Here it is, the next chapter. This is actually just a fill in chapter, I was actually thinking if I should write this or not. but in the end, I realized it introduces important characters and events. If ever you won't like this chap...fine. It's your opinion.
Anyways, thanks to Tsuki-hana-sekai and the sixth turk for the reviews! and those who made this story a favorite, thanks!
Disclaimer: Code Geass isn't mine...
Chapter one-death
Elise's POV
"Here we are!" Frederick said. He got out of the car, and opened my door. I got out into the sad place. When people saw me, they moved to make a path for me. I immediately went to my grandmother's side. My heart felt so heavy when I saw tears slowly running down her cheeks.
"Grandma, please don't cry. She died happily," I said, trying to comfort her. But I myself am crying. Frederick pulled out a white handkerchief, and handed it out to me. I took it with a smile to him, a very sad smile. But I didn't want to wipe the tears.
After all, I've spent my life until two days ago with her. She taught me everything I knew. And she's always been a good friend, not only to me, but to my parents, and grandma. She has been with us ever since she met the 99th emperor, and became a friend of grandma after he died.
I looked up in the sky. Despite the sad event taking place, the sky remained the perfect summer sky, a blue forget-me-not. Yet the birds are singing a sad song, and I can't help but let more tears fall. I tried to picture her dying happily. But I can't. I can't even think how she died. And I wasn't even able to say a proper goodbye.
"My dear Elise," my dad said, "Do you know why she's being buried here?"
Of course I know. Before she died, she told me all her secrets. The reason why she's being buried here, aside from being a friend of the royal family of the Britannian empire, is because she was very close to the 99th emperor, and have loved him so much.
"Dad, I…would like to walk around for a while," I spoke with great difficulty. I motioned for Frederick to come with me. We walked away from the crowd. Then I stopped behind a tall oak tree, and fell on my knees.
More tears came; I couldn't keep them inside now. My mentor and friend is gone, I'll never see her again, and now I feel the weight of the immortality. I will see all my loved ones die, leaving me here all alone. I then felt very lonely.
Frederick knelt beside me, and asked, "Why are you crying so much? I thought you knew she died happily." I tried to reply, but it was waste. All the words I said became an incomprehensible sound. I sobbed more, and he just knelt there, comforting me. When I quieted down a little, I replied to him.
"I'm crying…because…I felt very lonely…when I thought of being immortal, and seeing my family and friends die while I'm here, alive, and forever looking young."
"Is that so? Then why do you think she introduced me to you?" Frederick said, a hint of annoyance in his voice. I'm surprised. Then I thought: why did she really introduce Frederick to me? There's no reason why, except…
"You're immortal too?" I asked innocently. I looked straight at his face. He laughed sadly. "Oh yeah, I am. I've been given the code a few years after she was given hers. When we met, we immediately became acquainted. But she never became a friend, as we're always traveling to different places. But we always see each other frequently, every one or two years. The world is so small to travel if you have forever with you."
I stared at him. Then suddenly, I blurted out, "Will you be with me forever?" He looked at the sky, and replied, "If you want me to." Then he placed his arm around me, and drew me closer. I looked at the sky with him, tears falling from my eyes, but not because of sadness that she left me, but because of happiness that she left a friend for me.
After a while, he said that everyone's going now. I told him to tell them we'll stay for a while. When I heard everybody's gone, I slowly rose from where I'm sitting. Frederick helped me, since I've sat for quite some time, and my legs hurt from too much sitting. We slowly walked towards the grave.
I stopped in front of two graves. On my left, there's an old grave, in which the name Lelouch vi Britannia is engraved. On my right, there's the new one. It bears the name C.C.
The birds continue to sing, but their song is different now. It is a song of a happy farewell.
Being the granddaughter of the Empress Nunally, and the daughter of the current emperor, I am seen as a very high person. But I wondered, will this stay even when all of them are dead? Even when I'm the only one living here? I voiced it out to Frederick, but he just told me to not think about it yet. So here am I, keeping the secret from my family, except Grandma.
But gradually, everybody noticed it. All of them are growing old, while I stayed looking like an eighteen year old girl, which is my age when she passed on the immortality. But even though I know everybody noticed it already, nobody even asked. I pondered about this.
A year after her death, the royal family, and the whole of the empire, celebrated the wedding of my oldest brother, Francis. It wasn't an arranged marriage: my father said that nobody in the family will be forced to marry somebody they don't love unless the empire is suffering greatly. When I heard him say this, I got another mission for me to do forever: to keep the empire from falling.
A half year after their wedding, my family got the courage to ask me now how I maintain looking eighteen. I was about to answer, but Grandma held her hand, indicating to let her speak first. I closed my mouth, and kept quiet, letting her explain.
"It is my fault," she said, "she became like that because she is now to live forever. She is now an immortal." Mouths dropped, and I felt afraid: what if they won't take me anymore? My heart fluttered, and I couldn't look at anybody. I stared on my plate.
"I say it is my fault because I told C.C to pass on her immorality to her. I was the one who chose her, as she is the First Princess. The reason why I ordered C.C. to do it is because I pity her for having lived too much. And another thing, I would like somebody to guide the future generations of our family, and the only one who could do that must live forever."
