A/N: Honestly, I have NO idea how or when this is going to end, but I feel like it's coming soon (the end). So hang in there!

Disclaimer: Code Geass is not my property.

Ch. 4

Lelouch woke up, squinting from the bright light streaming in through the window. He lifted his hand, to block the strong rays, and saw the same fingers that had played the piano for C2. Thinking back from the events of the night before, he chuckled to himself, surprised that it had only been last night, when it had seemed like weeks and weeks ago. Turning his head, he saw the back of her head and smiled at how calm and quiet she was when asleep.

"I'm not sleeping, Lelouch, if that's what you're thinking."

Sitting up in the bed, she yawned and stretched. Blinking from the sun, she looked down at the boy who had been just watching her the whole time. She said, "You staring at me like that is creepy, did you know that?"

Also sitting up, he said, "It's because you look so beautiful, even in the morning."

"Stop lying." she replied while standing and stepping across the wide mattress until she jumped onto the wooden floor. Changing her clothes into a pair of black pants and a white blouse, she sat down in front of the mirror and looked at Lelouch's reflection.

"Are you not changing?"

"I'm not lying when I said that. You do."

She smiled and replied, "You don't look half bad either, but I think you would be better when you're not wearing your pajamas."

"Alright, alright, I'll change. I hate wearing the mask though. I've worn one for the majority of my life."

"I know. And I'm sorry for that, but we can't help it, until enough time passes."

When they were both prepared for meeting the curious villagers, they went downstairs together, arm-in-arm. When they came downstairs, just like the first day they had come, everyone in the room stopped what they were doing and just stared at the couple. They stared at the two immortals, and in turn, the masked teenagers met their eyes, daring someone to say something. Just when the tension got high enough for even C2 to become uncomfortable, the door slammed open and they all heard an animated voice yell, "HOW'S EVERYONE DOING ON THIS FINE DAY?!"

Cian, seeing the young couple, rushed up to them and asked Lelouch, "I take that the bouquet's mission was successfully carried out?"

He nodded in response, and the florist positively danced. When he had calmed down enough, he inquired, "So, what's on today's schedule? A stroll on the riverbanks? They have some excellent apples right now. Or a picnic in the field? A horseback ride? I have two horses. If you need to borrow them, by all means, please do."

C2 looked up at the Britannian, and she answered with, "I think… For today, we'll just go horseback riding. Should we, Lel…. Leroy?"

He nodded in agreement, and she asked, "Could we please borrow a horse, Cian?"

"Of course! I can even lend you Alexander's!"

The man himself said, "I never said that."

"Oh, come on, Alex. In fact…. Why don't we borrow both horses from you? After all, you're the horse trader of this village, and a fine one at that."

"…Fine. Do you two even know how to ride a horse? Leroy looks a little too….. Weak." he said not unkindly. Smiling, C2 replied, "Leroy? He's one of the finest horsemen I've seen."

"Now this is interesting. Are you really that good of a rider?"

Lelouch only smiled, not completely sure what to say. It was true that he had been one of the better riders when he was younger, but the last time he had been seated on the back of a horse had been years ago. All of the skills he had gained might have disappeared from constantly piloting a Knightmare. Cian brightened up and said, "I have a proposal! Why not we have a contest?!"

At this, everyone, who had gone back to their activities, perked up their ears and turned back to the excited man. He continued, "Yeah! Let's have Leroy race against Alexander! It will be the race of the century! Who will win, the mysterious young man, or the horseback riding legend?"

Almost immediately, everyone completely vacated the building, while outside, people were going home and telling the rest of their family, who in turn, followed the growing stream of villagers. Slightly alarmed by the sudden change of events, Lelouch looked at C2, who was also a little surprised. Catching up to Cian, she voiced her concern, "I'm not sure Leroy is physically able to race."

"You said he was one of the best riders you've seen."

"Posture-wise, but not as a jockey!"

"The worse that could happen is Leroy losing and everyone laughing at him."

"But look! He's not even a good runner? How is he supp-"

"Cera. He's also a man. We males have something called manly pride."

"I know that, but-"

"If you know, then let him race! Now… Is he planning to race in that button-down shirt and vest of his, or is he planning on changing?"

"He's… He's going to go change."

C2 dragged Lelouch back into their room, where he started changing behind the shoji screen. She asked, "Do you remember how to ride?"

"I'll be fine, C2. I'm not going to die."

"I'm just worried. I know how prideful you a-"

"I think you're just worried about your pride more."

"Are you calling me egotistical?"

"Not at all. I'm calling us egotistical."

He came out from behind the screen, wearing black pants and a white button-down. Putting on his nearly-knee-high boots, he stood up and took the staring girl by the shoulders and said, "I won't lose."

