Chapter 3

Little Note: Huyah! A third chapter! It can be said as a fourth part though. :). Hope you've been liking my fic so far. Now, let's get going:0

Disclaimer: I do not own CODE GEASS. Sadly…. I own this fic though, happily……

Rated for Safety

Summary: Ha! Hints of Lelouch's past came out! It MIGHT come straight out here, and it might not. Who knows, and why does he want C.C. to go back to his apartment? Haha, find it out here!

Note: Malaysian : British English

Enjoy!

--5th/6th January 2008--

- Envisioned Mirage -

-Chapter Three-

- Celebration After A Prevalence -

"My apartment at 10:05."

"What was that?", one of C.C.'s colleagues asked.

"Nothing."

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'Why did I do that?...Who cares anyway. Hah, I am getting weirder.', Lelouch thought to himself, closing his eyes with a smirk across his face, hands placed in his pockets. He walked passed a narrow alley, then stopping in his path as he recognized a person who stood there. When he turned his head, she was there.

"How are you, Lulu?"

"It's none of your business.", he turned his whole body, facing the lady who stood in front, sternly answering her.

"Why are you doing this to onee-chan?", she asked with touches of sadness.

Onee-chan: 'Older Sister' in Japanese. 'Chan' added as close and/or cute feel.

"What did I do to her? You tell me.", looking straight at the lady with a somewhat angry face.

"Being with another person, when you have her."

"I have her? You got to be joking.", raising an eyebrow of both annoyance and anger.

"You're always like this, Lulu, not really realizing the importance of the ones beside you until they are lost.", she said with a face showing pity towards him.

"What do you know?!! You're not me!!", raising his voice, earning stares he didn't bother towards him.

"I hope you will learn next time, Lulu.", the last sentence she uttered before running back to the narrow alley behind her.

"Wait!", he shouted, trying to chase after her, but to his dismay, she was no longer seen when he stepped on the alley's front.

"Why are you here?"

"Shirley."

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The time of the day was already 10:15.

She was late.

C.C. rushed to his apartment bearing a very high extent of curiosity in her mind. 'What could he ever want?', she thought to herself, seriously not knowing what Lelouch has in that smart mental of his.

-- --

She reached the front, panting ever so slightly, realizing that this is the part where she gets to find out what he really wanted from her. Reaching out the spare key Ougi gave to her(just in case), she inserted it in the door knob's key slot, but failed to turn it anti-clockwise and realized that the key was flat, showing part of its exterior form. It was unusual, as he always locks the door. Turning the door knob clock-wise, she used the least of her strength to pull it towards her.

Inside, she placed her shoes, as usual, beside the shoe shelf, taking a step up the floor as there was a height difference between the entrance and the whole flooring of the apartment. (Can you imagine how it is like?).

The room wasn't lit, except for the one in the toilet. Searching for the man who was her reason in coming, she failed when she checked his room. Walking out the room, she noticed a different shade of colour on the sofa. Advancing closer with slow steps, she saw

him sitting on it.

His hands were on each side of the sofa's top, while his head was in a downward posture, most probably sleeping. She bent down when she was close enough to touch his legs. Looking straight at his face, he looked tired, from what she didn't know. Pocking his right leg with her index finger lightly, calling out to his name in a whispering tone.

"Lelouch. Lelouch…". Soon, his eyes opened from their closed form, looking at her with eyes half-opened.

"C.C….", was all he said, eyes somewhat saddened, but it was unlike him to her, seeing him in this kind of state. It was her first time.

"What do you want?", standing once again. She actually wanted to ask of his state, but she passed on that option because it would be funny of her, the arrogant woman to ask about something similar to that.

No reply was given, and he looked up at her with the same eyes he held just now, cracking a piece of glass in C.C.'s heart. He looked so in pain, hurting her to the point she wanted to hug him and give comfort. Why is he like this? Was one of the questions C.C. asked herself.

His eyes later changed to his normal ones, giving out a somewhat sinister laugh.

"Hahaha, having a birthday like this isn't something you should be proud of.", placing a hand over his forehead, looking at her. Her eyes met his eyes, knowing then something really hurting happened. Having a new discovery of the date he was born in, she was shocked a little in her heart, but she remained it there, not showing it to him. Going to the door, wearing back her shoes, he said

"Go ahead, leave. The 'meeting' is cancelled."

There was no reply from her, but she stopped in her steps out the door, moving her eyes to the area where he sat. Continuing on her way out, she closed the door. 7 seconds later, a soft sound was made by the door knob, something which sounded like

somebody locking it.

"What have I become?", he asked himself with a soft tone, staring at the ceiling.

Sorting out his thoughts, he concluded that it would be best for him to sleep as the time already pointed to 11:03. Walking towards his room, again, there was the sound of the door knob which sounded a little like before. 'Most probably it's Ougi coming to pick up something he forgotten.', he thought to himself, not really bearing an alert attitude of what would come in next.

