Suzaku's stomach rolled with anxiety each time he strode through the gates of Ashford Academy. Of course, he hadn't expected any drastic changes in Kallen's attitude towards him, but he hadn't expected her to look completely unaffected either. She wore a blank expression on her pale face; blue eyes vacant and silky red hair limply brushing against her shoulders. With her school uniform and demure smile, the girl looked completely harmless.

Ever since they returned from that strange island, the redhead seemed to be everywhere. He hadn't taken much notice of her before, but now the bright shade of her hair caught his eye wherever he looked. The memory of their kiss plagued him. His heart leaped into his throat when her eyes caught his. It was all rather silly, he told himself, since he had the beautiful Euphemia to focus on, though he rarely saw her these days. She was a kind, wonderful young woman who looked at him like he was the most important man in the world. Thinking of her pale hair and warm smile made him feel calm and loved and hopeful.

So why did it disappoint him that Kallen spared only the smallest effort to smile at him from across the student councils' table?

After a few days, he admitted to himself that he enjoyed the barbed words Kallen had thrown at him. The sassy young woman he had unknowingly faced countless times in battle made his heart race in a dangerous way. He chalked it up to intrigue and tried to ignore it, but it was increasingly difficult.

One day, he decided it made him angry. The duplicitous way Kallen locked herself away behind her best impression of a porcelain doll. He thought she deserved better, though he was not sure why. With great effort, he managed to hold onto that anger almost the entire day- even when he caught sight of her laughing with two other girls at lunch.

During a particularly dull psychology lecture, Suzaku caught himself daydreaming about red hair and firelight. He scrubbed a hand over his mouth and shifted in his seat. Embarrassment flushed through his body. It was wrong to think of her like that. She was a terrorist. A skilled terrorist. As the teacher began to discuss the areas of memory, Suzaku entertained the idea of what it would be like to fight side by side with Kallen. She wasn't professionally trained, but she was ruthless and raw in the Guren Mk-II. Together, he imagined, they would be unstoppable. A small hope bloomed in his heart that maybe he could sway her away from her dark path before it was too late. Her words from before regarding whether a "right path" existed echoed back to him, but he was filled with a sudden optimism that assured him there was a chance.

The day before the school festival, someone bumped into Kallen's shoulder in the hall. In keeping with her act, Kallen made no move to avoid them and promptly let her books fall from her hands with a weak gasp. She apologized to the boy in a thin voice, waving off his offer to help since he was clearly in a hurry. Suzaku recognized the moment as an opportunity, so he quickly knelt beside her.

"Here, let me help you," he murmured close to her ear.

She tensed for half of a second before replying, "How kind of you."

Some passersby whispered about how shameless the Eleven boy was to touch a Britannian girl's belongings. Kallen's eyes flicked up to the group of girls with a small hint of a glare in her pretty eyes.

"I'm damaging your reputation," Suzaku commented, unapologetic as he scooped her pencils back into her pink pouch with the broken zipper.

"They think you're going to attack me or something," she said. "How's that for irony?"

He piled the pencil pouch atop two notebooks and the thick chemistry textbook and gently placed them on the three other books in Kallen's arms.

"We're only enemies on the battlefield. I'm not going to attack you here, Kallen," he assured her warmly.

She stood, staring down at him with glazed eyes. "That's sweet and all, but I don't care what you do."

Frustration surged through him as she walked away. Determined, he followed after her. Suzaku carried his hope of saving her with him. As he stalked after her through the thinning crowd of students in the hall, he began to feel foolish. Why would she listen to him? What right did he have to preach about justice and truth when he was no more than a murderer? The people of Japan saw him as a traitor. Kallen might share their view, but she had kissed him back, after all. Perhaps she didn't hate him as much as he thought.

She rounded a corner, disappearing from sight. The last of the flood of students trickled past him as he pursued her. Suddenly, he was yanked by his collar and forcibly thrown into a small custodial closet. Kallen had been waiting for him. She pulled the chain of the bare light bulb hanging above them and shut the door behind her. The surprise and the pain from being flung into a set of shelves kept Suzaku from instinctively fighting back. He didn't have a chance to stand up straight either before she was standing just inches in front of him, eyes flashing and lip curling into a sneer. The worn edges of her textbooks dug into his hip.

"Why the hell are you following me? Can't you take a hint?"

