Five Fics in Three Days Challenge #03

…

Title: White Day
Fandom: Code Geass
Characters/Pairings: Gino Weinberg/Kōzuki Kallen
Word Count: 3,616
Prompt: 17-2 – Living With Me Isn't Easy
Rating: T
Summary: SPOILERS FOR R2! Kallen's sure their relationship is doomed to failure, but she's in for a surprise.

Written for the Five Fics in Three Days challenge on the 5_Prompts community on LiveJournal.

Disclaimer: Code Geass is property of Bandai Entertainment and CLAMP.

…

Kallen ran her hands through her hair, summoning every ounce of her being to avoid screaming. She loved Gino, but sometimes he drove her absolutely insane. She lived with him in his family estate in the Britannian Dukedom of Virginia. She missed Japan and she missed her friends back home, but her job had required for her to move.

She had been the Crimson Ace of the Zero Squad, but after the Black Knights were officially introduced with four generals of differing regions, she transferred position. General Tohdoh stayed in Japan, taking command of military ports on the islands and the territories in the southern section of the former Chinese Federation. General Xingke lived in Beijing, China, at the side of Empress Tianzi, taking command of the part of the former Britannian Empire located north of Tohdoh's territory. Zero took command of the mainland of the E.U. and the land that used to be called Africa.

The Britannian mainland went under the control of the Knight of One. Only two of the Knights of the Round had survived the war, and Anya had elected to step down. Because of her willing abdication to the title of Knight of One, it automatically went to Gino.

As soon as Kallen learned Suzaku was the new Zero, she requested a transfer to move to the Knights of the Round. She'd missed her friends in Squad Zero, but remaining there would have required her to not only work under Suzaku—her rival during the war—but also live on a completely different land mass from Gino. Once the transfer went through, she was granted the title of Knight of Five.

It was a drastic change of scenery, but with all of the world's military under one banner and regimen, it had only slightly differing responsibilities. She wore a different uniform—the same as Gino, but with a red cape—and lived in a different territory, but was otherwise unaffected. Gino had learned of his father's death in the war and the pair had since moved into his manor by birthright. It was a huge mansion, almost bigger than the main building of Ashford Academy, and Kallen found herself lost more times than she could count at first.

It took some getting used to, especially when compared to her mother's small apartment back in Japan. Ohgi and Tamaki had stayed there, too, so she was relatively alone in Main Britannia. To prevent issues with senatorial votes and the like, Britannia's territories had been split to the Main portion where the capital, Pendragon, once stood, South Britannia, which was a part of the same landmass as Main Britannia, but connected only by a small bridge of land. East Britannia was essentially the part that went to Zero's jurisdiction, and West Britannia was Russia.

Currently, Kallen was trying her best to avoid screaming at Gino. Granted, all he had done was ask her—politely—to clean up her dirty clothes. She wouldn't have minded so much if it was just one time, but it had almost become a routine for him to remind her. Every day, just as she walked in the door. She wasn't a fan of servants, especially since most had been Japanese or other 'numbers,' so she tended to do her own housework. However, in a house as big as the one they lived in, they did need a few 'employees,' as she preferred to call them, to help maintain the place.

But the underlying fact remained—she was a total slob. That wasn't to say she didn't know how to clean, she just usually cleaned up after herself sometime after the mess had been made. For instance, she would throw her used clothes on the floor in the morning, and then pick them up before bed. It was how she had always been and she wasn't about to change because it bothered him.

Yes, he'd grown up as a noble where everything in the house was spick and span, but she hadn't. Her mother—before she recognized her as such—had worked as a maid in her father's house, but Kallen hadn't let her touch her room or her things. She took care of herself and did her own cleaning. So it wasn't that she was messy, per se. She just did her cleaning in her own time.

Unfortunately, Gino didn't agree with her on that.

They were two very different people and several matters sparked an argument between them. She begrudgingly attended all of the holiday parties and events celebrated by Britannians, on the condition that they celebrated Japanese holidays at home. For the most part, that arrangement worked out. It was only on days that she felt particularly moody or when work got in the way that an argument occurred.

