Here's another chapter! This has got more Lelouch/ Shirley than the last one!
Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass
~~~~~XXxxXX~~~~~
Shirley ran through the school. Going up stairs and passing various corridors. She didn't even know where she wanted to go! She just wanted to keep running until her legs gave out and she fell, but that had yet to happen. She paused for a brief moment to catch her breath and to check her dress for any accidental tears. She also stopped to listen for any footsteps. She really did not want to be followed by anyone, let alone Lelouch or Suzaku. She frowned, what exactly did she want? How exactly did she feel? She couldn't answer either.
"How hopeless am I?" She began running again, this time having a destination in mind.
~~~~~XXxxXX~~~~~
"Where do I even look? This school is so big!" Suzaku smacked his forehead, trying to think of possible places where Shirley could be. He could think of many places, but he wasn't sure that she'd really be there. "I'll just start my list alphabetically and go down the list! Yeah, that'll work!" He began to run to the art room, the first destination on his very long list.
~~~~~XXxxXX~~~~~
"Where do I start?" Lelouch mumbled to himself. "She could be anywhere in this school..." He scowled when he recalled how Suzaku had told him it was his fault Shirley ran off in the first place. He didn't understand, of course he wouldn't. He has her-
"What are you doing?" C.C. asked, interrupting Lelouch's train of thought.
"Shirley ran off somewhere... so I'm trying to figure out where she went." He mumbled.
"My intuition says that she's on the roof." C.C. stated in monotone. Lelouch gave her a questioning look. "What?" she asked.
"Your intuition? What, like a woman's intuition?"
"Yes, I am female, so I have a woman's intuition. Therefore you should listen to me and go to the rooftop." C.C. pointed upwards, trying to convince him a bit.
"I'm not so sure." Lelouch said skeptically. Could he really trust her? Maybe he would check a couple of places before going to the roof.
"Just listen to what I told you and get moving." C.C. said.
"Why?"
"Because Suzaku's already making his move," C.C. pointed to the brunette running out of the gym.
"Dammit!" Lelouch dashed off to follow the brunette, he couldn't even think of the first place he wanted to look. "I'll see where he's going... then I'll make my move."
~~~~~XXxxXX~~~~~
Shirley gave up on running and just started walking, rather slowly, to her destination. She paused right outside her classroom, deciding whether to keep going or stop here. She decided to go inside just for a little while. She went to her desk and sat down, gazing out the window at the stars.
"The view is beautiful but it's so strange here at night." Shirley stated, rubbing her hands up and down her arms for some comfort. "It's kinda scary."
She got up and went to the door, almost opening it before suddenly hearing loud footsteps. Her heart raced and her throat went dry. She lightly pressed herself on the wall next to the door. She didn't press her ear to the door because she feared that if this person opened the door they would catch her. She heard two people talking, or rather yelling, at each other. Two people who she was very familiar with...
"Lelouch, stop following me!" Suzaku yelled, trying to walk quickly and lose the prince.
"Who said I was following you?" Lelouch snapped back angrily. "I'm going down my own path that you are coincidentally using as well."
'What a terrible lie that was.' Shirley and Suzaku both thought, sweat-dropping.
"Well, so far, you've followed me to the art room, the boys' bathroom, the girls' bathrooms, and now to our own classroom!" Suzaku stated, giving up on going alphabetically down his list.
"Why did we go to the boys' bathroom anyway?"
"I had to use it! Anyway, don't go changing the subject, why are you following me?"
"I'm not, so shut up and let's check our classroom." Lelouch reached for the door and Shirley's heart began to race. 'They're going to find me!' she thought frantically to come up with a plan. She suddenly heard a smack.
"Ow! What was that for?" Lelouch rubbed the top of his hand as it throbbed.
"You aren't going to check this room with me. Now go somewhere else!" Suzaku pushed the raven-haired boy away from the door.
"Tch, fine. You're not going to find her anyway." Lelouch stuck his tongue out at him before he ran off, leaving Suzaku flabbergasted. That was a very un-Lelouch like thing for him to do, it was strange. He watched him run off a little longer.
Using this opportunity, Shirley slyly opened the door and slipped through. As soon as she slipped past him she started running as fast as she could in the other direction, but as quietly as she could.
After seeing Lelouch off, Suzaku turned his attention back to the door. It was wide open..
"Did I leave this door open?" He questioned himself before realizing what had actually happened. "Aw, dammit! She was in this room!" He mentally smacked himself and quickly ran off to look for her... again.
