"Ahhhhh….." a distant yell echoed throughout the lone island.
At the same time a young knight froze, at the same time a wide eyed princess' imagination flew towards the infinite heavens, at the same time a pair of amethyst eyes flickered open completely oblivious to what has awaken him from his short slumber.
"Help!!!!HE'S GOING TO RAPE ME!!!!!!! Ahhhhh……" shouted the red headed lady as she threw the pink haired royal a pleading frantic glance.
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She was just taking a bath beneath the falls, she was about to give in to the sweet relaxing sensation of cooling rushing waters when she her instincts alerted her she wasn't alone. True enough, she saw a startled and slightly confused emerald-eyed boy looking at her as he foolishly called out her name.
She gave no hesitation; she reached for her jacket and took out her hidden dagger in one of its pockets. She attacked him quickly, giving him no change to prepare, but he too was quick, his sharpened reflexes saved him from a lethal blow to the side as she tried to stab him.
They fought, both were skilled in their own styles of fighting but someone must lose. Unfortunately, it turned out to be her. He got her pinned to the ground, her eyes trailed to her discarded knife he had managed to take from her with one of his kicks.
"Don't even think about it." he said as he followed her rather desperate gaze.
"Damn you." she seethed as her struggled against his hold only to no avail. She was strong but he was stronger, she painfully concluded as her cerulean eyes met his emerald ones with burning indignation.
He was about to say something when he heard light splashing steps coming towards them. Both warriors turned to the approaching sound, only to find it was no other than the Princess Euphiemia.
What is she doing here? She wondered as she gazed at the wide-eyed girl who appeared to be quite surprised by something.
It was then she realized their rather, uncomfortable position. She was naked, the only thing covering her was her black jacket, and Suzaku was on top of her on all fours, one just have to put two and two together to make a wrong conclusion about this little situation.
She felt a blush coming to color her cheeks, but then something sparked an idea within her. She stole a glance at the knight only to see that his eyes were still transfixed with the little lilac-eyed Britannian doll.
This is my chance. She thought as she took a breath along with a silent plea at her plan would work at least partially and let out a rather believable frightened scream.
"Help!!!!HE'S GOING TO RAPE ME!!!!!!!Ahhhhh……" she shouted and at the same time throwing the pink haired royal a pleading frantic glance.
She was never a good liar; she admitted that fact a long time ago. It took her months to get her façade as a weak and helpless schoolgirl act together, until now she still has a few slips. However, when push comes to shove, she could turn into a mighty fine actress.
"Please don't." she begged at the man hovering above her, the man of course shot her a baffled look only to realize the meaning of her words too late.
"Suzaku!!! Let that girl go this instant!" shouted the doll as she rushed towards them with obvious difficulty with the overgrown dress she was wearing.
"Euphie it's not what you think. She- " He tried to reason out only to be halted when he heard small muffled sobs coming beneath him.
Gottcha! She inwardly smiled in triumph as more tears began flowing down her cheeks. She felt his weight being lifted only to find herself being engulfed in a small embrace by the Britannian royal saying sweet nothings in her ear as she tried to comfort her.
"There, there, it's all right. No one would hurt you." said the girl completely oblivious to the small smirk she gave out.
My, such a gullible toy you are Princess Euphiemia. She thought as she her plan began to take shape while continuing to her charade of fright and vulnerability.
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Three figures sat in silence, each immersed in their own thoughts. One sat pondering, staring at the earthen ground, she prepares for her next move. Another, sighed as unspoken doubts began to seed upon her innocent untainted mind. As the two women sat in the stillness of the afternoon sun, bathing in its yellow orange light, a man watches them in tranquility, as his wounded heart starts to mend from the ever-growing distrust cast upon his being.
As they continue to sit, a lone lithe figure tries to scavenge of what can be of use, only to see faint glimmer against the dark green backdrop. Stealthily as he could, he approached the light only to see somebody he'd never thought of meeting once more just yet.
"Euphie." one said, catching the girl's attention, as the silence grew, it was broken only by the faint whispers of passing breeze, as eyes of lilac and ivy meet.
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She was scared. She'd deny that fact, no longer as she continued to shiver ever so slightly at the growing darkness around her.
Suzaku, where are you. she asked herself as she continued her laborious trek, stopping once in a while when her ears would pick up some rather unusual sound.
She was growing tired and she could feel cold dread encasing her very being. It was then when her ears picked up another sound, only this one's different, it gave her hope and relief as the sound continued to grow louder.
Water! She joyfully thought as her feet carried her to the sound.
She was running now. What seemed to be the sound of rushing falls, it soon became a sweet melody to her ears. Then, she saw the bright passage towards her goal, then everything happened in slow motion, when she arrived in her destination, her joy was cut short when her mind registered the scene present before her.
