I felt like this chapter didn't come out the way I intended. It felt that I was forcing things a little, like they wouldn't actually do that kind of thing. Will they be classified as OOC? I tried to do them the best I could…but for some reason they felt all wrong. Eh, forget it, just enjoy.
Disclaimer: CLAMP owns Chobits and the character designs of Code Geass. Oh wait.
The 12th Memory: Keep Walking, Road Kamelot
"So Road, how do you like my gift?" Kryst was holding out a small stuffed bear. "I was thinking of getting you something flashy like diamonds or rubies, but I think this would've been better."
Road threw her arms around Kryst. "Thank you, Kryst!" She gingerly took the stuffed animal from her friend. "It means a lot to me. I've never gotten presents or anything like that before."
Kryst smiled. "I'm glad to be the first, then." She took out a slip of paper from her pocket. "Here, Road, I want you to have this."
Road blinked. "A piece of paper? Why would you want me to have this?"
Kryst gave the slip of paper to Road. "Read it."
"A…birthday party?" She stared blankly at Kryst. "I don't get it."
Kryst slapped her head. "Oh, duh, I forgot you never heard of one of those before!" She smiled and took Road's hand. "Come with me, I promise it'll be lots of fun!"
"Well…if you say so."
"Trust me," Kryst cupped her hands warmly around Road's. "It's like nothing you've ever seen before."
Road opened her eyes. They just keep coming, don't they?
Ever since Allen's shadow visited her in her room, every time she closed her eyes, she saw some memory of her human life. The memories she tried so hard to suppress run rampant through her head, as fresh as she was experiencing them firsthand. Road sighed. It's impossible for me to get any sleep, isn't it?
Someone knocked on the door. "Hello, are you awake in there? I'm coming in!"
As if I can talk, you bastard.
The door opened, and Johnny came inside. "Um, hi there. Are you okay?"
Road flailed around in her bed. "Of course I'm not okay! I'm tied to a freaking bed!" Is what Road tried to say, but it came out as "Mmph, mm mmph mmph!"
"Oh, right, you can't talk." Johnny scratched his head. "Let me help you with that." He knelt down in front of Road and removed the silk cloth around her mouth.
Road spat at Johnny, and missed by a long shot. "It's about time! I thought you'd leave me like that forever!" She stuck her tongue out. "Ugh…I can still taste that stupid piece of silk…"
"Ah ha ha…" Johnny laughed nervously. "Sorry about that, we just didn't want you to bite your tongue off or something."
"Yeah, because I just love not having the ability to speak." She blew her hair out of her face. "I'm past that suicidal-ness, I just want to be able to move my arms and legs. Which reminds me, are you going to get rid of these chains?"
"About that…" Johnny shuffled his feet. "I'm under orders not to let you go until you fully accept your identity as an exorcist."
"Oh, don't worry about that!" Road said in a high voice, "I'm totally into the idea of being an exorcist! After all, I just love mankind!"
"Well, if you say you are…"
"Cross my heart and hope to die! Oh wait…" Road giggled. "Wrong choice of words." Johnny got out the key for the chains and unlocked them. Road grinned evilly. "Sucker." She pushed Johnny to the ground and leapt off the bed, her fingers forming an L on her forehead. "You don't honestly believe that I'd be an exorcist, do you?" She ran out the door, when she bumped into a tall female.
"So brother was right…" Lenalee patted Road's head. "You really do hate us exorcists, don't you?"
"You…" Road slapped her. "Get out of my way, you bitch!"
Lenalee felt the spot where Road hit her. "Johnny, you can go now, I can handle her."
Johnny nodded shyly. "Yes, Miss Lenalee." He bowed his head and exited the room.
"Now Miss Kamelot." Lenalee pushed Road back into the room and locked the door behind her. "It's about time you talked to someone."
Road glared at her then flopped down onto the mattress. "If you're here to spout that crap about your God, then save yourself some time and get outta my face." She stared at the ceiling. "I don't need a sermon."
Lenalee smiled sadly at Road. "I know how you feel, Road."
Road glanced at Lenalee. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"I mean, I know what it feels like, to be stripped away from your home." Lenalee said cautiously, as if she was afraid to how Road might react. When Road stayed silent, she decided to continue. "When I was younger, maybe younger than you, the Order tore me away from my brother and kept me locked up, like you."
"Ha. And I'll say it again. Ha." Road curled up into a ball. "Do you think I really care about your life? Well, I don't. So you can keep your life's story and shove it up your ass."
Lenalee just smiled. "I hate God too, you know?"
Road narrowed her eyes. "What are you talking about?" She asked, not even glancing at Lenalee. "I thought all exorcists believed that God was the sole reason for their existence, the only reason they fight. I thought you all were a bunch of religious nutcases."
Lenalee shook her head. "I don't think God is the only reason we fight. After all, I don't fight for him." She waited for Road to respond. She didn't. "I…I fight for my friends. I actually think that God is a madman, creating a world with so much suffering. For forcing exorcists like us to fight. After you've seen your comrades fall one by one in front of your face…you start to forsake God, and believe that there is none."
"Oh would you just shut up!?" Road leapt off of the bed. "Let me spell it out for you. I don't give a damn about your beliefs, I just want to get the hell out of this place and go home."
"You mean you want to go back to the Earl?"
