Reviews:
ZZ960107: long no see *hug* missed you don't be late like that again *frown* update soon and the chapter was happy.
Reply: *hugs you* ugh, Zizi, school was being a meanie! Waah! I missed you too!
Crazy anko: I take that as a compliment. Well, i speak Japanese so i can write it as well. I thought you already abandon this story... But thanks, because you still updated it. I started hate Schneizel. I hope he die if he try to mess up Suzalulu couple.
Reply: it was a compliment! Lucky, I so wish I could speak/write/understand Japanese. I would be watching so many anime shows if I could. I guess me updating this more or less a month later is not helping you understand that this story has not been abandoned? Wow, I'm starting to feel sorry for Schneizel. It seems like he isn't very popular with….anybody really.
A/N: *bows deeply* I am deeply sorry for the late update. School decided to pull a fast one on me. Good news though! My sister got a new laptop so they gave me her old one! Yay! Wait…shoot…now I can't use the excuse that she doesn't let me near her computer! Damn it! Never mind! Forget everything you just read!
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As Schneizel sat in his bed, he could still hear that man's words ringing in his ears. Schneizel, you are dead. Therefore, you are not entitled to any right. I am sending you to Japan. As a prince, you will serve well as bargaining tools. Schneizel felt a shiver crawl up his spine and merely ran his hands over his goose bumped covered flesh. Even though he knew Kanon was not asleep, he could not help the need to curl up against him. He also knew that the immortal man was probably smirking.
…
As Lloyd followed Viceroy Cornelia around the Knightmare hangar, he could not help but feel pride towards his creation, the Lancelot.
"It's a seventh generation Knightmare frame; making its abilities far greater than normal," Lloyd said as he held his somewhat creepy smile. It remained on his face even when Cornelia turned to face him completely and stare him down with her sharp blue-violet eyes.
"I understand that the Lancelot's pilot is an Eleven," Cornelia said as she crossed her arms and gave Lloyd a look that would make a puppy cry. Lloyd could not help but feel irritated with the way the viceroy said the word "Eleven". Though there are times when Lloyd seemed to completely block out the social etiquette lessons Cecile gave him, he was still able to pick up her need to take care of Suzaku.
"Yes, that's correct. An Honorary Britannian, however-"
"I'm promoting this man from Private to Warrant Officer," Cornelia said as she cut Lloyd off with a firm glare. "That should satisfy him." With a sigh, she turned to look towards the working scientists and crossed her arms. "I am trying to win without having to rely too much on the numbers."
Lloyd couldn't help but inwardly smirk. With the terrorists here, she won't have a choice. Poor, poor Princess. The purple haired scientist merely put his hands behind his head and smiled. "Whatever you say, Your Highness."
…
Euphemia li Britannia sat in her office and simply stared down at the pile of paperwork on her desk. 'Those who risk their lives on the battle field are the ones who deserve to rule.' I understand the theory sister. But still…'
…
The sounds of shouting men filled the Knightmare hanger with annoying background noise. Even though Suzaku was okay with it, Cecile was not and shouted at them to keep it down for the fifth time that day.
"Sorry you have to sit here, watching me do my homework," the blushing brown haired boy said as he felt embarrassment crawl through him.
Cecile merely smiled towards him with understanding in her eyes. "Oh don't worry about it. You've never attended a regular school before so it really can't be avoided." Cecile then looked down and clenched her fists; feeling tears of guiltiness well up in her eyes. "I really am sorry for never enrolling you. Now I see my mistake." Suzaku took one look at her before dropping his pencil on top of the opened textbook and held his hands up and waving them back and forth.
"Miss. Cecile! No, it's fine, really!" The Honorary Britannian then turned around to work on his homework with renewed fervor. "The guys on the student council are helping me too, but…it's still hard," Suzaku said as he slumped his shoulders, feeling the pilot suit tighten slightly around him. He then turned back to Cecile when he heard her chuckle.
"To be perfectly honest with you, I've been a little bit worried. It's supposed to be a liberal school, but I was afraid you weren't fitting in well." Suzaku felt a bit of a blush come one as he remembered the cat hunt the other day.
"Me too, I was expecting that, but I had happened to run into some old…" Suzaku hesitated e bit before letting his breath out. "…some old friends there. They had managed to smooth everything out for me." Cecile took note of Suzaku's hesitation but decided not to push it, knowing that Suzaku could be as tight as a clam.
