Chapter I: Exile and Friendships

The Nation Of Japan – Osaka – Kururugi Summer Residence

It had been nearly a day prior to their department from the mainland. Cruising across the pacific at a steady pace, through different time zones and a never ending expand of light reverberating sapphire blue waters. Its waves splashing gently and the sea breeze proving a refreshing source of relief.

When the coastline of this foreign land came into view, Nunnally could not help but be enchanted by its sheer beauty. Surely, the stories told of this small island nation were not mere propaganda or cheap publicities of fame to elevate its name upon the world stage. It was in fact, an indisputable beauty formed from the convergence of both the land and the people who inhibit them that gave birth to this nation. And the same could be said for the renowned Sakura Tree or in English, Cherry Blossom which was worth its weight in gold.

The siblings had just left the regional Japanese military airbase, where their shuttle had disembarked. Two more escorts had met with them there and had taken them to the Kururugi Estate. Lelouch was being carried up the stairs, not by Nunnally. Unlike the escorts the siblings had met at their previous destination, the escort there had been kind enough to offer to carry Lelouch up the twisting labyrinth of white marble stairs. Feeling her brother as her responsibility, she would have rather carry her brother by herself, but was however forced to accept the offer, hugely due to the incapability of carrying her brother due to the difference in age, which translates to a difference in body weight, mass, and strength. But to assure his safety, she gave an icy cold glare at the escort promising pain and retribution if say anything unfortunate were to happen to her dear brother. This unnerved both the escorts, each giving an affirmative nod, while another escort was carrying his wheelchair, also with utmost care.

When Nunnally could see the tip of the house, joy shot threw her veins. 'We're almost there!' But as more and more of the house came into view her enthusiasm left and her body became tense with anger and despair. The house, was fairly less than modest, nothing extravagant, just simple, but appears as if it was not tended to in years. Mostly because this is not where the Kururugi's main estate was, it was but a sub-branch of the original, maybe a guest house, an ironic name to put. This was where she and Lelouch would be staying until Charles found that they had lost their use, perhaps they already have. The unsettling possibility that they were bait was also present, Charles must need a reason to attack Japan, he would not be so foolhardy to launch an unprovoked assault that would raise global tensions. But he had been wanting the supply of Sakuradite for some time now it seems, if Prime Minister Genbu Kururugi should become tempted and were to be gone with one or both of the siblings, Charles would have the opportunity he had been waiting for. She, while unfamiliar with the world of politics and the rest, have known and seen enough and also experience enough to know that they were just mere pawns to their father. Tools for trade, disposable, expandable and usable.

The escorts told them that this house would be their home and left. Nunnally walked towards it, trying to be as calm as possible, for Lelouch's sake.

"What does this house look like Nunnally?" Lelouch asked, he spoke a bit louder now that the escorts were gone, and their privacy guaranteed.

"It looks fine, brother dear, its got blue shutters and the paint still glowing, as if just painted," Nunnally said convincingly, trying to conceal any stray emotions except joy from her voice, a little lie couldn't hurt especially when you've already lost everything you've got left, right? As the siblings centered on the house, Nunnally continued describing the house as something wonderful to Lelouch and felt her mood lighten a bit as his smile widened.

Several people, who, among their ranks, were the leading members of the Kururugi, Sumeragi and other Kyoto families approached the pair. Apparently, this was the 'welcoming committee'.

"So…, this are our guests?" A man in his forty's said, not bothering to hide the slight hint of disgust in his voice.

"Now- Genbu, they are but children, be nice to them", a woman next spoke, and was a kind looking lady in her probably nearing her thirty's, with a girl no more than seven years that was clutching onto her kimono. To this the lady assured the child, "Come on Kaguya dear, there's nothing to be afraid of."

"Dareka okaa-san"

"Seriously, are you scared of two Britannian's?" a girl, probably eleven years of age said. "What can they do?" she scoffed.

"Asuka! Mind your words" the lady chided the girl.

To this the girl just blatantly ignored and turned to the house.

Shaking her head in disapproval at the girl retreating into the house, Genbu spoke again.

