Thanks for the reviews everyone! Next chapter is here! Keep reviewing or pm if you want! I don't own Code Geass or any of their characters. Lelouch, Suzaku, and the others all belong to their respective creators.
Enjoy!
Lulu opened her eyes slowly because just the little bit of light she could discern was too bright at the moment. Her body felt heavy and her head still hurt, but her back was laying on something soft. It was nice. She wanted to curl up into a ball and lay there until the pain in her head went away.
Lulu's eyes snapped open as she remembered where she had been before now. She had been on Kamine Island with Suzaku. He had found out her identity and they had fought. Lulu remembered hitting her head when Suzaku tackled her to the ground and how he had seemed so determined to convince her that whatever stupid plan he had was perfect.
Lulu started to panic then. Where was she? Where was Suzaku? What had happened after she passed out? She tried to look around the room, but her head throbbed and she put her head in her hands to stop the world from spinning.
"What did that idiot do?" Lulu hissed.
Lulu heard a door open, but she didn't look up. Her head was still spinning and she couldn't seem to get it to stop. A male voice was talking to her, but she wasn't listening. She was contemplating how to kill Suzaku Kururugi in the most creative way possible. Whatever he had done once she was unconscious was about to get the moron killed.
"Lelouchia vi Britannia," a deeper male voice called out. Lulu's thoughts stopped.
She raised her head from her hands and felt all of the anger at Suzaku fade away as she looked at the man before her. The long white hair that sat in rolls on his broad shoulders, the high cheekbones and stern mouth on a handsome face. The gray eyes that held nothing but contempt for her as he looked her over. The royal uniform of blue with medals adorning his breast and towering height all reminded her of her childhood.
Lulu slowly sat herself upright and clasped her hands in her lap so as not to lunge at him and attempt to strangle his large throat. "Father."
The room was silent as violet eyes met gray. Lulu hated him. She hated him more than Suzaku and that was why she had done everything. As much as she hated her and Nunnally's father she loved her sister more than anything. Nunnally was the only person left who was truly precious to her.
"Knight Kururugi, brought you from Kamine Island where he said you hit your head quite hard," Charles li Britannia said.
"So Suzaku is now a knight then?" Lulu questioned and ignoring her father's vague and telling explanation.
"Yes, he is to be the Knight of Seven after his capture of Zero," her father answered. "It was his first request and his second was even more interesting."
"I'm sure Suzaku is full of surprises."
"Would you like to hear what the second request is, Zero?" Charles asked.
It was his subtle way of telling her that he knew she had been the one behind the rebellion. A small smirk turned up the corners of her mouth. Lulu clutched her hands together tighter as well.
"Please, enlighten me, father. What is it that Suzaku, in his infinite stupidity, asked for?"
A long silence followed. Lulu met and held her father's gaze. He looked annoyed as if both Suzaku and herself were a thorn in his side. Lulu knew that she had been, but Suzaku had been the conqueror of Zero and seemed more inclined to be rewarded than most.
"I don't understand why you always have to be an impertinent child, Lelouchia," Charles snapped.
Lulu gave him an innocent smile then, "If my mother hadn't been murdered than maybe I would have turned out to be the perfect pawn like Cornelia and Euphemia. I am not sorry to disappoint you, sir."
Charles raised an eyebrow at her before he took a step forward. Lulu held her ground, but inside she was still panicking. This man could ruin everything and taking everyone away from her. She wouldn't let him take Nunnally. He could beat her, he could lock her away, but she would never let him take her sister from her.
"That Eleven dared to ask for your freedom," Charles revealed. Lulu raised an eyebrow at him. There was more she could tell.
"And?"
"He wants to marry you," he replied
Lulu was shocked. Sure, Suzaku claimed to have a plan, but this was insane. Her father would never agree to such an arrangement. There was no alliance to be gained from it. He would have the rebel leader right under his nose knowing all his business. It would be a disadvantage.
"And what was your response?" she inquired.
"I have yet to decide your fate, my petulant daughter."
"I see."
Silence fell between them. Lulu looked away from her father and across the room. She didn't want to meet his gaze. She didn't want him to see any of her emotion in her eyes. It wouldn't do her any good. The only way she figured this could work out was for her father to execute her, because she would never stop with her revenge.