~~~~~XXxxXX~~~~~
Shirley opened the door to the roof top, this time she didn't make any stops. She felt a little guilty for running away, but it was too late now.
'Maybe I should've stayed..?' She shook her head. 'No, I made the right decision! I don't think anyone will find me until much later.'
"Shirley?" She turned around and met amethyst eyes, it was Lelouch!
'Darn it! I just jinxed myself!' She mentally yelled at herself for saying that she would be safe.
"Er-uh, h-hello there...Lulu..." She gave a weak smile.
"I was looking for you." Lelouch said. 'C.C. was right after all...' Lelouch mentally cursed at her and her woman's intuition. 'She isn't even supposed to have that! Well, at least I don't think she should.'
"I'm sorry for worrying you." Shirley mumbled, her gaze glued to the ground.
"It's alright, but I should be the one saying sorry." Lelouch responded, Shirley looked up at him.
"Why?" She asked.
"Because it was wrong of me to treat you so affectionately. Especially in front of Suzaku. Is that why you ran away?"
Shirley nodded, "Yes... kind of..."
Lelouch frowned, "Do you love him?"
"What?" Shirley's eyes widened, he was asking the question she didn't even know herself. It was true that she and Suzaku had an attraction to each other, but she didn't know if it was right to call it love. Besides, she didn't even know if her love for Lelouch had stopped.
"Do you?" Lelouch repeated, a little more demanding this time.
"Why are you asking?"
"I need to know." He responded so quickly that Shirley didn't know what to say next. She paused for a brief moment before remembering who exactly didn't take her to this dance.
"I don't see why it's any of your business." Shirley said coldly, turning her head slightly away from him.
"How can you say that it isn't any of my business?" He yelled as he grabbed her shoulders and forced her to look at him. Her eyes widened.
"Lelouch, y-you're scaring me. Why are you acting like this?" Shirley screamed at him, feeling pain as his grip on her shoulders became tighter.
"Because I love you dammit!" She gasped, once again he used those three words.
"You're lying!" Shirley yelled, quickly biting her lip as she regretted saying that.
"What? H-How can you say that?" Lelouch asked, letting go of her shoulders.
She fell silent, she really shouldn't have said that. But she knew she was right in saying so, if he really loved her than why...? why?
"Why didn't you bring me?" She asked, sheepishly looking up at him. Her eyes sparkling underneath the moonlight as she held back her tears.
"Huh?"
"Why did you bring C.C. to this ball?" Lelouch swallowed hard. He had a feeling that his plan wasn't going to go right. He might as well tell her the truth.
"I... I did it to make you... j-jealous..." He mumbled, hoping she wouldn't hear.
"What!" Shirley was shocked. " How could you?"
"You wouldn't understand! You and Suzaku have been getting so close lately that I got really jealous... s-so I thought... why not make you feel the same way..." Lelouch's face was as red as a tomato. He couldn't believe he was telling her all this, it was so embarrassing.
"Lulu... I-"
"Stop..." He interrupted.
"Huh? Stop what?" Shirley asked sympathetically, slightly confused.
"Don't tell me that it was wrong." He whispered, barely loud enough for her to hear.
"But it was Lulu! And that wasn't even what I was going to say!"
"Then what were you going to say, huh?"
"Lulu, I-I felt... weird when I saw you with C.C." Shirley blushed and looked at the ground. She really had a hard time expressing herself.
"Weird? How so?" Lelouch turned his head slightly, what kind of emotion was that?
"Uh-well, I was feeling angry and sad! Like, why didn't he take me to this ball? What's so special about her? I don't want to sound mean but I guess I was jealous too." She said. "I was jealous because Lulu y-you... were my first crush." Her whole face went tomato red.
"Were? D-Does that mean you don't... l-love me?" He asked, his face growing into a deeper shade of red. "I can handle it if you say you don't, so be honest."
"W-what! L-Lulu..." Shirley started. 'Did he not just hear me? Do I have to spell it out for him? He was my first crush and now he's my first lo-... "I-I-"
"SHIRLEY!" Came a loud yell from the door as a mix of black and brown attacked the orange-haired girl to the floor.
"Suzaku!" Shirley exclaimed as the brunette unknowingly nuzzled into her chest, she turned a bright, bright red.
"SUZAKU!" Lelouch was on the verge of making his head do a 360 and spitting out lava, he was so mad.
"You had me so worried! Where did you go?" Suzaku asked, completely ignoring the prince.
"I- I'm sorry..." Shirley said, too worried that Lelouch was going to rip the brunette to shreds.