"So-, are they coming in or not? I would be more than glad to allow them to stay outside."

"Genbu, please. I was just getting to that" she then turned to them, extending her arm in an inviting manner, she said "Come on, both of you, let's go inside."

Reluctantly both Lelouch and Nunnally accepted her gesture of goodwill. And were invited inside and showed to their respective rooms.

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Initially, they were shown to their room prepared to them by Genbu. It appeared to be like a old storage room or something, but one thing was sure. It was old, dusty and most importantly unpleasant. Well, nothing they can do about it, they were after all, the 'guests'.

This was however, opposed by the kind lady earlier when she broke into a little argument with Genbu. After several minutes of bickering, an irritated Genbu marched down the corridor muttering something like "suit yourself!". It appears that the lady won the talk, and later, secured both Lelouch and Nunnally a more comfortable living area much to the siblings great relief.

Nunnally promptly went to the lady, wanting to express her gratitude for her kindness, but she had a hard time putting it into words though. The lady, understood her intentions and nodded in understanding with a smile grazed across her features.

At that moment, the little girl, the lady's daughter, who had otherwise kept to the safety of her mother's dress decided to step forward. Braving herself, the girl formally introduced herself to the siblings. The small girl holding her hand out, "Watashi no namae wa Sumeragi Kaguya desu. Anatawa desu ka?" unsure of whether they understood her or not.

As it appears, Nunnally could not comprehend what the girl was trying to say and her only reflex was to blink repeatedly in confusion. While she stood still there, unsure of what to do or even say in order to overcome this cultural and language difference, a hand came from beside her and lightly grasped the girl's hand, now named Kaguya. "Watashi wa Rurushu Vi Buritania desu. Kochira wa imoto, Nanari Vi Buritania desu. Hajimemashite, dozo yuroshiku onegaishimazu" it was her brother who spoke, wait! He spoke Japanese? He bowed down, a sign of respect as per Japanese customs and traditions.

"Ehh-, Nihongo ga hanasemasu ka?" Kaguya gasped, surprised and not believing her ears.

"Hai, sukoshi" was his humble reply.

"Sugoi- ahh….yoroshiku onegaishimazu" the girl returned his bow.

This drew a small gasp from the lady who was surprised at the recent turn of events. The boy knew Japanese? And he spoke it so fluently, almost in their own tongue. Nunnally was also new to this fact, when did he learn it? She knew that he had learned almost three or four languages already, among them, if she could remember correctly, were English, their native language, Russian, German, French and now Japanese? Really… it was sometimes awe-inspiring at how much learning capacity her brother had.

"Umm… eigo ga hanasemasu ka?" Lelouch asked Kaguya.

"iie, eigo ga hanasemasen" she shook her head.

"Gomen'nasai"

"Daijobu dayo"

"Etto, dareka Eigo ga hanasemasu ka?"

"Watashi wa Okasan, desu"

"Hontou?"

"Hai, hontouni"*

Kaguya's mother let out a small smile while she watched her daughter speak to their new guests. She soon excused herself from the room to let that child of hers acquaint with them. A beautiful friendship was about to be born, and she knows.

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In the following weeks of their stay, Lelouch had instructed Nunnally in learning Japanese, with some little help from Kaguya of course, for no Japanese teacher is better than a Japanese. Now Nunnally was slowly able to master Japanese as well, and in time the barrier that was the language difference was lifted. Both the siblings also endeared in learning more of the customs and traditions of the Japanese. As the saying goes, 'When in Rome, do as The Romans do'.

Though not all their time in Japan were that pleasant, Kururugi Genbu had treated them with little to no care. His daughter, Kururugi Asuka, was even worse. On the fourth day of their stay, she threw Nunnally to the ground after an argument and nearly begun a brawl. However, despite these, she formed an unlikely close friendship with both Lelouch and Nunnally later on after a certain event.

