The Demon and Red Moon
Disclaimer: The following is a non- she gripped the back of his head, dragging him to her-the fuck? Is someone sex dreaming inside of the di-k sliding-WHOA! Calm down you animals, this is still rated T!
Lelouch- well you're the one typing this story.
And you have to stay on focus if you wanna earn your weekly paycheck!
Kallen- dammit you let me finish of I'll shove your paychecks so far up your-
Yeah yeah. Code Geass is owned bu Sunrise. Please support the official...sigh...release.
Kallen- YES!
You wound up seriously frustrated at the end of the Black Knight, didn't you?
Please note that this writer is not responsible for thrown laptops. Why would you you ask?
…
No reason.
To the answering of the reviews. (not in any particular order of address, mostly because I don't have the internet right now and I'm lazy.
Lelouch's Geass failed because...of something. Geass is still fairly unknown to us, even with my rules for it. Was it because he wasn't feeling particularly sad, angry, vengeful, unhappy? Could be. Could it be his injury? Could be. But the most important reason, above all...is dramatic tension. But to the negative emotions thing...I actually personally think that not only is Geass fueled by negative emotions in its bearer, but also it works by negative emotions in its target as well. That could help explain why Euphemia and Nunnally were able to resist for longer in the original series. It took a while for the Geass to find a foothold to affect them. Wheras Suzaku is literally buried in personal guilt and shame for his actions and his Geass command not only activates at will, but remains strongly effective. And might explain why Geass manifests in people the way it does. Lelouch feels powerless and is angry about that. His Geass manifests as the ultimate power over others. Mao is desperate perhaps to understand why people shun and fear him? His Geass provides understanding. C2 was lonely and depressed at being unloved. Yadayada. Ironically though in every case, their Geass have opposite effects. Lelouch rapidly gains power over others but loses it to his own megalomania and Geass's very existence. Mao was corrupted into shunning people on his own, rather than reaching understanding. C2's Geass made her even lonelier as she was unable to distinguish between genuine love and the effect of her Geass. Which if R2 didn't completely SUCK could've raised interesting ideas about Marianne's and Rolo's but nooooo we just had to have those fucking throwaway Knights of the Round, DIDN'T WE?! I'm not bitter. The Knight of One was a bad boss battle. Dammit, now I have to psychoanalyze Marianne. Marianne's Geass is the power to effectively (Indian accent) become another person! (end accent) This raises an interesting envy complex. So I guess Marianne wanted to (Indian accent) become another person! (end) Which raises even more questions about she being who we think she was. Perhaps she wasn't even the original Marianne? Maybe she was much more like Nina to begin with, got her Geass from C, then (Indian) became another person! (end) Your mind is now blown. NEXT!
That chapter wasn't that good. NEXT!
DAMN TYPOS! NEXT!
Yeah, Euphemia might tell Cornelia. Except in Island of the Gods, when Lelouch asks Euphemia this very question. "My sister doesn't listen to me." Or think to give a bullet proof vest, it seems. Oh that was too soon. That was too soon right? When will it not be too soon? Next millennium? Okay. NEXT!
Oh, that's it. Uhhhhhh...END!
Spinzaku Kururugi Fact #21 Spinzaku Kururugi was the first champion of the human beyblade competition. Ironically many of his opponents now regret the opening words of 'Let it Rip!' Because they now have parts that certainly did rip.
See how many layers I did with this title?
Turn 9- The Ghost of Christmas Past
Kallen turned over in the golden morning light and smiled at the dark-eyed face of Lelouch vi Britannia. She drew the covers to cover her disrobed body, then brought up a hand to gently run her fingers along his healed brow, the cut by now just a pale line of a scar splitting his eyebrow. She ran her finger down from the prince's brow down the side of his neck, feeling his pulse quicken slightly before she ran it down his bare chest. Lelouch smirked with amusement and brought his own hand up to finger a few strands of her crimson hair from her sapphire eyes.
The light made their eyes glow as they came closer. Kallen exhaled slightly as their lips brushed against each other. Another of Lelouch's hands began to brush her chest as he lowered the other one down beneath the sheets, past her belly.