To the rest of the Knights of the Round, their relationship was baffling. None of them could understand how two people who worked together in the exact same squadron were so unrelenting on work matters. If one had a meeting and had to cancel plans, the other would usually get angry. Usually, it was Gino who pulled out on plans and Kallen getting angry. With him being the Knight of One, it couldn't be helped. She liked to show her annoyance to the world regardless, and usually it would come out in the form of a fight.

It was the little things that ate away the solid ground between them. As sure as Kallen was that she loved Gino and he loved her, she had moments when she doubted their relationship could work. She had days when she was sure one of them would lose it and call off the whole thing. Tell the other to go to hell and walk away. She was sure that was how this would end. What hope was there for a pair who couldn't agree on anything?

They were bound to separate broken-hearted. Deep inside, she knew it. A part of her was just waiting for the moment when it would all fall apart.

What really made her mad was the fact that today was White Day and he yet to even acknowledge it. He hadn't grown up celebrating the holiday, but if he was going to make her dress up in some ridiculous costume for Halloween, then the least he could do is get her some damn chocolate on White Day. Hell, she didn't even care how much he spent. She just wanted him to acknowledge her culture.

And now they had walked in the door, only for him to criticize her cleaning patterns. To put it mildly, she was furious. She stopped where she was, closed her eyes, and tried counting in her head. While that was failing to work, his arms slipped around her waist and, by military reflex alone, she almost punched him in the face.

He didn't let go, but managed to slip out of the way of her fist, murmuring, "Settle down, Kallen! If you want, I can ask Lindslie to pick it up."

She crossed her arms as best she could from her position face-to-face with him. "Maybe I don't want it picked up."

Instead of turning away, he bent down and kissed her. "I have to admit, the mess will really kill the romantic atmosphere I had planned for the night."

She paused. Did he mean…?

He leaned in, kissing her again, but took his time and used his tongue. "Happy White Day, Kallen. You didn't think I forgot, did you? Now go get changed. Those reservations for dinner won't fill themselves."

…

She sighed to herself, doing her best to stay mad at Gino. He could have said something earlier, instead of springing on her at the last minute. She sat in the backseat of the car with her arms crossed, pouting. She glanced down over her outfit, cursing her inner want to be sexy for the man. Her short black skirt was barely longer than her uniform at Ashford, which she wore with thigh-high stockings. For a top, she'd chosen a red sleeveless blouse made of silky satin with matching fingerless gloves.

Silently, she cursed. Why did she feel the need to dress up for him? It made no sense whatsoever. The worst part was that he knew she dressed that way for him, if the casual way his arm was draped over her shoulder was any indication.

Finally, the car pulled to a stop and he held one finger up in a 'hold on a second' way before climbing out of the car. Reluctantly, she waited a minute until the door next to her opened and he held his hand out to help her out. She hated being treated differently for being a woman, but it was somehow adorable when it was Gino behaving that way.

Giving a roll of her eyes for his benefit, she took his hand and climbed out of the car. She glanced at him with a raised eyebrow, wondering where they were. She didn't recognize this restaurant, and was fairly sure they had never eaten out here before.

He shifted his hold on her hand to loop his arm around hers and escort her to the building. It was an ordinary enough place, fancy on the outside without many windows. Her eye caught the sign by the door and she froze, reading 'Kinzentaru, est. 2020.'

A… Japanese restaurant?

She turned slightly to look at him, eyes wide in shock. He flashed that charming smile of his and rubbed the back of his neck. "I was cooking with Jorge a few weeks ago, and he mentioned he heard of this place. It's still new, but I thought it'd be a great surprise. Am I right, or am I right?"

She stayed silent, trying her hardest to avoid crying. He had this planned for weeks? She longed for some Japanese cuisine, but she couldn't cook to save her life. Her mother and Ohgi had sent recipes her way, but there were troubles with translation and it just didn't taste right. But now… Gino had found a Japanese restaurant within driving distance of their home in Main Britannia?

It was probably the sweetest gesture he'd ever made towards her.

At least, in her opinion.

She jumped out of her thoughts when his hand touched her lower back gently, his voice asking, "Are you all right, Kallen? Is this a bad idea?"

She shook her head quickly. "No, that's not it. This is… This is amazing." She stopped in her tracks, staring at the text written below the name on the door, styled in kanji. "This…" She couldn't hold back a squeal as she threw her arms around him, shouting, "This is an okonomiyaki bar!"