Suzaku! she stared in shock as her lilac eyes soon travelled to lying girl trapped beneath his strong masculine arms. She flinched a little when she noticed both eyes of sapphire and emerald were staring at her in almost equal surprise. She felt tears prick her eyes as her heart clenched in pain.
He has a lover. She thought almost wistfully, and in a way confused for he said, he had nothing of sorts.
So he lied then. she painfully concluded as she took in the scene once more, and noticed that his eyes were still set upon her still in shock. She stood there silence, unable to take her gaze away from his, as an atypical kind of pain continue to burden her heart, until she could no longer look at sight before her. She was about to run and leave them when her conclusions were shattered in one piercing terrified scream.
"Help!!!!HE'S GOING TO RAPE ME!!!!!!!Ahhhhh……" the girl shouted and at the same time throwing her a pleading frantic glance.
If she felt pain then, this blow as devastating. She never once thought of her knight doing such crimes against women. He was such a gentleman when they met, now, her sisters words seem to echo even louder than usual.
"He's nothing but an Eleven, Euphie. Barbaric animals and nothing more than tools used for our betterment." echoed the familiar voice, ringing with disgust and contempt.
She never believed such words accused upon him and his kind, but now as she stares at the scene in another point of view, maybe her sister's words do carry some truth.
"Please don't." she heard the red-head begging at her knight hovering above her, she saw Suzaku return his gaze back to the crying girl, unable to see baffled look cast upon his features, she assumed the worst.
"Suzaku!!! Let that girl go this instant!" she shouted with all the authority she could muster, her words were tinged with anger and distrust, as she rushed towards them while struggling against her suddenly heavy clothes as they began to absorb some water.
"Euphie it's not what you think. She- " He tried to reason out only to be halted when he heard small muffled sobs coming beneath him, this only angered her more.
How could he?! she shouted in thought as the sounds of the sobs grew even louder almost deafening in her case, but she knew it was just her mind play tricks on her. The pain she felt was getting the better of her and had thrown her senses askew.
When she saw him withdrew his weight from the girl, she immediately rushed to her and gave the girl of what seemed to be her discarded clothes. While casting a cold disappointed look at the green-eyes knight, she only turned too early to catch the penetratingly present hurt in his eyes.
She felt her heart grow heavy with pain and disappointment as she came to the girl's rescue and engulfed her in a warm embrace. Her heart clenched even tighter as she saw more tears began flowing down the girl's cheeks.
"There, there, it's all right. No one would hurt you." she comforted only to sigh in an effort expel the growing weight within her. She shortly released her embrace and let the girl dress.
"So what's your name?" she asked trying to divert the girl's thoughts as well as her own.
"K-Kallen." the girl stammering as she replied with a few hiccups of sobbing.
"It's all right, Kallen. The danger is gone." She assured and embraced the girl once more only to doubt her own words as she reassessed her own statement.
The danger is gone! How could I say such falsehood? How can I say such lies when her rapist is sitting there a few feet away from us? She thought dreading the time when Suzaku would decide to put his talents into use once more, over powering them both. She waited for the attack, only to be met in vain, for the green-eyed knight sat there in meditating silence.
As the sobs cease, the silence grew, she no longer paid attention to the sitting knight before her as she sat there still holding the girl. She knew the girl was now fine, judging from the quieting sobs, but she was the one who needed someone to hold on to for support. She needs this embrace, for she might not be able to stop the threatening flow of tears pricking her near burning eyes.
How could he? the question continue to echo within her.
How could he do that to the girl?
How could he lie to her?
How could he… she trailed off in thought as her embrace grew even tighter.
"Euphie." he said, catching her attention. As the silence grew, she reluctantly met his surprisingly warm gaze that almost gave her second thoughts about her conclusions once more.
"Euphie, I-" he said in an effort to explain only to be cut off by her icy words.
"I did not ask for your excuses Sir Kururugi. I can plainly see your excuses won't matter." She said as she cut him off, her eyes growing unusually cold. She was hurt. No, not only hurt, she was betrayed by a person she trusted her life with.
"I know. But I think you would want to hear my side of the story." He replied in a strangely calm voice, almost match her wintry aura.
"You have no right to assume anything about me!" she spat out. She was angry and she wanted to hurt someone as well. And Suzaku was turning out to be one nice punching bag at the moment. Deep inside she knew she'd regret her words in the future, but now, she didn't care about the damage being done.
"Forgive me, Princess." He stated almost to himself if she had not heard it.
"What you did is unforgivable." She whispered in return, diverting her gaze away from his.
"Is that so." He said, almost to himself, with that he returned to his musings leaving her in her thoughts once more, and once again silence reigned upon them like heavy cloak of distrust and pain.
