chapter 8, 'A deceitful smile'.

Okay, here are the results for this week,

1: Amaya thinks on her mask, and wonders...Why does she wear it? What forces her to keep the mask on, when she knows she can easily reveal herself to the world...? 3 VOTES

2: Amaya remembers when she first met Kaguya after the occupation... 3 VOTES

3: Amaya remembers a time she spent with her father, and wonders whart 'family' really means...She wonders if a person can truly have one face, or many... 8 VOTES

Yea folks, numero 3 wins!!!!!

kk guys, this first bit, Amaya's bout 7. the second memory, is just before the occupation.

and on we go!!!

Amaya slowly opened her eyes as she heard the door to her room open, blearily rubbing them before glancing to see who it was, the light from the gardens below lighting up the room slightly, before Amaya reached over to her bedside table, flicking on the lamp to be sure who it was. As she saw her first thought was true, she felt a smile light up her face, sleepiness draining away as she leapt up, crying out,

"Father!"

Amaya threw her small arms around her father's waist, unable to reach any higher. She heard him chuckle, as he picked her up by her arms, heaving her up to his height, holding her in his arms as he smiled gently at her.

"Hello there, my little Amaya." he greeted gently, as he went to sit down on on the edge of her bed, Amaya moving to sit on his lap, as he added with a smile, "My, have you grown again since I've been gone?" Amaya nodded proudly declaring,

"2 inches!" he chuckled lightly as he patted her on her head, noting with amusement,

"The same as me when I was your age..." Amaya, however, was moving on to more pressing matters.

"But Father, why are you back now? I thought you weren't due home for another month!" she pointed out, blinking as she held his gaze, genuine curiosity sparkling in her ever emerald eyes. Her father gave a smile as he answered lightly,

"Well, I missed my family so much, you see, that I worked quickly to return home sooner." Amaya smiled, as she responded,

"I missed you too, Father!" she paused befoe asking, curiosity striking again, "What work were you doing, Father?" he paused as he thought for a moment, his gaze moving away before he answered gently,

"I was working for the greater good of the Empire, Amaya. I was the Commander of a part of the Army, to take some land and make it our Empires." Amaya raised her eyebrows as she concluded,

"You mean, you were making another Area?" he blinked in surprise as he noted,

"Well, you certainly know a lot on the goings on of Britannia. But to answer your question, yes, that is what I was doing." He smiled as he put his arm around her, before explaining,

"It's called 'Area 8' now, little one. It's a country consisting on two islands, in the Pacific Ocean, near Australia. It was previously called, 'New Zealand.'" Amaya's eyes widened with interest, before he added, "It's now a part of Britannia."

Amaya nodded as she responded knowingly,

"I know." her father smiled as he began tentavly,

"Now, it's 1 in the morning. I had only meant to see you, not wake you up!" Amaya frowned in protest, arguing,

"Ah, but Father-"

"Tomorrow, I shall take you, your mother and your brother out, shall I?" Amaya narrowed her eyes in thought, as her Father added, "Perhaps, we shall visit the Royal Palace?" Amaya's eyes widened as she sat straighter, her eyes shining as she gasped,

"Really? Lelouch is there at the moment!" her father nodded as he gently sat up, Amaya lying back down in her bed as she smiled,

"I'm glad you came home early, Father." he smiled, touching her chin as he explained again,

"I missed my family. Family is very important, little one." Amaya nodded in agreement as she pulled the blanket up around her, her father standing as he went to turn off the light, Amaya asked,

"Why?" Her father gave a small sigh before answering,

"Family are the only people you can trust, and the only people who will accept you, no matter what." Amaya smiled at the thought as she asked again,

"No matter what?"

"No matter what."

Amaya stared out of the Student Council Window as this thought crossed her mind, as she watched students who were boarding meet with their parents at the front, prepared to go home for the long weekend.

They were met with hugs, kisses, smiles....

Amaya would never admit it, but she felt the pangs of jealousy run through her as she watched this. She saw a girl her own age run into her father's arms, not unlike she had...She saw him smile down at her, giving her a hug, before picking up her bag for her, as they walked towards the school gate, chatting, his arm still around her.

The girl's mother walked alongside them, all smiles as well, rolling her eyes as her daughter began a story, her father attentive...But what caught Amaya's eye, was the fact was that the girl was taking this in her stride. This was what always happened. That is what family did, wasn't it? That kind of family was a regular occurrence...

A loving family...

"Amaya?" Amaya glanced to her side, blinking as she was brought out of her train of thought. Shirley was glancing at her questioningly, glancing at the girl too, before smiling.

"I love these days, don't you?" she sighed, holding her face in her hands before adding, "All the families meeting, I mean." Amaya nodded as Shirley smiled, "They always smile." Amaya nodded, before Shirley sighed,

"Family to me just always make me feel warm. They're the only one's who really...Know you, you know?" Amaya did not respond, or return her smile, as she stated hollowly,

"Family are the only people you can trust, and the only people who will accept you, no matter what." Amaya felt her throat dry up after this, as Shirley glanced at her again.

