Pre-notes: This was supposed to be posted way back before the one involving Nunnally, and was half-finished for that long a time. Might as well post it :p

Disclaimer: Code Geass belongs to Sunrise.

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Part 3.754: Past, Present, and Future

She remembers.

She remembers that day very clearly.

She remembers she was on her way home from school - a Britannian one, having recently been adopted into her father's family. She remembers hearing from the news that there was ongoing terrorist activity in Shibuya where her brother said he would be hanging out with his friends. She remembers she was close by.

She remembers running into a battle zone. She remembers hearing the sounds of bullets, the clash of metal against metal, the rumble of buildings being reduced into rubble, being blinded by the flashes from the ends of gun barrels. She remembers trying to stay out of the line of fire, looking for her brother and his friends. She remembers wanting to turn back, but she also remembers she can't leave without knowing her Oniichan is safe.

She remembers how her heart leaped to her throat when a Knightmare flew through the wall where she had been only seconds ago, and how she froze when the barrel of its weapon turned her way. She remembered how a second Knightmare came along and disabled it, and how it later held out its hand the way her brother did every time she scraped her knee.

She remembers the sound of the wind in her ears as her brother took her away from the rain of bullets that followed. She remembers getting soaked when they passed a broken fire hydrant. She remembers him setting her down and telling her to run to a friend's place nearby where she would be safe.

-Safe.-

She remembers getting lost, discovering that some buildings she used as landmarks were no longer there. She remembers her brother arriving there ahead of her, even though he took time to shake his pursuers off before coming here; and that it was him who opened the door when she knocked.

"What were you doing out there in a time like this?" she remembered him asking her before admitting her inside. She could even still hear him say it. The voice is a little different now, though.

She remembers him putting his jacket over her shoulders when she shivered, and she remembers being warmed by it.

She remembers being led to a room, and in that room she was given a towel and a set of clothes to change into. She remembers those clothes being too large for her, too. She remembers hearing rumbling through the windows, the sounds of battle coming closer to where they were.

"Looks like it's getting worse," she remembered him say. The voice was different again, just now.

Now her heart begins to pound loudly. She remembers what will be happening in the next few moments.

"Go ahead and change. I'll go and see how it is."

Exactly how she remembers, and it's happening again - right now.

Before, she went ahead and did as she was told. She didn't even see him leave the room. And the next time she saw her brother was in his deathbed.

She remembers wanting to ask him to stay, to say "don't go," but he was her Oniichan. He's the best. He's the greatest! He always pulls through, except that one time.

Somehow, it's different this time. She hasn't done as she was told yet. He isn't even at the door yet, either.

Maybe she's been given another chance.

-Say it.-

Or maybe she's just doomed to see it happen all over again.

-Say it!-

Dare she even hope?

-SAY IT!-

"Don't go!"

At the sound of the first words she spoke since she arrived, Lelouch turned around in time to see Kallen running to him, and barely managed to brace himself in time to catch her.

"Don't go," she repeated between sobs, clutching at the front of his shirt. "Please, don't go!"

He let his back slide down against the door when he felt her legs give way, lowering them both slowly until they both sat on the floor. For a moment he was speechless, confused, unable to do anything except hold her steady. He had never seen her so vulnerable.

It's like, he thought, she just woke from a nightmare.

"Don't go," she repeated, eyes wide and pleading. "Don't go."

"I'm here," he finally told her. "I'm not going anywhere."

Lelouch replaced the telephone's receiver on its cradle and began to walk back to his room. He had just called Kallen's mother to let her know she'd be staying the night. The conversation they had explained the circumstances surrounding her arrival and the condition she was in.

Apparently it was the anniversary of the death of Kallen's brother, Naoto, and she had gone to visit his grave in Izu. Her mother mentioned that she tried to get her to postpone it - what with the upcoming typhoon and the apparent symptoms of a bad case of the cold starting. Kallen had insisted on making the trip, reasoning that she was fine and that the typhoon won't hit anywhere near Tokyo nor Izu. The typhoon changed direction mid-afternoon, however, putting Tokyo directly in its path. Kallen had arrived at his door soaking wet and shivering just as the strong winds battered the settlement.

Finally arriving in his room, he knelt by the bed and put a hand on Kallen's forehead. He breathed a sigh of relief when he noted that her fever had cooled, at the same time thankful for his habit of keeping some medicine in his desk drawer. She had been so adamant that he not leave the room, he was forced to agree to stand not three feet away from her as she changed into dry clothes. After giving her some medicine for the fever and putting her to bed, he had to wait until she was sound asleep before making the call.