Yes. You're a liar and nothing but a barbarian. I hate you! she screamed within as she felt the tears flowing down her ivory cheeks. She did not know if it was pride or something else, but she didn't want to see her cry, so to remedy this, she hid her face against the girl's cherry locks as the tears began to flow.
"Shh…I know this may sound foolish but, since you had your turn to cry, may I take my turn to do so as well." she whispered so low that even Kallen didn't seem to hear, but she had her answer when the girl gave her a knowing nod.
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They sat there, unmoving like ancient statues. They portrayed the perfect scene of lament. As the lone knight stare aimlessly in the distant darkening forest, two females hold themselves in an embrace of comfort. As the threads of burgundy wine meld with cherry blossom curls, twin rivers flow from pale purple orbs with salty tears.
While in the cloak of darkness, the two stood, staring in coolness of the shadows. And so woven are the threads of Fate. A familiar scene. A scene of contrasts and illusions. The black and the white princes meet once more.
"Suzaku." someone whispered out, it was faint but it was enough to shatter a lone knight's musings like a metal gong. As their cold gazes convene, they turn into a tempestuous sea, icy waters meeting with liquid poison.
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He sat there like an idiot.
There was no other word to describe what he was doing right now. Here he was seeing his princess, in the arms of a terrorist who turned out to be his classmate. He was shocked. An understatement now that he had time to gather his thoughts.
He felt his hands clench in frustration. He had fallen through her trap like a fly in a spider web. He didn't expect it. In fact he didn't expect to see Euphie here either.
Life's so full of surprises. He begrudgingly thought as he gazed upon the scene before him. Kallen was dressing, and he faintly thought of why Her Highness hadn't notice she was wearing a pilot suit or that Kallen was basically sporting her Black Knights jacket right in her face.
He heard Euphie ask her of name and watch almost seething as the actress answered sobbingly with matching hiccups.
Idiot. He thought to himself. He was not really angry at Kallen. No. He was angry with himself for falling into the nicely woven web in the first place.
Damn it! he thought in obvious frustration. This time however, it wasn't his foolishness that he was so angry at. No. This time's different. This time he was angry for an unknown reason. It was quite uncommon to him. And he was used to all kinds of pain, whether it was the physical kind or the emotional one.
He couldn't pinpoint the reason why. He never felt so trapped in his life.
"Suzaku!!! Let that girl go this instant!"
The words hit him like a wrecking ball as it echoed within the recesses of his memories. The words held a certain sting quite unusual to princess' tone of words. It held a certain familiarity, but not a good one.
Then it suddenly came to him.
Contempt.
Coldness.
Mistrust.
All these came rushing through him and blaring at him like a warning sign. He felt his heart tighten as the realization.
She believes her. He thought, and the conclusion sent him to place of sudden flashes of anger and hurt. The feelings came to him so fast he didn't notice them pass him until he felt his heart grow numb in the pain giving him an unusual sense of calmness.
Of course, she believes her. You maybe her knight but… you're nothing but a mere Eleven. You're unworthy of such trust coming from her. You're nothing but a shield, easily discarded when no longer in use. He melancholy thought as the numbness began to work its way around him.
"It's all right, Kallen. The danger is gone." He heard her say and the pain almost rack at him if not for the familiar numbness enveloping him.
The danger is gone! Does that mean she still trusts me? He silently hoped as he looked at his princess with growing hope. And as he began to hope, he left a familiar warmth envelop him, replacing the numbness he felt earlier. This was the feeling he always felt when he was around her. She was in a way his sun and he always loved the sun.
"Euphie." he said, catching her attention. He didn't notice the silence earlier, but he finally felt it when an silent wall stood between them. She reluctantly met his gaze, he expected her warm lilac eyes, but he was wrong. For what he saw, was something that made him feel the full blown pain the numbness was protecting him from.
She eyes were cold. They were full of hurt and distrust. He thought he saw them soften a bit but may be that was merely wishful thinking.
"Euphie, I-" he said in an effort to explain only to be cut off by her icy words, stabbing him through the heart like a sharp jagged dagger.
"I did not ask for your excuses Sir Kururugi. I can plainly see your excuses won't matter." She said as she cut him off, her eyes growing unusually cold with every passing second. Then as if answering his plea for relief, the numbness came even stronger than usual.
"I know. But I think you would want to hear my side of the story." He replied in a strangely calm voice, almost surprising himself at his own coolness.
"You have no right to assume anything about me!" she spat out. And despite the numbness, the words still stung like salt rubbed into an open gashing wound.
"Forgive me, Princess." He stated almost to himself, for he knew there was hope of getting such a miracle.
"What you did is unforgivable." She whispered in return, diverting her gaze away from his. Her words were like the final death blow, forever sinking him into the darkness.