"Come to think of it," Shirley began, moving closer, "I've never met your family. You never speak of them ether."

Amaya frowned, as she heard the familiar, long, measured strides of her Father outside the Library, where she was. Quickly moving to the door, she poked her head out just in time to se her father down the hall, in his uniform.

"Father?" she called, firmly recalling that this was one of his very few weekends off. Her father side glanced at her, pausing as she hurried down the corridor to meet him. "Where are you going?" her father paused fully, as he slowly turned towards her.

"...I've received Command of another mission." he answered blandly, Amaya pausing in her step, a few feet from him. Silence filled the corridor before Amaya dared ask,

"...Where?" her father held her gaze before responding softly,

"That's nothing of your concern." Amaya could sense the tension build, despite his words.

"How..." she began slowly, fighting the urge to fidget, "How long will you be gone...?" her father remained neutral, apart from his usual strong jaw.

"Soon." he assured, before quickly adding, "Your brother shall be staying with a friend for the next week or so." Amaya nodded, blinking as he took 3 steps toward her, placing a hand on her shoulder as he began softly, with a smile,

"Be careful while I'm gone." Amaya nodded as he took another step back.

"I will."

They held a gaze awhile, before he turned, and swiftly began down the hall again. And never looked back once.

Perhaps, if Amaya knew that would be the last time she would see him, she would have said something more.

Perhaps, if she knew what he was doing, she would have stopped him.

Perhaps...

Amaya stared at Shirley as she awaited an answer. Amaya swallowed, hating herself for finding this easily answered question hard.

"My..." she swallowed again, "My family?" Amaya felt her hands tremble as memories of her mother and brother flashed through her mind...And her Father...

How...safe she used to feel with him...How she used to trust him completely...

And then...

"Amaya...you're no longer safe here." she whispered, as Amaya's eyes widened, if possible, more. "We have been targeted too."

"But Father!" she nearly cried out desperately. "He'll protect us-"

"Never trust your Father." her mother announced lowly, as Amaya's blood froze, as they neared the hanger, entering through the side door, her mother paused for a moment, before turning to the plane that the group whom made her knightmare were experimenting on.

"I'm...I'm an only child..." she began, Shirley nodding eagerly as she leaned forward, "My mother..." Amaya took a small breath,

"She died in the occupation...As did my father..." Shirley's eyes widened as she leaned back in shock, her hand covering her mouth as she gasped,

"Oh!" she struggled for words, "I'm...I'm so sorry..."

"It's okay..." Amaya assured, "I don't really spread it around..." Shirley nodded as she asked quietly,

"What were they like?" she paused before adding, "Your parents, I mean..." Amaya allowed a small silence to fall before answering softly,

"My mother...Was beautiful..." Amaya struggled to find words for her as she added, "And strong...The bravest woman I've ever seen..."

"I love you, Amaya." And with that, her mother turned, and shot at every soldier around her, taking out 10 at least. However...10 was not enough.

Amaya screamed as 7 bullets from the remaining 10 soldiers ripped through her mother's chest, her blood spilling onto the glass of the plane as she spun from the force, facing Amaya, struggling to palance on the boarding staircase.

"MAMA!" she screamed, as her mother's back arched, frozen momentarily, as a trail of blood trailed from her lips, her eyes meeting Amaya's for a split moment, as she smiled softly.

Amaya froze too, as her mother fell back over the railing of the stairway to the plane, out of sight.

"And...And my Father..." she closed her eyes a moment as she remembered all the times they were together, talking, smiling, laughing, even...

When he would tell her he would always protect her and the rest of their family...How he would smile...

And then...

"You mean..." 11 year old Amaya croaked as Tohdoh stood before her, on the cliffside of the burning Fuiwara home, "He...He can't have ordered this..."

"Fujiwara-Hime..."

"NO!" she sobbed, backing away, "NO! My father wouldn't do this! He wouldn't do this...not to me..." she felt her throat closing the more she remembered the hard look in her father's eyes before he left for his 'mission', the way he was reserved with her...

"He..."

The way he never looked back at her...

"No..."

"Family are the only people you can trust, and the only people who will accept you, no matter what."
Amaya met Shirley's eyes as she stared intently at her, waiting for an answer.

"My Father..." Amaya clenched her fist as she concluded darkly,

"Was a liar."

k guys, choices for next week are,

1: Kallen during the Narita Battle, joining with Tohdoh after Amaya gives her orders.

2: How did Kallen and Amaya meet, and just how did they become friends...?

3: Amaya remembers when she first met Kaguya after the occupation...

note; you can send in suggestions for side stories! numbers 1 and 2 were requested by Hang Tuah, so don't be shy!!!

u all know the drill:

review ur vote!!!

xoxo

mostrandomgirl92