0.:(.0
Kallen jolted awake, sitting up in the cool blue moonlight. Every inch of her body was awake from her dream, and she exhaled in frustration as she realized that she'd woken up. Her tee-cut pajama shirt and short shorts felt sweltering in her current condition. She threw off her covers, letting her sweaty skin feel the refreshing colder air.
She sighed and fell backwards, collapsing into her bed. She frowned as she remembered the subject of her dream. She glanced at the door, suddenly nervous. If the door hadn't been locked he could've come in her room anytime. Her heart twisted as she realized...
Dammit, she wished he would try something. And she wished she didn't wish that.
She rolled over onto her side, and took a slow, deep breath. As she closed her eyes she tried to calm her heartbeat, ignoring her frustration. And groaned from total failure. She cracked her eyes open, sinking down into her mattress. She ran her empty hands over the massive empty space next to her.
Lelouch blinked his eyes open as he heard the door click and swing open. He couldn't see in the darkness with the curtains drawn over the windows. He closed his eyes and looked away slightly, faking sleep. His right arm was already perpendicular to his side. And his left eye was uncovered and ready to bring to bear.
One eye blinked open as a light body set down on the bed and curled up against him, a head on his shoulder. A hand was curled up in a light fist on his chest.
"What the-?" he murmured, raising his head lightly.
"Go back to sleep," Kallen whispered against his shoulder. Lelouch angled his head, surprised. Then he gave a slight grin and lowered his head back down.
"You really are a spitfire, aren't you Kallen?" he muttered to the girl.
"Shut up, Lelouch," the resistance fighter growled against his shoulder. "I just don't want to sleep alone. So go back to sleep." Lelouch absorbed this with a thoughtful sound. Then he looked the other way and brought his right arm around her shoulders. She exhaled into his shoulder and melted against him. His heartbeat slowly lulled her into oblivion.
0.0.0
Suzaku was smiling as he walked from Asheford. Rivalz has asked him to help Lelouch now that the former prince was able to return to school. Milly had planned a special event for Lelouch's triumphant return to school since the bombing a few weeks back.
He hummed to himself as he rang the doorbell. Kallen's mother opened the door, sweating and panting. Suzaku ceased his humming and his brow furrowed at the maid's appearance. Was she ill? She glanced away from him and opened the door. Suzaku warily walked past her, concerned.
"Are you alright ma'am?" he finally asked, uncertain of himself. He glanced at her hands to see they were shaking. She was almost shivering as she closed the door.
"I've got a flu," she said, almost sobbing.
"Mr. Kururugi," Sayoko greeted, making Suzaku spin around. He smiled in recognition.
"Oh, Ms. Sayoko," he greeted. He glanced nervously behind him but chose not to say anything. "I've come to help Lelouch out with getting ready for school. Is he awake yet? I might be a little too early. Military discipline I guess." He cupped the back of his head, chuckling sheepishly.
"I haven't seen whether Lelouch is awake yet. I've had to help Nunnally." Sayoko began to head up the stairs as she finished speaking. Suzaku followed Sayoko closely. He glanced over his shoulder to check on Kallen's mother. He blinked as he saw that she had disappeared. He frowned and kept going up the stairs.
"Here's Lelouch's guest room," Sayoko announced, opening the door. She walked in and stopped. Suzaku followed and recoiled, surprised.
Kallen was wrapped around Lelouch like a twisted blanket. Her legs were curled around his waist, her arms around his neck and shoulders. Lelouch's own arms were around her. Her face was pressed against his cheek and neck, her lips almost touching his throat. The fact that they were still clothed was the only thing that convinced Suzaku they weren't making love. Suzaku blushed and looked away, feeling as though he was watching something private.
"Uh, master Lelouch?" Sayoko said aloud, stepping over to the side of the bed. "Mistress Kallen?" Sayoko glanced at the ceiling, nervously and then bent down to gently shake Lelouch's shoulder. Kallen's eyes opened slowly and she looked around, sleepily. Then she saw Sayoko and her eyes shot wide.
"Nothing happened!" she shouted, rolling away. She gave an 'oof' as she fell of the bed, landing on the floor. She quickly climbed back to her feet and went to leave the room, before she saw Suzaku and froze. She gave a tortured squeal and blushed. "You saw nothing!" she shouted, jabbing a finger in Suzaku's face, angrily, before leaving the room.
