EXT. GARDEN - LONGBOURN - DAY.
Fai, croquet mallet in hand, drags his new husband across the lawn. Yuui follows.
FAI
Come on, Asura! You've got to play.
YUUI
Yes, come on!
Asura looks slightly abashed - a trapped man. What has he let himself in for?
Kimmy comes into the garden, looking for his younger brother. Asura detaches himself and goes over to him. A rueful smile.
ASURA
I hope we can be even better friends, now we're brothers.
An attempt at a twinkling smile, but Kimihiro is now immune to his charm. He nods, briefly.
ASURA
I hear you visited Pemberley. My dear old home.
KIMIHIRO
(nods)
I met Mr Doumeki's sister.
ASURA
(a beat)
Did you like her?
KIMIHIRO
Very much.
(looks at him)
We found a great deal to talk about.
A beat. Asura looks deeply uneasy. He bows and leaves. Kimmy watches him pick up a mallet and take his turn. He can't bear it; Kimihiro hurries up to Fai and draws him aside.
KIMIHIRO
(low voice)
Why was Mr Doumeki there?
FAI
I'm not supposed to tell.
Kimmy abandons his pride. He takes Fai's hand.
KIMIHIRO
Please, Fai!
FAI
Because he paid for it.
KIMIHIRO
(stares)
For what?
FAI
(carelessly)
The wedding, Asura's commission. Everything.
KIMIHIRO
Everything?
YUUI
(calls)
Fai! It's your turn!
Fai moves to go.
FAI
People kept saying Asura owed them money, it was so tedious. So Doumeki settled his debts but I don't really like him, do you?
Kimmy pulls him back.
KIMIHIRO
But why did he do it?
FAI
(shrugs)
I don't know, do I? Anyways you're not to tell because it's supposed to be our uncle who paid, and he wouldn't have minded paying, either, because I'm his favorite.
He leaves. Giggles and shrieks from the croquet lawn. Kimihiro look blank with shock.
EXT. KURURUGI'S HOUSE - MAYFAIR - DAY.
Close on Doumeki's grimly determined face. Drawing back, we see that he is walking down a street in Mayfair. He arrives at a house, pauses, and rings the bell. The door is opened.
BUTLER
Mr Doumeki.
DOUMEKI
I have some business with Mr Kururugi.
Doumeki goes inside and the door shuts. The camera cranes slowly upstairs until we can see through the first floor window and into the drawing room. Mr Doumeki enters and bows to Mr Kururugi. He starts to talk in earnest. Suzaku looks stunned by what Doumeki is relaying to him. We witness the dumbshow of Doumeki confessing that he has wronged Lelouch Clow.
EXT. LONGBOURN - DAY.
Fai and Asura are leaving. Mr Clow stands at a distance. Mrs Clow sobs as Fai climbs onto the carriage.
MRS CLOW
Write me often, my dear!
Asura takes his leave of Kimihiro.
ASURA
Please relay my affections to the Doumeki's on your next acquaintance. I am sure he will be pleased to hear things have worked out so well.
He joins Fai.
FAI
(through the window)
Married people never have much time for writing. My brothers may write to me! They'll have nothing else to do.
Mrs Clow and the boys watch as the carriage drives away.
MRS CLOW
Oh there is nothing so bad as parting with ones children! One seems so forlorn without them.
KIMIHIRO
That is the consequence of marrying a son. It must make you better satisfied that your other four are single.
EXT. MERYTON VILLAGE - DAY.
Kimihiro and Lelouch are shopping with their mother and brothers. Their housekeeper, Mrs Maru, comes out of the butcher's shop.
MRS MARU
Did you hear the news, madam? Mr Kururugi is returning to Netherfield.
A stunned silence. Kimmy glances at Lelouch. He blushes.
MRS CLOW
Mr Kururugi?
Mrs Maru indicates a woman in the butcher's shop.
MRS MARU
Mrs Nickols is ordering a haunch of pork, for she expects him tomorrow.
MRS CLOW
Tomorrow?
(recovering)
Not that I care about it. Mr Kururugi is nothing to us and I'm sure I never want to see him again.
(moves away)
No, we shall not mention a word about it.
(comes back to Mrs Maru)
Is it quite certain he is coming?
MRS MARU
Yes, madam. I believe he is alone; his sister remains in town.
MRS CLOW
Huh! Come along, boys.
Their mother goes into the draper's shop. Lelouch pauses at the threshold.
LELOUCH
It's all right, Kimmy. I'm just glad that he comes alone, because then we shall see less of him.
(blushing)
Not that I'm afraid of myself, but I dread other people's remarks.
A brave smile. Kimmy, of course, is not convinced in the slightest. They go into the shop.