Title: Higanbana

Pairing: Ohgi x Lelouch

Summary: The equinox flower symbolized bewitching, unluckiness, grief, parting, and death. Falling in love with an amnesiac Zero; Ohgi wonders if this is Mother Nature's way of teaching him that even the most inauspicious of her creations are still beautiful.

Disclaimer: Although it's one of my favorite animes, sadly I do not own Code Geass.

Warnings: M-Rated for smut, and if I need remind you – Lelouch is a minor, but I'm sure you're willing to overlook that since you clicked on the link to read this story. Oh, and take a look at the paring… if that's not your cup of wasabi, please do not read any further and blame me later that you had to gouge out your eyeballs with sporks (if you did, can I have them?)

Additional Warnings: Weirdness. OOCness. Written in spare of the moment, like always, so expect tons of grammar and spelling errors.

Part 10

Ohgi stared with wide bewildered eyes at the miracle before him. This time he wasn't sitting inside a cockpit waiting for Zero and Kallen to plummet off a bridge and escape with Kururugi. He was not standing on a yacht, bowing submissively behind Zero who single-handedly saved innocents from General Kusakabe, then declared his rebellion against Britannia. This time, the miracle that the masked revolutionary performed… was simply standing there.

"Z-Zero!" he heard Kallen gasp as she moved to approach their long lost leader.

"And just where the hell have you been?"

Tamaki was much more vocal, stalking forward with a scowl that didn't last the moment that ominous mask swiveled in his direction. Although they could not see the expression their leader wear, they could some how detect his animosity. Zero did not respond to any of them as he strode forward in the now silent room save for the sounds of his booted footsteps and dark cape swishing behind him. For all his talk, the former head of financing quickly backed down and scrambled out of the way. Ohgi wished he could have done the same if only his legs hadn't suddenly refused to work.

'Is it really him?' was the question he was sure was a thought that was on the minds of all his comrades.

There were many questions racing through his mind and yet his tongue was comatose and useless. The sub-commander of the Black Knights did manage to finally clamp his mouth shut when Zero stopped alongside him. He froze completely, didn't so much as twitch as he his leader remained close yet did not even turn to acknowledge him.

Although he was thankful that mask wasn't facing him, he couldn't help feel resentful for being ignored. An emotion that he could clearly identify as jealousy sat like a lead weight in his stomach as he watched Zero reach out and politely offered a gloved hand towards dark skinned woman who had arrived earlier.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice, " the revolutionary spoke formally as she shook his hand. For the Black Knights it was a strange sight to see their leader make such a friendly gesture, save for a few times they sat together in the MCV, he usually kept his distance.

"Rakshata," she corrected with an appraising stare, "and you're Zero? It's a pleasure."

"Indeed, but the pleasure is all mine, Rakshata."

The tall blonde's mood suddenly lifted as Zero began to tell her how impressed he was with her current and past work. To his side, he noticed the redhead was having a hard time keeping her focus between Zero and Rakshata. The scientist practically swelled with pride as the two began to converse over the Guren's performance at Narita. The others assembled couldn't control their slack-jaw expressions when the scientist spoke of her creation as if it were a flesh and blood offspring.

All the while, Ohgi wished he could stop staring at Zero. His hands itched to grab the phone in his pocket and call home, wondering if someone would pick up. If Rei answered, then without a doubt this Zero was an imposter, just like the meeting with Kyoto.

'C.C.?' he wondered.

It was a possibility since the mysterious green-haired girl had impersonated their leader before. Yet it was the voice that was unmistakably Zero's, with the same strict, commanding, powerful tone that revered by the mostly all of the Black Knights. Something only the 'Enemy of the Empire' himself could pull it off.

Shaking his head, Ohgi forced himself to focus on the rebellion rather than Rei. These scientists had not come to them empty handed. Since the Four Holy Swords would be participating in the operation to liberate Tohdoh, they were given new Japanese Knightmares and specially enhanced pilot suits. The assembled Black Knights were in complete awe at the sight of the Gekka units, which by looks alone were superior to Burais. These new models had twice as much fire power and enhanced maneuverability; the sight of them made Ohgi beam with pride. No other resistance faction had been given this much in so little time.

Before Rakshata left with her escort, she passed a message on from Lord Kirihara. If the Black Knights were successful in this operation, their funding would nearly be doubled. More aid from the House of Kyoto meant more of these Gekka units. All they would need then was to find highly skilled pilots like Kallen.

When they were finally done ogling their new assets, the group turned its attention back to Zero who was already looking over their plans turned over by Diethard. Ohgi blinked and stared at the newsman who looked as if he had run all the way from his high rise in Tokyo Settlement so he could be Zero's shadow. The handsome blonde reporter was prattling excitedly as Zero remained mute. He fell further into the pits of jealousy at the sight of those two Britannians standing so close together.

"You've made some wise decisions in my absence, Ohgi," Zero finally addressed him. "We can use your plan, and escape routes to liberate Colonel Kyoshiro Tohdoh. I will be taking part of the operation and making adjustments to deal with Britannia's White Knight. That nuisance needs to be eliminated once and for all. Q-1, I'm counting on you."

"Yes sir!"

