A/N: I got some reviews last chapter, now I have nineteen...so close to twenty but, alas it wasn't meant to be. Yay, this chapter is longer than usual, hope you guys like that, and it was fun to write too.
Disclaimer: I don't own Holic, X19, or Code Geass...to be completely honest, I don't even own the title for this chapter. There is a really good Douwata fic by Anyjen that is called Dreams and Realities. It's different from the usual Douwata fic because Doumeki is uke, if you're a fan, then you know how monumental that is. Anyways, it seemed to fit for the name of this chapter so I used it. You can find Anyjen's fic on my favorites, if you're interested. :D
Warnings: There aren't many warnings in this fic, are there? Oh well.
Dreams and Realities
Lelouch vi Britannia dreamed. He dreamed of Nunally, who he hadn't protected. He dreamed of his friends, who he had left behind. And he dreamed of Suzaku, poor broken Suzaku, who he had betrayed completely and utterly. Strangely enough, though, the thing he dreamed of most was a witch, a witch in a magical shop that granted wishes and she would always talk to him about redemption, something he wasn't sure could even be achieved.
"You can redeem yourself you know, my Black Prince?" Lelouch watched the tall woman as she spoke, one of her elegant hands stroking his tear-stained cheeks. She comforted him throughout the very worst of his nightmares, soothed him with promises of heaven.
"How? How can I redeem myself? Suzaku was right...all I've ever done was wrong!" He fell to his knees before the kimono-clad figure and she lowered herself, albeit more elegantly, in the same manner, red eyes looking into violet. "How did I ever believe that I could save the world? All I've done is corrupt it further."
"You mustn't lose hope, it can be done. Maybe not in this world, and maybe not in your own, but in another world," She paused suddenly, surveying his bowed figure with something close to pity, before continuing. "Someone very important lost his life to give you this chance. You see, the boy who died left behind two very sad people and the only one who can heal them–save them–is you...will you do it? Will you save them?" He gazed up at her with shocked violet eyes, glassy from the tears they had shed.
'Only I can save them?' He asked himself, quivering lips locked tightly together as he thought of the answer. 'I, who could not even save those who were important to me? I, who am a destroyer, not a healer?' As if sensing his morbid thoughts she shook her head, flowing black hair rising behind her like black wings, and took a hold of his chin, raising his eyes up to meet her own.
"You mustn't doubt yourself child, for I have faith in you, as did the person who wished for his loved ones' happiness. He chose you, only you, no one else can do it. Will you do it?" Her voice was soft, understanding, as if she the decision was his alone and all she would do if he refused was be disappointed, very disappointed.
Lelouch gazed up at the ancient red eyes and found his answer within them. Before he could stop himself, he was already responding. "Yes, I will do it, I will help them." He didn't know why, but he was crying. The witch ran a soothing hand through his hair, a loving, almost motherly smile on her lips.
"Then wake up." Before he knew it, the world was spiraling around him. Everything; the shop, the two strange girls with their blank eyes, the boy disappearing into another door, all of it vanished. All he could see was the witch, her blood-red eyes boring into him, gazing into his dark soul, her smile still etched onto her face. "Wake up." And so he did.
Subaru sighed tiredly, rubbing the bridge of his nose with two fingers to relieve the pressure that had begun to gather there. A few days had passed since the Sumeragi had found the boy, who still hadn't shown any signs of waking up, and Subaru hadn't left his side at all. Even Imonoyama's prompting and the tree's whining hadn't made him budge. In fact, Subaru himself didn't know why he was so keen on remaining at this boy's side, this boy who wasn't Kamui, but looked so much like him.
"Why? Why is fate doing this to me? Haven't I suffered enough? Haven't I lost everything I've ever desired?" All of his questions were directed towards the sleeping figure and he was disappointed, but not surprised, when his questions remained unanswered. Sighing once again, he lowered himself back into the chair he had spent the last few days in. His thoughts once again turned towards the dead twin of the sleeping figure before him. "Kamui...what's happening to me?" A sarcastic cough cut him off.
/I'm sorry to cut your little angst-fest short, but there's something you have to know./ Subaru stiffened in surprise for a second, wondering if he should feel offended, but decided against arguing.
"Angst-fest doesn't make any sense Tree-san. I am not anxious or fearful, perhaps a little curious about what is going on, but not anxious." He informed the tree in a very matter-of-fact tone, hiding a slight smile when it huffed long-sufferingly.
/It's quips like that, that make me withhold information from you, stupid Sumeragi./ The tree was pouting, it was obvious even if he couldn't see it, and the thought brought a transient smile to Subaru's face. Then a thought occurred to him. What had the tree said about withholding information?
Precariously, he ventured onwards. "Tree-san?" He waited until he heard a hmm in reply. "I'm very sorry if I insulted you. Please tell me what you know." His apology was stiff, but the tree seemed to accept.
/Alright, alright no need to grovel, but you owe me./ Subaru didn't mention how he hadn't been groveling. Better to let the tree think what it wanted. /I just wanted to let you know that your lover boy is waking up./ As if on cue, Subaru heard a pained groan and turned hurriedly to find that the unconscious teen's eyelashes were fluttering against his pale cheeks. The Sumeragi held his breath nervously, waiting for more of a response, when the boy began to speak, his voice scratchy from lack of use.
