Chapter III
Suzaku returned to his quarters to change.
Gino didn't tell him what was in store for him at the gymnasium, but he knew he had better dress appropriately. He had always kept himself in shape, and visited the gym regularly, but only in short bursts. The looks he got from the other Knights unnerved him.
He stopped in front of his quarters. It was located in regal building, solely designated for the Knights of the Round. The building had every amenity one could want, including a gym, a swimming pool, and even a bar, which gave prudence to Suzaku's sickened heart. The Elevens were suffering, begging for food, barely able to keep warm, and here he was living richly.
He had come from next to nothing, but now he had everything he would ever want at his beckon-call, including servants, and as Gino implied, other services of a personal nature. Despite the Knight of Three, Gino wasn't shy in calling on some of those services. And some times, while walking the halls at night, he'd pass Gino's quarters and hear loud music.
Suzaku didn't need an explanation. He let his imagination fill in the gaps. But the only woman Suzaku would ever care about is Euphie. She had captured his heart. And then, his best friend stabbed him by murdering that sweet, innocent angel. They say time heals all wounds. But while the heart heals, the scars remain.
When he had been with her, despite some claiming he was innocent in many ways, he had thoughts of an intimate nature about her, impure thoughts that a man had about a woman. And often he thought, as watched her, what it would be like to be with her for the rest of his life.
But it saddened him that that could never happen.
Now, as a Knight of the Round, it would have been possible—if she were alive. He would have swept her off her feet and asked for her hand in marriage.
But not as a common solider, never in a million years would it be allowed to happen, and the mere rumour of a love affair between them would be tantamount to a major scandal.
Still, Euphie was one to conform to the common norm.
And yet, without the incident that took her life, he'd never have hunted down Lelouch, brought him before the Emperor, and then obtained his elitist title as a Knight of the Round. Her death gave him what he had. And he hated it. Euphie had to die for him to advance in life.
Would she had accepted his hand, or rejected him now? He'd never know, thanks to Lelouch.
He stood outside the door. There was no key, and activation of it was by voice after a flat green button on the side wall was pressed and a hand palm was read. But he didn't enter.
He clenched a fist at his side, his left hand holding the book Gino gave him.
Every time he stepped foot into his quarters, he was consciously hit with the realization he had sold out. Sold out Lelouch, and his people.
And yet, every time he kept telling himself it was for a greater good.
He wondered if he was just fooling himself. He was a spy in enemy territory, per se. But he was not necessarily a double agent. The system was broken, and it was time to break the chains of contempt. Everything he was doing was for a loftier goal, and he kept telling himself that.
I am Japanese, I am Japanese, I am Japanese.
He repeated it like a mantra. He would never forget where he came from. To lose oneself was to kill the very soul.
He took a breath and pressed his hand to the palm reader.
ACCESS IDENTIFICATION REQUIRED. PLEASE STATE NAME AND RANK, came a computerized voice.
Suzaku let out a breath. The security was tight. Every one of the Knight's quarters was equipped with multiple features to prevent unauthorized entry. Suzaku wondered if some of the Knights had something to hide, they were just be paranoid, or the Emperor valued their privacy.
"Sir Suzaku Kururugi, Knight of Seven," he said.
IDENTIFICATION INCORRECT! PLEASE STATE NAME AND RANK.
Suzaku's brow rose with puzzlement. He removed his hand, then pressed it again on the panel. The reader scanned his hand, and asked the same request.
"Sir Suzaku Kururugi, Knight of Seven," he repeated.
IDENTIFICATION INCORRECT! PLEASE STATE NAME AND RANK. YOU HAVE ONE MORE ATTEMPT BEFORE SECURITY IS CALLED FOR ILLEGAL ENTRY INTO THE BUILDING!
"I am—!" Suzaku snorted out of his nose. "You blasted thing!"
Suzaku never had a problem with the door before. He banged on it. "Open up! I am Sir Suzaku Kururugi, Knight of Seven, of the Knights of the Round. I order you to give me access!"
But he realized, demanding a computer act without the proper commands, through an act of human emotionalism, was like asking a baby not to cry when it was hungry.
SAY PLEASE, SUZY, it suddenly said.
Suzaku cocked a brow, dumbfounded. "Say please, Suzy?" Then, it hit him. And he clenched his free fist hard. "Damn you, Gino! Blast it all!" Suzaku understood. Gino must have reprogrammed the protocols for his door. He was always playing jokes like this. He never did to any of the others, they were always so serious. But Suzaku was perfect for Gino's antics.
He wanted to shove the book down Gino's throat.
Suzaku took a deep breath, and thought for a moment, then spoke: "Sir Suzy Kururugi, Knight of Seven." A moment later, the computer said: ACCESS GRANTED, SIR SUZY KURURUGI.
Suzaku shook his head. The door opened, sliding into the wall.
"I'll get you for this Gino, I swear," he said, but non-threateningly. He could almost hear Gino laughing.
There just inside the door, like a loyal friend, and the last connection he had to Euphie, was Arthur. The black cat sat proper, and meowed a hello, as if to welcome his master home.