The door was opened, allowing the light from the corridor to shine in, giving a better light tone to the place. The colour green also had its enhancement.

Turning his head to the door as distorted colours were seen in the corner of his eyes, he saw C.C., standing there while she was facing him, having a paper bag held up by her left hand.

Shocked somewhat, Lelouch's eyes widen a little as she didn't go home.

"Lelouch.", she said, having a faint smile with glittering sweat on her forehead, some making her side hair soak.

"What are you doing here? I told you to go home.", having his normal ordering tone in it. She took of her shoes and placed it at its place, moving forward and lifting the paper bag in front of his face, showing him something he couldn't see but white, the colour of the plastic.

"Want to have some cake?", was what she asked. Nothing was replied, but that didn't bother her the slightest bit, walking to the counter where bar-like chairs were readied for people to sit there if they didn't on the dining one. Sitting on one of the bar-chairs, she placed the plastic bag on the counter.

"Where did you go?", he asked her as he sat on a chair one sit away from her.

"I just thought of eating cake. Your place was in the area as the cake shop. So, here I am.", lifting up the cake box's cover showing the small round cake inside. It was a yellow cake with white cream twirling on top. Lacy decorations were surrounding the sides, and it all was accompanied by a dark red strawberry in the middle.

"They gave me a free candle when I refused. Let's not waste it.", she said, putting one small candle near the strawberry. "Oh, and this caught my eye, but it had this wording on it. Coincidentally fitting today for you.", sticking a chocolate sign with a, "Happy Birthday!" word made from red-coloured thick cream.

"Why are you doing this?", he asked with hands on the counter.

"I told you, it's for myself, no?", lighting up the candle with a lighter she took out from her pocket. Pushing the cake lightly to the side, it reached his. "It's not my birthday.", she said with her expressionless face. He raised an eyebrow of confusion, but nevertheless, he pushed the cake until it was situated nicely in front of him. He looked at the cake, then to her as she still held that face of hers. Tapping the table with her index finger, it made the rhythm of the Birthday song, making it look like a non-purposefully action. But, it didn't fool him. He listened to the song she played with her fingers, blowing the candle with a light wind of his breath, closing his eyes. When he opened them, the candle was still lit.

"Hahahahaha, you can't even blow a candle!", earning a laugh from C.C., teasing him.

"I can, just you watch.", convincing her. Blowing it another time with more force, closing his eyes again, opening to see the results, it was still lit. "C.C., this is your trick, right?", he asked, turning to her.

"What trick? I have absolutely no idea of what you're talking about.", she said with a normal arms crossed posture.

"This is one of those popular candles where you can't blow it off, right?", supporting his head with his left hand, elbow on the counter.

"Oh. Then the counter-lady must have gave me one, then.", expressionless even after the laugh she had. After awhile of staring, Lelouch took off the candle and put it in a glass filled with water. She just stared at his back as he was doing it at the kitchen sink in front of her.

"It would be funner if you did not discover.", laying on her hands which supported her head on the counter.

"'Funner'? Is there even such a word? And, as if I would be that blunt.", he replied as the fire from the special candle went off in the glass.

"You would be sometimes.", she said, sounding a little bit soft.

"What did you just say?", somewhat irritated by her remark, turning back to her. As he rotated his head, her eyes were closed, breathing steadily.

'Fell asleep.', he thought, observing her breathing. He took a wooden stool and sat on the opposite side from her chair. Supporting his head once again with his hand, he gazed right at her face, followed by a smile which crept up his face.

"Why would you go to such extent to do this"

"For Me?"

'No cake shop would be opened around that time, which explains the sweat which lingered around her face.'

'I don't remember any bakery selling cakes in this area of mine, which explains her lie.'

'Cake shops wouldn't give that sort of candle for free, and none would ready a chocolate sign with that wording without the buyer's permission, which explains the other two lies of hers.'

'C.C.,'

'What am I to you?'

He thought all this in his mind, brushing off a strand of hair which blocked part of her face features from his view. Smiling more, he just couldn't help stopping it as he faced her sleeping form. She looked so different in this manner, but it was fitting to certain times where she acted differently.

It fitted her perfectly.

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After the day of the calendar, the fifteenth of January, C.C. woke up from her sleep, rubbing her eyes as she got up. Both her eyes were closed as she rubbed them, showing the calm laid-back stance she had until she remembered where she was, her eyes opened.

In front of her was a Lelouch staring straight at her with a palm on his right cheek, supporting that part of his head, making it tilt to the side. He had a small faint smile which adorned his face.

"Don't you have a place to live?", he asked, still keeping his smile. There was no answer from her as she felt a funny feel of a breath of relieve washed through her body after seeing that smile of his.

"You do, don't you?", he asked, returning his face to his usual one.

"Actually, I don't."

This reply actually shocked Lelouch as he expected a 'Yes'. (And I bet you reading this did too, he he. :))

"Tell me you're kidding.", removing his hand from his cheek, paying all his attention to what she was about to say next.

"Then I won't."

