Is anyone doing anything for new years or new years eve? I'm going over to a friend's house, but that's about it. Can you believe I only have one friend who likes anime? All my other friends fall into the, 'I refuse to like it' category. Isn't that sad? Otherwise, I'd bring Lulu and C.C and the bunch!
Milly: Then we can just throw our own new years party!
Kallen: As a student council?
Milly: Of course! Miss author and C.C. can be the special guests!
SnowyNeko: Lets do it! I'll bring the chocolate!
Milly: I'll bring the wine!
Lelouch: Milly, we're all underage.
Milly: Oh, come on. You have to allow for a little fun now and again!
Kallen: I agree with Lelouch.
C.C: I'm fine with there being wine.
Lelouch: Because you're the only one not underage.
SnowyNeko: Everyone has to bring something! There'll be a huge buffet!
C.C: Snowyneko doesn't own Code Geass. *nom*
SnowyNeko: C.C. can bring the pizza!
Too much, it's all too much. So many things are all happening at once. First the kiss, then the geass, now this? The other students whisper among themselves in disbelief. I barely keep my expression unreadable, only my staring betraying my interest. Lelouch does the same, keeping quiet and simply watching. Kallen seems to be attempting to do the same, but I can see her astonishment.
Suzaku Kururugi is joining our class. I close my eyes hard, but when I open them, I'm not in my bed. Why is he here? His appearance here has left us all nothing but flabbergasted.
Suzaku meets Lelouch's gaze, but only for a second before breaking it. He's rightly judged it's better if they act like strangers, but I see the recognition flash across in his eyes. For a second, I consider dropping my head to hide my face from him, but quickly realize he won't know me. He's in the military, yes, but lowly ranked. He has to be. Pureblood Britannians will do everything in their power to prevent someone who isn't even a hafling from becoming their superior. He likely won't know the faces of any of the princes or princesses except for Clovis, and of course Lelouch and Nunnally. Being the hidden princess who's rarely acknowledged, I'm the one he's least likely to know.
To him, I'm just his classmate, just shy little Tori Kozuki. I move my gaze anyway, going back to doodling in my notebook. He shouldn't be a major concern.
Later that night, I decide to go see Nunnally. I didn't visit her yesterday because I had Kallen hanging over me like a shadow. I didn't mind in the least; I think of her as a friend. It was nice to spend some time with her. However, her presence did keep me from going to the Lamperouge dorm room. Maybe today I'll be able to ask Lelouch about the kiss.
I take precautions that are proven entirely unnecessary, wearing a heavy winter coat with the hood up on removing my glasses. As I make my way through the school grounds, I spot Nunnally's wheelchair. It looks like her maid is taking her out for a stroll, but I approach hesitantly. I've never seen the maid before.
"Hi Nunnally." The maid turns Nunnally's chair so she's facing me. I can't see the woman's face in the dim light, which makes me all the more uncomfortable, but Nunnally reaches towards me joyously like she did two days ago.
"Hello, Tori," she greets me. "It's a nice night, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is," I agree.
"We're about to go back in. Would you like to come with us? Lelouch should be there waiting."
I accept her offer. We chat casually on the way back inside, like we haven't been separated for most of our lives. Nunnally introduces me to her maid, Sayoko, who is apparently Japanese. That small fact leads me to relax a bit more.
When we reach the private dorm, sure enough, Lelouch is there. Good, I need to talk to him. He smiles at Nunnally, however, and tells her, "I have a surprise for you."
I'm slightly taken aback when Suzaku steps out, but it makes sense. Lelouch must be ecstatic his best friend is back. Nunnally will definitely feel the same. Suzaku slowly kneels by Nunnally and takes her hand in both of his.
She gasps, seemingly remembering his hands. "I'm so glad you're alright!" she exclaims, tears rolling down her cheeks.
Lelouch sidles over to me, whispering, "It might be best if Suzaku doesn't see you here. He hasn't noticed you yet."
I nod in response, slipping into one of the other rooms. Standing there in perfect silence is C.C. She opens her mouth to say something, but I beat her to it.