"Is that so." He said to himself, he then returned to his musings while leaving her to her thoughts, and once again, silence reigned upon them like heavy cloak of distrust and pain. While he silently tries to heal the once again gashing wound upon his already too burdened heart.
"Suzaku." someone whispered out, it was faint but it was enough to shatter from his musings like a metal gong. As their cold gazes meet, he felt his anger turn into deadly ice.
"What is it, Kallen?" he coldly replied as leaned his back against the boulder behind him; he vaguely wondered why she was talking to him.
I am her rapist after all. He coldly concluded only to be answered by the sight of Euphie sleeping on her lap.
"I suggest you join us, Suzaku." she said emotionlessly, equaling his coolness with her sharp cerulean gaze.
"By us you mean the Black Knights of course." He pointed out plainly as he rolled his eyes in monotony. He was already tired of these offers coming from Zero, he didn't need any more from her.
Speaking of Zero, where is that over-manipulative bastard? He wondered only to realize he never knew what happened to her so-called leader. He was about to ask her about it when she resumed their halted conversation.
"Of course. Look, I am sorry about ruining the little imaginary world this puppet made up for you to live in but –"she said only for him to cut her off with some words of his own.
"Shut up! Euphie is not a puppet! The only puppet I see here is you! You do nothing but follow Zero's every command." He retaliated, but his voice was still controlled and cold, thus not initially waking up the sleeping princess.
"Hmph! A puppet is something that follows orders obediently and has no will of its own. Like it or not Kururugi, your princess fits the bill quite well. And as for your statement of me being Zero's puppet, you're wrong about that because I follow him by my own will and no one else's." she stated in a fevered tone but still careful enough not to wake the princess.
"You're really not good of convincing people are you Kallen." he said stating not questioning.
"Well, neither are you Suzaku. As the matter of fact, I quite surprised you haven't tried making me join the Britannian military." She off-handily stated while playing with a few strands of pink hair.
"Don't you dare touch her." He said, as he looked at her in cold contempt with his green poison eyes.
"My, my, my, you're quite the loyal knight. You know I never thought of it. But now that you mentioned it. I really could easily kill her right here. I mean, she being so frail and everything." She joked at him with mocking eyes, but despite the fact that he knew it was just something to tease him still made him want to get up and take the princess away from her grasp.
"Like you have the guts." He said unmoving as he crossed his arms across his chest.
"You think I can't do it!" she exclaimed losing some of her composure.
"I don't think so. I know so." He stated trying not to give into the smirk trying to show.
"Huh! You're right. But I wonder if your little princess here would think twice of giving you the death sentence since you're already accused of rape. And you know as well as I do that almost all of the Britannian higher-ups wants you gone and won't even lift a finger for your defense." She replied not taking the bait he dished out.
"I know. But if that's what Euphie wants, then as her knight I would gladly take the punishment she lays before me." he stated unemotionally as he met her wide-eyed gaze.
"You mean to tell me that you're going to die for a crime you didn't even commit! What do you have a death wish!?" she cried out completely losing all the remnants of her cool as she stared at him in disbelief.
"It is my duty a–" he reasoned out only to be cut off.
"Duty my ass! You're nothing but a masochist!" she accused as her well-endowed chest heaved with spoken passion.
"What if I am?" he countered her still able to maintain his cool façade.
What would that change? He silently added as he began to go back to that fateful day when he lost his will to live and instead try to atone for the sins he had done.
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Confrontation. As two warriors clash, a silent maiden lay as witness. As two minds meet, others wait for that final command.
"Schniezel." stated the dark figure as he met the cool gaze of his childhood rival while his mind began working its way around on how to out-smart this blonde-haired elder.
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When he woke up, he found himself lying on his back staring at the bright shining sun with the foamy ocean waves gently caressing him.
Where am I? he thought as he gazed across the empty horizon in vague wonder. Then as he tried to recall the events that recently occurred, he shot up when he finally managed to assess his current condition.
This is not good. I don't have any means of communication on me. He pondered as he began thinking of ways on how to get off the island without revealing his true identity, only to stop at a small growling sound.
But I think I need something to eat first. A small blush managed to creep up his cheeks, as he went into the jungle where he managed to garner a few fruits and found a small spring to quench his thirst.
Guess I really should thank Suzaku for the camping trivia. He thought as he managed to come down from a reasonably high tree. He gazed up at the silent giant as he observed the modified nest he made as his shelter for the time being.
A melancholy tint grazed his violet eyes as he recalled fond childhood memories with his best friend. Now, as he ponders on what has happened between them, he vaguely wonders on what would happen if Suzaku knew the truth about Zero.
"You should not ponder of what ifs, Lelouch." He sighed as he placed the dark tinted mask on and proceeded to make his way through the dense terrain of foliage and rock.
