A/N: Hello everyone! Well, it looks like I'm updating this a lot sooner than I thought. Sometimes inspiration just takes over, you know? Anyway, I hope you guys will enjoy this chapter. It's a bit on the short side, but hopefully there's still plenty of laughs to be had. Many thanks to those who have reviewed so far. I appreciate it! God bless you guys!
Disclaimer: Code Geass is the property of its creators. This is a Fanfiction made for entertainment purposes. My Best Friend's Wedding is not mine either and the basic plot of the film's story is merely a foundation for me to build on. In other words...things will take a different turn down the road. In what way you might ask? Well, you'll find out eventually.
Warnings: This is AU and admittedly, in this chapter in particular, C.C. may be out of character a bit. Truth be told, after thinking about it some today, I think this sort of plot probably would have fit Kallen's personality better since she is a lot more reactionary than C.C. typically is; however, I had C.C. in mind when I wrote the first chapter a good...four or five years ago, so...we're keeping things this way. I'll try to keep C.C. as in character as I can, but since this is an alternate universe, I think playing around a bit with C.C.'s personality is fine. Feel free to send in some of your thoughts if you feel C.C. is too out of character though. I can definitely adjust things if needed. Thank you in advance.
Chapter 2
The Reason She Started Smoking Again
March 17th, 2028
Tokyo Settlement, Japan
11:54 p.m.
"Listen, I can't wait to talk to you. I'm in the Homeland staying at the Pendragon Ritz a few miles off from the palace. You remember that place don't you? Anyway, call me. Four in the morning, whatever, we have to talk. Bye."
It was almost midnight in Japan. C.C. paced the floor of her humble yet spacious apartment, listening to the message Lelouch had sent over and over despite the dirty dishes piled up in the sink and the blank document on her laptop's screen. There were at least five different reviews she needed to write up and send to Suzaku before her deadline next week, but every time she sat down to work, her mind would drift back to Lelouch's message and the looming threat it held.
"He wouldn't actually propose to me based on such a silly little promise...right? Right?"
After pacing across the laundry littered floor of her living room for the hundredth time that night, C.C. finally inhaled a shaky breath, exhaled, then grabbed her cell phone from off the couch. Her amber eyes darted about the messy coffee table, looking for the scrap piece of paper she'd written the hotel's number on. She found it beneath an old pizza box roughly a minute into her search.
"Maybe I should get a frozen pizza from the convenience store first," she mused aloud, running a hand through her bangs before shaking her head. "No...no...C.C. you're a big girl. Just call him and stop acting like a bumbling airhead."
With quick, nimble fingers, C.C. dialed the number for the front desk at the Pendragon Ritz.
"Hello, Pendragon Ritz," a female staff member answered almost instantaneously. "How may I assist you?"
"Um, yes I'm calling for Lelouch Vi Britannia," C.C. muttered. "But seeing that it's so late, if you could just..."
"State your name please."
"Uh...C.C.?"
"Otherwise known as Chelsea Clemmons?"
C.C. raised an eyebrow. "Yes. I'm a friend of his, but it's past midnight..."
"It's only 4 p.m., Miss Clemmons."
"Right...time difference," C.C. thought irritably before replying to the attendant. "At any rate, could I leave a..."
"His highness has been waiting for your call, Miss Clemmons," the woman interrupted, way too chipper for the green-haired woman's liking. "I'll put you right through."
"No...wait!"
A beep sounded and then...
"Hello?"
Lelouch's velvety smooth voice passed over the receiver and into C.C.'s ear in a way that instantly made her smirk despite the nervousness she felt in the pit of her stomach.
"How have you been, Warlock?"
"Ah, the witch has finally decided to grace me with her time." His chuckle of amusement was immediate. "It's good to finally hear your voice again. I've missed you. Been trying to get in touch with you for over a month."
"Well, things have been hectic around here," C.C. answered smoothly while padding over to her bedroom. "I've had to do a lot of traveling lately. My book really took off in Italy."
"No surprise there," Lelouch cut in, chuckling some more. "The homeland of your beloved pizza was sure to adore you, but where does that leave me when you're averaging thirty days a call? I am your biggest fan after all."
