Pre-notes: I wasn't supposed to post this until later, but the other tangent I planned to post before this one was harder to write than I thought. Stop me if you heard this one before.

Disclaimer: Code Geass belongs to Sunrise.

Part 0.003/2.989: First Contact?

Lelouch vi Britannia tried his best to lower the shopping bag he was carrying without losing sight of the peach that fell from it and was now rolling down the sidewalk. He and Suzaku were on their way back to the Kururugi Shrine from sending a letter to Euphemia, when they had passed a stall selling the tastiest-looking peaches he had ever seen. Wanting to bring some back home to Nunnally, he bought enough for the three of them to have as a snack. The lady manning the stall, however, once she found out he was with Suzaku, insisted that they both take as much as they can carry at no cost at all.

Normally, with still so many peaches on hand, he would've ignored the one that had fallen and moved on. The one that fell, however, had the loveliest color and the sweetest smell in the entire bunch - it was the one he especially saved for Nunnally.

Finally managing to set the bag down without the danger of other peaches falling off, he ran after the errant fruit. It rolled to a stop against a duffel bag, and he saw a pair of small hands pick it up.

"Aah!" he had called out, protesting the action, not yet used to the language of the land. This seemed to startle the girl who picked up the fruit, because she had stiffened while holding the peach closer to her chest.

Coming to a stop before her, he had to take several deep breaths before he could bring himself to say a word. He didn't have to, however, since the girl had already held out her hands, waiting for him to take the peach back. Once he regained his composure, he took the fruit. He was about to say his thanks when he felt a tickle in the back of his memories when he studied her face.

No, perhaps 'itch' would better describe the sensation. The more he tried to ignore it, the more insistent it became. Yet, when he tried to reach out and touch it, it moved away just beyond his reach. Somehow, he had seen those eyes before, and, if the feelings it stirred in him were any indication, there was no mistaking it. Lelouch prided himself with being smarter than any other boy his age, and it frustrated him that he could not remember whatever caused this itch in his memory. He opened his mouth, then, leaving to his lips' memory the name that escaped his mind. If he spoke the name out loud, maybe, just maybe...

"...Ka-"

"What's the matter with you?" interrupted Suzaku while hitting him upside the head. "You got your peach back. Go on and thank her properly."

Lelouch rubbed the spot where his friend hit him, groaning in annoyance at the interruption. "Why should I? It's not like I asked her to give it back."

"Yeah, right," replied Suzaku, "If you meant what you just said, I'll just have to hit you again."

"Gee, thanks for the warning you gave before you hit me the first time."

"Okay, that'll be three more hits if y-" Suzaku wasn't able to finish his sentence when a bus came into view. "Aah! That's our bus! Let's go!" he said, turning to run back to the bus stop they were in earlier.

Lelouch turned and was about to follow him but could not seem to make himself leave the spot. He should go, but he couldn't quite understand why he couldn't just leave. He remembered something his mother had said, that instincts tell you something you know even if you can't remember. He had laughed it off back then, saying he never forgot anything, anyway. He turned back to face the girl now, who had yet to say a word since picking up the peach. Hearing Suzaku call for him again, he decided on trusting his mother's words. He took the girl's hand, pressed the peach back into it, then ran after Suzaku.

"Oi, Lelouch! You'll get left behind!" yelled Suzaku, boarding the bus while carrying only his bag of peaches.

"I know, I'm coming!" replied Lelouch, picking up then valiantly balanced his bag of peaches while he leaped into the bus, the doors closing after him. The bus set off as soon as they settled themselves on the seat right behind the driver. Suzaku spoke shortly after,

"So, who's your new friend?"

The young prince glared at his friend before answering. "I don't know."

Suzaku looked incredulous. "You didn't ask?! And here I thought you liked her, staring at her like you did."

"Shut up, Suzaku," interrupted Lelouch. "Nunnally is all that matters to me."

"Uh-huh. Sure, whatever," replied Suzaku, and no further mention of the girl was made.

For he rest of the trip, however, Lelouch still tried to reach for the memory that eluded him. He was quite certain that he hadn't met the girl with red hair and blue eyes before, yet his gut was saying she was somehow important to him. Perhaps, when they meet again, he could get to know her better and become friends. He wouldn't be leaving Japan anytime soon, anyway.

However, as fate would have it, the following day - August 10, 2010atb - was to be the last day he would ever have the time to think such thoughts.

End notes: Thanks to reviewer Sakuramsm for mentioning the peach story from the light novel Red Tracks (or Crimson/Vermilion Road/Path, take your translation pick). I've been meaning to buy that for a while now. The way Lelouch just stared at her then impulsively give her the peach he went after was a perfect match as an after-effect of the Kallen-Kid Lelouch interaction in Full Circle, I couldn't resist :p Oh yeah, Kallen wasn't supposed to remember the encounter, either.

Date last edited: 2009/02/16