Urgh! It's times like this I wish I had Suzaku's inhuman physical abilities. He thought resentfully as his shoulders heaved with fatigue. After what seemed like hours of hiking, he collapsed panting on a nearby tree while reaching for his makeshift canteen and began drinking the crystalline liquid hungrily.
Damn, maybe I should really get some exercise. He concluded as he leaned his head back letting his raven hair fall on his eyes as he began to drift off into sleep.
Soon, he began to fall in to deeper realms of sleep and then he entered the world of dreams.
He was standing in a familiar place, but he can't seem to place where it was exactly. Then the realization gripped him like boa constrictor. The Palace Aries.
"My how well you've grown my dear Lelouch." Said a voice coming from behind, the voice was a voice he thought he'd never heard again. He had dreams like these, hearing the sound of his mother's voice only to see it was a mere illusion.
He turned expectantly to see nothing but darkness and oblivion.
Oh, I see darkness all right. He mused.
But this time it was different. This time she didn't disappear. This time she stood where was to be, in front of him.
"Why, you look like you've seen a ghost! What's the matter?" her voice tinged with familiar concern as she walked towards him. Also unlike his previous dreams, she managed to reach him. She placed her slender hands upon his shoulders and gave him a long lost smile.
She then pulled him into an embrace; he felt the tears prick my eyes as they started to flow. He knew it was a dream, but he gave no heed to the darkness around them, for he was already used to the darkness.
"I missed you." he said as he returned her embrace. He felt his hand stray from her back and reach for his face in an effort to wipe off some of the tears, only to come across solid plastic.
The mask of Zero.
He then felt her pull back. Her warm comforting smile was gone was as replace by an expressions of terror and confusion.
"Who are you?!" she screeched as she pushed him away like some common stranger.
"What are you talking about? It's me Lelouch." he reasoned as he tried to reassure her by taking the mask off only it won't come off.
"No! You're not my Lelouch!" she shouted as she ran from him. As she sprinted off, he tried to run after her only to see her fade from my view.
"Mother!!!" he shouted only to reach into nothing but darkness.
"The power of the kings, brings one solitude, Zero." Another familiar voice called out.
"CC!" he turned expecting the witch only to see nothing once more.
"The power of the kings, brings one solitude." The voice was there but everything was empty and dark.
"Where are you, CC?" he shouted as the voice seemed to grow louder.
"The power of the kings, brings one solitude. Remember that Lelouch." Said the voice once more, then suddenly he felt the ground cave in and he began falling into the dark oblivion.
"NO!!!!" he shouted as he tried to grasp into something, only to find nothing.
And as he continued to scream, CC voice echoed once more.
"The power of the kings, brings one solitude. Remember that Lelouch."
And as the darkness began to consume him, he felt himself grow numb and everything disappeared. It truly was oblivion.
"No!" he screamed only to stop and see the mask staring at him mockingly. And the witch's words echoed within him like a curse.
"The power of the kings, brings one solitude. Remember that Lelouch."
"Get a hold of yourself. It was just a dream, nothing more." He assured himself as he got up, he noticed it was almost completely dark now, and was about time to head back to the shelter he made, he took his scavenged supplies and hesitatingly placed his mask on, he was already nearing his destination but he stopped short when a faint glimmer caught his eye.
He tried his best to be stealthy but the dream did more damage than he thought, he felt his knees shaking and could collapse under him anytime. He was nearing the light when he saw him, and right there and there he knew he was in trouble.
"Schneizel." He whispered under his breath.
He didn't guess wrong.
"Who's there show yourself!" ordered as harsh voice. He wasn't stupid to do that.
"Calm down, Major. I'm sure it was just an animal." Said the familiar cool voice.
"But, Your Highness!" stammered the officer.
Incompetent fool. He thought as he listened to the man stammer like an idiot in front of his half-brother.
"I assure you, if it is a terrorist Major, he would have attacked now. And besides we have the Gawain, even if it is still experimental, its cannons are quite useful, don't you agree? " said the prince as he let the soldier leave with what dignity he still has.
If there's still left that is. He added as he waited for the prince to leave.
"Whoever you are you can come out now." The blond prince called out to him.
I'm no fool to do that, Schneizel. He stood his ground he wasn't about to give into his brother's whims.
"Fine. Then I'm coming to you then." replied the man coolly as he stepped into the shadows.
"That really wasn't a good move, Your Highness. " he said as he brandished a gun upon the blond.
After all, the darkness is my domain, White Prince. He thought as he neared to get a better shot.
"Zero. I didn't expect you to be here." He plainly said, his face showing nothing but slight amusement.
"Well, in life, one must expect the unexpected." He replied coolly as well, but he was already boiling in the inside for the man didn't seem threatened by his presence.
"True. Zero, mind telling me why you haven't fired that gun you seem to proudly display?" asked the royal in a mock tone made him even more agitated.