The door opened again, but she refused to look at the new arrival. It wasn't like she could see the door anyway with her father's large girth blocking the way. Her father must have acknowledged the other person's presence though because he was suddenly turning away from her and out of the room. Lulu still kept her eyes focused on the dried out plant on the table across the room.
"Lulu?" Suzaku called. His voice was soft. It was like he was talking to a loved one. Lulu knew that he didn't truly love her anymore. There was no possible way he did after everything. "Lulu?"
Lulu sighed before she met his jade gaze, "What is it, Knight Kururugi?"
Suzaku's eyes widened in shock. He must not have expected her father to tell her what they had discussed. He looked over his shoulder at the door where her father had left before returning his gaze to her.
"How are you feeling?" he asked. He crossed the room and sat in the chair next to her bed.
"Wonderful," she answered sarcastically.
"Lulu, be serious," Suzaku chastised.
Lulu met his gaze with a glare, "I have two words for you, Suzaku. Betrayed. Used."
Suzaku reached for her hands, but Lulu pulled them out of his reach and swung her legs off the other side of the bed. She knew she wouldn't be getting out of this room soon considering Suzaku was in the room and guards were probably placed outside the door. Neither could she use her Geass on Suzaku so she was stuck there.
"Lulu, you shouldn't be moving around!"
Suzaku jumped up from his chair and ran to her side. He went to touch her shoulder, but Lulu slapped his hand away. She looked up at him through her bangs. If looks could kill he would have been dead long ago.
"Stop being stubborn, Lulu," he ordered. He went to touch her again and she slapped his hand again. "You are being ridiculous."
"I think I am well within my rights to be pissed at you, Kururugi," Lulu snapped. She tried to stand and only lost her balance. Suzaku caught her and Lulu pushed him away so that she fell against the wall. "Don't touch me."
Suzaku ignored her and reached out for her again. Lulu slapped at him once more and he let out an irritated sigh. If she had more energy she would have smacked him hard across the face, but her innate strength was fading fast.
"Lulu, let me help you lay back down. You need to rest so that you can get your strength back."
"Why? So that I have enough strength to muster the words 'I do?'"
Suzaku sighed, "His Majesty told you then."
"Only after he made it known that he knew I was Zero," Lulu added.
Suzaku came to stand in front of her. He rested his hands on either side of her head. Lulu raised her head to meet his gaze as he loomed over her.
"I had to turn you in, Lulu. After everything you had done you needed to take responsibility for your actions," Suzaku stated.
Lulu started laughing. Suzaku raised an eyebrow at her. This only made her laugh harder and she didn't know how he could be so righteous and judgmental towards her. She wasn't the only one with blood on her hands and yet she had to take responsibility for her actions.
"Like how you did when you murdered your father?" she purred. Suzaku's eyes widened before he clenched them tight. His whole body tensed and Lulu got a sick satisfaction out of watching his pain at the moment. He was trying to control her fate. Hadn't he figured it out yet that she didn't like to be used or controlled? "Oh, that's why you have a death wish, isn't it? That is your repentance for what you did, but I took that away from you. So, Suzaku Kururugi, Son of Genbu Kururugi, what will you do now?"
"Why must you be like this, Lulu? Why must you hurt those around you?"
Lulu waited to answer his question until he opened his eyes to look at her. She gave him a wicked smile before she rested her hand against his cheek. "Have you seen who my father is, Suzaku? I learned from the best in that regard."
Suzaku grabbed her wrist and pulled it away from his face. Suzaku pulled her closer and wrapped his other hand around her waist. Lulu squirmed in his grip, but he was stronger than her. Her strength was failing and her knees were weak.
"Release me, Suzaku!" Lulu yelled.
"No!" Suzaku screamed back. "You aren't as strong as you fucking think you are, Lulu! Why can't you just stop thinking and plotting for one damn second?"
Lulu stopped thrashing. The fact that Suzaku was swearing was a shock to her. He rarely cursed. She looked at Suzaku with wide eyes as her hands rested on his shoulders. He was shaking, but his eyes were flashing with anger and frustration. He was trying to hold himself back from doing something drastic from what she could tell. He was tense and his arm around her waist tightened.
Lulu thought for a moment and concluded that Suzaku had lost it. Everything that had happened had finally gotten to him and Lulu was on the receiving end of his rage. As much as she deserved it she wasn't just going to sit by and take it. Suzaku could be as righteous as he wanted, but as she had said earlier neither of them were innocent.
