Disclaimer: I don't own Code Geass or the characters, no matter how much I like them
Chapter 2-Moments
C.C
Her knees aching slightly from kneeling so long, C.C knew the Zero Requiem was complete as soon as she heard the rejoicing in the street, as cheers spread like wildfire across the country "You really did it, Lelouch." she murmured, brushing the tears off her face, and forced herself to stand. The pain of losing a loved one was unfamiliar, and stronger than she remembered. The effect of the nun's death, soured by her betrayal, was small potatoes compared to the gaping impact his loss had on her. You're right, Kallen. I am becoming more human. She thought to herself as she left the church, to be swept up in the crowd of rejoicing citizens.
Stepping aimlessy, she let the mob direct her toward a TV screen outside of a café the was showing the news. After seeing the blond newscaster and crew stare numbly in shock at the scene unfolding, and how none of the first-hand witnesses on the street made any effort to conceal their joy, C.C tore her golden eyes away. All of this celebration seemed to drive more splinters into her heart, which already felt like a pincushion.
"What are they gonna to do with the body?" asked a small child nearby.
Smiling devilishly, an older boy said "Bury it. Or hopefully stuff it full of garlic and put the head on a stake."
Then he laughed, and the younger boy looked a little sick. CC didn't blame him.
"Yuki! Don't scare your younger brother!" scolded a lady beside them "What about that poor woman, too? She looks like she might faint! Are to you alright?" She asked, stifling a cough. Her brow was creased with concern.
Realizing a bit too late that she was 'that poor woman", CC managed a "mm fine", but she still appeared to be in distress.
"I bet she was happy under HIS rule, that's it! Well y'know, the news just said that the public will be allowed at his funeral tomorrow, so now you can cry over that human shish kabob with your beloved Brittainain royals!" smirked the older boy.
"Yuki! That's it, we're going to go celebrate at home." The woman declared, then grabbed the wrists of the two boys and dragged them off.
Tomorrow? So soon? CC wondered, then made a split-second decision. I'm going to go...the last time I will ever see him, I'll have to say goodbye properly. Her current location was the Shinjuku ghetto, for she and Lelouch had agreed that no one would notice her amongst all of the residents, and if she was searched for, they wouldn't suspect her being so close. I know this is stupid... I'm basically walking into the belly of the beast. She knew that if Lelouch were still alive he wouldn't approve of her rashness, and would laugh at her for being so sentimental. However, dismissing those thoughts, she instead began to focus her efforts on finding a decent disguise.
The next morning, after scarfing down a slice of pizza that tasted like cardboard, CC began her rather perilous trip to the Viceroy's Palace, where she had learned from a friendly shopkeeper that funeral would be taking place. After the F.L.E.I.J.A had obliterated most of the Tokyo Settlement, the area surrounding the blast site had been evacuated, and the street was crammed with refugees. It also didn't help that the street where Lelou- he had been murdered had been hastily blocked off under Cornelia's orders, who had used his death as an opportunity to restore "order." Made uneasy by the sheer number of people that choked the streets, her disguise of tell-tale green hair pulled into a bun under a black face-concealing hat and veil, with a matching suit/skirt seemed flimsy and obvious. Again, she assured herself If I am being sought out, they won't expect me to be in the very same room!
First traveling by taxi and then bypassing the security checkpoint to the palace, she was struck by how deserted in contrast to the street it was. In fact, she stuck out painfully in the courtyard that was otherwise deserted except for the occasional soldier. Following the hastily added signs, she found herself in the small chapel off to the side of the main palace building. Whoever had set it up clearly didn't plan on a lot of people coming, as only a handful of the pews were in usable condition.
CC was clearly late, as the few seats were mostly filled. She spotted in the group Kaname Ohgi Sinichiro Tamaki, Cornelia and Nunally. However, the only ones crying or were Nunnaly and of course, Tamaki. Following where most of them were looking, she saw Lelouch's body. He was lying on a table covered in a white sheet, and with the dust motes that filled the air it looked like he had been blanketed in a soft layer of snow. A low murmur of chatter and the clicking of people texting on their phones was often punctuated by a sporadic fit of coughing, and the witch chose a seat near the center, wary of the guards menacingly positioned around the room.
"Sorry." she said, as she had stepped on the hem of someone's dress.
"Oh..you're fine.." trilled a way-too-familiar voice, belonging to none other than Nunally.