Stop acting so coolly! He seethed in annoyance. Ever since he can remember, he always fail when it come to reading this brother's emotions.
"Do you want me to?" he countered not giving to the bait. If he fired the gun, that would alarm the soldiers and he may succeed in finishing off the royal with use of Geass, but he might not be able to survive to do something about the information he would garner.
"No. Of course not. Tell me Zero, why are you here?" replied the prince as he leaned against a nearby tree.
"That's none of your concern." He said in clipped tones that hinted his annoyance.
"You're in Britannian territory, I make it my business." Said the man coolly as he look at him with a quiet scrutinizing gaze he knew so well.
He said nothing, he could not take him here, he would be in a disadvantage. He merely looked at the royal through the tinted mask. He then noticed a small device the prince was holding and it was giving off a blinking red glow.
A panic button! I have to get out of here! His mind screamed as he turned only to be blocked by a number of soldiers.
"Now, Zero. Mind telling me, why you're here exactly?" as the white prince in his familiar strangle friendly cold manner.
Damn you, Schneizel! he cursed as he felt long buried anger being dug out from his very person.
"No. Of course not, Your Highness." He said as he approached the man, with his pistol by his side, his tone spilling like sweetened liquid poison as it sent shivers down the soldiers' spine. However, despite it all the white prince remained unfazed by his actions.
"You don't enough bullets to kill us all, Zero!" shouted the major in a nervous tone when he noticed the gun the black prince was holding.
"Major, let the man speak." Said the white prince as he held up a hand as a gesture of silence, he knew too Zero's plan backfired.
"Before I answer, Your Highness. I would just like to point out that I don't have enough bullets to kill them all. I need just one." He said with slight sarcasm only for him to end up point it to the half-brother once more.
"So this is your purpose for coming? To kill me." remarked the targeted man in a rather dejected manner.
"You seem disappointed, Schneizel." Countered Zero as he took aim and released the lock.
"Don't you dare, Zero! If the prince dies, you die as well." stated a familiar looking light pinkish brown haired man as the rest of the men took aim of the dark threatening figure.
"Ah, but can you afford to." Countered Zero as he steadied his aim.
"Shoot then." Said the prince in a calm manner that everyone was shocked at the declaration. Silence, ensued only to be broken by a single shot.
"As you wish." He said while fire one straight shot, hitting the target square on the shoulder.
And so the Black Prince makes his move. He musingly thought as his gaze fell upon his mortally wounded target.
"Ahh…" the man yelped in pain as everyone looked in complete shock.
And that moment the White Prince, breaking composure for the first time, kneeled with pain upon his features as he called out the fallen's name.
"Kanon!"the prince exclaimed as he held unto his unconscious friend.
So predictable. Loyal subjects can be quite a burden at times. I believe this is a check dear brother. He contemplated as he recalled the fact that the two men have been friends since he was but six.
"Quite a stranger to pain, isn't he." stated the masked man as he took aim once more.
"Stop right there, Zero!" stammered the Major as his pudgy hands took aim as well.
"Hmph! If you don't get to the hospital, he'll bleed to death. If I shoot you, well, you and I both now what would happen to poor Kanon." He said musingly and let out an amused chuckle sending shivers to their spines once more.
I know you, dear brother. He is you weakness, and his life depends on your command. If you attack, I die but I'll be taking you with me. However, you won't allow this to go that far, after all, the prince is the main priority. So they'll probably leave him hear bleeding to death because they will all be too busy trying to make survive, no matter how hopeless it would be. He mused as he waited at the blonde-haired royal's reply.
"Stand down." The man ordered as he clutched his bleeding friend.
He heard the lower of guns, as he lowered his own, but the game's not over yet. There is still one more thing to do.
"Good. Now, take me to the hangar." He ordered as he amusingly watched the man and along with many others stare at him in confusion.
"I don't have give you my reasons, White Prince." He said mockingly as he brandished the gun once more.
Oh, I'm enjoying this. he thought as he saw his brother clench his jaw in frustration.
"Very well, just let us take Kanon to the medics." Agreed the man.
"Not so fast, Schneizel. Take him with us. I suggest you hurry, he can't afford to lose anymore blood." He stated as he gestured for the hangar where they all knew what he wanted.
The Gawain. I'm quite curious of that little prototype of yours brother dear. He mused as they neared the hangar, where the black knightmare awaits.
As they entered the hangar, everything happened as predicted, they tried to stop him only to fail for once he was in the knightmare he was invincible. He fired the cannons and made his escape.
It's all for now. We'll continue our game next time brother. He thought amusingly as he piloted the Gawain with ease. But a tinge of guilt seemed to have pervaded upon him. He never saw his brother like that, but he shook off such things as he tried contacting his Black Knights.