Lelouch blinked as the door was slammed shut by Kallen behind her. The black-haired prince found himself smirking. She never let her tough exterior crack for a second, did she? He sat up and saw Suzaku looking from the door to Lelouch and back.
"She's right, nothing happened, Suzaku," Lelouch insisted, his brow crunching in irritation. "What kind of guy do you think I am that I would take advantage of young ladies?"
I wish you would, Kallen thought, her ear pressed against the wall of bedroom, listening to the conversation. She blinked and removed her ear from the wall, then gave a groan and stomped her bare foot on the carpet.
"Why do I even care!?" she shouted, balling her hands to fist by her sides. Because he was handsome? Because he took her breath away? Because she'd be willing to follow him all the way to Imperial Capitol? She shook her head and headed to her shower, unbuttoning her top. She might need a cold shower this morning.
0.0.0
"Dammit, Suzaku, cut it out!" Lelouch ordered, trying to shove Suzaku off of him. This was the last straw. They could treat him like he was crippled, confine him to a bed, force breakfast in bed on him. But not taking help in showering himself. He was officially and finally done.
"Sorry, Lelouch," Suzaku replied sheepishly. He offered the sud-filled sponge to Lelouch, who gritted his teeth and took it with his right hand. He couldn't get his stitches or his wound wet on his left arm. He sighed that the stitches in his left brow had been removed, leaving a barely-visible scar. But his eyebrow had remained split.
He removed the excess water from the sponge and began to run it along his left arm, keeping a watchful eye on Suzaku. When he finished washing his arm he handed the sponge back.
"Now please get out," Lelouch growled at Suzaku, raising his right eyebrow.
"I would but you still haven't cleaned the rest of your-" Suzaku replied, bending over to apply the sponge below Lelouch's waist somewhere.
"No! No I think I can do that myself," Lelouch shouted, jumping back in his bathing shorts. "Seriously, get out Suzaku, I swear I will kill you." Suzaku chuckled as he backed up, holding his hands out.
"Would you prefer if I got Kallen to help you?" he joked. Lelouch gritted his teeth, suddenly angry. The mention of Kallen made the prince want to strike the other boy.
"Don't joke about that," he warned, eyes narrowed. Suzaku gave a chuckle and lowered his hands. "We didn't do anything, for the last time. She didn't even tell me why she wanted to come into my room. And you're also accusing my honor."
"I was just surprised. I never expected you to allow some girl to get this close to you," Suzaku admitted. Some girl? Lelouch lashed out with his fist, suddenly. Suzaku's eyes widened and he rocked back and caught the arm by the wrist. Lelouch gritted his teeth. "Sorry, reflex," Suzaku said, looking apologetic. He let go of Lelouch's wrist. Lelouch stepped past him out of the shower.
"Lelouch," Suzaku commented, concerned, "this isn't really like you to get violent like that over a few jokes and comments." Lelouch ignored him, toweling off his raven hair. "Frankly that's more what I used to do when we first met." Lelouch froze as the words struck him. He let the towel fall like a hood over his head.
"What are you suggesting, Suzaku?" The honorary Britannian frowned at first, thinking. Lelouch turned his head just enough to see Suzaku's expression as he thought.
"You definitely seem more attached to Kallen than even you realize," Suzaku finally decided, looking at the exiled prince. "In fact, I haven't seen you this attached to someone except Nunnally." Lelouch's eyes were wide at the idea.
"But we're challenging each other all the time," Lelouch replied, disbelieving. "She doesn't open up at all. Believe me, I can't get her to. She doesn't like talking about herself."
"Sounds familiar." The prince blinked at the two words. "Challenging? Doesn't open up? Quiet? I think you were almost describing yourself." Suzaku watched the prince's back as he smirked, knowingly. Then he blinked when he heard a laugh. Lelouch practically shook as he suddenly began laughing, almost bending over. Lelouch spun, his purple eyes alight with humor.
"Suzaku, you might not be that smart but you may be the wisest of all," Lelouch declared, pulling the towel off over his head. "Come on, let's get dressed. Lelouch Lamperouge has a school life to return to." Suzaku smiled and nodded.
0.0.0
"Crap!" Kallen exclaimed, looking at her watch. She grabbed her bag and bolted out the door, still tightening her tie around her neck. "Suzaku, Lelouch! We're gonna be late for school!" she shouted Lelouch's door while she jogged through the hallway. She stopped when she rounded the corner and saw her father.