He kept that same smile and said, "Of course! I have no idea what that means, but only the best for you. That… That is a good thing, right?"

She nodded, giving up on holding her tears back and let herself cry on his shoulder. It had been too long since she'd last eaten okonomiyaki and she felt her stomach grumble in agreement. "Come on!" She pulled out of his embrace and grabbed his hand, tugging him towards the door. "Let's go eat!"

He laughed as she dragged him inside, but took a minute to ask, "What exactly is this okabodaki?"

She rolled her eyes. "Okonomiyaki. It's hard to describe in English. It's like a patty made with cabbage with different toppings. You should be able to get just about anything."

He nodded. "Let's do this. I'm open to trying new things."

They walked inside and were brought almost immediately to their table. Kallen smiled in delight as she realized their cook was Japanese. Even better. The chef offered recommendations, such as pork, shrimp, or octopus and she turned to look at Gino. He shrugged casually and said, "You order. I'll try what you get."

The cook turned to face her and smiled as she rattled off exact ingredients in fluent Japanese. She knew she didn't always look the most Japanese, with having a Britannian father, but she loved her homeland. She loved the way the language rolled off her tongue, and was absolutely ecstatic that she had an opportunity to use it.

She had started to teach Gino, but it was a difficult task. He was already fluent in English, the national language of Britannia, as well as three other languages. It wasn't that he didn't want to learn. It was just that Japanese was so different from any other language he knew. In turn, he had offered bits of the Euro languages, particularly Russian. It seemed to be his favorite, and he liked blurting out things she couldn't understand.

The five languages between the two of them made diplomatic discussions with the UFN assembly much easier. But, for now, she loved the look on his face as he watched her order. The cook bowed and left to get the ingredients and she leaned back slightly on her stool, smiling. "Thank you, Gino. This means a lot to me."

He grinned brightly. "I thought it might."

She reached out slightly, extending her hand to play her fingers on his. Just this one token of good faith was enough to repay her for her Valentine's gift. She had talked to Milly and Viletta, for lack of anyone else, for ideas on what to get him on Valentine's Day. The two of them were familiar with the Britannian form of celebration, during which the holiday was a mutually romantic event.

However, in Japan, Valentine's Day was when girls presented gifts—usually chocolate—to boys they liked. One month later, on White Day, boys would return the gift. By following the rule 'triple the return,' guys should get girls gifts worth at least three times what she spent on him. Kallen didn't care about price. Not with Gino. She wanted sincerity, and she got one of the most precious gifts she could have asked for.

"Aishiteru."

She turned to him, eyes wide in surprise. "G-Gino…"

He smiled. "I've been practicing. Did I say it right?"

Nodding slowly, she absently mumbled, "Your accent is off, but the pronunciation was right."

…

Kallen snatched the last bite of okonomiyaki from the plate and smiled as she expertly slipped it between her teeth with chopsticks. It was during times like this that she felt like the dominant one in their relationship. With him being her military superior and with living in his homeland, she didn't feel like the top dog often. The most common exception was when she was piloting her Guren, but after its destruction in the war, it was completely remodeled and made into her unique Knightmare for her role as a Knight of the Round.

It was a wonderful night, she decided. Gino was one part near-sighted, and one part hopeless romantic. It was usually pretty iffy on which side won out, but she was glad it was the romantic side tonight. When all was said and done, she knew she couldn't stay mad at him. As they stood to leave, she turned to the cook and gave a slight bow, followed by the words, "Arigtou gozaimasu."

The man bowed in return, but didn't speak. Instead, he led the two of them to the front where they were to pay. Gino handled the check as she stood behind him, smiling at the Japanese decoration. Somewhere behind her, she heard the cook whisper to Gino, saying, "Today is a special day in Japan, you know, Sir."

He smiled brightly. "I know. White Day, right?"

The man nodded while ringing up the transaction. "Treat her well, Sir."

"I intend to. Arigatou."

Kallen pretended to not hear their conversation, but burst out laughing when Gino bowed. It wasn't that he was doing it out of context, but it was just hilarious to see a Britannian trying to bow to a Japanese and mean respect with the action. It looked really awkward for Gino to do that and she honestly couldn't say why.