Road looked suspiciously at Lenalee. "So what if I want to go to the Earl. I'm his child, his family. Are you going to stop me just because I want to go home?"
"No, I won't."
"Eh?" Road said, "What did you just say?"
Lenalee smiled. "I said I wouldn't stop you. I'd even help you escape."
"You would?" Road asked hopefully. "You'd actually help me?"
"Of course."
The hope disappeared from Road instantly. "Oh, I see what you're doing. You're doing the whole good cop, bad cop thing. You probably just let me think I can escape home, then when I start trusting you, you pretend that you never said that in the first place." She stuck her tongue out at her. "Do you really think I'm that stupid? Did you really think that I'd think you'd let me go back to the Earl, the whole reason you're being forced to fight in this war?"
"No, I didn't think you'd believe that." Lenalee knelt down in front of Road and put her hand on Road's shoulder. "I thought you'd believe that I really meant it when I said I'd help you get home."
"You can't be serious…" Road punched Lenalee, knocking her to the ground. "Do you think you're some kind of saint or something!? That you can give help to anyone who asked for it!" She punched her again. "I can't believe you, why the hell would you think helping me would be a good idea!? I'm a child of the Millennium Earl for god's sake, your natural enemy! Doesn't that mean anything to you!?"
"Yes, yes it does." Lenalee said sadly. "I met another of the Earl's children, and he believed that he should give help to anyone who asked for it."
Road's fists went down. "Who are you talking about?"
"Allen Walker."
"Oh, of course it's him!" Road shouted hysterically, "He's the guy everyone falls in love with!" She glared angrily at Lenalee. "What, did you think that just because that bastard helped you that I'd be just as willing to help as him? Like hell I would! That Allen's not even a Noah, you know that? He's a freaking imposter who freaking replaced me! Tell me, what do you really think of that Allen brat?"
Lenalee bit her lip. "I…I don't know what to think of him." She admitted. "I've only known him for a couple hours, and in those couple hours, I didn't learn much about him. However…" Lenalee hesitated. "I felt like I knew him from somewhere. Like he was a friend I lost long ago."
Road clawed at Lenalee's neck. "You really do believe you're a saint, don't you?" She gripped Lenalee's throat harshly. "You don't really know Allen, you just feel attracted to him because you love him."
"I-I don't know about that…" Lenalee tore Road's hands from her neck. "How could I love someone I just met?"
"How should I know? Maybe it's those stupid hormones of yours. But you love him, and you know you do." Lenalee stared at the floor. "See, you're not even going to deny your feelings. Well you know what?" Road grinned evilly. "I've kissed Allen." Lenalee's eyes widened.
Road didn't even know why she said that, all she did know was that she wanted to feel powerful for a moment, to watch Lenalee squirm in front of her. She continued. "I've bet you've never tasted Allen before. I have, and he was delicious." She licked her lips, pretending that she was savoring the thought. "You've should've heard him while we were kissing, the way he cried out and begged." For me to stop. Road added silently. "But since he's a child of the Earl, like me, there's no way in hell he'd be together with you. So you should go on and lock yourself in a little room, because this Noah isn't sticking around here anymore." Road walked over to the door and tried to open it.
"You know, Road." Lenalee said quietly. "I don't see a Noah in front of me."
Road stopped forcing the door open. "What do you mean?"
"All I see," Lenalee continued, "Is a frightened little girl too afraid to admit she's scared."
"What're you-" Lenalee embraced her.
"It's okay to admit you're afraid, Road. It's okay to expose your weaknesses."
"Shut up…" Road muttered. "You don't know a thing about me."
"I do." Lenalee said simply. "I know that what you want most is to go home, and I'm willing to help you get there. Even if your home is the Earl's as well."
"Why?"
"Because." Lenalee smiled. "I don't believe you're evil just because your parents are."
Road tried to push Lenalee away, but her arms refused to respond. Why…why can't I push her away? Lenalee stroked her hair. I don't need to be comforted by an exorcist. Besides, I wasn't born evil, I was made evil. I was born…
A human?
"Road." Lenalee said, interrupting her thoughts, "I'm going to help you return home, but for that, I'll need you to accept your Innocence."
"Oh, of course." Road tried to push her away. "It's all about my Innocence, isn't it? You just want me to become an exorcist, don't you?"
Lenalee grasped Road tighter. "No, I'm not. But you'll have to be able to fight if you want to get to the Earl. And the only way you can fight is with your Innocence. I'm not asking you to be an exorcist." Road felt something wet run down the back of her neck. "I'm just asking you to fight with me."
"Lenalee…" Road clenched her hands. "Why do you want to help me so badly?"
"Because," Lenalee answered, "You remind me of myself. And I don't want anybody else to suffer like I did."
I…I am suffering, aren't I? Road thought. Maybe…maybe I really should…
Road's left eye pulsed. Your Innocence is your key home, Miss Kamelot.
A single tear slid down Road's eye, mixed in with a small droplet of blood.
"Lenalee…" Road whispered softly. "Listen, I'm not gonna say I'll be an exorcist…however…I guess I can say I'll fight with you."
"Thank you…Road Kamelot…"
Don't thank me… Road thought. I'm not doing it for you I'm doing it for…
A small blond girl with long hair smiled at Road.
Kryst?