"Kallen," he greeted, smiling warmly. "I'd be happy to drive you three to school, go ahead and get your friends, I'll be by the car." Kallen smiled and nodded, walking back to Lelouch's guest room.
Lelouch wound up sitting in the passenger side front seat, sitting beside Kallen's father as he drove the large black car. He stopped by the front doors. Lelouch was about to pull the handle before Kallen's father spoke up.
"Kallen? Would you mind if Lelouch and I spoke for a few minutes?" Lelouch froze, alarms raising in his mind. Had he heard about he and Kallen sleeping together? Kallen climbed from the car and walked inside, glancing over her shoulder nervously at Lelouch. Lelouch frowned and broke eye contact with her, looking back at her father. "How have you liked your accommodations so far Lelouch?"
"They're excellent, sir," Lelouch replied, smiling a friendly smile. What are you thinking?
"You see, Lelouch," he began, shutting off the engine. "In a few days I'll be going to the homeland on some unavoidable business. I asked because you'll be alone with my daughter a week while I'm gone and I wanted to make sure you wouldn't be uncomfortable. After all I was almost certain you'd had better conditions." Lelouch was frozen. Kallen's father eyed him, his normally friendly eyes narrowing with thought.
"Lelouch vi Britannia." Lelouch's eyes went even wider. Dammit, if he means to use me to further himself, I might have to use my Geass. But that could mean alienating Kallen! If she grows to hate me, she might tell the Black Knights about Zero! But if I don't, he might reveal that I'm alive to the Emperor!
"What do you plan to do with that information?" Lelouch asked, eyes narrowing at Kallen's father, cautious.
"My motives aren't entirely selfless, Lelouch," the nobleman replied. "Finding not one, but two, outcast but alive Imperial children, not only alive, but homeless and under my protection."
"Leave Nunnally out of this!" Lelouch suddenly replied, angrily. "She's suffered enough at the hands of the Royal Family!" Kallen's father almost recoiled at Lelouch's shouted words.
"Yes," he admitted. "I agree with you. I wasn't important back when I heard about the Lady Marianne's death. Personally I was certain it was an agenda by one of the Imperial Family. As was the Emperor's exile of you and Nunnally to Japan."
"Then what do you want?" Lelouch asked, furious.
"I want us to help each other, Lelouch," the nobleman replied, surprising Lelouch. "My daughter Kallen will bring in a new era for the Stradtfeld family when she's married a Britannian noble with high-standing. You could possibly ascend the throne of Britannia if you had sufficient resources. I could provide those resources if we were allied."
"So you offer your own daughter of a golden platter to a man who would be king," Lelouch realized, eyes narrowing with disgust and distrust. "I was sent into exile. And I'm eleventh in line to the throne that I withdrew any claim to."
"Tenth, now. And we both know the Imperial Family would still consider you a legitimate claimant were Charles zi Britannia to die. It's not hard to make 9 people disappear when you need to." Lelouch's eyes widened at the very idea. He'd made a vow to destroy Britannia. But the idea of instead taking control of it, not as Zero, but as he was now. With enough power and resources. With Kallen at his side.
"So you want your daughter to sit beside the most powerful man in the world," Lelouch deduced, leaning away from the nobleman.
"I want her to continue a fine legacy of a noble house," the lord replied. The prince frowned in thought. "I'll let you think about it, Lelouch. In the meantime I have other business to attend to. I can promise I'll keep your secret. Until-" he looked away smirking to himself, "at least until I determine you're worth nothing to my cause."
"I understand," Lelouch replied, looking away. He opened the car door and stood from the vehicle. He frowned the entire way to his homeroom class, and sat down without comment. Suzaku narrowed his eyes in concern as Lelouch was thinking, his eyes downcast.
"Something wrong, Lelouch?" Suzaku whispered, leaning over enough for Lelouch to hear. Lelouch frowned, but eyed Suzaku.
"Just thinking. That someday I might have to buy back my soul."
0.0.0
"Yes, that's right," Diethard commented from behind his desk as he emptied the drawers. He sat up straight and looked back at Villeta Nu and Jeremiah Gottwald. "I was relieved of my position after the hotel jacking. Very much in the same that you were, Sir Gottwald." Gottwald stiffened at the remark, his anger building.
