Chapter 2

Walking down the dirt road was awful. It was blisteringly hot, not a cloud in the sky, and the two of them were very thirsty. The dust would fly up under Lelouch's steps, leaving khaki patches on his clothes. C.C. started complaining that her feet hurt, and, come to think of it, so did Lelouch's. They stopped to rest under one of the occasional trees by the side of the road.

"How do you suppose Nunnally is doing with her thinking you are dead?" Lelouch considered this for a moment.

"Well, I don't know what to say. I think she understands why I died, but not that I'm still alive." C.C. looked at him quizzically. "Oh, that's right, you weren't there. When I was stabbed by Suzaku, I fell down the front of the royal procession and landed next to Nunnally. She touched my hand, and I think I relayed my memories into her." C.C. understood now.

"So both Suzaku and Nunnally know why you did that."

"Don't forget that Suzaku is dead. There is only Zero, and Nunnally is the new Empress. I noticed that Zero is around her 24/7. You don't suppose he's going for her now that Euphie's gone, do you?"

"I think it's too quick to make assumptions." That applies to us as well, so why think about that now? she thought.

"Have you had enough rest yet C.C.?" Lelouch asked.

"I think so." She gently tested her feet, then drew her hand back. "Maybe if you rub my feet, it will speed up the process." She smiled.

Lelouch sighed. "There's no way I'm going to touch your rancid feet. My hands have stayed clean and I plan to keep it that way. There's no water in sight, to be drank or to wash with. If you want to 'speed up the process,' " he mimicked, "then do it yourself.

"Gosh, Lelouch, you woke up grumpy this morning." Lelouch looked at her furiously.

"Do you honestly think that that's my fault?" he yelled.

"Oh, cry about it. Let's just go. This is wasting time." They both rose to their feet and again started their trek. They walked in silence for another ten minutes before Lelouch broke it:

"Listen, C.C., I'm sorry for yelling. I'm just frustrated." C.C. smirked.

"That's a first." Lelouch looked at her, his temper rising.

"I just apologized. Can't you stop insulting and bothering me for one day?" He turned and looked ahead, and again they walked in silence, Lelouch leading the way. C.C. took this time to think as they walked.

Why do I bother Lelouch so much? It's fun, but he always gets mad at me and calls me a witch. I may be one, but that doesn't mean he should use it as an insult. Maybe I should stop. She slapped herself. Lelouch turned around and stared at her, bewildered. She shrugged. He sighed, then stopped.

"What's on your mind?" he asked.

"Why do you call me a witch?" C.C. stared at him questioningly with her big, golden eyes.

Lelouch blinked. "Well, you are a witch, are you not?" She nodded. "Then there's your answer." He turned around and continued walking on.

Let's try a different approach. she thought. "Lelouch?"

"Yes?"

"Do you think of me as a witch?" Lelouch sighed. He stopped and turned around yet again.

"What's bothering you? Is it the hunger, the thirst, the sun beating on you, tiredness, what?" He stared at her, his eyes full of concern.

"Never mind. I'm fine." It looked like he did care. Maybe I really should stop bugging him. C.C. thought. After all, he is helping me survive, and he can stay with me forever because he's immortal now.

"Okay, but don't come crying back to me when your problem grows. I offered you help and you refused it." He returned to his walking.

And maybe scallops will come flying out of my pants! she thought disgustedly.

"C.C.?"

C.C. looked up. "What do you want?" she said angrily.

"I just want to let you know that despite our constant bickering, we have to stick together in order to survive at this rate. Besides, if one of us leaves the other because of our fights, then I'll become very lonely, and I'll have to start making contracts with other random people like you did with me, and God knows I don't want to meet new people. I'm fed up with the world, and it's just perfect knowing only you as a friend." C.C. didn't know what to say.

"Thank you." He stopped and turned to look at her. They both hugged, and for a moment, they were both as happy as can be.

They broke apart and continued in silence, C.C. holding Lelouch's arm comfortingly. Now, I've realized that Lelouch, despite his annoyance, makes living like this bearable. And with that, she clutched his arm tighter.