"Because, Suzaku," Lulu began, "we royals have nothing better to do than plot and scheme. We use people as pawns and then when the pawns have fulfilled their purpose we dispose of them."
Suzaku was silent a moment before he asked, "Was I nothing but a pawn to you, Lulu?"
Lulu raised an eyebrow at him. "What would you like me to say, Suzaku?"
"I want the truth, Lulu."
Lulu let out a sigh. He was being so damn difficult. Why couldn't he let her go? Why was he so determined to keep her by his side? He should have just turned her in and let fate take its course. She couldn't handle his raging emotions any more than she could handle her own.
"You have always been so difficult, Suzaku. The fact that you still have faith in me is endearing," Lulu replied.
"If I didn't have faith in you, Lulu, you would be in a prison cell right now."
Lulu laughed. She couldn't help it. He thought he was saving her. He was doing nothing more than delaying the inevitable. Her father would never agree to his request. She would be imprisoned or killed, either way they were not to be.
Suzaku raised an eyebrow at her. Lulu stopped laughing and rested her forehead against his shoulder to breathe. She noticed that he smelt just as he always did. Fresh dug earth and rain with just a bit of oil from the Lancelot. It made her head spin with lust, but she pushed it away as she pulled away and dropped her hands from his shoulders.
"Lulu?" Suzaku asked.
"I'm tired, Suzaku. Can you help me back to the bed?" Lulu responded.
Suzaku nodded and picked her up bridal style. She squeaked, but didn't say anything as she wrapped her arms around his neck. He turned and placed her on the bed gently. She released him and waited for him to move off of her, but he didn't budge. His arms caged her against the bed just as he had on the island. Lulu should have been afraid then, but she wasn't, which surprised her.
When her violet eyes met his emerald ones she saw genuine concern within them. Suzaku looked worried and scared for her. Lulu was shocked considering she had betrayed him and he had betrayed her. There was no reason for Suzaku to want to marry her. He already had what he wanted. He was a knight now. He required nothing else from her.
"Why would you ask my father for my hand, Suzaku? You can't possibly think that you can still love me."
Suzaku was quiet as he looked at her. His eyes never changed as he brought his hand up to cup her cheek. "Isn't obvious?" Lulu shook her head. It obviously wasn't otherwise she wouldn't have asked the question in the first place. Suzaku sighed. "It's because…I love you, Lulu."
Lulu's eyes widened. He had to be lying. The two of them were being watched on cameras and this was the only way he could convince her father that he was serious. That had to be it. None of this was real. He was playing her, he had to be, but Suzaku wasn't that intelligent. He never would have come up this ploy on his own. Lulu was being tested.
"You lie," Lulu accused. "My father put you up to this in order to test me."
"What?"
"You heard me!" she screamed. "This is all a farce! There is no way you love me after everything!"
"Lulu, please, just listen…" Suzaku pleaded.
"No!" Lulu yelled. "Get out, Suzaku! GET OUT!"
"I'm not leaving, Lulu. Not until you listen to me."
"Why? So you can use sweet words to twist me into knots? So I beg you to save me from my evil father? I may be a royal princess, but I do not need to be saved," Lulu snarled. "I can handle my own affairs…"
Suzaku surged forward and kissed her, hard. Lulu pushed against him, but he held her arms above her head. Lulu thrashed under him in a vain attempt to get Suzaku off of her, but he straddled her hips and held her in place. Lulu was tired of feeling useless beneath him and bit his lip. He pulled away, panting as he moved to hold both of her wrists in one hand so that he could swipe at the blood sliding down his chin.
"Stop cutting me off when I am talking to you!"
"Then stop talking for once and just feel!" Suzaku bellowed back. "You don't let yourself feel, Lulu. You think of it as a weakness and it is so damn irritating."
"Where has having emotions gotten me, Suzaku?" Lulu inquired.
"They got you me, Lulu. Isn't that enough?"
Lulu fell silent. She didn't know what to say. She had him, yes, but only after he had lost Euphie to Zero. She hadn't been his first choice. Lulu was nothing but a replacement for her sister. The love Suzaku thought he felt was just displaced. Lulu wasn't as pure as Euphie and she knew Suzaku knew better.