C.C., now standing in her room, glanced at a picture of herself and Lelouch from that fateful trip in Paris resting on her nightstand. "Always so needy, aren't we?"
"Perhaps," he replied, his tone a bit more serious now. "A warlock is always in need of his witch."
Unable to reply, C.C. started to pace in front of her bed. It didn't take long for Lelouch to fill the silence.
"There's something incredibly important I need to ask you, and if you turn me down I don't know what I'll do."
That nervous feeling in C.C.'s stomach started to creep up again, causing her to fumble over her words as she started speaking, almost in a ramble, saying, "Y-you know, if I could just tell you something first." She paused for a second to let out a breath, a bit irritated at herself for stuttering before shaking herself back to the present. "This is...probably going to give you the biggest laugh of your life, but...I was thinking about you and I was remembering this wild night we spent in Paris a good thousand years ago..." she trailed off a moment as she walked over to her vanity table. With her free hand she put away a few dirty make-up brushes, making a mental note to buy some new ones as she did before continuing where she left off.
"You probably won't even remember this, but..."
"Are you kidding? I think about that night all the time."
C.C. halted in her movements, her throat constricting as she circled back to stand in front of her bed. "You do?"
"But it's not why I called."
A sense of relief and a hint of disappointment overwhelmed the green-haired critic for a few seconds. The only response she could give was, "Oh?"
"I called because...well I met someone," Lelouch began, sounding a little nervous himself. "Well, more like I got reacquainted with someone from the past."
Sitting down at the foot of the bed, C.C. responded with, "That's nice. Cause you...haven't really seen anyone in a while, have you? I do hope she's not a dingbat like that one girl you used to complain to me about a couple years back. What was her name...Rei something?"
"No, you don't understand, C.C.," the prince exclaimed excitedly, whatever nerves he'd had suddenly forgotten. "I've never felt this way about anybody. I mean, I'll admit she's all wrong for me. I knew it back then but..."
"Just who are you talking about? Kallen?"
Lelouch was laughing again. "No. Not Kallen. I'm sorry. I forgot you never actually met her. She moved away from Japan before I met you, but I kinda had a crush on her during that first year of high school. Pretty sure I sent Suzaku to jail once over her..."
C.C.'s mind blanked, taking her back to her conversation with Suzaku roughly twelve hours ago. He'd mentioned getting thrown into jail because of a girl Lelouch liked. What had her name been? Shannon? Cheryl?
"...Anyway, you'll like her a lot. Her name's Shirley. She's the same age as us and good friends with Milly too. She's beautiful and kind, a really good listener."
"Uh-huh." C.C. was only half paying attention as Lelouch kept rambling about this girl. Her achievements, her job as an assistant swim coach to some prestigious trainer named Viletta Nu. He started to talk about her family next, mainly Shirley's two favorite cousins, one of which Lelouch was convinced was insane, but in the next second he commented about her being a fairly famous consulting detective in Britannia. He talked about Shirley's parents after that and how her father had really grilled him before giving him permission to marry his daughter...
Wait what?
"Come again?" C.C. asked, cutting the prince off mid-sentence. She bolted up from her sitting position on the bed in the next second. "Did you just say that her father..."
"C.C., we're getting married. This Sunday."
For a few seconds, all C.C. could do was stand there in her room, frozen in complete shock as her best friend's words settled in her mind and heart.
"Married? He's...getting married? That's...impossible, right? He couldn't possibly..."
"C.C.? Hello? You still there?"
"L-Lelouch, I uh..."
In that instant C.C.'s started to sit down again...only to completely miss the bed and fall to the hard floor with a loud shuffle of noise she knew he would hear.
"C.C.? Are you alright?"
"Fine," C.C. answered immediately, the phone never leaving her ear as she scrambled into a sitting position. Leaning one arm against the side of the bed she spoke in a rush, complete disbelief and apprehension flooding through her mind. "L-Lelouch it's...Monday there, right? How can you possibly be getting married in less than a week? I mean, you're the 17th heir to the throne of Britannia. Royalty! Surely there would have been...some news or...something..."
