Kanon: Special thanks to 'heart1404' for being the first reviewer to this story. And she gets points for praising my intelligence.

Sasuke: *looks up startled* We get points? For what?

Me: *slips Kanon a $10 bill* Told you the points would freak him out.

Edo: *shakes head slowly* Poor kid always thinks he's not doing well enough. Be nice.

*Enter Deidara*

Deidara: she owns nothing! *flees the room*

Me:….eh?

Edo: He is 15 minutes late for a date with Sasori. Just start the chapter.

Me: Right!

"Simply put, you know him better than anyone else."

Cool lips pressed to his, he felt his blood race.

'Schneizel-san! Paperwork!' Kanon finally managed to gasp out. And even then Schneizel's lips only moved to his neck. His eyes rolled lightly when Schneizel stood to press them closer to each other.

'Schneizel-koi, paperwork!' Kanon said more insistently. Schneizel groaned and pulled away falling back into his chair and leaving Kanon, now flushed, sitting on the desk holding his heart.

'Koi, you must remember that I require air.' Kanon teased lightly, in a breathless voice.

'Of course, Kanon dear.' The White Prince replied, blue eyes warm and caring 'Though you are rather smart…I can't have you outshining me, perhaps that is the best way to kill a few brain cells?'

Kanon lightly slapped the prince on the back of the head. 'No. No killing my brain. I need to use it on a regular basis.' He teased, Schneizel gave him a mock condescending glare, before turning his attention to the white rose he had nearly knocked off the desk when he grabbed Kanon.

'How do you say rose?' He questioned.

Kanon was thoroughly confused. 'Rose? Your majesty?'

'Yes, rose, like the flower.'

'You say 'Rose' your majesty.'

"Kanon in private or public if you want I am Schneizel, not Your Majesty, Sir or Prince, and I asked how to say rose in your native tongue.'

Kanon got it now. Schneizel always liked weird things, Japanese was one of them. He said he enjoyed the way the words sounded. He also said he liked it best when Kanon spoke it.

When Kanon was appointed to the prince, it had only taken a small amount of time for them to become infatuated. After which the Earl had admitted his ancestry, rather than throwing him out and being disgusted for having loved an 11, Schneizel had helped him bury his past, and occasionally asked about Japanese culture. If only to make life in area 11 better for the people there.

'Bara, Koi. Bara is how you say rose.' Kanon said gently

'And what does Koi mean again?'

Kanon blushed 'Koi means lover or love. Koibito can mean boyfriend or girlfriend and is less intimate.' Kanon paused for a second 'If you would like I will stop using a foreign language to address you. And I should call you something else as if someone overheard our relationship would be brought to light. And that wouldn't really be good for us.'

'Schneizel looked startled for a moment and that prompted Kanon into another bit of conversation'

'If we have an actual relationship, Schneizel, I could be jumping to random conclusions.'

Schneizel gently took Kanon's hands in his own. 'Kanon, you are the only person I have ever been with, romantically, physically, or emotionally. And you are the same. Our bodies and minds know only each other. I do love you Kanon, more than anything, stop your doubt.

Kanon smiled lightly at the Prince-turned-poet. 'I'm guessing now I get to say I love you again? Because I do you know.' Kanon replied.

Schneizel looked at Kanon speculatively 'In three years if we haven't yet, we will be together publicly, no matter what happens or is happening. I would very much like if you could teach me a bit more Japanese in the meantime, I find I like the feel of this language.' The prince said with a smile

'Very well'

'And Kanon?'

'Yes?'

'We will be working late and getting a late start tomorrow, stay in my quarters tonight.'

'Schneizel..'

"It's not unusual for an aide to stay in the same room as their superior'

He shot the rosette man a sympathetic look, even without his heritage in the open he was still a lower rank than the one he loved. 'So you will stay with me. And hopefully the Chinese Federation will choose to begin a treaty. But knowing them they are horribly corrupt. We both need to be rested and happy to deal with their underhandedness and we seem to be happier when we are exposed to each other for longer periods of time.

'So that's why you never send me to get food or coffee!' Kanon said, glad to have found a reason behind the niche.

'That and your presence keeps me from shooting the majority of my aids, siblings, father, and useless nobles and councils and dignitaries.'

Kanon smiled again ' Well Euphemia, Cornelia, Lelouch and Nunnaly were the only ones you willingly tolerated.'

'Yes and with Lelouch and Nunnaly gone I have only Euphie, Cornelia and Clovis. You have noticed I get along better now with Clovis than before, right?'

'Yes I have, fractionally.'

They both indulged in a laugh at that statement before Schneizel pulled Kanon into his embrace, kissed him once more, and whispered 'At most three years.'

Then they needed to return to work.

Unfortunately at 1,094 days, one day before the promise was to be fulfilled, Schneizel was hit with Geass. When he was able to return to work he was not the same. The carefully planned speech that was prepared to not irritate the masses more than need be, when he announced their relationship, was deleted. Even in war, Schneizel would have kept his promise.

Kanon was bogged down with work, and when he had time was sent for food and coffee. He feared to speak his mind, or native tongue. This Schneizel was different. He acted normally to most people, but Kanon saw the differences. He didn't remember how to say rose, or love. Which he had never forgotten after that day in the office. Kanon was now an aide, and only that.

But unlike the others he saw something in Schneizel's eyes every full moon. He had determined that the geass weakened in strength on that day. Schneizel was in his body again, if only fractionally. He would often suddenly look At the flowers on his desk as if seeing them for the first time, when the moons light touched his eyes, and he would whisper 'Bara.' And if he had time, he would smile lovingly at Kanon with a sad look in his eye. On those nights if Kanon was to leave, he wished him good night, and told him to drive carefully.

On those nights he was able to be himself slightly. Until the moon went behind a cloud or the moons light moved from his eyes.

That was when Kanon realized there was an out clause. A power like that could be undone. He would build another geass canceller if need be. But first He and Suzaku needed to find Lelouch. Kanon wearily turned the wheel, sending them down a dirt road, on route to a cottage where Lelouch and Suzaku once played under the watchful eye of Marianne Vi Britannia. And where Suzaku admitted Lelouch once told him that he wished to return to.

The car stops outside the cottage. And a young beautiful woman with green hair and amber eyes comes to meet them.

"You are late, Kanon Maldini, Suzaku Kururugi."

Read and review! There are a few more chapters left in this one. Hopefully at least three.