"We have no intention of letting our careers end this way," Villeta insisted, facing Diethard straight on. Diethard analyzed her. She wasn't especially young not middle-aged. She seemed prideful but eager. An ambitious young lady. Diethard internally sighed. Yet another boring easy story, the same as most people. "We believe we may have a clue as to Zero's identity."
"Oh?" Diethard replied, his attention captured suddenly. He didn't give anything away, bending over to collect more of his things.
"In Shinjuku before my Knightmare was stolen I saw a young couple in a warehouse. I believe one of them may be Zero," Villeta concluded. "We don't have time to investigate however. The majority of the Britannian forces are moving to Narita in a few days time."
"Isn't Narita the supposed headquarters of the Japan Liberation Front?" Diethard commented nonchalantly, setting one of his folders in the cardboard box on his desk. Jeremiah eyed Diethard.
"You may be a little too smart for your own good," Jeremiah concluded. Diethard smirked despite himself.
"Yes, well," the reporter replied, playing it off. "A good reporter earns his living by learning things. I'm sure you understand. I certainly will look into this young couple, but it may take some time before I have anything. All records from Shinjuku have been sealed by order of Princess Cornelia."
"We know," Villeta admitted, disappointed. "And we pure-bloods don't have enough influence to reach those records. But a reporter would certainly know ways of getting to those records, wouldn't he?" Villeta narrowed her eyes, focusing on Diethard's expression.
"I may," he finally admitted, smirking. "In the meantime, I do have to finish packing. But I will call you should any information turn up." Villeta nodded and turned to Jeremiah. He sighed and left, the dark-skinned knight following behind him.
Now alone, Diethard kept packing calmly and slowly. He almost laughed openly as he left the office behind for the last time. Good bye, mediocrity. The reporter dropped his box in the back of his small car and got in the driver's seat, starting up the electric motor. He didn't bother listening to the radio as he drove down outside of the settlement. No one even stopped him, or even looked twice.
As he stopped outside a demolished building he glanced around at the people. He shut off the engine and set his keys inside his coat pocket. As Diethard left the car elevens were already warily watching him. A Britannian in the ghetto wasn't a good thing all the time. Diethard surveyed the elevens carefully. Finally he selected a small group, all of them wearing red headbands. That had to mean something.
We was nervous walking up to the group. He'd brought a pistol just in case. But he couldn't be sure that he wouldn't simply be robbed. But one had to take risks every now and then.
"Excuse me," he said aloud. The leader of the men in red headbands, a thin man with a purple shirt and black jeans, stood. Diethard didn't find him intimidating. "I happen to be looking for someone. I was wondering if you could lead me to someone I could talk to about joining the Black Knights."
0.0.0
"All right, everybody!" Milly wrapped a bandage around her hair and forehead, tying it and then striking a pose. "Time to officially welcome back our student council vice president!" A pair a spotlights suddenly scanned across the room wildly before setting on Lelouch. Whom promply covered his purple eyes from the glare of the spotlight. The lamps cut out just as Milly through her arm around the black-haired outcast.
"What do you think of your party, Lelouch?" She asked, smiling wide.
"This is in entirely terrible taste," Lelouch declared softly, glancing over the attendants. Everyone was wearing some kind of bandage, except for Lelouch, who'd no longer needed the one around his own forehead since his eyebrow had healed, and his jacket covered the other one.
"Oh come on, Lelouch," Milly chided enthusiastically. "Come on and have some A Negative Tomato soup. Just like your blood type!" Milly walked off to mingle with her student body. Lelouch grimaced, then his eyes went wide with alarm.
"How did you know my blood type was A negative?!" he accused suddenly after Milly's retreating blonde head.
"She passed off some colored corn startch as yours to sell to all your fangirls for a dollar a pop," Rivalz answered cheerfully. Lelouch's brow rose in alarm and horror at his friend's blatant lack of concern. "Speaking of fangirls, you're new scar makes you look rather like a bad boy, Lelouch! How will the ladies ever resist you again, riiiiight?" Lelouch leaned away as Rivalz spoke, leaning into Lelouch, raising a joking eyebrow.