"Well, be sure to never take those friends for granted. If your friendship continues, your reunion won't have been a coincidence. It would have been predestined!" Suzaku was a bit surprised at the sudden, deeper meaning to the conversation. Before he could say anything else, Cecile gestured to the rice balls. "Try some of these!"
"Uh, thank you…I will!" Suzaku said as he hesitantly took one of the larger ones off the plate; knowing that, after all these years, Cecile's cooking has yet to really improve. He was surprised at the mushy jelly inside and looked at the now open rice ball. Inside, there looked to be a purple jelly that reminded him of grape jam.
"I'd like your opinion of them!" Cecile said with an expectant note to her voice.
"Th-there's jam inside…" Suzaku said with a hint of disbelief in his voice. As far as he has known, this was the first time Cecile put jam inside of a rice ball.
"Yes! I just so happened to get some lovely blueberries! So, tell me! What do you think?" Thankfully, Lloyd was there to save him from what would have most likely been a gruesome death. It would have been the end of the Honorary Britannian if he let slip how awful his adoptive mother's cooking was.
"Pack it up! Pack it up! We're done today! Don't do anymore! HIP-HIP-HUR-RAY!" Lloyd added as he waved his arms in the air. "That's all folks!" Lloyd let out a sigh as he slumped over, looking like he was drained of energy.
"Uh…um…" Suzaku said as he looked around and realized that he now had some free time. Cecile looked at the soldier and saw the little boy she had once found in an alley.
"Go to school, Suzaku. Classes might be over for the day but it's important to meet your friends and have a social life, too."
…
The TV was on even though neither Shirley nor Kallen were watching. The orange haired girl added a little furry ball to the rope that hanged off a stick on top of Arthur's new cat house. "Say, Kallen," Shirley said as she felt a frown shape her lips. "Can I ask you something important?" The lazy gray cat's meow could be heard even though he was somewhat hidden from the girls.
"Sure, what is it?" Kallen asked, not knowing what she was getting into.
"Kallen, are you hiding something from us?" Kallen had picked up Arthur from underneath the table when Shirley asked.
"Huh?"
"If it's something too personal…" The redhead brought the cat closer to her chest and felt herself tense up. "You can tell me, I promise I won't be shocked or upset." When she didn't get anything out of the girl, Shirley decided to continue on. "Well, the thing is I happened to see you before."
Kallen felt regret as she brought out her little pink bag and pushed the knife out. She completely ignored the cat that started to struggle in her arms as if it were terrified of her. At the sound of the cat, Shirley turned around and glared at the now armed girl. "You're going out with Schneizel, aren't you!?" Kallen felt her own eyes widen with shock.
"Schneizel…?"
"The other day, I saw you outside!" Shirley said as she remembered seeing L.L. looking out of the window with a scary look on his face. When she herself took a look, she saw Kallen kissing Schneizel. Out of shock, she turned and ran away, completely forgetting about how pissed off L.L. looked.
"No! That wasn't it!" Kallen said as she finally realized what Shirley was talking about. "Besides, it's not like we kissed or anything!" Shirley's eyes widened even further as she took a small step back.
"'Or anything'? Then you stopped short of doing it…?"
Kallen felt anger replace her feeling of embarrassment as she spoke back, the blush on her cheeks nearly competing with her hair not noticing how she was practically suffocating the poor cat in her arms. "Would you quit imagining things? You don't understand the circumstances one bit!"
…
Milly stood in Ruben's office with a small horrified look on her face. "But…an arranged marriage is so…"
"I'm sorry Milly, but it must be done," Ruben said without even looking up at the person he held closest to his heart now that she was the only family he had left.
"But grandfather, it's just that-"
"Enough, Milly!" Ruben said as he finally snapped from all the pressure. "You are going to have an arranged marriage. I will allow you the freedom of who it will be but you will get married. And to a noble! The Ashford name must be restored! L.L. must have the damned title, do you understand? You have less than two years. If you have not chosen someone before L.L. graduates, then I or L.L. will choose for you! Do I make myself clear?" Milly stared at her grandfather in surprise before lowering her head to cover her face with her long, beautiful hair.
"Yes, grandfather. I understand and I will look into it right away." Ruben sighed before gesturing to the door.
"You may leave."