He pulled his chair beside the bed, wrapped himself in a blanket, and breathed another sigh once he was sitting comfortably. He supposed it would've been much easier had Sayoko had not been called away earlier today. With most of the core members of the Black Knights showing their support for Ohgi as Villetta went into labor, they called back everybody they could to man the vacated posts. He was actually surprised they trusted him enough to leave him unguarded, after all they've put him through. Not that he didn't appreciate it, though. It felt good that they're trusting him again - as himself, this time - and he was not going to betray their trust again.

Especially not her trust. He already sneaked out earlier, but it was necessary. If she wakes up during the night, he'd be right here where she could see him. It made him wonder what was going through her mind earlier, though. Dazed that she was, she probably won't remember in the morning even if he asked. Come to think of it, whether she remembered or not, how would he go about bringing it up at all?

"Oniichan..."

-o-O-o-

Kallen opened her eyes to rays of sunlight peeking through what little space there was between red curtains. Having remembered today not being a school day, she turned away from the windows to go back to sleep.

Wait. Red curtains?

She quickly sat up and took stock of her surroundings. Sure enough, the red curtains were still there, along with a clutter-free study desk beside a window, and a low table in the center of the room with a chess set arranged on top of it.

Yup, no mistake about it: she was in Lelouch's room. In his bed, even. Wearing his pyjamas.

Calm yourself, Kouzuki! There's a logical explanation for this.

Okay, she remembers visiting her brother's grave. She remembers returning to Tokyo settlement. She remembers that, once in Tokyo, most trains have been stopped because the typhoon changed direction. She remembers deciding to try and walk to Ashford and wait out the storm there, since it's only about twenty minutes away on foot. She remembers her umbrella flying away and getting herself soaked barely five minutes into the trek.

Then... nothing.

Having found no trace of her own clothes after a quick search of the room, she decided to look for Lelouch and try to get some answers from him. She followed the sounds of activity to the kitchen, where she found him busy at the stove. Perhaps sensing her arrival, he turned around and sent a grin in her direction.

"Good morning," he greeted her. "Have a seat. Breakfast's almost ready."

Obediently, she took her seat at the table where two places have already been set. Soon enough Lelouch joined her carrying two plates, both containing their breakfast of omelette, sausages, and toast.

"Thanks," she said as he put her plate down.

"No problem," he replied. "Your clothes are in the dryer, by the way. Rest well?"

"I guess," she answered as she picked up her fork, "I don't remember much about last night, though."

"Well, you did seem especially tired when you arrived," he told her as he took a bite of toast. "What do you remember?"

"Getting stranded," she paused as she swallowed what she was chewing on, "and thinking of coming here to wait till the trains get moving again. Oh, and my umbrella thought it had better things to do than keep me dry. Care to fill me in on the rest?"

"You arrived soaking wet, I led you to my room, left you to change into those," he gestured to the pyjamas she's currently wearing, "and you were already fast asleep when I came back to check on you. After that, I called your mother so she knows you're here."

Makes sense, but too fast, Kallen thought. There's something he's not telling me.

"I didn't take a peek, if that's what you're thinking," Lelouch interrupted her thoughts, finishing off by taking a mouthful of omelette. Out of reflex, Kallen crossed her arms over her chest.

"Wha-! That wasn't-!" she started, but found herself remembering something warm was placed over her shoulders when she held her arms like this. Recently. Lelouch only continued eating his breakfast.

He isn't smirking, she observed as she lowered her arms. If anything he looked.... relieved?

"Do I have something on my face?" he asked when he noticed her staring at him.

"Spill it, Lelouch," she finally said as he reached for his napkin. "What aren't you telling me?"

His expression changed, then. She recognized it as his 'thinking face,' but it was soon replaced by one of his trademark chuckles.

"You're getting good at this," he told her as he leaned back in his chair.

"What else happened last night, Le-"

A coughing fit followed the tickle in her throat that came when she raised her voice. Lelouch was at her side faster than she expected, and was already rubbing her upper back.

This feels familiar, she observed.

"Are you all right?" he asked when the fit ended.

"It's just my throat bothering me. Been like that for a few days now," she answered.

"Wait here. Let me get you some lozenges for that," he offered then began to turn to leave. Kallen's hand reached out for his sleeve, seemingly on its own.