Kallen's smile stretched out for miles. Ohgi couldn't help but wonder how pissed off the redhead would be to discover the man whom she revered was old enough to be her classmate. Speaking of pissed off, he caught Tamaki's scowl directed to their leader from the corner of his eye. He sighed to himself, knowing his friend wasn't about to let the question of Zero's whereabouts go unanswered. After being the only one among the Black Knights to see face behind the mask, he could understand the need for secrecy. However, the young Britannian had to know that trust could never be earned if he directly avoided confrontation during crucial matters like these.

"By the way, Zero," he spoke quickly the moment Tamaki opened his big mouth. "I saw the wreckage of your Burai at the docks. You were injured fighting the enemy head on in the last battle. Will you be all right piloting again?"

It felt like a lie on his tongue even though it was the partial truth. That ominous mask stared blankly back at him and the empty silence makes seconds draw out into days. Ohgi cannot help but replay those brief but blissful moments he's shared with Rei, and he almost wants to weep at their loss.

"Yes, I have made a full recovery, Lieutenant. Thank you for your concern," Zero responded with a hint of gratitude before quickly turned on his heel and departed back into the shadows.

After hours of frantic searching, they finally found Kallen at Shiba Park near Tokyo Tower. She was sitting on the cold stone steps of Zojo-ji Temple, putting together an arrangement of hand picked flowers. Her blue eyes were red and puffy from obvious crying. Suddenly, all the self-directed anger and anxiety between mother and son quickly disintegrated as they rushed forward, throwing their arms around the surprised little girl.

With new tears, Kallen apologized for leaving and gave her mother the picked flowers. The assorted bouquet consisted of yellow daffodils, daisies, and bright red hydrangeas of different lengths and sizes, many of them looked slightly crushed by the child's unsteady grip. Although they weren't elegantly cut and arranged like the Higanbana that lay forgotten at the Kouzuki house, the mere sight brought a beautiful smile to their mother's face. No longer upset, the petite Japanese woman looped her arms around both of her children and suggested that they head back home.

"Kaname-kun," she had called out to him, "I hope you'll be staying for dinner tonight. You're always welcome in our home."

He had smiled and nodded but after standing off in a distance, Kaname Ohgi couldn't help but feel like an unwanted voyeur when he watched the small family lost in both tears and laughter. He was happy for both Naoto and his mother as the two endured hours of torment worrying over Kallen. Yet his happiness was nowhere near the level of theirs and he couldn't help but feel envious… and then guilty for feeling that way.

Within his complex, almost all the bulbs on the wall-sconces located beside every apartment door needed to be replaced. The lights flickered constantly late at night, casting eerie shadows that danced throughout the entire hallway, and in combination with the noisy hum of electricity, anyone could lose their nerves by simply standing there for as long as Ohgi had. Fortunately, his attention was fixated on the foreboding door in front of him.

Never before had he ever been so cautious of entering his own home, but he had reason to be afraid now. Zero or Rei… who would be waiting for him on the other side? Even when the answer was obvious after the meeting, he couldn't help but hope. His palms were sweaty and he fumbled with the keys more than once when it came to finally unlocking the door.

Inside his apartment it was dark, and he strained his ears to pick up any sound of movement. When there was none, he quietly eased the door shut before quickly hitting the light switch. Ohgi took in the sight of his messy living room with dread. The day's newspaper was reduced to scraps that littered the room. Furniture had been moved. Books had been thrown off the shelves. The cordless phone was off its cradle and lay in broken pieces on the floor. His laptop had been knocked off the coffee table, and was now lying upside down. Although it did not appear as a typhoon hit his once immaculate home, there had been an obvious storm of rage.

With a heavy heart, he ignored the mess and moved on to inspect the other rooms. The kitchen remained the same. Yet unlike the previous nights when he came home late, there was no meal set out for him. Which was fine, Ohgi didn't have the stomach to hold anything down anyway.

Finally, he entered the bedroom and his heart ceased its beating. It looked as if his closet had exploded, with all his belongings dumped unceremoniously onto the floor. Ohgi did not need to pick through the mess to see what was missing. As the days past, he had almost forgotten their existence. The night he brought an injured Zero home, he had removed the costume and the mask and hidden them away where he had hoped no one would find them. Not even by Rei. Aside from putting away their laundry away, the amnesiac teenager had no reason to look through his old suitcases. Zero, on the other hand, had every reason… especially if he was looking for what was taken away from him.

'I should have just taken him to a doctor,' he scolded himself. 'I should have told him the truth. I should have helped him find his real home.'

What if Zero hated him, despised him for keeping secrets or for allowing them to become so much more than mere acquaintances? He realized, to his horror, he had taken advantage of the injured Britannian. Even though Rei had consented at the time, he shouldn't have accepted and kept his cradle-robbing hands to himself.

Suddenly feeling more exhausted that he had ever been in his entire life, Ohgi ignored the bed and headed back into the living room. He switched off the lights before lying down on his uncomfortable sofa. He knew his back would kill him in the morning, but he didn't care. Squeezing his eyes shut, he willed himself to try and fall asleep so he wouldn't go into work and botch up everything because of fatigue. Yet once again he was plagued with the same insomnia he had experienced the night he brought Zero home. Now he couldn't even call this place a home… not without Rei.

'I should have never fallen in love.'

End Part 10

Author's Note:

More Ohgi-angst… and he can just be as jealous as my Schneizel (but nowhere near sadistic) when someone moves in on their Lelouch. Again, I apologize for the delay. I've had to revise my storyline a couple of times and came up with multiple endings. I'll eventually either choose one or post a poll on my profile page.