"I'm getting worried about you," Lelouch muttered, eyes narrowing at his friend. Rivalz threw his arm around Lelouch's shoulder, dragging him along the crowded room.
"Come on, buddy," Rivalz said as he dragged Lelouch. "Wanna see how many fan-girls we can make cry with heartbreak?"
"Not really," Lelouch replied, uninterested. He looked around over Rivalz's head to try to catch a glimpse of red hair. "Hey Rivalz, have you seen Kallen?" They started walking up the stairs.
"Na," Rivalz replied, "Not yet." His eyes widened as he thought of something. "Wait, buddy, you mean you've actually developed human feelings for a girl? And just one girl? I'm kind of in shock."
"Don't make it sound so weird," Lelouch replied, disdainfully. He looked up as they reached the top of the stairs and he smiled when he saw Kallen. She smiled and waved. Lelouch blinked as he heard a crash behind him and spun to look. His eyes went wide, in horror.
Rivalz saw his expression first and his brow furrowed with confusion. Then he looked and was still more confused. Shirley had just fallen over, spilling some tomato soup over herself and another girl who was pinned beneath her. They were already getting up, trying to wipe off the soup. Everybody was laughing. Rivalz looked back up to Lelouch. His expression was still in horror.
Nunnally was pinned beneath mother's body. Lelouch's body was twitching at the sight, his eyes so wide they felt like they would pop from his skull. Blood was pouring from mother's body in half a dozen places. No one was helping them.
"Help them!" he pleaded, unable to look away. "Help mother, help Nunnally!" Rivalz blinked, alarmed. He shook Lelouch's shoulder. "Don't touch me, someone help them!" his shouting had made everyone stop.
"Lelouch!" Kallen shouted, concerned. Lelouch looked to see her. He blinked. Kallen wasn't there. He didn't understand, his brow furrowing. He looked back to where mother and Nunnally were laying. Shirley was looking at him, tomato soup on her shirt and the steps. Lelouch's eyes widened. He backed away. Nobody stopped him, still staring at Shirley. Then he turned and ran.
"Lelouch!" Kallen called after him, chasing him. Suzaku watched the whole exchange, frowning deeply. He looked down at the bowl of tomato soup in his hands. He closed his eyes.
"Bad choice," Milly commented, sad realization coming through her voice. Suzaku looked at her sadly. She looked back. "I'm sorry, I didn't stop to think about the-"
"Don't apologize to me," Suzaku corrected softly. "Lelouch is the one you probably need to apologize to." He looked back to where everyone was looking nervously amongst themselves. Shirley was pulling off her jacket and tie to get most of the hot red soup off of her. "Just not right now. Give him a few days."
0.0.0
"Lelouch?" Kallen asked, walking into the destroyed room. She'd followed Lelouch here. She saw him sitting against the wall, his knees drawn up. She frowned and closed the door, then walked over. "Are you okay?" She slapped herself for saying it, but she couldn't think of anything else to say.
"I couldn't stay in there. And I can't go back in there to face them yet," Lelouch whispered behind his arms. His purple eyes were narrowed in pain behind them as he hugged his legs. "The soup, it reminded me..." he trailed off. "Like it was when I saw...when mother and Nunnally were..." His voice had cracked and he lowered his forehead to his arms. Kallen glanced at the door, nervous. Then she sat down beside him, laying her head on his shoulder, not speaking. Lelouch was shaking.
"All these years," Lelouch added, sobbing, "all these years I had to be strong...for Nunnally. And since the bombing the way you all treated me..." he trailed off as he gave a mournful sob. "I had to be strong for Nunnally, but I couldn't...I couldn't..."
Kallen winced. The way that Lelouch had to have been treated after the bombing and the stitches. It had been his turn to be cared for, and Lelouch felt powerless. In a way Lelouch had always felt powerless since his mother's death. If Lelouch had thought about that might have been why his Geass manifested the way it did. She placed a hand on his arm. As it happened it was his left arm. Lelouch's shaking settled somewhat at the contact.
"Do you want to tell me about it?" Kallen offered, softly.
"No," Lelouch immediately replied, still sobbing. Kallen glanced away, hurt but understanding. She turned her head back in surprise as Lelouch began speaking again. "We were in the Imperial Palace. I can never remember why. I saw the glass windows break, the sound of firecrackers, the flashes on the chandelier. And then when I looked I saw them, my mother and Nunnally. And I just remember screaming. The screaming was me."