As she left the room, Milly did not see her grandfather's tears that fell with her own.
"I'm sorry…Milly…"
…
"What will be the effect on production?"
"Primary output should decrease by point two percent."
"Within expectations, you mean. Alright, all of you here participated in the Shinjuku disaster, is that correct?"
"Yes, and we're indebted to you, Princess Cornelia, for your mercy."
"That's not what I'm asking! Do you think the conditions are similar?"
"Huh?"
"To those of Shinjuku?"
…
L.L. and C.C. stared at the screen of the TV in surprise as the anchorwoman came on.
"Military authorities have surrounded the Saitama Ghetto, a known hiding place for terrorists. Viceroy Cornelia is also on the scene and entry to that area is restricted." Before C.C. knew it, L.L. was once again at their waste basket, throwing up what little lunch he had eaten. She quickly made her way over and patted his back, thankful that he wasn't retching as badly as he first had when he remembered the incident at the Shinjuku Ghetto. They hadn't been back since, especially because they both knew that they could not take remembering the horrors they had seen. They had walked through a valley of dead bodies when they were merely ten but they had not seen the killing go on. It was ten times worse and even more traumatizing. Even after he was done, L.L. still felt C.C. rubbing the area between his shoulders while he looked down at the polished wood floor and lead him back to their spots on the bed. The black haired boy took one look at his sandwich before pushing the plate away.
"Maybe a walk around the campus will be good for us," C.C. said as she went over to their closet and brought out their shoes.
…
"You're not falling for the enemy's provocation, are you?" Kanon asked from his spot on the bed, staring at Schneizel as he prepared the suitcase that held the grunt uniform he had stolen from one of the men in Shinjuku.
"They went through so much trouble to invite me, though. Besides, there is something I would like to ask Cornelia, personally."
"Destroying Britannia or discovering who murdered your mother and little sister. Which is more important to you?" Kanon said as he continued to lay rather lazily on Schneizel's barely made bed. Schneizel felt his pale purple eyes narrow at the thought of his mother and sister, grief stabbing at his heart with a rusted butter knife.
"The two are of equal importance. The royal family members are competing with each other to see who will ascend the throne and become the next ruler. Or rather, they are being forced to fight because of that man."
"But the very thing you hate is the thing that makes Britannia so strong. Even as people see it more and more for what it is, they are too scared to attack the country that has given them food and medicine. They fear the power that that nation has over them. Slowly, the world is seeing Britannia for what it truly is. It is too late to stop it since it is now greedily eating at the nations it was supposed to help. So, if you have no one to stand beside you," Kanon stood from his seat and looked at Schneizel, "will you still stand against such a nation? Or will you lie down and surrender peacefully without losing anything close to you?"
…
Suzaku hummed a random tune as he walked down the corridors of the Student Council building while waving a cat toy in the air. Soon, even his steps were marching to the beat and he couldn't help the smile that spread across his face. As he finally reached the door to the student council room, he could hear Kallen's raised voice from inside and was able to catch the end of whatever she had been yelling when the door automatically slid open.
"Like I said, there's nothing between Schneizel and I!" As she turned, Kallen slightly gasped as she realized that Suzaku was there and staring at her with a surprised face. She quickly turned her blushing face and walked away.
Suzaku stuck his head in and turned in the direction Kallen had been looking. When he saw Shirley there with Arthur in her arms, he walked all the way in and smiled at her. "Um…where's L.L.?"
He felt himself recoil when Shirley stared up at him with teary eyes, a blush on her face and her voice raised. "I don't know where Schneizel is and I don't give a damn!" Suzaku merely stared at her with a surprised expression and a hint of hurt. But…I didn't even mention Schneizel…
…
As Schneizel looked down on the battlefield, he could not help but feel anger towards his siblings. It's always the same. Cornelia replaces Clovis. Yet Britannia never changes. He quickly turned to the Sutherland as it jumped up from next to him.
"What unit are you from?"
…
"Hm, so L.L. and C.C. came here before Japan became Area 11? Was he your neighbor?" Suzaku brought his arm down away from Arthur's reaching paws but kept his back turned towards Shirley.
"No, we weren't neighbors. I actually never knew he or C.C. existed before The Invasion. But, as far as I know, they aren't Elevens." Shirley looked at Suzaku in surprise.
"What do you mean? Did you meet them in an orphanage or something?" Suzaku turned back towards Shirley with a smile.