Despite his poignant mood, Suzaku smiled, happy to see the feline. Arthur had a bizarre personalty, but they were companions now, and where Suzaku went, if it was out of town for an assignment, or to the inner city for something, Arthur came with him. He was litter trained, and never damaged the furniture. He was a good cat. Even though, he liked to bite.
Me, mostly…Why does he bite me all that time?
He had first encountered Arthur, a stray, some while back while. He had just been released from interrogation after being accused of killing Prince Clovis, for which later Zero admitted to, forcing all charges against Suzaku to be summarily dropped.
He was battered, bruised, and was in need of…something. Much like the human stomach, his soul needed nourishment, so he had decided to take a walk and see the sights.
Being an officer, trying to earn his citizenry—all Elevens were forced to join the military for "honorary citizenship"—he was sent on the most dangerous missions. Often, he had volunteered, and managed to survive on his own instincts and gaul. He was a survivalist.
As ventured through the streets, enjoying the sights and smells of vendors, he felt relaxed.
He even spent a little money and got himself a chilly dog. He never had one of those, military rations was what he got to eat. The "Elevens" were treated like dogs and were given the lowest food tripes, unlike the Britannians, who were offered more higher quality food stuffs. The chilly dog, covered with everything the vendor said was good, burned his tongue, and he drank two bottles of spring water, purchased at another vendor, to sooth the burn.
When he had had enough, he returned to headquarters.
That was when things got weird. And out of nowhere, came her—jumping out, falling, and then dropping into his arms from a third story window of a building. He had been at the best possible place to catch her. Otherwise, she may not have survived the fall. It had been fate.
Euphie never explained why she did such a thing and he later surmised it might have had to do with a Princess fleeing her royal duties for doing something fun. They drummed up a makeshift friendship and walked the streets. Later, they found Arthur, together. Arthur seemed a good natured cat, but when he had crouched down and tried to pet him, Arthur opened his mouth and sunk his fangs deep into his index finger. And it wasn't the first time. He had lost track.
And Euphie laughed. It had been a sound that could fill a thousand hearts. And he could still remember it. You can never forget the first time you fell in love.
"Hello, Arthur," he said. "So, how was your day—
He crouched down to pet Arthur, and the cat sunk his teeth deep into the side of his hand. Suzaku cringed, teeth clenched. But he was used to it. And came to expect it.
But as to the reason, he still couldn't figure the cat out.
Arthur liked him, or he wouldn't stick around.
He had done research on cats and learned biting was a sign of affection, also called "love bites". If that was the case, then Arthur absolutely adored him.
"Ouch, Arthur," he said. "Why do you always bite me?"
Arthur released his grip, and slinked back, and Suzaku pulled back, holding his hand.
Arthur looked back at him with apologetic eyes.
Blood dripped from Suzaku's hand, but he smiled regardless. He could never be angry at Arthur. Arthur brought all the good memories with Euphie. So, he tolerated Arthur.
It was just the way he was. "It's okay, I'm not mad," he finally said.
But it always hurt, like the pain of the heart when remembering a painful memory.
Arthur seemed to smile.
"You welcome me home every day, that's more I can say for anyone else," he said dolefully. "But I'm running out of bandages. Gino wants to meet me in the gym in thirty minutes, so I'm going to change, and do so," he spoke to Arthur as if he understood.
Maybe he did, Arthur was exceptionally smart.
Arthur's gaze suddenly shifted and Arthur became instantly fascinated with the book Suzaku was holding. Arthur moved forward and sniffed the book. The cat's whiskers twitched inquisitively at first, but then he pulled back sharply, as if the smell from the leather cover repulsed him. It was an old looking book, used. Books like this were only found in libraries. The world now relied heavily on computers for information.
Suzaku put the book on a glass top table near by. Arthur followed, and hopped up onto the table. And despite disliking the smell of the book, the cat sat next to it, twitching its tail.
"It's a gift from Gino," Suzaku said, and he began to unbutton his uniform.
He went down an adjacent room, to the bedroom to change, leaving the book, and Arthur alone. But he continued to talk to the cat. His voice was shallow, heard from down the hall, but he was sure Arthur could still hear him. Animals had keen hearing.
"While it was nice that he remembered my birthday," he said, removing his Knights of the Round uniform, hanging it up, and dressing into gym wear. "I have to admit, it's the cruelest present I've ever gotten, considering the situation with Lelouch." A few seconds passed without him saying anything. "Gino invited me, well, let's just say, he insisted, I meet him in the gymnasium. But I don't get his motivation. He's never asked me to work out with him before. So, I'll be leaving again. Try to entertain yourself until I get back. We'll do something together later."
Once dressed, he decided to wear something less tight, he left his bedroom.
When he returned to the main living area, he halted in mid step, and gasped in utter shock. His eyes darted from place to place. The book Gino had given him was now ripped to shreds.
He stared in disbelief. Pieces of paper were scattered everywhere. The only thing that was still intact was the leather binding, for which Arthur tried to chew but couldn't damage.
His eyes widened with contempt when he looked at Arthur.
Arthur was still seated on the table, he had a little scrap of paper still hanging from his mouth.
"Arthur!" he shouted.
To be continued...