He was tempted to make a joke about her filthy mouth, but blushed when he thought of what he had done to said mouth.

"I just want to talk."

"And I just want to throw you off the roof, but it doesn't look like either of us will get what we want." Her eyes were sharp like the knife he knew she carried.

"Kallen, come on, I just want us to be friends."

"Seems like you have enough friends," growled the girl. His pulse quickened. Her lips were terribly close. Focusing was beginning to be a chore.

"Wh-what's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing." Her spearmint breath came in an angry puff against his cheek. She made him dizzy. His mind spun with the idea of what it would be like to kiss her when she was angry. The image it created made his stomach quiver and his legs feel slightly weak.

As if she could read his mind, Kallen slapped his face. His skin stung and burned from the force of it, but Suzaku was more surprised than hurt by it. He blinked, dumbfounded.

"Stop staring at my mouth, pervert."

Oh. If only he could melt into the floor. He couldn't wholly regret any of it, though, because her cheeks went pink as well. It was odd how one person could look so innocent and dangerous in the same instant.

"Call me a pervert all you want, but you still kissed me back," he said smugly.

Her eyes went wide with horror. She backed away from him, made a rude gesture with one hand, and left him alone in the closet.

His bravado evaporated as he hurried to his next class. His late arrival provoked the disdain of the entire class and his teacher. Struggling to keep his head held high, he walked to his desk and slumped into his chair. Whispers slithered through the air behind him. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end when his ears caught the word "Eleven." As much as he appreciated the chance to experience a normal education, Suzaku selfishly wished he could stick to his duties as a soldier. Prejudice against him still ran rampant at the base, but the soldiers were trained to keep quiet about it most of the time.

By the end of the day he did not feel particularly social, but Suzaku dragged himself to the student council room anyway. Lelouch was seated at a desk in the corner, absorbed in whatever he was reading on his laptop. Nunnally was parked in her wheelchair by the open window, enjoying the light breeze on her face. Milly and Shirley were giggling over details of the festival while Nina sat to the side, anxiously staring at her lap.

Suzaku sat by himself at the end of the table and pulled a study guide for his upcoming chemistry test to give off the appearance of being busy as well. He stared at the equations on the paper without really seeing them until Milly's voice called out, "Kallen! I didn't see you in class. I thought you'd gone home for the day."

His head snapped up. Kallen brushed some hair away from her face and smiled weakly, "I felt ill. I spent the afternoon in the infirmary."

"Poor dear," Milly cooed, rushing to the girl's side at once to help her with her heavy school bag. "Will you be all right for tomorrow?"

"You shouldn't push yourself, Kallen," Shirley said kindly.

Suzaku almost wanted to laugh. They'd lose their minds if they saw the real Kallen. Did he really want the others to see the fire in her eyes and the graceful power she exuded when she wasn't playing the waif? He flushed hotly when he realized that, no, he did not. Her ferocity was a secret he had some ownership over for the time being and for some reason he enjoyed it.

"I'll be fine, but thank you for worrying," Kallen assured them, walking to Milly's side.

"No, no, you sit with Suzaku and study. We'll handle the final touches," Milly commanded.

Kallen bristled slightly, but only the Japanese boy caught the twitch of her sinewy muscles beneath her blazer and the subtle tensing of the muscles in her thighs between her skirt and her stockings.

"You're so kind, Milly," Kallen said lightly, slowly walking to take the seat beside Suzaku. The scent of orange blossoms brushed over his senses as she sank into the chair.

"You smell nice," Suzaku complimented brightly.

Anger flashed in her eyes.

"Kallen always smells nice," Shirley added.

Milly snickered behind her hand, while Nina looked lost. Suzaku caught Lelouch glancing at him strangely.

"I'm armed," Kallen whispered menacingly, turning to face him so the others couldn't see her.

"You won't do anything here," Suzaku joked in a low voice. "Wouldn't want to blow your cover, right?"

Kallen's lips curled into a feral smile, "I don't know, it might be worth it to make you bleed."

"What are you whispering about over there?" Milly called.

Kallen faked a cough. "Suzaku doesn't understand the chemistry homework."

The three girls at the other end of the table looked at him pityingly. Suzaku grit his teeth. He knew he wasn't the smartest guy in the world and he wasn't exactly ashamed of it, but he hated being treated like an idiot. He was about to brush it off with a laugh and a flippant comment when Kallen had the audacity to smirk at him with those pretty lips. His heart felt like a wild thing in his chest.

