Disclaimer- I do not own Code Geass. D:


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Chapter TWO: In the End

By: Äcĕ Ċ¦ånđesŧinє

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In the end, we were never alike. Not that we ever had anything in common to begin with.

Lelouch and I, we were too different. He aspired to bring protection to the people he loved, while I aspired to be protected. He thirsted for power; I crumbled under the weight of mine. He was overly proud, and I couldn't bear to look at my shadow. Our common goals and earnest longings that swallowed up our hearts were worlds apart from being similar. He was Lelouch Vi Britannia, and I...was zero, amounting to a nonentity.

Even today, I am still nothing. And at times like this, such thoughts are fairly reassuring.

The taxi stopped at its destination. I hastily paid the driver what I owed him and got off, wanting to go to bed before Lelouch arrived. Lelouch, the irritating brat who stubbornly refused to leave my mind at peace with his words and his piercingly violet gaze. He was stuck in my head like a mantra.

"It would do you some good if you simply forgot about him." No matter how many times I heard him echoing in my mind, I failed to hear any form of concern in his voice. Pity, maybe. Jealousy? How ludicrous. The sheer thought was maddening. Arriving at the bedroom, I groggily stripped off my black robes and changed into a baggy shirt to sleep in.

His shirt, with his scent on it. Absentmindedly, I tugged at the strangling collar, and thought how strangely uncomfortable this shirt now felt.

Yet it would have to suffice nonetheless, as it always did before. I thought to myself when Sayoko comes home with Nunally the next day from the Ashford middle school camping trip, I should ask her if I could borrow one of her night gowns. Duly noted, I sunk into the mattress.

So different, too different. Why does he bother caring for me at all?

With my head and messy stands of green hair buried over one of Lelouch's pillows, I thought of nothing but regret. I should have never killed Mao. I should have never shown a weaker side to Lelouch. I should have never wished to become immortal. I should stop doing things that I may later regret. Foolish, pointless, even idiotic. But it was too late for regrets now.

"You're late." It sounded like Lelouch, but how could that be? I didn't hear him enter the house; I didn't hear his footsteps in the hallway...

Oh. Damn him. (I knew I should have checked the closet for monsters.)

"I need to talk to you. Get up." I let out a groan and submerged the rest of myself under the sheets. I wanted to prove to him that he couldn't control me.

"I'm sleepy, Lelouch. Shut up and good night."

"We just embraced and kissed half an hour ago. You can't possibly be sleepy right now." That arrogant bastard. Without replying, I snuggled my way further into the warm, cushiony material.

"C.C." From his tone, I could tell that he was slowly becoming impatient. Not that it mattered to me. I told myself that I didn't care. What a fool I was.

"Witch, if you're going to ignore me, I will have to get in the bed with you." I doubted that he would do such a thing, until he pulled up the covers and-

Dear Lord.

"Oi, stop being vulgar! This is my bed!"

"No, it isn't." I could feel his breath once more, behind one of my shoulders. His body was awkwardly compressed against mine, seeing as this bed was originally meant for only one person to sleep on. This physical proximity was...well, incredibly odd.

"Lelouch," I hissed, every word dripping with venom, "if you have any remaining value over your precious life, I suggest that you move your body away from mine this instant."

"So, you admit that I'm precious." His wryly remark made my insides boil. Or was it merely the remark? My wits were flying out my head as the rest of my patience was leaving my soul, my head ached in frustration. Wait; was that his hand snaking up my stomach? I strained my head sideways in order to properly glower at his face.

"What are you up to now, boy?" Lecher would have been the more suitable term.

"Helping you forget." Hmmph.

"Then I will never forget."

"Hm. We'll see about that." So we did.

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An embrace doesn't mean anything, and neither does a kiss. As for love...love is inherently nonexistent. I refused to care. I was nothing.

In the end, hypocrisy marked my biggest downfall.


Author's Notes- So many people to thank here. Big hugs and kisses to the people who contributed towards my 670! hit, and the users that put my story on their alert-lists (you know who you are). And guess what? Starting from now on, Rpgingmaster is my official beta-reader for Reminiscences. Horrah!

Now, for some reviews...

Rpgingmaster- Some stuff about the 2nd chapter: I actually wrote the rough draft of it during a three-hour-long boat ride to visit my grandparents (what can I say? Old people like islands...and isolation) for the summer. No need to get into details, but I was terribly seasick that day. I'm so relieved you found it somewhat decent, since I personally thought it to be a giant ball of c--p drenched in sea water. .

I'm not entirely sure of the relationship between C.C. and Marianne, either. But things in Wikipedia and CG fan-sites point out that C.C. has the ability to telepathically communicate with people (ex: V.V. and Marianne- shown in some episodes in season one. I don't know the exact ones...such a freaking long time ago). Using that idea, I thought that C.C. would continue to chat with Marianne every now and then, and...who knows? Their conversations could have led them into becoming friends. Ultimately, I'm choosing to leave the C.C./Marianne relationship in vague terms for the readers to solve the puzzle for themselves.

Ah, now let's talk about Mao. I don't know why I adore him so much (since he only showed up in, like, 2 episodes?), but in any case, I do. It must be my addiction for psychotic, angsty bishies in anime...XD. Before the Geas became permanent, I imagined Mao as a sweet, innocent, lovable kid (c'mon, Mao-haters! The poor kid is only six years old!). I blame his being a "emotional nutcase" on the fact that C.C. was the only being that he could talk to and live with as a normal human being, and after she "left" him (aka: got captured by Charles cuz he's a greedy bi--h), he didn't know what to do. Frankly, I bet Lelouch would have turned into a twisted lunatic, too, if he was in the same situation as Mao's (ack, Lelouch-lovers, please don't hate me!). Other than that, thanks for beta-reading this chapter!

KiKi Hayashi- Ugh, I know. (Is it only me that doesn't consider Mao as a foul, black-hearted demon? If that's true, you guys are probably going to hate me for the next CG fan-fiction I have in mind.) And whether you are fabulous or not (you are, btw), I'll be looking forwards to read the next Slices of CC chapter! :D

missysillivan- You...you LOVED it? I'm not sure if I deserve a compliment like that. But, thank you so much, anyways! :D