"I have questions for you." She closes her mouth, waiting. "He told be about his geass, what it does, and that you're the one who gave it to him. He didn't tell me what it is, or what effects it'll have on him."
She turns abruptly and enters Lelouch's room and I stumble to follow her. She plops down on the bed and takes a bite of pizza.
"So that's what you want to know," she states the obvious. "Geass is complicated and I doubt you'd understand it. I barely do myself. As for the effects it'll have on him, there is the danger that one day he won't be able to 'turn it off'. Other than that, the only damage will be the mental damage he inflicts on himself." She glances at me and swallows another bite of cheesy goodness. I take the opportunity to ask more.
"If you're the one who gave him geass, does that mean you have geass, too?"
"Why do I have to tell you?"
I sigh. "You don't have to if you don't want to. I'd really like to know, though."
"That information has no significance to you whatsoever," she says in response. We sit for a while, motionless, listening to the faint muddle of voices coming from the other room. Then, I take the plunge.
"C.C, can you give me geass?"
She doesn't even flinch. "And why would I do that?" she asks, sounding bored. I stand firm.
"So I can help Lelouch."
"You can help him without geass," she points out.
"But I can help more with it, and you know it. The rebellion needs every advantage it can get."
"I made a contract with Lelouch in exchange for him granting my wish."
"And I can help him grant it," I whisper, lowering my voice. We're getting too loud. It wouldn't be suitable for the other people here were to hear us. Thankfully, she follows my lead.
"I only require one person to grant my wish."
"It'll come true faster with more people working towards it."
She sits up, finally interested it seems. "Geass manifests itself differently in different people," she informs me. "If I choose to give it to you, it won't be the same as Lelouch's. Are you sure?"
"I am."
She holds out her hand for me and I take it without a second thought. The onslaught of information is overwhelming. There isn't any noise, but images and information absolutely. I'm suddenly aware of what my geass will be and how I can use it. The flow is quickly becoming too much for me to handle.
C.C's voice breaks in without warning. "Do you want to form the contract?" Then come the feelings. Sadness, loneliness, jealousy, it's suffocating. Is this what comes with geass? Is this the price I'll have to pay? I almost consider turning her down, but for Lelouch…
"Yes, I already told you I'm sure!" I'm suddenly pulled from the vortex and then I'm back in the bedroom staring at C.C, who lets go of my hand and goes back to eating pizza like nothing happened.
I take a quick step back away from her, breathing hard. My hand flies to my shoulder, dragging my shirt collar down over it. There, an odd red symbol is etched in my skin. I recognize it from somewhere in the myriads of images that just sped through my mind. It's kind of sparkly, almost like it's a fashion accessory. I guess I can't wear tank tops anymore, but that's a minor issue.
My thoughts drift back to the hideous emotions I just felt. If that is the price of geass, I'm relieved I accepted. I can handle those by myself, even if it will be difficult. Perhaps, though, I can lighten the burden on Lelouch's shoulders.
"Hey C.C?" She looks back to me with her ever-blank expression. "Can we keep this secret from Lelouch for a little while? I want to decide when to tell him." She shrugs, which I assume is an okay. I think. I'll have to trust her.
Really, I should be leaving soon. What if Kallen comes to my dorm and finds me missing. I'm not supposed to know anyone here but her, so it'd be suspicious for me to be out. I go over to the windows and open them, checking the drop. If I don't want Suzaku seeing me, this is the only way to go. I used to sneak out of the villa all the time, so I know how to fall as not to break anything.
I glance over my shoulder at the green haired girl chowing down on pizza. "And C.C, thank you."
I don't wait for a reaction, leaping out the window.
Someone told me they want to see Lelouch end up with Shirley...Does anyone else think that? I mean, in the anime I would agree, but I don't want to end this story like I've been ending my other stories. Tori would be heartbroken if Lelouch fell in love with Shirley! Oh well, tell me if you agree with that person. If enough people think so, I might be able to curve the story in that direction. I'll be waiting for your comments.
Till then, Kisses from SnowyNeko! :3 MEOW!