"Where am I?" Subaru wasn't sure if the boy was speaking to him or to himself, but gasped in shock when the boy's eyes finally fluttered open, sliding towards him and pinning him with the piercing gaze.
'They're violet...just like Kamui's...how can this be happening?' He turned the thought around and around in his mind, hoping for the answer that he knew he wouldn't receive, until someone–possibly the tree–cleared their throat. He lifted his head up only to find that the violet eyes were still waiting for a response. "You..you're in the CLAMP general hospital in Tokyo. I found you below the Tower, you were injured very seriously." The violet-eyed boy seemed to be processing everything he said and Subaru was beyond disappointed when the large eyes slipped shut yet again.
Meanwhile, Lelouch's thoughts were in a turmoil. 'CLAMP hospital in Tokyo? Isn't that in Japan? From what I've seen of this building, just this room, the place is in better shape than anything in all of Japan...Area Eleven. I wonder if that woman has anything to do with this?' His thoughts turned towards what the man besides him had just said. 'He said I was hurt...from Suzaku's bullet? Oh Suzaku...' He felt tears prick behind his eyelids when the other man suddenly took his hands into his own gloved ones. The man's touch was very gentle and careful, as if he were afraid Lelouch would break if he wasn't, so Lelouch smiled at him reassuringly, earning a small smile in return.
"What's your name?" The man asked in a very soft, gentle voice that Lelouch could easily associate with him, being as he appeared to be gentle and soft too. The violet-eyed boy then took the opportunity to survey the other man. He looked a little bedraggled, as if he hadn't slept in days, and Lelouch wondered if the man had stayed by his side while he was in the hospital. Gazing up at the man once gain, he was surprised to find that he was very handsome and his eyes––the boy flushed darkly and couldn't stop the gasp that passed through his dry lips.
'His eyes, they're green...just like Suzaku's...but there's only one.' He flushed again, even darker this time, and the green-eyed man clucked worriedly, placing his gloved hand onto Lelouch's forehead. The boy's flush only darkened. 'He's just like Suzaku, isn't he? Gentle and kind...but it's obvious he's been taken advantage of, just like Suzaku, the gaping hole in his socket is enough to prove it. Some jerk hurt him just like I hurt Suzaku...' Thinking of the green-eyed knight made painful pangs bloom within his chest, though the cool hand on his forehead helped relieve it a bit.
"You do feel a little warm..." The other man's soft voice snapped him out of his disoriented state and he coughed slightly to keep himself from flushing. "I should get the doctor anyway, he should know that you're awake." Lelouch was alarmed by the panic he felt at the thought, and before he could stop himself, his hand was reaching out to wrap around the other man's wrist, effectively halting him. "What's the matter?" The man's single eye seemed worried and Lelouch flushed again, embarrassed because he had no reason to stop the man except that he didn't want him to leave.
"My name...it's Lelouch Lamperouge." He said after an awkward moment of silence and he felt a burst of pleasure shoot through him at the small smile he was offered in return.
"My name is Sumeragi Subaru, you may call me Subaru if you like." Once again, the man turns to leave, prompting the black-haired teenager to stop him again.
"You can call me Lulu..." As soon as the words come out of his mouth, Lelouch felt embarrassed, cursing himself for saying it, but Subaru only smiled at him again.
"Lulu, that's a cute nickname." The man complimented in a polite and quiet voice, taking in Lelouch's flushed cheeks, and the boy was surprised when he, too, flushed. Both males stared deeply into each other's eyes for a second, lost in their thoughts, when a cheerful voice interrupted them.
"Ah, he's awake! This is wonderful news!" Both brunets turned towards the door as the blonde president of CLAMP school let himself in.
/Stupid blonde...and just when things were getting so good, too./ Subaru wanted to scold the tree for it's rude words, but he just couldn't...maybe because he agreed with it. Imonoyama Nokoru shivered from the tension in the room, wondering if, perhaps, he should have brought Suoh with him, if only for insurance.
A/N: So...Lelouch is awake, just like you guys wanted, how was it? I really like this chapter, especially the scene with Lelouch and Yuuko, feel free to tell me how sucky it is if you disagree, though. Did anyone other than me see a bit of romance between Subaru and Lulu? The pairing was going to be FuumaxLelouch, with a bit of FuumaxKamui and SuzakuxLelouch in between, but I'll let you guys decide. I've posted a poll on my page, go vote on the pairing you want. VOTE, VOTE, VOTE!!
Thanks:
My reviewers: I lurve you with hot passion!!
Suu: I'm glad you like it, this is a little bit longer so I hope for your approval. Your review about Lulu opening his beautiful eyes prompted me to write the scene near the end. He'll meet Fuuma in a chapter or two, hope you can wait it out.
People who have faved or story alerted this: You guys rock my polka-dotted socks.
R&R: Pity me and review...and I'll give you a cyber Lulu(I made a rhyme...kind of)