That is when Lelouch went missing in the nearby woods of the estate, Nunnally who suspected his disappearance to be the act of assassins, practically released a temper tantrum and ran everywhere in search of him. Asuka offered to help as well but her help was dismissively ingnored by Nunnally. Regardless, she still wanted to help, a persistent trait of hers that tends to be both good and bad, depending on cirsumstances. While in her search, Asuka fell into a man made hole, a former hideout she built as a child, only to find the presumably lost Lelouch in there. The two later had a conversation on his and Nunnally's past lives, their childhood, their siblings, their mother, even the reasons for them being sent to Japan. Upon hearing the siblings tale for herself, she wondered about her perception of the two, maybe she was premature in her judgement of them and changed her overall opinion of them virtually overnight. And thus, a unusual friendship began to blossom itself in the piercing sunrays of spring, amidst fields of colourful flowers and the songs of the cicada.

Sumeragi Hitomi, the lady that took them in with open hands, was especially kind and receiving of them, as was her daughter, Sumeragi Kaguya, who seemed to developed an affection to Lelouch and also the acquaintance of both of them. The others of the Kururugi, Sumeragi and the six houses of Kyoto have otherwise just disregarded them as nothing more than 'guests' and continued daily life as usual.

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In this faraway island of the eastern reaches of the world, the siblings found solace, friendship and a sparse shred of happiness. Even in the wake of the unfortunate events that befell them, even in the state of being hostages, they managed to find a blessing, if only a fragile piece of it. Will their newfound bliss last? Or will it be destined to fall and crumble into ruins? As their life already had, cast down by one's country, by its people, by one's own father.

Author's note: I'm really sorry if my usage of Japanese caused my reader's difficulties in reading the story. But I feel it is necessary to at least put some usage of Japanese language as acknowledgement of the anime, which is from Japan, and is in Japanese language. And that will be the last usage of it in the story. Hopefully (maybe next time, I'll use Russian, German, French, or any other language I'm fond of).]

And if anyone is wondering. Yes, I've replaced Suzaku with Asuka. It just doesn't feel right to have Suzaku brawl with Nunnally (a boy fighting a girl? Barbaric!), let alone with Lelouch, who is now on a wheelchair(a normal person against a crippled boy? Inhuman). So, I replaced him. Now, it would not be an awkward situation for Asuka to fight with Nunnally, right? In addition, this lets me explore the possibility of this new Kururugi having a relationship with Lelouch (writer grins mischievously and suggestively, ahem….  ).

On another note, I want to express my gratitude for those who posted reviews. Thank you for your reviews and for staying with the story, and for pointing out my mistakes.

Character Profile:

Kururugi Asuka

Age: 11

Appearance: long wavy brown hair, emerald green eyes.

Only daughter of Kururugi Genbu. Fairly hot headed, but also shows her softer and lighter side at times. Fate after the second pacific war is unknown. Her name is inspired by the all too familiar, four constellations. The centre being Asuka,(I don't remember what it is, and I'm not sure if this is right, but if there isn't any please correct me, but regardless, I think Asuka is a fitting name for her as it sounds feminine) In the North is Genbu, the Black Tortoise, the East, Seiryuu, the Azure Dragon, the South, Suzaku, the Vermillion Bird, and in the West, Byakko, the White Tiger.

Sumeragi Hitomi

Age: 25

Apperance: Imagine a mature version of Kaguya in her twenty's, with bluish black hair.

Mother to Sumeragi Kaguya and younger sister to Kururugi Genbu. A kind and gentle person. Does not show hostility or any ill feelings towards others, be it her fellow countrymen or foreign people. Fate after the second pacific war is unknown. Name inspired by the songwriter, music composer and singer for Code Geass, Hitomi Kuroishi.

Translations *

"My name is Sumeragi Kaguya. What is yours?"
"I am Lelouch Vi Britannia. This is my sister, Nunnally Vi Britannia. Very pleased to meet you."
"Ehh- you can speak Japanese?"
"Yes, a little"
"Amazing-, ahh… nice to meet you too."
"Umm… do you know how to speak English?"
"No, I can't speak English very well."
"Forgive me"
"Its okay"
"Then, do you know who can speak English here?"
"My mother can"
"Really?"
"Really-"