"It's okay. Just don't do it again." Suzaku scolded, trying to sound a bit furious with her as he got up and helped her up as well.
"You... bastard..." Lelouch managed to say through gritted teeth.
"Oh... you're here too? Hmph, I hadn't noticed." Suzaku said shrugging his shoulders, barely acknowledging him.
"Why you...!" Lelouch was about ready to tackle the boy but Shirley held him back. Suzaku didn't seem to notice.
"We should get back." Shirley suggested, hoping the situation wouldn't get worse.
"Yeah!" The brunette exclaimed, grabbing her hand and giving her a big smile. "That's why I came searching for you." He pulled on her hand gently and headed for the door. Once again, ignoring Lelouch's presence entirely.
"Wait a moment." Shirley spoke, turning her head back to the prince. Suzaku stopped and both boys gave her a questioning look. She extended her free hand to the raven-haired boy.
"What are you doing?" Lelouch asked, giving her a confused look.
"What do you think I'm doing? Don't just stand there! Come on, silly!" Shirley took the initiative and grabbed his hand, going back to Suzaku, grabbing his hand, and giving him a nod to continue walking. He gave her a smile but glared daggers at Lelouch, who happily returned it.
"I hope we didn't miss anything fun." Shirley spoke up, unaware of the mean looks both boys were giving each other.
"I'm sure we haven't." Lelouch reassured.
~~~~~XXxxXX~~~~~
Back in the gymnasium...
Lelouch, Shirley, and Suzaku returned to the ball to see Milly with a microphone in her hand, giving an announcement.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen, the dance is almost going to end! So grab your partner and dance all the songs that are coming up or regret it forever!" She added eerily.
"Do you want to dance?" Lelouch and Suzaku asked simultaneously extending their hands toward Shirley. She looked at both of them, hesitant at who to choose.
"Lelouch!" C.C. called out running towards him, yet her voice still remained flat.
"What?"
"Your phone rang, so I answered and I have someone that needs to talk to you." C.C. pulled on his arm, slightly urging him to come with her.
"Tell them to call some other time." Lelouch rolled his eyes, he really didn't have time for this. He would deeply regret not dancing with Shirley tonight.
"I'm sorry but this person has zero tolerance and needs to speak with you now." C.C. hinted.
Lelouch's eyes widened, 'At a time like this? Dammit.'
"Lulu?" Shirley gently called, grabbing his attention. "Is something wrong?"
"No... I'll be right back." She didn't seem convinced so Lelouch added, "I promise that before this night is over we'll dance together. In the meantime dance with Suzaku, although I warn you he is an awful dancer." Lelouch reassured playfully, the orange-haired girl smiled. Suzaku objected to that remark with a pout.
"Okay." Shirley said. Suzaku grabbed her hand as Lelouch waved and went outside.
~~~XXxxXX~~~
"Of all the times..." Lelouch mumbled, he yanked the phone from C.C. and put it to his ear. "Yes?" he said rather harshly.
"Zero! Uh, sir, w-we have a problem." Ohgi stuttered, taken back by his angry tone.
"What kind of problem?" Lelouch asked through gritted teeth.
"Um, it's rather serious and we need your assistance. Half of the troops sent out to the location you specified were wiped out and we have no idea why. The Black Knight members we sent to investigate have not yet returned and the others are getting too rowdy and depressed to control. Zero... we really need you!" Ohgi begged.
Lelouch clenched his teeth even harder, he hadn't even been gone that long, had he? And the Black Knights were already falling apart. "I'll be there as soon as I can, handle the situation until I arrive."
"Oh thank you sir! You hav-" Ohgi's appreciation was abruptly cut short as Lelouch hung up. He walked over to the door of the gym and opened it slightly to peek through. He saw Shirley and Suzaku dancing without a care in the world. 'I won't be able to dance with her like I promised...' Lelouch thought, his demeanor changing from anger to sadness.
"We should get going." C.C. spoke up. Lelouch nodded, closing the door and following her. He wasn't really sure when he was going to see her again, but when he did he would apologize for breaking his promise and repay her one way or another.
"Lelouch." C.C. said impatiently, having enough of him getting lost in thought when she already had their means of transportation ready.
"I'm coming." Lelouch answered, taking one last regretful look at the school and getting in the car.
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To Be Continued...
Oh no! Poor Lulu. How's Shirley going to take this? Well that will be revealed in the next chapter. Please keep reading! And sorry for 1. Taking such a long time in updating and 2. Lacking in Lelouch/Shirley fluffiness. D'X Ideas are welcomed and greatly appreciated! Please review!