"No, I had actually met L.L. and C.C. because I thought they were following me." Suzaku started to scratch his head in a sheepish manner. "I actually started to beat L.L. up when I first met them. L.L. hated me for a while after that but as we kept on travelling, he slowly warmed up to me. With C.C.'s help of course. L.L. was even able to save me from one of the traps that the Britannian soldiers had laid out." Shirley continued to stare at Suzaku before her eyes widened.
"Wait, you mean…you were still in the…" Suzaku gave a sad nod before he leaned on the table.
"Yeah, we were still in the battle zone at the time. We were only ten and it was a lot to see…and then we were captured by the soldiers. I remembered how scared L.L. and C.C. were. I felt the need to stay strong for them." Shirley felt her hand cover her mouth as she stared at the Honorary Britannian. Suzaku immediately noticed the pity in her eyes and quickly held out his palms towards her. "Please, don't feel bad for us! Aside from the remains of the battles, it was rather great." Shirley stared at him with unbelieving eyes. "I didn't mean it like that! I meant like, we were finally free of whatever held us back in the past. It was like we were able to get a fresh start as a family! We had even picked out a house away from the fighting and everything!" Suzaku then absentmindedly started to scratch his check. "It really did feel like a family. C.C. even started calling me 'daddy' and L.L. 'mommy'." At this, even Shirley had to let out a laugh.
"Yes, that does sound a bit like L.L. I remember just how much he mothered her. He still does a bit."
Suzaku eyes then became glazed over. "Yeah, well L.L. wanted to make sure that we remained a family. He even went as far as to record their surname as Kururugi in an attempt for all of us to stay together. At first I was mad at them because I didn't want them to be treated like Elevens, but then I realized it didn't matter." The boy shook his head and turned his eyes back to a deeply interested Shirley.
"Anyways, please don't mention any of this to either L.L. or C.C." Suzaku said with a sheepish, yet apologetic look on his face. "They don't exactly like to share about themselves and I would rather not be given the cold shoulder." Shirley's slightly darker green eyes widened before she stood up with a determined look, not realizing that her skirt had ridden up a bit.
"Of course not! They won't hear it from me."
"Thanks. Anyways, what about you?" Suzaku said.
"Me?" Shirley replied as she leaned against the table.
Suzaku put the furry cat toy down on the table before turning his eyes back to the orange haired girl. "Yeah, what did you first think of L.L. and C.C.?"
Shirley felt her eyed narrow slightly as she remembered their first meeting.
"Honestly? I thought they were both complete assholes when I first met them."
"Huh?" was Suzaku's surprised response as shock came over his face. Then it was, "I know that they aren't exactly completely sociable and guessing from my welcoming party you guys must have some problems with them (*this part will be explained in the comments section at the end of the chapter*), but-"
"Oh you don't know the half of it!" Shirley said as she interrupted the brunette with such conviction, it startled him. It was when she noticed the somewhat hurtful look on Suzaku's face that Shirley decided to reel herself back in. "I mean, now I understand that they were just still being affected by your absence and all but…when I first met them, they just seemed like plain bullies." Shirley then tilted her head back and stared up at the ceiling. "They would make fun of everyone and would put others down. C.C. even said that my hair clashed with my eyes and what not. I actually hated them for a while 'cause I only saw them as bullies. It was only when we all met Schneizel that I realized that they had a completely different side to them.
"At first it was subtle," Shirley continued. "I just noticed how they were only lashing out at the world and took solace in each other. But that point didn't come through until the day L.L. finally decided that Schneizel wasn't going anywhere no matter how many glares he threw at him." Shirley then laughed a little as she remembered that eventful day. "I really began to see them more as people with hearts the day a traffic accident happened.
"A driver rear-ended another car and was clearly at fault but he tried to blame it on the elderly owners of the other car. And nobody tried to help them. And then, I noticed L.L. talking with Schneizel and C.C. I actually never knew they were there! After a moment or two, Schneizel had made his way to the front of the crowd and began to distract everyone by making these weird gestures everywhere. Ha, it was kind of funny." Shirley couldn't help the smile that appeared on her face as she remembered the way Schneizel made a fool of himself.