"………You're not taking this seriously, are you?", getting annoyed by her game when it was a serious matter.

"Partially."

"C.C., you never fail to annoy me."

"I am glad to know that.", getting back from her sleepy posture to her expressionless face feature.

"I thought you were different yesterday….", turning his head to the side.

"What?", as she didn't exactly hear what he said.

"Nothing.", nonchalantly.

"Same to you."

"What?", facing her back again as he didn't really understand her sentence.

"Nothing.", getting back revenge at him was what she would be doing.

"You're so…..", don't want any more to continue, he stopped. "Never mind. C.C., you go and buy breakfast.", he changed his course.

"Do you know who you're directing it to?", wanting to disobey the order.

"Yes, I know. My assistant, isn't that right?", he said, actually bearing the truth in it. She had no choice but to abide by what he said, going out the door. After her leave, Lelouch wore a serious face expression, awaiting a chance to question a certain person. Right timing, that person came from the door.

"Yo-"

"Why didn't you tell me she's homeless?", he interrupted the person who came in.

"What?! Is that true?! Hm, she didn't reply when I asked her about that.", Ougi(yes, Ougi) said, scratching his head. Lelouch let out a sigh and said

"That's so like her."

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The morning sun shone on the road as people were buying things from the stands beside it. C.C. was wondering around, looking for shops she found attractive. Without such shop in sight, she decided to go to the place where she worked before being hired as a painting assistant, The Coffee House.

Walking in while browsing through the wide range of bread choices, it reminded her of the cake she bought yesterday for Lelouch. Forgotten totally about that cake, she thought to herself

'I wonder whether he liked it…'

Getting back to her motive here, she went and took a tray near the entrance. Grabbing a blueberry flavoured puff, she then wondered what the other two would like. Going pass the butter bread section, she stopped, thinking

'He's plain, boring, stubborn, prideful, and…….mysterious(his purses)…This flavour would be so fitted for him.', clipping one, then two because she didn't want to dwell any longer in just the thought of the flavour.

Lining up to pay, a man with brown messy hair stood in front of her. He was about the height of Lelouch, but he was still shorter, sad to say, was what she thought to herself. Just staring at his back, she had a feeling that this man in front isn't the one she would want to know or mix with. Just somehow, something told her that he was a mysterious man with a negative personality. Avoiding her head from meeting his back again, she turned to her right, staring at the bread trays instead. All of a sudden, most probably from the man, bumped her. Looking back in front, she saw him looking at her with an expressionless face. He had dark-green eyes.

After a little moment, his face drastically changed to a cheerful one, greeting her after that.

"Nice to meet you.", was what he said. Following her instincts, she ignored him and went forward to pay at the counter. "You're an acquaintance of Mr. Lulu, am I right?", he continued, staying behind her. That statement made C.C.'s eyes enlarge by a tad, then shifting her body to face him while the counter lady used the cashier to settle the price.

"Who are you?", she asked sternly, not letting down her alert stance.

"I am the man Lulu, or should I say, Lelouch Lamperouge, sells his paintings to.", tilting his head to the side, keeping a cheerful face hiding another behind it. Judging by how the man knew Lelouch's full name, he wasn't just an ordinary man. Even though he is the one buying the paintings, Lelouch isn't the type to give out his name. C.C. was trying to identify this man's identity, until a voice disrupted her thoughts.

"Miss, the cost is 3000 Yen, please.", said the counter-lady with both her hair and eyes of the colour brown. Looking straight at his smile which held no warmth, it made C.C. disgusted. "Miss?", called the counter-lady again. Turning back to the counter, she handed 3000 Yen to the lady from her pocket.

"I would like to meet Mr. Lelouch.", keeping his 'smile'.

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"Okay, then it's decided.", Lelouch said to Ougi who nodded in agreement. Shortly after, the door of the apartment drifted open. Without even turning back, Lelouch knew it was her, nevertheless, he did

"C.C., we…..", stopping in the middle as a man from behind C.C. appeared in view. Recognizing the man, Ougi said,

"Oh, you are-"

"C.C., who i-", Lelouch cut Ougi's sentence, wanting to ask C.C. herself about this man, but he was interrupted……too.

"'Who are you?', I guess. I am the man who buys your paintings.", smiling his trademark again.

"Lelouch, let me introduce to you, this is…", directing it to the man to answer for himself.

"Nice meeting you for the first time, Mr. Lelouch."

"I am Kururugi Suzaku."

----------------------Appetizer-----------------------

Hello! Wow! Another revealed character! Or should I say, two! Muhihahaha:0. Hope you all enjoyed this chapter, neh. :). A review would be much appreciated from you, neh. :). Thank you all who reviewed so far. :).

----------------------Preview---------------------------

When Lelouch and C.C.'s relationship was on its way to getting better, a new character with a mysterious story behind his smile stepped in the picture. What could he have behind that smile of his? What would happen next? Look forward to the next chapter then:0

H (Yay! My new trademark:0)

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