She stopped. I looked at my father. His face is unreadable. Silence ensued. Nobody spoke, nor tried to. My heart started beating faster. I don't know what he'll say. After a few more minutes, he spoke. "But what about Elise? She'll live alone, not dying, seeing all of her loved ones, including us, die. Wouldn't it be too much pain for her?"
This time I'm the one who spoke. "C.C left me a companion. Frederick himself is an immortal." This time everybody looked at me. Their eyes reflected an eighteen year old princess, her face pale, but her eyes determined. I held my chin high, and said, "I have accepted the fact that I will be alone even before she gave me my Geass." Then I stopped. Do they know what a Geass is?
"Go on, tell us your thoughts. We know what a Geass is. It was explained to us by C.C herself, and she is the one who started the Geass organization which every Geass user is a member. I thought you knew that," Dad said. I took a deep breath, and spoke again.
"Our contract was that I'll accept the immortality, and that I'll be the one to replace her as the head of the Geass organization. At that time Grandma has already told me her reasons, and I understood. A princess must ensure that her empire is safe and peaceful, and to maintain that, she must make sure the government is intact and working. I am the First Princess, and I have accepted that role ever since I learned about it."
Again, everyone was dumbfounded, but I don't get why. Is there something that I said wrong?
Francis, who's sitting directly in front of me, started clapping. I am surprised. Why is he clapping? Slowly, everybody in the table started clapping too. I looked at all of them, puzzled. At last, Mother explained. "My dear child, " she said, her eyes brimming with happiness and pride, "You've said it very like how a princess should say it."
This is not how I expected things to turn out this way; but I am so happy that they supported me. I will treasure this memory forever, and I'll surely think of this moment whenever I might feel down. We continued eating; now talking about a different topic.
After dinner Grandma motioned me to go outside to the gardens with her. I followed her, and when we reached the fountain in the middle of the garden, she told me to face her. I did what I was told, and I knelt before her. I don't know why she told me to come with her, but in any case, she didn't call me for nothing. She touched my face lightly.
"My dearest one, do you know you look like me when I was young?" she asked.
I know; everybody: my nurse, my maid, my parents, my mentors, and most of all, C.C, has told me this. I nodded once, and stared back at her. Why is she telling me this?
"Are you wondering why I'm telling you this?" she said. For a moment I thought she has a Geass, for she is correct, but then, I reminded myself, she asked, not declared. I nodded again, and smiled. She took my right hand in her other hand, and pressed lightly.
"But your eyes, when they look sharp, are very much like my brother's. And you both have the same shade of color," she said. My eyes widened. Nobody has ever told me this before, maybe because I rarely look sharply. She smiled more, and she added, "Oh, nobody has told you that, I know. But that is because you are such a kind child, and never looks sharply. But when you did look sharply during dinner; while saying all those words about your role; you reminded me of him. And maybe C.C has seen this too."
I just stared at her. She stared back at me. Somehow, I wanted to really know everything about him. About Lelouch. So I sat beside Grandma, and told her, "Will you tell me all about him? Ever since I was told little about him. I would like to know him more."
And so she told me. And that night, I learned so many things.
After five years, Grandma followed C.C. During her funeral, the sun is shining brightly. After all, she lived a full almost happy life. I can't say it's really happy; after all, her early years are tainted with violence. I cried, yes, but not because she's gone. She won't be gone in my heart. And anyways, I know she'll be reborn again. So what's the use feeling sad when you know the one you love will come back to you? Yes, I may miss her, and I know I will. But I will wait patiently.
Media is there, of course, Grandma was an empress. As all of us came back to the palace, I'm the only one who stopped crying. I went to my room as soon as we arrived at the palace. The whole thing is sad, yes, but I know my family is happy for Grandma too. At last, she'll be with her mother and brother again. I sighed as I remember her last memory with me.
"My dear, will you cry if I die?"
"Of course, Grandma. But not too long, and I won't be crying because I'm sad, I'll be crying because you're happy."
"Is that so? Well…do you believe in being reborn?"
"I'll find you again, Grandma, however long it will take."
"Will you look for them too?"
"I'll surely look for them. That's one of the reasons I need to live."
"Ok then. Rest now."
The next morning she's dead. She died in her sleep, and when she was found that morning, she has a smile on her face. Immediately, the royal family made arrangements for the funeral. As they grieved, I spent my time outside the palace, going to the grave of my old mentor. Always during my visit, I always whisper along the wind: "you're all up there now. I'll wait for you to come back." And Frederick is always with me. He'll forever be beside me.
As I undressed, a thought occurred to me. Exactly how am I going to live in the palace without being noticed as an immortal? But I shook the thought of; I'll think of it later. Right now I'll think of nothing. Except happiness.
And forever immortality.
Elise isn't really the first name i thought of, but it sure is the last. To you who will wait for the next chapter, I'm really sorry, but you'll need to wait for a long time. Classes are starting in my country this june, and if I won't study hard, it will be a goodbye laptop...
Please review!!!!