"How do you know?"

"Please, C2, I'm someone who destroyed and re-created the world in two years. I can win a simple horse race."

"If you lose…"

"It won't be just your loss."

She quickly kissed him on the nose and said, "Just try not to fall off. You're not exactly one of the most sturdiest of people I've met and remembered."

"I'll be fine."

They went back outside to the field, and when the spectators had spotted them, the majority of the crowd cheered at his entrance. Although his balaclava prevented anyone from seeing, Lelouch was smirking at their enthusiasm. Cian led a horse over, a tall, pitch-black species. The former prince could tell the animal was a proud one from the way it carried himself. C2 handed him his gloves, which he put on while the botanist explained, "This is Morrigan. I hope you're good at bending people to your will, because she's a spirited one. There's yet a rider that's managed to ride her and return home walking."

He looked the dark horse in the eye, who in turn, stared at him with attitude. After deciding something, he grabbed the saddle and hoisted himself up. C2 said, "Wait!" and ran up to the man on the horse. She grabbed one of his hands and said, "Be careful."

Nodding, he nudged the horse forward with his heels, and his hand slipped out of her's. She watched him carefully ride Morrigan to where Alexander was waiting on his horse. Cian suggested, "Should we go? I think they'll give front row seats."

She nodded in agreement and hurriedly walked, seriously concerned as to what would happen, and whether Lelouch would be able to even sit if what the friendly gardener had said was true. Someone had thoughtfully brought a stool for her, and she sat down. Brandon climbed up a ladder that was being held by two other men at the bottom and yelled in a deep voice, "ATTENTION!"

Surprised, she commented, "He has a voice like that within him?"

"I know he seems like the type that's scared of their own shadow, but Brandon is the village head for good reason. He really takes charge when he wants to. And I suppose, he wants to take charge right now."

"WE WILL NOW BEGIN THE RACE! LEROY AND ALEXANDER WILL RACE TO THAT OAK TREE", he pointed to an old and thick tree, about a mile or so away, "AND BACK. THE FIRST PERSON TO BREAK THE TAPE WILL BE DECLARED VICTOR!"

Morrigan shifted restlessly, while Alexander's horse looked as if it had a rough time simply holding it's rider up. C2 asked, "Will Alexander be able to race with a horse as weak as that?"

"Don't let looks deceive you. That horse has won many a race."

"RIDERS, ARE YOU READY?!"

Both men raised their arm, while each had their own problems with their equines. A blank shot was made, and the two streaked away immediately. All C2 could make out was the black of Lelouch's hair and horse, and then tan of Alexander's steed. She could hear people arguing loudly over who was currently in first. Her light blouse blew in the wind the two had created, and when they came back, there was no exception. Her black sun hat blew away in the wind, to only land in Lelouch's path halfway on his journey back.

Scared, Morrigan stopped galloping forward, nearly pitching her rider forward and skittered sideways, effectively disrupting Alexander's ride. The yellowish-brown horse neighed shrilly and reared up, causing for the horse breeder to fall off. People from the crowd immediately surrounded him, clamoring to check whether he was okay.

Lelouch struggled to control his horse, who he could tell was about to follow the tawny equine in its actions. Turning her away from the large group of people, he faced the tree again and relinquished all control of her. The second she realized the teenager was no longer controlling her anymore, she bolted. Becoming aware that it would take a while for the horse to wear herself out, he began unhooking his feet from the stirrups with great difficulty. He took a peek at the racing ground beneath him, and fear almost grabbed ahold of him until he remembered that he was immortal.

Taking a deep breath, Lelouch leaped off and rolled onto the grassy field. Despite his jump's impact being softened by the soft meadow, when he stopped rolling, he became painfully aware of each and everyone of the bruises he had earned. He lay there, not wanting to move his body because of the unfamiliar feeling of pain that he rarely had occasion to come across. He heard someone running to him, and soon, he saw C2's green hair shading his face from the sun overhead.

She sat down next to him and asked, "Are you hurt anywhere?" with a worried expression scrawled over her face. Seeing her anxious about him falling off a horse seemed hilarious to Lelouch, because even though he had had guns and missiles pointed at him, her blank face had never changed at all. He began laughing; not the cold, heartless laugh of someone tearing the world apart, but true laughter, one that erupted from authentic amusement.

A/N: I hope you liked it. I have Ch. 5 coming out fairly soon, as I already have the beginning. I was writing Ch. 4, and then I realized it was getting too long and it wasn't going anywhere, so we got two chapters out of one! (Kinda.) Stay tuned for further developments between C2 and Lelouch! Please review!