"Yeah, I don't think poor Kallen can handle much more, so I'm going to walk her home."

Kallen's eyes looked ready to pop out of her skull. Her face went redder than he'd ever seen it and a vein pulsed in her temple. He began packing his bag while biting back his laughter.

"Aw, that's so sweet of you, Suzaku," Shirley and Milly gushed in unison.

"Yes, it is, but it's not necessary. I can walk by myself," Kallen argued.

Suzaku pulled his bag over his shoulder and held out his hand. "I may be a lousy student, but I'm an excellent bodyguard."

If looks could kill, he thought as she glowered at him. With a loud sigh, she tucked her belongings into her bag. Suzaku quickly snatched the two textbooks that wouldn't fit within it with a cheeky smile. Kallen cleared her throat before taking his hand.

"See you tomorrow!" Milly waved with a large smile. Lelouch's eyes tracked the odd pair as they left together.

Kallen's nails dug into his palm with almost enough force to draw blood. Once they were a safe distance down the hall, Suzaku snatched his throbbing hand away.

"I fucking hate you," Kallen seethed. The words, though harsh, made his insides clench in a delicious way. Kallen was the only female he knew who would use such foul language.

"Fucking hate you, too," he shot back with a laugh, quickly looking over his shoulder to make sure they were still alone. Something about swearing in the school building felt naughty.

"Give me my books back or I'll stab you in the balls."

Suzaku dodged her attempt to grab her books from him. "What kind of gentleman would I be if I made a lady carry her own books?"

"Who said you were a gentleman?" Her fist came down on his shoulder so hard it sent sparks down his arm. Steadfast, he did not surrender the books.

"If you don't give those back, I'll tell everyone that you kissed me," she threatened with a self-satisfied smirk.

"Go ahead. I'll tell 'em that you liked it."

"You're a bad liar, Suzaku. No one would believe you."

"Who said it was a lie?" He nudged her playfully with his elbow, causing her to stumble. Fists clenched, she let out a growl.

"Fuck off, you pathetic Britannian lapdog."

His eyebrows raised high on his forehead. "You know, it's becoming more and more apparent why you're still single. You're downright unpleasant when you want to be."

"Should I go back to being all frail? It seems like that's more your speed."

Frowning, he asked, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Kallen tossed her hair primly and tilted her chin up. "You like damsels in distress. Makes you feel like a real man when you rescue girls, doesn't it?" Her eyes popped wide with realization. "That's why you're following me around! You're trying to 'save me' or whatever."

Being on the same page with this infuriating girl was obviously not meant to be. He teased, she snarled. She teased, his brain sputtered in indignation.

"I like helping people," he said defensively. "Is that such a terrible thing?"

"I bet you prefer weak coffee, too." She was practically cackling, she was laughing so hard. For a moment, Kallen had to bend over and hold her stomach until her laughter tapered off into vicious snickering.

He stopped as well to scowl at her. "I do not like weak women."

"Oh," she laughed, "yeah, Princess Bubblegum seems like a real tiger."

"Don't insult Her Majesty."

"Don't get your panties in a bunch. I hear she has a soldier with a severe knight-in-shining-armor complex ready to save her from her hurt feelings." Her shoulders quaked.

They finally reached the doors and stepped out into the sunlight. At the sight of the croquet club practicing nearby, Kallen schooled her features into her usual blank stare with scary precision. He hated when she did that. This Kallen was nearly impossible to read. When she was acting as herself, her emotions were easy to pick out.

"You're a good actress," he said sullenly.

"And you're a good doormat," she snapped.

Kallen had gotten under his skin. He couldn't deny it anymore. A sweet anger slid down his chest and pooled in his stomach. While they walked down the gravel path toward the gates, Suzaku's eyes slid over to her face every few seconds. Why didn't he hate it when she set his insides on fire?

In silence, they passed through the gates. On the sidewalk, Kallen stopped and held out her arms. At first, Suzaku thought she was motioning for an embrace, but that couldn't possibly be right.

"Give me my books, moron," she ordered.

"No," he refused, "I'm walking you home."

She put her hands on her hips. "If this is your way of trying to find out where I live, you are the worst spy ever."

"If I wanted to know, I have ways of finding out these things. I'm just trying to walk you home like a normal guy." He tried to give her his most genuine smile, softening his eyes.