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As blue and green meet in a battle once more, the stormy waters calmed while the seething poison cooled. As lilac orbs remained sealed with dried salty drops, purple ones fill with triumph upon the evident victory.
"You're right. After all, one can never go back and redo the past. What's done is done." Declared the solemn warrior while releasing a melancholy sigh of weariness.
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She failed. Her plan was to make Suzaku join the Black Knights considering he's got some skill by making him see how little trust the princess hade for him. However, after hearing his undying pledge of loyalty to Britannia, whether implied or not, he deserves to die in the hands of those he had sworn to serve.
"Duty my ass! You're nothing but a masochist!" she accused as her well-endowed chest heaved with spoken passion.
He's actually going to let himself die! She contemplated while a spurn of vehemence raked at her.
"What if I am?" he countered her still able to maintain his cool façade which made even more agitated.
"That would mean you're nothing but a coward and a fool. You didn't join the army because you wanted to save yourself, you join to kill yourself!" she declared in sheer ferocity, completely forgetting about the sleeping princess lying upon her lap.
"What I do to repent for my sins is none more your business Kallen." he stated still cool and calm but his emerald depths reveal a dangerous brew coming about.
"So you admit it then." she said as her temper began to cool.
"Yes. Maybe, in some way I'm quite suicidal." He mused offering her a grim smile.
Quite? That's an understatement. She concluded as she gazed upon the sleeping girl beneath her.
Man, she could sleep through anything! She thoughtfully remarked as her eyes met two emerald orbs of cooling poison.
"She's your reason to keep on living isn't she?" she blurted out completely surprising the knight from his coolness by her sudden change of topic.
He said nothing but she already took it as a yes. For without Euphiemia, he would be nothing but an empty shell of a man.
"And let me guess, Zero it the reason you're fighting on the wrong side." Stated the knight as he looked her with his cool unwavering gaze.
"First of all, I'm not fighting on the wrong side, you are. And second of all, as unbelievable as this may sound, no, Zero is not the reason why I fight." She answered with shifting her gaze back to the rushing falls.
No. Zero was never the reason. Zero is the key to our dreams of freedom. She reflected on the knight's false conclusions.
"Who or what is it then?" he asked curiously at her.
"Who or what is it, is none of your business. Just like the unexplainable reason why you want to kill yourself." She countered regaining some of her previously lost fervor.
"I don't want to kill myself." He defended only to earn a raised eyebrow from her.
"I only let Fate have its way." He continued earning another look of disbelief.
"The fact that you no longer have the will to fight Fate for your life means you already gave up your will to live." she concluded coldly to him.
"I don't take my indifference to my fate no matter how unlucky it may be. I take it as a form of repentance." He countered completely dropping his cool previously well-built façade.
"Repentance for what?!" she asked as her pitch became higher.
"For killing my father." he said unhesitatingly as a cold calm silence enveloped them once more.
He killed his own father! The thought echoed like a resounding gong in her head as her blue eyes reflected her shock.
"Yes. I killed Prime Minister Genbu Kururugi." He stated even more coolly as before.
"I see. Well, did you know I killed my own brother." she confessed, while her own eyes became steely cold as they meet two wide-eyed green orbs.
"I don't believe you. I don't believe you're the kind of person to strike someone close to you in cold blood."he said as he shook his head fervently in disbelief.
"And I don't believe you'd kill your own father in cold blood either." She stated in a cool tone so unlike her fiery nature he had come to see.
"I killed my father because I wanted the war to stop. What's your reason?" he asked totally stumped at her declaration.
"So it was an accident then. An argument gone bad?" she guessed coolly.
"That doesn't change that fact that I did it." he stated in an almost angry tone. He was expecting a reply, but she refused to give it to him.
"How did he die Kallen?" he asked as the shadows played across his features.
"He died because I was stupid enough to think I could do it on my own." She confessed coldly as she met his eyes once more.
If I wasn't stupid enough to rush into things amd actually listen to orders he would still be alive. she thought as her teeth clench at the unhealed wound.
"I mission gone wrong." He stated as if it was explaining everything.
"Yes. A mission gone wrong." She agreed in a tired tone.
"It wasn't your fault. He was just trying to save his sister." he said in a failed effort to comfort her.
"Well, it wasn't your fault either. What were you, 10?" she countered coldly as her eyes met his once more as if asking him to refute her claim.
She was met with obvious silence. She waited for his reply so she decided to continue.
""We can never go back and redo the past. What's done is done." She said in a solemn tone as she gazed up unto the starry velvet skies.
We can merely keep on going. She silently added as she shifted her gaze back to him once more.
"You're right. After all, one can never go back and redo the past. What's done is done." He while releasing a melancholy sigh of weariness.
"But that doesn't mean that the past can't affect us." He added upon his agreement.