"Suzaku, you are just projecting. You know you don't really love me," Lulu stated matter-of-factly.
"Excuse me?" Suzaku looked completely lost.
"I'm not Euphie, Suzaku. I'm not pure and good and sweet. I'm broken and beaten and…" Lulu sighed. "No matter what you tell yourself at night I am not the one you love."
Suzaku's eyes squeezed shut. It looked like he was fighting with himself and Lulu just laid there waiting. Lulu know she was right. Suzaku didn't need her. The only one who needed her was Nunnally.
"Please leave, Suzaku," Lulu said.
"You are so frustrating," Suzaku pointed out.
Lulu rolled her eyes even though he couldn't see it. "We have already covered that, Suzaku."
Suzaku opened his eyes and looked at her. Lulu just waited for him to either say something or leave. She was done talking. She was done trying to make him understand. Lulu was finished with trying to keep her heart from breaking when she looked at him. The only man she had loved and he didn't really love her in return. It was nothing more than a game that her father could manipulate.
"Go, Suzaku."
Lulu's tone left no more room for argument. Lulu looked away from him to show that he was dismissed. She couldn't use her hands since they were still pinned above her head. Suzaku shook his head. Lulu didn't know if it was defiance or if he was shaking his head in order to clear it. Lulu didn't care. She wanted him to leave.
"You said you loved me, Lulu." Suzaku's hand released her wrists, but Lulu didn't move them. "Back in the cave, do you remember?"
Lulu had to make him believe her next words otherwise he would never leave. Suzaku would never move on. He would hold onto her until they both took their last breath and Lulu refused to let that happen. She wanted him to be happy, but she knew he wouldn't be happy with her. He would only ever see her as a murderer and traitor.
Lulu returned her gaze to his. "No, Suzaku Kururugi. I don't remember much from before I blacked out. Everything I did back in that cave was to try and make you stay your hand."
"Lulu, don't say that," Suzaku begged.
"You asked if I thought of you as a pawn, Suzaku…"
"Don't…"
"You were the knight on the chessboard of rebellion. I manipulated you for my own gain just like everyone else…"
"Lulu, please, you don't…"
"I loved you, once upon a time, yes. However, when it came down to it you were just a pawn to be used and discarded."
"I don't believe you," Suzaku whispered.
"You…mean…nothing…to…me," Lulu punctuated each word.
She didn't mean it. Not really. She just needed to make him believe it. Every word that left her lips was killing her inside, but it needed to be done. Nothing could ever be the same. It was over.
Suzaku's eyes started to fill with tears, but he blinked them back as he looked at her. She knew what her face looked like. She knew that her gaze was steady and her face was set. She knew she looked sure, but inside she was falling apart.
Suzaku moved off of her and stood up. He looked away from her out the window for a moment before he looked back at her. Lulu still hadn't moved. She wouldn't until he left.
"I will change your mind, Lulu," he affirmed. "You're wrong about everything." Lulu lay still. "We both know I loved Euphie. But, you're wrong about you being a substitute. My feelings aren't displaced and they aren't projections. You are Lelouchia vi Britannia, my childhood friend, my best friend, my confidant, and my lover. You were…no…are someone I am willing to protect."
Suzaku moved around the bed and towards the door. Lulu watched him go. Her heart was aching. It was like he had tied a noose around it and was pulling it along with him. Lulu didn't know what she would do or say to get out of this. Maybe she would have to make a deal with the Devil.
"Once we are married everything will different. I will show you."
As he turned the knob on the door and prepared to leave, Lulu spoke, "I will never agree to marry you, Suzaku."
Suzaku didn't look back as he exited the room. She heard the turn of the lock before she rolled over on her side and curled into a ball. The tears fell, unbidden from her eyes, and onto the pillow. Nothing was how it should have been and the both of them were too damn stubborn to give in. Lulu wondered who would come out the victor in this messed up game between them.
After pulling the thin hospital blanket up to her chin in a small gesture of comfort, Lulu cried herself to sleep.
Will Charles let them get married? Will Lulu be killed? Her memories erased? What will happen next?
You'll just have to wait and see!
*I had a lot of fun with this chapter. I don't know why. Maybe because I got to throw Charles in or because Suzaku gets confronted again about Euphie. No clue, but this chapter came a lot easier than the last one. See you next time!*
