Renewed Hearts

By S. J Scott

"We all sing a love song at the end of our days,

And here we come looking for that special one,

Although hidden deep inside that room,

the ringmaster counts the remaining hearts."

Chapter One

"It's a Love Rumor!"

Rolo stared at the young man across from him. The man was nibbling away at his toast while looking intently at a piece of news on a newspaper, he casually took a sip of his coffee, the steam rising in front of his white face fogging up his glasses. He looked up, noticing something was wrong.

"'What's the matter, Rolo?" he asked putting his coffee down.

"Nothing, Nii-san," Rolo replied looking down at his own piece of toast, "Nothing.."

Lelouch stared at his little brother in concern. He wouldn't give up.

"Are you sure? You seem down lately." Lelouch set the paper down and removed his glasses. He recently had to get glasses for reading. How could Rolo reply? Recently nightmares of two years ago have haunted him. Also with the company of nightmares of three years ago. All those things that had happened. When Lelouch had left him. Or when he had killed Nunnally that one night. Then he had shot Lelouch. His precious Lelouch. That's right, HIS Lelouch. He almost laughed inside as he though how wonderfully things worked out. After his little stunt He took Lelouch away. He hid him. And then, like a charm, Lelouch fell sick thanks to being shot 5 times. He was rushed to the hospital and Rolo had made sure his identity as Lelouch Vi Brittannian had been erased. Along with Nunnally. Although still at that time Lelouch had hated Rolo, but he had fallin so sick he couldn't yell at Rolo like he used to. His unknown sickness called for a spinal tap. Along came the spinal tap and something unexpected happened. Thus, bringing the two siblings to where they are now. Rolo laughed inside at his whole explanation. So He guessed, nothing was wrong. He would soon get over it. He lived in happiness with HIS Lelouch now. So, everything was good.

"Yeah, I'm sure. I've just had a hard time sleeping lately." Rolo smiled.

"Well, we must be leaving."

"Of course."

The two brothers cleared the table and set off for school. Collage, actually. Every morning as they left for collage Rolo laughed to himself remembering four years ago when his brother told him that he would rather find a job then go to collage, that he was tired of being a student. Rolo smiled to himself. He had been doing that allot lately. And yet a few years ago he would have dared to smile. He never even grinned.

The two walked slowly side by side down the side walk. Not a look or sound exchanged. The silence was still. Not the killing silence that slowly hunts one down and stabs them inside with memories long forgotten, no not that silence, but a silence of piece, of one searching for something to say on a fresh morning of a brand new day.

"Rolo-Itoto," Lelouch spoke up.

"Yes, Nii-san?"

"Can I ask you a personal question?" Rolo Paused, in any other case with anyone else, Rolo would have shook is head in disagreement, but this was out of character for Lelouch. And besides, it was HIS Lelouch asking the question, so of course he would answer.

"Sure."

"I've been hearing you allot on the phone lately, and you've been going out allot also. You also brought home loads of chocolate on valentines. Are you seeing someone?" Lelouch looked over at his short little brother. Rolo has always been rather short, Lelouch guessed he couldn't help it.

"Haha. You caught me." Rolo smiled sheepishly.

"Oh really? Whats her name?"

Rolo blushed, "Miyuki Okiwa. Shes a cute little half Japaneses Half Chinese Girl that works down at the news stand down the street."

"Sounds modest." They turned a corner.

"Yeah." Rolo looked down at his feet, "how are you and C.C-san?"

"Shes rather calm for putting together a wedding. Are you sure your gonna be okay living all by yourself?" Rolo gulped. He forgot Lelouch was moving out.

"Would you postpone the wedding if I said no?"

"Haha, nice try."

"I had to give it a shot."

"Well, Don't worry Rolo. C.C and I aren't getting married till August."

"Thank goodness its June. Ive have the time to mentally prepare." Rolo was practically crying inside.

"Rolo." Lelouch spoke softly.

Rolo looked up at his darked haired sibling, "Hm?" He looked uneasy.

"I'll never leave you, you know that." Lelouch gave him a warm smile.

"Of course. I know that. And same goes for me." Rolo smiled weakly, tears coming to his eyes. Lelouch put his arm around Rolo's small shoulders.

"Okay now, what is the matter with you?" Lelouch asked in a loud laughing manner.

"Its nothing. I'm just happy." Rolo lied.

"Okay?"

"I have been having these bad dreams of things that could happen to us. And let's just say that helped me allot. What you just said," That wasn't a lie... was it?

"Sometimes you worry me, Itoto." Lelouch squeezed him gently. Rolo smiled up at him.

Lelouch let go of Rolo as they approached the collage campus.

"I'll see you at lunch."

"Right. See you, Nii-san."

Running. He was running. From life, from love, from family. He was in panic. All alone, he ran. Crying out for someone to pick him up and hold him. He needed, wanted, someone to help him, so he ran. He was empty, He was alone. And he stood there, empty and alone. Her ghostly figure standing in front of him. She had everything he now had. She had it all. It all of it wanted her. She hid behind no lies, she didn't deceive, she smiled and it all came to her. Why couldn't he be more like her? Why was he the one who had the dust kicked in his face when all he needed was love. Now he knew what love was, thanks to her sacrifice. Suddenly she pulled out a knife. Walked up to him and slit his throat. The two most loved of his shuddering behind her cold figure. His breath quickened. his pules leaped. His heart broke. His dreams shaddered. His mind fogged. And he fell into darkness.

Suddenly his breath leaped back into his beating chest and he gasped for breath, his eyes fluttered open. All he saw around him were students at tables diligently working away as the teacher instructed them. He lifted his head, how could he have fallen asleep? Or did he sleep in the first place. Rolo didn't know.

A young girl glanced over at him. She was Asian. She had long white hair pulled up into two long pig tails. Her stunning dancing brown eyes met his. She wore a slim black shirt with a knee length black and white plaid skirt. She smiled sweetly at him, blew him a kiss, then went back to her papers. He blushed.

There was no doubt that the girl he had just revived a little piece of love from was non other then Miyuki Okiwa. This young girl though, was much more then just another pretty face. She held many trials, secrets, and mysteries. Some her own and some others. Some she hid and others she told the mere man on the street. She was and is quite a character. Her whispers falling behind the unseen curtains of fate for Rolo and Lelouch. She played the flute in the orchestra of life, the flute, a small un-important instrument or tool that can leave the most impact. She is the root of the oak tree. Although, She is still the face in the crowd, made only for Rolo Lamperouge to unmask.

He toyed with the idea of her knowing something he didn't. She could know something about Lelouch. HIS Lelouch. Or she could know something about C.C. But Rolo would never know if he didn't ask. He wondered. He had been doing that allot lately. How odd of him. That is, to wonder.

Lelouch looked on in day dream in his class. He tried to pay better attention then he did in high school and not sleep in class. He tried to get an education. But to him education was not needed. He was doing this for Rolo. His little brother. Lelouch was a Nii-san. He has to act as such. Hold a good example for Rolo. Be Ideal. He was the older one. The provider and the one too look up to. That's the only reason he went to collage. Otherwise he would have just gone on with life and married C.C. He wondered how Rolo was getting along.

Miyuki bit her nail. She did that allot. She hated the taste but did it anyway. Oh, how finals were killing her. And of course family madders weren't helping any. It was hard to fall asleep at night when your mother and father are screaming of how they screwed up so bad at life. Miyuki rubbed her eyes. That and while they yell your the one holding all your little sisters and brothers as they cry into your arms. House life was hard for this 21 year old. She would have to keep pushing threw. Keep pushing threw. I wonder how Nunnally is...