voice. "But he's an eleven…" Feite glared out of the corner of her eyes, and sighed.

"We're friends…" Lelouch broke the silence while he turned over to Milly, and then Feite. "President, will you let him into the student council." The student council members gasp while Feite pouts over at the two. "At our school, you need to join a club no matter." Milly put her finger to her lips in thought, and shrugged her shoulders. "If it's a request from the vice-President I have no choice." She also turned over to Feite and wrapped her in a head lock. "Milly what the?" Milly let out a grin, "We'll also be letting this delinquent into the council as well." Nunally let out a smile, while she moved forward in her wheel chair. "I'm glad that this is resolved, you two please lend me your ears." Lelouch and Suzaku leaned forward only to have Nunally kiss the pair of on the cheek.

Hours later, Feite walked out of the assembly hall with a tug at her collar loosening the tie on her neck. She looked at the various others; some were angered, and some of the girls were in tears. Feite was in the apathetic grouping and didn't care about Clovis at all, or ever anyone in the royal family. "That was depressing…" Lelouch walked over to her and nodded. "Feite I have to talk to you, please follow me." Feite looked over at him and sighed. "What are you thinking in that perverted mind of yours?" He shook his head and grabbed her by the hand and dragged her off down the sidewalk. "Shut up, and follow me."

Around the corner, Feite leaned against the wall while Lelouch stood across from her. "Did you see the mask?" His voice was serious while Feite exhaled and waved her hand nonchalantly. "Mask, what are you talking about Lelouch. Are you trying to say something to me?" Lelouch shook his head, and glared at her. "I said did you see the mask?" His eye widened while Feite was under his Geass. Her eyes slowly lost their luster, and became jaded with a red ring around her iris. "Yes, I saw the mask, it was exactly the one that Zero the revolutionary wears." Lelouch takes a step back while he shakes his head. "I used my Geass at the wrong moment, and I asked the wrong question!" He regained his composure, and growled. "Forget everything about that Zero Mask!" His body froze, but Feite still was under his control. Lelouch let out a sigh of relief, while Feite looked at him with a shocked look on her face. "Why are we alone behind the auditorium Lelouch?" Lelouch took a few steps, and started off to the main quad. "It's nothing; I'm going back to my room." Feite stood in shock while she rubbed her forehead. "What just happened?"