"Actually, I gave up my claim to the throne a few weeks ago," he supplied casually, far too casually for C.C.'s liking. "Shirley and I discussed it and we decided that we're both more suited to regular civilian life, although I maintain noble status given I'm one of the Emperor's many, many, sons. The wedding festivities actually begin on Wednesday because Milly just couldn't resist throwing a lavish wedding for us. It's a five day event, much to my dismay."
C.C., reeling from information overload simply brought her free hand to her forehead. "Wait a minute. How long have you two even been dating?"
"Hmm, roughly...two and a half months now."
"Two and a half years you mean?"
"No. Months."
The green-haired woman felt a scream of indignation bubbling in her throat but suppressed it. How the heck did this random girl convince Lelouch, one of the most socially distant people she knew, to not only commit to giving up his claim to his father's throne but to commit to marriage...and in less than three months to boot!?
"Lelouch, don't you think you might be rushing things a bit?" C.C. asked, the initial shock having transformed into thinly veiled exasperation. "I mean...is that responsible?"
There was silence on Lelouch's end for a couple seconds. "It is really fast isn't it? I'd be lying if I said I didn't have some reservations about this. That's why I need you here. I'm scared, C.C."
"He's scared?" the woman wondered, flabbergasted beyond words. "I find out that my best friend...arguably the love of my life...is going to get married in less than a week and he's saying he's scared!? I'm in full blown crisis mode and he doesn't even realize it."
Exhaling softly, C.C. finally muttered, "Maybe we should talk through this some more and make sure that you're..."
"C.C., I need you."
"Lelouch..."
"If you aren't here to hold my hand I'll never get through this," he cut in, his voice quieter than she'd ever heard it before. "Please come."
Torn as she was, Lelouch saying "please" was her ultimate weakness. She couldn't say no.
"I'll get on a plane first thing in the morning," she whispered.
"Great. Thank you, C.C. I can't wait for you to meet her."
"I can," C.C. thought, her heart ramming in her chest. "She better be wonderful. My warlock should only have the best. I'll see you on Wednesday."
"Thank you. See you soon, witch."
"Bye."
"Goodbye."
With a click he was gone. C.C. sat there on the floor, stunned beyond measure at the situation unfolding and the feelings she'd buried for years.
She was in love with Lelouch. She'd always been in love with him and he with her.
So it made absolutely no sense for him to suddenly be head over heels in love with this Shirley girl, especially to the point of jumping into marriage after less than three months. It wasn't just irrational. It was complete stupidity. As crazy as Lelouch could sometimes be, C.C. knew in her heart of hearts that the man couldn't possibly be this stupid. He was one of the most methodical people she knew. This bizarre bout of spontaneity couldn't possibly be his idea, which meant that this half-baked plan was concocted by this Shirley girl. For all he knew, she could just be after his money. Sure, he'd given up his claim to the throne, but C.C. couldn't help but wonder if that was Shirley's idea too. If it was, then more than likely it was a cover to compel Lelouch to drop his guard. After all, even as a noble, he would always be one of the Emperor's children. There were many financial benefits that came with that as well as other perks such as grand parties, extravagant trips, political influence, and so many other things.
Maybe if they'd been dating longer it wouldn't be so suspect, but frankly, the pizza obsessed food critic would have felt the same way even if the two of them had been dating for more than a year.
The real issue was simply this:
Shirley was about to marry the man she'd been in love with for practically all her adult life. After all the years investing in him and his life, C.C. wasn't about to let some random girl who barely even knew him take her place by his side.
And so...
"He's going to ruin his whole life if he goes through with this," C.C. muttered, finally opting to get up from the floor. Pivoting on her heel, she stormed over to her walk-in closet and quickly grabbed her Cheese-kun suitcase from the back. "I'm not about to let him do it. Firstly because it's just plain stupid to jump into a marriage this fast, and more importantly, he's mine! He's mine for crying out loud and how dare that...evil seductress Shirley try to take him away from me! I'll tell you what, one way or another, this wedding isn't happening. It can't happen! It won't happen!"
A sudden thumping sounded from below her feet. "Hey lady! Keep it down up there!"
