Disclaimer: I don't own Code Geass or any CLAMP works (including xxxHolic).
Author's Note: This is my first Code Geass story (although slightly crossover). It will follow through the consequences of a certain person's wish to give two people a second chance as well as explain how this person came up with idea and means to do that. This means chapters will take place both in alternative reality of the beginning of the first season and in the future after the end of R2. Given a chance to change the past, what will two main characters do? Knowledge of the future brings the knowledge of the consequences of every action one takes. Can they take the responsibility and still pierce fate to create the future they wish for? Or will reality prevail, people refusing to be just pieces on the chessboard?
The story will certainly include Suzaku x Euphemia, as well as some other expected or unexpected pairings (although no LelouchxKallen, sorry). Other notes, all the characters will be as much in-character as possible, which however include in my case the opinion of Lelouch as actually quite kind person who cares for his important people. Also, Lelouch has a contract to fulfill this time, even if it'll prove to be rather difficult (and you're welcomed to find a hint in the first chapter).
Finally, for people who doesn't know what xxxHolic is, I want to assure you that it won't be a serious problem. The first chapter is rather like an introduction, so you can even skip it if you don't feel like trying to understand something you're not familiar with. It just explains how the time was turned back for the ones who know the principle of the wish-granting shop and its owner with the policy of equivalent payment for the wishes she grant, and give them a little extra bonus of Yuuko-san's thoughts on the matter. Starting from chapter two the crossover part wouldn't be essential for the understanding the plot (and there won't be any crossover stuff for quite some time anyway), and it'll be just that you'll only see Geass characters' side of story while people knowing Holic would also get a little special service on CLAMP's charming characters.
Chapter 1. The Wish.
"So that is where she lives?" They stopped in front of the old-styled mansion decorated with ornaments and crescents. It's ancientry contrasted amusingly with the modernity of the buildings around it. Although it was hardly the season yet, both sakura trees around were in full bloom and flower petals were dancing on the slight wind cycling around, while outside the mansion's grounds not even the lightest breeze could be detected.
"Yes, this is Yuuko-san's shop", answered Watanuki, standing beside the person who just spoke. "As I expected, you can see it". Truthfully said, he wasn't surprised in the least. After getting to know all sort of visitors while working at Yuko's place he somehow started to get the aura that differed the people that had come to the shop from the rest, and the one standing before him had the determination needed to be given a chance to state one's wish.
"However, you cannot enter." Calm thoughtful voice belonged to the owner, Ichihara Yuuko, who had been expecting them, standing in the doorway of her mystic-engulfed house in her favorite kimono decorated with black butterflies, her pipe in her hand."Your wish cannot be granted by me. And you already know it, don't you?" She bended her head a bit on the left, her piercing eyes focusing on the other as the wind flew by, lightly disheveling her long raven-black hair.
The person, however, took that gaze on and looked back.
"My opinion differs from yours." The gaze was determined and looked into the depths of witch's crimson eyes without any trace of fear or uncertainty. "You already done that once in the past, according to the young man here. So I'm going in."
And so the line of the fence was crossed. As opposed to how Watanuki was once drawn into the mansion, this person was experiencing major difficulties with each step, as if the space itself became an obstacle, defying the sudden intruder and unwelcomed guest. But the person, same as before, did not back down and continued forward, step by step, will the wooden threshold and the sorceress standing on it were reached.
"So you're the mighty Dimensional Witch, who goes by the name Ichihara Yuuko?" was said in place of a greeting, as the evaluating glace of an equal was given the sophisticated woman. "I want to make a wish-granting deal with you."
"But you do know the rules, do you? What do you intent to use as an equal payment?" For some reason Ichihara Yuuko changed her opinion about the possibility of the demand and as a enigmatic smile played on her lips she seemed fascinated with the person, going as far as to ask for the opinion. Or maybe she did it solely for the amusement of hearing the reply.
The person, however, had a worthy answer ready. "It seems that according to your values, there's nothing more precious than hope, is it?" Watanuki gasped as he watched the two mighty wills handing in a precarious equilibrium. It was as if the person was mocking the great Yuuko-san, if there wasn't that hardly noticeable sadness in the irony.