Instead of blushing like other girls did, Kallen jutted her hip out and said, "Normal guys leave me alone when I tell them to."

She must have accepted that fact that he fully intended to see her home because she spun on her heel and walked briskly away. Suzaku adjusted his bag on his shoulder before jogging to reach her side.

When Euphie, darling and sweet Euphie, stood in the palm of Ganymede's hand and declared to the masses below her plans for the area around Mt. Fuji, Suzaku felt a rush of adoration. His first thought was of how proud he was to be her knight. His second thought was of what a certain redheaded girl's reaction might be. Maybe Zero would agree to cooperate. Maybe the senseless fighting would be over. Maybe Kallen would be saved.

After escorting the brave princess to her palace, Suzaku returned to Ashford to aid in cleaning the premises. The sun had long since set and the students tried to work quickly, most of them only thinking of sweet sleep after the tiring day.

Even in the dark, Kallen was easy to spot. She kept to the edges of the courtyard, slowly collecting trash with gloved hands.

"Kallen!" shouted the soldier as he ran up to her, beaming.

She tensed at his call, but did not return the greeting. When he reached her, she only looked at him coldly. The happy glow in his heart withered under her stare.

"What's wrong? Aren't you happy about this? This solves everything!"

Kallen trembled with anger. "Does it? Does it really?"

"Of course. We'll be able to live as Japanese again. We can stop fighting."

"Suzaku, do you honestly think this is going to go over well?" Kallen tilted her head and looked at him strangely. "The emperor wants to exterminate us like vermin. I highly doubt Euphemia got the green light from her doting father before making that speech."

"But-"

"But what? What if the emperor allows it? Hooray for us. We'll have a scrap of land and we might be able to live in that bubble without feeling stripped of our humanity. Outside it will be the same. The Britannians will still think of us as numbered cattle. Mark my words: this is not going to end well."

Suzaku glanced at the few students wandering around the small courtyard and then, once he was sure they were looking away, grabbed Kallen by the arm. With a rough grip he wouldn't dare to use on any other woman, Suzaku dragged her into a dark passage where they were hidden by stone pillars and shadows.

"Why can't you just be happy about something for once? It's a small victory, I know, but you're treating it like a bomb that's about to go off. Are you so hellbent on drowning in your own miserable existence that you can't even be a little happy about this?" He clasped both hands around her small, but strong shoulders while he made his speech and, at the end, gave her a little shake. She glared up at him. He always forgot how petite she was until they were invading each other's personal space. Even Euphemia was taller than the Guren's pilot.

"Why does it matter so much to you?" She nearly shouted before remembering the need to be quiet.

"Because I don't want to have to kill you, Kallen," Suzaku whispered fiercely. He gave her body another shake and accidentally sent the back of her skull into the pillar. She grunted and rubbed the injury, cringing.

"Like I'd give you the upper hand," she grumbled. It killed any guilt he felt at hurting her.

"Kallen, I'm serious. We have better tech and more money than the Black Knights do. One of these days you'll lose your edge and I don't want to have to hurt you."

"And why not?" she demanded.

"I don't know!" he exploded. "You make me so angry and curious and afraid and I kind of hate it, but at the same time I don't want to hurt you either."

His fingers loosened around her shoulders, melting into a gentle hold.

"Aren't you and Bubblegum going steady or something?" she asked quietly, scratching at her neck.

He gaped. "What? No. I like her a lot and I respect her, but I wouldn't make any declarations of love while still being confused as hell about you."

"It's not my fault," she grumbled. "You're easily confused."

Without warning Suzaku crushed his lips against hers. He had been itching to kiss her since the island, but now it was more out of a need to shut her up. With both hands cupping her cheeks, he tilted her head to the angle he preferred and roughly parted her lips with his tongue. A grunt was pulled from his lungs when she returned the kiss with equal force. Her hands slipped under his jacket. He jerked against her in shock when her sharp nails scratched his lower back through his shirt. Then, she dragged her hands around to his chest. Surely, he worried, she would feel how fast his heart was beating. But her tongue rubbed against his and he couldn't bring himself to care anymore.

Until, of course, she shoved him away. Wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, she looked at him as if he were the devil himself.

"Knock it off," she said uneasily before trying to stalk away on wobbly legs.

Author's Note: Rating might change in future chapters