"Oh shut up!" she screamed down, slamming her briefcase onto the bed. "I'm in the middle of a love crisis. Mind your own business!"
After angrily packing her things and booking a morning flight, she called Suzaku at around 4 a.m. He wasn't happy to be awakened at such an early hour, but once C.C. began explaining the situation, the Japanese knight agreed to drive her to the airport the next morning.
Unfortunately for him...
At around 6:30 a.m.
C.C. was not in a rational state of mind, and Suzaku was pretty sure he was about to become an accessory to murder.
"Look, you know I don't condone drinking, but honestly, maybe we should stop somewhere and get you one," he bellowed irritably after C.C. complained about him driving too slow for the umpteenth time. "You can take a later flight."
"Oh no, I'm a busy girl," the green haired woman began, her nerves completely shot to the point she'd resulted to smoking again, a habit she swore off years ago because of Lelouch insisting she stop for the sake of her health. Ironic now that her reason to stop became the reason to start all over again.
"By the time I arrive in Pendragon, I'll have exactly five days to break up a wedding, steal the bride's man, and I haven't the slightest idea of how I'm going to do it."
"Perhaps not smoking would help," Suzaku muttered while swerving into another lane. "Put it out. Now."
"No."
"Put it out, or you walk to the airport."
Grumbling inaudibly, C.C. quickly opened the car window and tossed the cigarette out. "There. Happy?"
"I'm breathing easier at least."
"Suzaku, just shut up and drive."
The pair remained silent until they reached the airport. C.C. nearly forgot one of her bags trying to rush into the building, which prompted the Japanese knight to accompany her up to the security line. She started ranting again seconds into their walk toward said security line.
"He was in love with me. With me. For over nine years, Suzaku!"
Suzaku rolled his eyes. "I can see why."
C.C. stopped walking, catching the sarcasm immediately. "Look, she's known him for what? Five seconds?"
"They were friends freshmen year, C.C."
"That hardly counts."
"It counts more than you might think," he replied, watching C.C. carefully as she took her bags away from his hands. "Maybe you should think about this a bit more. I know Shirley. She's..."
"Now don't you go feeling sorry for her." With a grunt she heaved the straps of both bags on either shoulder. "If she's as kind and beautiful and perfect as Lelouch claims, then she'll find herself a perfectly nice man down the road. No way is she getting mine."
Suzaku continued to stare at his friend, unsure of what to say but knowing C.C. would fill the silence between them due to her agitated state.
While putting on some sunglasses she muttered, "I can't lose him, Suzaku. I'm gonna bring him back." After saying this she leaned forward and gave him a quick peck on the corner of his lips despite aiming for his cheek. The brunette blinked in avid shock but C.C. thought nothing of it and uttered a flippant, "Thanks for the ride," before taking off. The Japanese knight shook his head, laughing to himself as the woman dashed away. This was definitely going to be an interesting weekend.
Though he didn't tell C.C., he'd known about Lelouch and Shirley getting together roughly a week or so earlier. Had he not been sworn to secrecy, he would have told C.C. himself when she first got the call.
Admittedly, watching her scramble with the information was more fun. She was really going to freak out once she realized he was going to be the best man at the wedding.
Letting out a sigh, Suzaku checked his watch. He had a few hours to kill before Euphie joined him for their afternoon flight to Pendragon...
But as is common in life, sometimes the unexpected happens.
Without warning, his cell phone's ringtone blared loudly through the airport, making him blush a bit since the music blaring was a cutesy J-pop song Euphie programmed in as a joke a few months back. He ended up keeping the song as her personal ringtone so he'd know whenever she was calling.
Though slightly embarrassed, he answered the phone with a bright smile. "Hey! Is your stomach feeling better, Euphie?"
"A little but uh...Suzaku, I need you to come over. There's...been a change of plans."
The Japanese knight didn't like that serious tone coming from his princess. "What's wrong?"
A/N: And that's where this chapter ends. Ah, cliffhangers, how I love dropping them in out of nowhere. Anyway, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter and that you'll stick around for whenever I post the next one. I don't know when that will be at present, but I'll do the best I can to update this fairly soon. We'll see. Thank you all for reading and God bless you all!