'Lelouch?' came Euphemia's voice through the door. Kallen winced and looked at Lelouch.
"Can I call them in?" She softly asked in Lelouch's ear. He nodded, not speaking. "Come in," she added loudly. Euphemia opened the door, Rivalz and Milly standing behind her. Euphemia glanced behind her and then turned to face them.
"Can I have a minute alone with my cousin?" she asked Rivalz and Milly. Then she closed the door. She turned back to Lelouch and Kallen. "Lelouch, what was it? Did something happen?" She knelt to face Lelouch. He didn't look at her.
What was it? Did something happen?
"You know what happened!" Lelouch suddenly raged, making Kallen and Euphemia jump to their feet. "You know what happened, but you won't tell me! You all lie through your smiles, pretending I'm just a child! But you...you people killed my mother dammit! But you won't tell me! You lie straight to my face! Go away! I'm sick of you acting like you know me! Where were you when we were sent away to Japan! WHERE WERE YOU THEN?!" Euphemia backed away, her eyes wide and hurt. Then she turned and opened the door and ran away, tears beginning to form in her eyes. Milly and Rivalz chased after her, concerned and confused.
"WHERE WERE YOU THEN!" Lelouch shouted after her. He collapsed again, the tears streaming down his face. Kallen knelt beside him again. He fell into her, his head landing sideways against her chest, sobbing weakly. He inhaled and his breathing calmed. "I'll kill them," he whispered, a silent vow. "I'll kill them all."
0.0.0
Euphemia burst into Cornelia's office, interrupting a strategy meaning. Cornelia stood angrily.
"Sub-viceroy, what is the meaning of this?" she growled angrily. Guilford and Dalton were still seated, surprised.
"I want you to tell me!" Euphemia shouted. Cornelia blinked, confused. "About Lady Marianne. I want you to tell me everything you know. Sister, please. I need to know." Cornelia winced, closing her eyes against the pain of the memory.
"My lady," Guilford began, cautiously.
"Please," Cornelia said, opening her eyes. "Guilford, Dalton, could you please leave us? We'll continue in a moment. This is an important matter." Guilford and Dalton stood.
"Of course, your highness," Guilford said, smiling. Dalton and he bowed and left the room.
"Thank you," Euphemia said, holding out her hands to Guilford. Guilford nodded his head and gave her an understanding smile. Dalton was smirking the whole time, his eyes knowing. The doors were closed behind them as they left.
"Sit down," Cornelia said, gesturing. When Euphemia sat down beside Cornelia, the older princess sat as well, pulling her chair back forward. "Very well," she began. "I'll tell you."
0.0.0
Alice blinked as she tugged the origami crane into its final shape. She blinked at the pink paper bird in her hand. Something so mundane as paper and she'd used it to create something. She held it out to Nunnally with a giggle. Nunnally felt the bird with both hands. Then she smiled.
"You did it great, Alice," Nunnally declared, smiling. "They say if you fold a thousand of these, your wish will come true! I told this to my big brother too, when we were having dinner a few weeks ago. I guess we'll both have to work on a thousand cranes now."
"But," Alice replied, uncertain. "I don't know what to wish for." She'd never been told about wishes or folding paper in the Geass Order. She blinked and looked up at the blind girl. "What did you wish for, Nunnally?"
"I wished for a kinder, gentler world," Nunnally said, smiling kindly. "Maybe we could wish for that together?" Alice absorbed this and smiled.
"Yes, I'll wish for that too, Nunnally!" Alice confirmed, happily. Nunnally hummed an affirmative and held out a fist with her pinky finger extended. Alice blinked, making an uncertain noise.
"It's a pinky swear," Nunnally explained. "If we wrap our pinky fingers together and sing the song, then we have to keep the promise to each other!" Alice wrapped her pinky around Nunnally's uncertain. "Cross my heart, hope to die, eat a thousand needles if I lie," Nunnally sang. She shook her hand and giggled. "There, now we're officially in a pinky swear together. You and me. Oh, and my big brother, but we don't need to tell him." Nunnally giggled. Alice smiled and found herself giggling along with the blind girl.
"Yes, I promise I will make a better world for you, Nunnally," the young knight promised.
