Painful Memories

Author's note: This is all happening after the death of Euphie…so if you haven't gotten that far in the series…sorry for the spoiler…

Walking solemnly down the school stairs all I can see are my black shoes and my uniform. Even though the girl I love is gone, I still go on.. And it's all because of that damn Geass. Euphie! Euphie!

Visions of her rushed through my head and I had to fight to hold the tears back. Rivalz showed up in front of me and was waving his arms wildly. I sighed as he started yelling, "Suzaku, we have an emergency meeting right now!"

"I can't make it. Sorry."

"What!? We need you though! The prez insists on it!"

"Just make an excuse for me, would you?"

I lightly pushed him aside and continued on, my depression and anger growing within me. There was nothing I could do to not think of Euphie, the princess that I been assigned to protect. I started to swagger a bit and grabbed hold of my head.

Lelouch had been avoiding me lately and so I tended to avoid him in return. We may have been friends since childhood, but it seems as though there's a drift between us now. He shouldn't have become Zero…then maybe…we could still be

"Friends?"

I turned around. "Anya?" She said nothing and continued walking. A strange one, she is.

I sighed and continued walking, trying to keep my still painful heart from returning to the thought of Euphie. I noticed Rolo not far off and wondered what he was up to. He was carrying a rather large package seemed to be trying to hide as he snuck off with it. I should follow him…just to see what he's doing…

I followed him back into the school building and noticed he was taking the ways that Lelouch usually took to ditch class. In the end, I saw him enter the Student Council room where they were supposedly having a meeting, but Lelouch could have had Rivalz try and trick me into going there, but Lelouch had his memory wiped and replaced with fake memories, so he shouldn't even know that he has a Geass.

After he had gone into the room, I pulled it open a crack to see Lelouch, Rolo, Rivalz, Shirley, and Milly all talking. I guess it is just a normal meeting…but I need to find out what's in the box.

Rolo placed the package on the ground in front of everyone and started opening it, but everyone blocked my view, so I couldn't quite tell what was in the box. Suddenly I fell into the room and saw what all the fuss was about. They were the cat accessories that everyone had worn before.

Rivalz smiled at me and pulled out the cat body costume. "Remember this, Suzaku?"

Shirley said, "I sure do. You were certainly cute in it Suzaku."

Milly teased, "But not as cute as Lelouch was in it, right?"

Shirley blushed and Lelouch glanced her way as Rivalz put the cat ears on him. He then pushed Lelouch over to me and asked Shirley, "So…who's cuter? Suzaku or Lelouch?"

I flushed, "Hey! I thought this was an important meeting!"

Milly broke in, "This is important. We need to discover who's cuter. So let's vote! All in favor of Suzaku being cuter, raise you hands."

Rivalz interrupted, "Wait! He's not in his costume yet." He smirked and pushed me into a nearby closet. "I'm not letting you out until you get changed." He threatened.

I sighed and got undressed. As I did I heard Lelouch's voice, "Come on, Rivalz, let him out. Don't make him put on that ridiculous outfit."

I looked down into the darkness and suddenly began thinking of Euphie again. I dropped to my knees as I pulled the costume on. After I zipped it up I just sat there for a minute and closed my eyes, pondering about Lelouch and the Geass…and thinking about Euphie…once again…

Author's Note: This is a flashback

"You are my knight…but don't you think you take your job too seriously?" Euphie giggled.

"Princess!"

"Please…call me Euphie…all of my friends do." She smiled.

I knelt down on one knee and said, "Alright!"

She giggled again and pulled me up. "Please stop kneeling. We're supposed to be having fun and relaxing today, Suzaku. You said you were going to show me the school."

"And I will. We're going there right now." I smiled.

I felt a warm grasp on my hand and looked down as Euphie slid her hand into mine. She peered up at me and smiled, a small blush across her face. I turned my head the other way so as she wouldn't see that I was flushing too.

Arthur appeared out of nowhere and walked up to Euphie, rubbing his body against her leg. She released my hand and knelt down to pet Arthur.

"That cat! He hates me, yet he follows me everywhere."

"Oh I don't think this cat hates anyone." She picked him up and held him up to me and I reached to pet him, but hesitated for a moment. "Go on, Suzaku." She smiled and I reached my hand closer to the cat and he bit down on my finger.

"Ow!" I yelped and drew my finger back and blew on it. "See? I told you he hates me."

She put Arthur back on the ground and he ran off chasing a butterfly. "No…I think he just thought you were playing."

"Oh sure…defend the cat."

"If that cat was me, you would defend it." I stared at her and then started laughing. She pouted and asked, "What? Was what I said funny?"

I wiped a tear from my eye and said, "Actually…it was just the way you said it." We both smiled at each other and were lost for a moment until a loud explosion shook the ground. "Oh no! I need to get you out of here! Now!"

Author's Note: Flashback over!

That's right…Lelouch ruined it for me that time too…but at least he didn't kill her then…why…why did you kill her, Lelouch!? You put the Geass on her, so why kill her after that? Was she just a pawn to you!? You will pay!