"Yes. You want to die because of you sin while I prefer to live to fight those who caused mine." She said in equal defeat.
"You live to destroy Britannia." He concluded only to be cut off.
"NO! I live to free Japan. So that no one would feel the guilt and pain I've suffered." She stated in a burst of passion only to descend into mere whisper.
"Your reason is correct but your methods are screwed! You do nothing but become one of Zero's pawns in his own personal chess game." He stated almost angrily once more.
"This coming from the puppet of Britannia." She countered only to sigh in frustration.
"Take her." She said as she gently shoved the sleeping girl off her lap and stood up with a stance of pride.
"What?!" asked the knight in confusion as he saw the girl walked towards the deep dark jungle.
"I don't see anything to be gained in talking to you. So I'll leave you and your doll alone." She stated and walked off in anger.
"Wait! You can't leave it's dangerous out there!" he called out as he rushed for her.
"I can take care of myself!"she declared as her continued to stomp away.
"No! As a part of the Britannian military I can't allow you to leave!" he said as he rushed towards her sending deeper into the jungle.
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As the two were caught in a game of chase, a lone princess woke up from her imaginary slumber only to meet another face once more.
"I'm sorry." the words echoed like a faint whisper in the hallways of eternity.
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She felt her heart turn into lead when her mind began registering the two warriors' conversation. She was foolish enough to believe a strange rather than her own knight. She felt tears pierce her once more as they began to flow upon her porcelain cheeks.
Suzaku, please forgive me. I'm so sorry. She thought as the image of the boy flooded her mind.
"May I ask who had caused such tears to fall upon your face my Lady Euphiemia." Asked the familiar voice.
"Zero! Or may be Lelouch would be more appropriate." She said as she looked at the man leaning against the boulder.
You're Lelouch I know it! she screamed in thought as her eyes took on a determined look.
"When?" asked the man as he took the legendary mask off revealing a long lost loved one.
"Since the hostage taking incident." She replied as she felt happy tears replace the sad ones she had already spilt while rushing to the dark figure and embracing him in a warm loving grasp.
"Lelouch." She whispered as she let her tears soak his dark lavender shirt.
"Euphie." he said as he returned her embrace.
They stood there in silence. Neither were willing to move for they fear for the moment to end too quickly as they often do.
However, despite their best efforts, it was ended by the sound of rustling and fevered screams.
"Let me go!"screamed the woman.
"NO!" persisted the man.
Suzaku! her heart fluttered with glee as she saw him come out of the woods unscathed, well, almost unscathed, for he was filled with scratches.
She was about to go towards him and apologize only to be restrained by a masked man. Zero.
"Play along." He whispered as he held a gun close to her.
A gun! She felt fear grip her like a snake when she saw the concealed weapon, and in her frozen shock she could merely nod in agreement.
"Stop right there, Kururugi." Stated Zero as he held the gun closer to her.
"Let her go Zero!" shouted the knight as he lunged at the masked man like someone possessed.
"Here you go then!" Zero said as he pushed her towards him and called out for the girl in urgency.
"Suzaku!" she cried out as she held unto the knight's warm arms and at the same time hold off his pursuit for Zero.
"Euphie! Are you all right?" he asked as she held him tighter.
"Yes. I'm fine." she replied as tears began their journey once more.
"Euphie, I-"he said as he saw Zero and Kallen rush towards a black knightmare and making their escape.
"I'm sorry." She said her cries became louder as the pounding guilt began to escape from her weary heart.
She didn't know how long she had been repeating the same words but as time began taking its toll, she felt the weight lift somehow and soon darkness prevailed.
The next thing she knew, she was lying on a bed with her brother Schneizel beside her. She fervently asked for her knight only to find out that he was under investigation for treason. And at that moment she felt the weight of fear and guilt take over once again.
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As a princess heart bleeds in pain and guilt, a lone knight sits listening to the words he had never thought of hearing.
"I DON'T CARE! I WANT TO LIVE!" shout the voice that was his own.
As he desperately tried to regain his memories, a princess begs for the first time in her existence.
"LET ME SEE HIM, I BEG OF YOU BIG BROTHER!" pleaded the voice once full of joy now full of anguish.
And as two suffer, another two ponder.
One for what had happened to her and the a friendly knight. Another for what has been done to those he had once known as family.
One questions.
Why care?
Another justifies.
I had to, I had no choice.
-END-
A/N: Okay guys what do you think? Not too OC or rushed I hope. Anyway…thank you all for being VERY patient with me and SORRY for taking so long to update…So please review…and once again I'm open to ideas and suggestions….
Acknowledgements: Thank you 4 reading my fics and reviewing on them…special thanks to Erifrats101 for the ideas…:3
P.S. To those who await the sequel to The Masked Cat… please be patient…I'm trying to work out a plot as I type…