Yuuko's eyebrows went up a little. "You're intending to trade hope?"
The unwavering reply. "Yes, the hope of my wish ever being granted." The calmness of voice was almost impudent, Watanuki thought, but there was something more in it, something deeper and heavier than mockery or mere statement of the fact. Each word brought to him the feeling of something falling, falling on the floor and breaking irretrievably into a myriad of pieces.
"And how you intend to do that?" Yuuko's mysterious smile also gathered unexpected depth. The way it did when she was about to deal with something above her ordinary capabilities.
"I don't think it would be a problem to you were it otherwise, but in my case the hope does have a material form. My most precious ability." From the moment it was first formed, eye contact between the two was never broken.
"But even that along won't be enough", stated the Witch, with all the implications necessary in the multiple undertones barely recognizable in her tranquil voice.
"What else you'll ask for?" equally calm and almost emotionless voice. Almost.
Before she gave an answer, Ichihara Yuuko took another deep puff at her pipe and then proceeded to let a thin silver snake of smoke out into the air, bring with it into the mind of her observer the faint memory of Watanuki's words: "But as I watched Yuuko-san granting so many wishes of others, I started to wonder. Who is going to fulfill her own, Yuuko-san's wish?..." These words intertwined with the wish maker's own experiences and, more than that, with a certain other person's image...
After stating the other payment the Space-Time Witch proceeded with her warning. "Any alteration brings irreversible change to the reality and to the people who are living in it. Nobody, not even I, can predict the consequences of this wish. It tries to interfere with fate, most foolish action of all. The result it will bring might be even more dreadful than the one you try to alter, your happiness sacrificed in vain."
"And the road to hell is paved with good intentions." The other replied with a sardonic laugh. "Well, I know that already." Yes, you granted so many wishes and changed so many fates. But what about your own wishes?
"Also even if I grant this wish, it won't change the fact it's the greatest sin of all, to meddle with time. The sin that will always be punished. Are you prepared?"
Pages of memories, old and rather recent memories, continued to turn, slipping one after another. A lot was understood in that fairly short amount of time. Like the true values of things, and what exactly should be treasured. And the one plain and simple wish that surpassed all the others.
It was then suddenly like the person woke up from the thoughts, the wish reflected in the determined eyes.
"I'm willing to make a deal."
In the abyss of complete darkness the tiny point of pure white appeared. Then it formed into sound, the sound of alarm clock.
Lelouch Lamperouge woke up.
The person has left the shop a long time ago, but Ichihara Yuuko continued to stand there, on the wooden passage of her own house, watching the illusions created by the smoke coming out of her thin and long black pipe filling the air, silvered by the moonlight. It was full moon that night.
Probably the last full moon she was going to see. It was like that visit today had put an end to all the businesses she had unfinished, and her frozen time had stated to move again, nearing the moment of her one final performance. It felt a little strange. It had been strange for a while now, one thing after another coming unexpected. It stated with the fact Watanuki happened to remind Clow Reed so much, much more than Syaoran did. And now she met yet another person, the last in the destiny's peculiar play of reminders.
She wondered if the fate of the world the visitor came from, that distant dimension, was changed after she granted the wish. She knew there was no way for her to know. She had merely given a chance, that was all she could do for that children... And now, like the rest of the younger generation that had been caught in the web of consequences of only one wish made up by the thought of the greatest mage of all times. It was all the power of wishes and the price that had to be paid, no matter what form the wish were to take, the one strangely named geass no exception. The wish always come with a price. And knowing that, people still go on wishing.
"The future is now in your hands, my dear children. What color will your wishes paint this universe?" she asked into the darkness around her, addressing the full moon and the bright stars up in the sky...
What do you think, Clow?
Well, that's it for the introductory part and thus the story begins... Please comment if you liked it, and constructed criticism is more than welcomed also, tell me what you think about it.
Next chapter is called "Second chance."