"But then I noticed C.C. and L.L. begin to move behind the owners of the cars. And since I was at an angle, I was able to notice how C.C. positioned herself so her body was able to cover L.L. as he attached the tow to the mean driver's car. And, hehe, when the light turned green, haha, the-the tow truck si-simply drove and," finally, Shirley couldn't stop the barrage of giggles that shook her body as she held onto her sides. Soon, even Suzaku could not stop the chuckle that passed through his lips.
"Hah, anyways," Shirley said when she finally stopped laughing. As she patted down her skirt, the green eyed girl continued her story. "After the car was…towed away, L.L. and C.C. smiled towards the elderly couple, gave them some money and walked away with Schneizel. Even from where I stood I could tell that they were having a good time. But, slowly, after a while I mean, I grew less interested in L.L. and C.C. and more interested in Schneizel…and then…"
Suzaku felt a smile soften his face as he realized what was so vibrant about the girl. "…You fell in love with him…didn't you…?"
This caused Shirley to gasp and turn her blushing face away. "Um…you think that's what this is?" she finally said as she lowered her face to the floor so that the shadows covered her eyes. "Maybe, you're right…"
…
Milly smiled and brushed her blonde hair away from her eyes as she stood next to the door of the student council room. Tear streaks lay dryly on her face but she still wiped them away. "How dreamy it is to be in love…oh how I wish…" The young Ashford then shook her head aggressively before pushing herself away from the wall.
"Stop it, just move on with your life," Milly said quietly before walking away and remembering the day of Suzaku's welcoming party. Though she still slightly felt guilty, her immense joy still outweighed it. (*As I said, this part will be explained in the comments section.*)
…
Cornelia…you are no match. You'll lose….
Schneizel felt a smirk appear as he drew closer and closer to Cornelia's mobile headquarters. He was then surprised when he realized his phone was vibrating. "Hm? The student council room? But I thought the Cat Festival Meeting wasn't until tomorrow…"
…
"I know Kallen said I had it all wrong but it seemed like she was getting upset in order to fool me…!" Shirley said with a hint of distress in her voice.
Suzaku couldn't help the smile that crawled onto his face as he watched the flustered girl twist some poor paper nervously in her hand. "Which is why, in this case, it's better to simply ask him directly. On your behalf, I can ask him how he feels about you." This got a reaction from the orange haired girl.
"What!? You would really do that!?"
Suzaku turned away from her with a smile as he tried to focus on the ringing of the phone. "Just relax, it'll be fine.
"ARE YOU NUTS!? NO WAY!" Suzaku didn't even realize the phone was out of his hand until he heard Shirley slam it down onto the receiver. He was slightly surprised that the entire thing didn't break.
…
Schneizel stared at his phone with confusion as it stopped ringing suddenly. "Hm? Oh whatever."
…
Suzaku's smile was full of amusement as he grabbed hold of both the receiver and phone. "Oh, come on; let me handle this for you!"
Shirley's eyes narrowed as she grabbed a part of the receiver and started to yank it back. "No way!
"It's going to be fine!" was all Suzaku said before a hard tug from Shirley caused them to fall on the floor.
The moment after the fall, Suzaku opened his eyes and noticed just how close he was to the girl beneath him. "Sorry," is what the brunette said but he still hadn't pulled back. Well, that was until the door of the student council room slid open.
…
Though L.L. and C.C. had learned to expect any unexpecting things when they opened the door to the student council room, seeing Suzaku and Shirley in…THAT position was very, very surprising. Enough to have them stop and stare in their shock. And it seemed that the two students on the floor also weren't expecting the two Kururugis to walk in.
The silence was then broken by Suzaku's cry of pain. Shirley looked back up at him with concern in her eyes. "Uh oh. Does that hurt much?"
"Greatly," Suzaku said through gritted teeth.
All L.L. and C.C. could think was Good boy Arthur.
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Comments:
Okay, I'm pretty sure most of you know that I have lost all of my info on my stories. So things might be different from the path I had set up for this particular story. I had a few changes already made but still it will probably be difficult to try and get back what I wanted for the chapters that were supposed to represent the Mao Arc.
*I was thinking on making a separate little story thing for You are Mine and I am Yours. Like for elarielf's story Snapshots how she has a separate story called Retouched Negatives just to fill in some events for Snapshots. I want to do this because I feel like there could be so much added to mys story but I don't want to mess up the time line and what not. Can anyone give me some advice on whether or not to do this?
Review if you will!