A few minutes later, they were back in the car, on their way back to their house. Kallen sat snuggled against Gino's side, content for one small moment in their lives. She had her doubts so often, that something would go wrong and they would break up. Something told her she wouldn't be able to handle that when it happened. She loved Gino. She knew that, but she also knew they couldn't make it like this forever.

It hurt to think about it, but she knew it would happen. It was inevitable. Two people like themselves just weren't compatible. It wasn't fair to either of them, to stay like this. The longer they tortured themselves, the harder it would be to leave when that day came. She opened her mouth to say something, to bring up her fears of the future, but didn't get a word out before he leaned over her and kissed her. He kept it brief, then whispered against her lips, "Will you marry me?"

She froze under him. Had she heard him right? Leaning back slightly, she looked at him in complete shock. "W-what…?"

He smiled, reaching up to cup her cheek in his hand. "I love you, Kallen. I can't imagine being with anyone else."

She blinked and shook her head to regain her senses, stammering, "But… But we fight like rabid dogs! How can we possibly have a future ahead of us?"

He shrugged lightly. "We fight, yeah, but I'm pretty sure that we can beat that. If we try, we can beat anything." Stealing a quick kiss, he added, "You're everything to me, Kallen."

She stayed stock-still, not daring to believe he was really asking her that question. She was sure their relationship would end in tears. After all, what hope was there for two former enemies who happened to fall in love? It was so wrong. Surely he had seen the incoming disaster, too.

"Kallen, if you don't want to marry me, just say so. It would be a lot simpler than just stalling."

Her heart stopped beating and she turned slowly to face him head-on. The torn expression on his face sent a pang through her chest that made her want to grab the steering wheel of the car and hurl the whole thing off the road. She was doing it. She was breaking him without actively trying. Tears pricked at the backs of her eyes and she swallowed, trying to clear her throat of whatever was choking her. "Gino, that's not… I mean…" The words she wanted to say weren't coming, so she finally managed to stammer, "I love you, Gino."

"Then why?" he asked, voice sounding hollow and broken.

She struggled to keep from crying. That would only make this worse. "I… I don't know what to say, Gino. I mean, how can we make this work?"

He pulled back and sat next to her, staring straight ahead while folding his hands on his lap. "How have we made this work for the last two years?"

Did he really think that what they had was 'working'? Did he call arguing incessantly 'working'? Did he think never being home and hardly ever making it to a date was 'working'?

He turned back to her, intense emotion that she couldn't place burning in his eyes. "Kallen, if you don't love me, then that's that. But if you do, and if you're just saying this because you're afraid, then shut up and listen."

She bit her tongue. Gino was usually the epitome of gentlemanly speech when he was talking to her. The fact that he'd so bluntly tell her to shut up meant he was serious. She really couldn't blame him, given the circumstances.

"I love you. We're both high-ranking military officers and we fought on opposite sides during the war. But does that mean that we should constantly avoid commitment because we have a few minor disputes? Love isn't something you mess with, Kallen. You take it when it comes your way because you never know what tomorrow has in store for you. Fighting happens. No two people can live together and never argue. We should be thankful that what we fight about isn't anything life-shattering."

She sat still, letting every one of his words pierce into her. Slowly, she nodded. "Maybe you're right. Maybe I am afraid. Maybe I'm scared of what happens next."

"That's just it, Kallen," he said, taking her hands in his. "Nothing will change. We'll still live together, work together, and sleep together. The only thing that would change is your name, if you wanted it to."

She paused, considering what he was saying. It was all true, and yet she was still scared. But why? What was she afraid of? What was it that made the idea of getting married so terrifying? She loved Gino, and she had been certain that they wouldn't be able to make it forever. But he was. He wanted them to work. She owed it to him to try her part, didn't she?

Slowly, she nodded. She wouldn't be sappy or overdramatic, but she wanted to try. She wanted so badly for their relationship to work. She wanted to wake up next to him every day for the rest of their lives. She wanted…

She wanted to marry him.

Willing her voice to work, she started out slow as she said, "Gino, you're right. You're absolutely right. But I…" She shook her head one more time, shaking away whatever demon was trying to deter her. "I love you. And… to answer your question… Yes, I'll marry you."

So, what'd you think? Please review!

-Valk