-Don't go!-

-I'm here. I'm not going anywhere.-

"Well, isn't this nostalgic?"

Lelouch's voice brought her thoughts back to the present. She blinked a few times before she was able to speak.

"What?"

"The phone," he pointed out. Sure enough it was ringing. "And you're sort of holding me prisoner."

"Oh! I'm sorry," she apologized and released his sleeve. "I don't know what came over me."

"No harm done," he assured her and left to answer the phone near the kitchen's entrance. Kallen continued eating her breakfast, her thoughts returning to the words she remembered earlier.

It was a dream, wasn't it? she thought to herself. That's how it would have happened if I did stop Oniichan from leaving that day, right?

Or, she looked towards Lelouch as he spoke with the caller, did it really happen?

"Yes, she's here," he said as he turned to face her. He offered her the receiver soon afterward.

"It's Ohgi. He wants to talk to you." She walked over and, with a nod of thanks, brought the phone to her ear.

"Hello?"

'Kallen,' came Ohgi's voice, 'I'm sorry I couldn't join you yesterday.'

"It's alright, Ohgi-san," she countered. "Your wife needed you. How is she doing, by the way?"

'She's resting now,' he answered, sounding tired himself. 'It was a long night.'

'It's a boy,' he later added after a short pause.

"Congratulations!" She was genuinely happy for her brother's friend.

'Thanks,' he answered back, and Kallen could almost see him shyly scratching the back of his head.

'Actually, the reason I called, uh...'

"Yes?"

'I'd like to name him after Naoto, and I wanted to know if, uh, it's okay with you..?'

"...Ohgi-san."

'I-If you don't like it, it's alright,' he quickly added, as if flustered. 'We'll just think up another-'

"Of course, it's okay," she interjected. "I'm sure Oniichan will be honored."

'Thanks, Kallen. If you have time, come over and visit in the afternoon. They should be awake by then.'

"I think I will. Send them my love until then."

'I will. See you later, then.'

"Yes. Goodbye."

"What did he say?" Lelouch asked when she returned to her seat at the table.

"They're naming the baby after my brother," she answered, "and he wanted to know how I felt about it."

"I see. How... do you feel about it," came Lelouch's query, his tone uncertain. Kallen's expression turned thoughtful for a moment. She let out a sigh before answering,

"To be honest, if anybody asked me that while the war was still going on, I'd go against it. But now that everything he fought for - everything we fought for - is finally a reality, it's alright. It's funny, but it kind of felt like I don't want him to come back until this new world's ready - like I didn't want to disappoint him."

"I don't think he would ever be disappointed in you," offered Lelouch, "You do everything to the best of your ability. If you did fail, it's only because it's not in your power in the first place. Even so, you don't let that keep you down for too long. You get right back up.

"If I had you as a sister," he stopped then, suddenly unsure of what he was saying. Kallen only blinked, and waited for him to continue. The blush that came to his cheeks afterward wasn't at all unexpected, but that coupled with a flustered expression not commonly used to describe Lelouch Lamperouge - she thought it was cute.

"No... I mean... It's not that I see you as a sister... I mean if you were Nunnally... No, that's not right....Speaking as a brother...."

"I get it, Lelouch," she interrupted him, raising a hand. "Thank you."

As they went on eating their breakfast, Kallen noticed that Lelouch still looked thoughtful. Remembering their conversation before Ohgi's call, she made a decision. At about the same time, Lelouch spoke.

"About last night-"

"I guess I really was tired, then," she interrupted him, sending a smile in his direction. "I think I was dreaming while walking, too, because it even felt like Oniichan was walking with me, making sure I made it to where I'll be safe."

Thankful that he no longer had to explain himself, Lelouch returned the smile.

"I'm pretty sure he was."

"If you don't mind my asking," he spoke after another period of silence. "What was he like? Your brother, I mean."

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End-notes: I never realized how hard it is to write a conversation over a meal +_+

The location of Naoto's grave I got from the novel Red Tracks, again. How he died was never detailed, and there were even rumors that he was MIA and only presumed dead. To set the stage for a possible sequel, I needed him dead =P

Thanks go to inconstant heart for encouraging me to finish this one.

2009-01-29: Edited for tense mistakes pointed out by reviewer Zethios.

Extra-notes: This completes the originally planned set of 8 tangents (guess which five weren't in those ;D). Expect one or two more, but not in the near future.