Some of you might be thinking I'm being selfish for running away like that. You others might think I'm crazy for passing up an adventure likes this. But I know that I can't do this. Lelouch was a normal student like me.

He had classmates, friends, and I'm sure there were some happy times in his life. Because of geass that all ended. Everyone thinks he's a Demon Emperor. I don't want to let go of my life. I'm happy going to class, and not worrying about some secret power.

I got back to my room and saw Casper doing homework at his desk. It's not fair. Casper was there when I met Lelouch, and yet his life is still completely the same! I can't say it's completely normal, what with the ghost thing, but he's had that years before this.

"Hey, did you just visit Lelouch and C.C.?", he asked.

"Yeah, for the last time."

"'The last time'?"

"I'm not meeting with them anymore", I said, lying down on my bed.

"Why not?"

"I can't do it. I'm not giving up my life for people I hardly know."

"I guess I can understand that", I heard Casper pause, and his voice seemed to change. "But, I refuse to allow it."

I looked at Casper and his eyes were glowing. Not a good sign.

"Lelouch needs you to cooperate him. Why don't you?"

"Was it worth it? Was all that fighting worth losing those days?", I asked. "Was it worth missing those days at the academy? Was it worth losing your life?"

"It wasn't fighting!", Rolo yelled, standing up. "It was what we were fighting for. Because of brother, there's peace! Without him, you would still be in a war!"

"It doesn't matter! You say that without him, I'd be in a war. But that's exactly what he's asking me to do!"

"But isn't that what needs to be done?! Lelouch always tried to keep his friends away from his fights. He always tries to do things on his own! Because he's asking something of you, must mean he really needs your help!", Rolo yelled.

I took in what he said. Was Lelouch really like that?

Rolo continued, "He's been watching you for a long time. He wanted to confront you many times, but he was insistent on keeping you blissfully unaware."

Tears started flowing down Casper's face. "He's worked really hard to keep this peace. He and C.C. have died a lot. Just because they're immortal, doesn't mean it's not painful."

He looked up at me with a scary expression. "I'll give you one more chance. Consider this, whether you join my brother or not, someone is still going to try and take you."

The glow disappeared, and Casper turned back to normal. He touched his cheeks, and felt the tears.

"Was I. . . crying? What happened?"

"Uh, Rolo got emotional."

"Rolo? He just took over me?"

"Yeah, he and I talked."

"What about?"

"Nothing important", I turned over and tried to sleep. I didn't care that I was still in my uniform.

A strange place. Where am I? It looked like a shrine. I looked down, there wasn't a ground. So it was floating? The sun looked like it was setting, but it was hard to tell if there was a sun.

"I've found you."

I turned toward the top of the shrine and saw a stranger.

"Who are you?", I asked.

"Come with me", he said, holding out a hand.

Before I could answer, the scenery changed. I stood beside him, and before us there was a crowd. Some of them had strange symbols on their foreheads.

"This can be your army. And with it, you can rule absolutely. Come with me, and it will be so."

I had no idea what he was talking about. But suddenly I heard a strange ringing. I was starting to wake up. The stranger's voice contorted in anger. They were yelling something, reaching for my hand, but their voice was fading, and their image swirled away as I awoke.

Ringringringringringrin-

Stupid alarm clock. I wonder what that dream was about. What do I care? Dreams never mean anything.

- - -

It had been a almost a week since I had seen Lelouch, or had any strange dreams. But it was weird, because I always felt someone was watching me. Sidra has been coming to chess club meetings. And at each one she's tried to recruit me for her little conspirators club.

I've seen them hanging out once. Sirius wouldn't stop glaring at me, Vesper wouldn't stop smiling at me, and Astra was always playing with some animal. I guess I'll always attract weird people, but that doesn't mean I need to get involved.

I was in my last period of the day, when my name came over the intercom.

"Alexander Wallace, please report to the main office. Alexander Wallace, please report to the main office."

When I got there, I saw my dad. He didn't look happy. Without saying a word, he took me from school and drove me to a hospital.

"Dad, what are we doing here?"

"Something's wrong with your mother, Alex."

"What's wrong with her?", I asked as we were admitted into her room.

She was lying in the bed, looking really fragile. My mom was always gentle, but I never imagined seeing her this way. I really hope it's not serious.

"What happened?", I asked.

"I'm not sure. She's been like this for a few days, I didn't tell you because I didn't want to worry you", my dad said.

"Then, why are you telling me now?"

"The doctor says she might not have much time now. There's something inside her that's killing her, and they can't figure it out."

"What do you mean they can't figure it out!? They're doctors aren't they?!", I yelled.

One of those 'doctors' came in and took my dad away for some papers or whatever. I sat next to my mother. I wasn't ready to lose her. I didn't know who to be mad at, my dad, the doctors, or whoever did this.

I was almost certain this had something to do with geass. Someone came in and stood next to me.

"The gods of geass have some sense of humor", they said.

I recognized that voice. I didn't look over at him. "Yeah, dark humor. What are you doing here?"

"I usually don't go out, but C.C. is unavailable."

"Why?"

"She's. . . nursing an injury."

"The gods of geass did this to my mother?", I asked.

"I've met them once before. They like to be entertained, even at the cost of others."

"I can't run away from this then? The past is gonna repeat itself. My mother will die like yours. And soon the rest of my life will follow", I could feel tears falling, but I refused to wipe them.

"I'm here because I had a talk with the gods of geass. It seems they don't want the game to start like this."

"Game? You think this is a game!? My mother is dying!"

"What I mean to say is, they're willing to give you another chance. If you accept geass now, then they'll save your mother."

"Gods or not, they're bastards! Cornering me like this."

"I'm not asking you now. I'm begging you. Something like this, can't be done on my own", Lelouch said.

I remember Rolo's words from a while ago. "Because he's asking something of you, must mean he really needs your help!"

I finally turned toward him and saw that he was wearing a disguise. "Fine. I won't run away anymore. I accept geass!"

Lelouch extended his hand, and I took it. Strange images passed through my eyes. Symbols, people, planets, I heard a voice.

'If the time ever comes, this will help you remember.'

I was back in the hospital room. Lelouch was gone. I turned back to my mother and saw an immediate change. She had more color, and her face seemed more relaxed. Even her heart rate was up. She opened her eyes, and looked over at me.

"Alex, what are you doing here?", she asked.

I just took her hand, not answering her question. It's fine this way. If I have to take on this destructive power in order to save those close to me, then I'll do it. I can't live alway being afraid. But, I'm not going to lose those I care about.

- -Marie and Kasumi Omake!- -

"Hmm", Marie hummed, tapping a pencil on her chin.

She looked outside the student council room window. Kasumi, who was sorting papers looked at her friend with curiosity.

"What's wrong?", she asked.

"I need a good idea for a festival. Something that everyone can get into."

"I thought we decided on the Cat Festival", Kasumi said as she saw Arthur napping on the table.

Since the days of Milly Ashford, the Student Council always kept cat as a mascot and named him Arthur. Or in a female's case, Gwen.

"That's not good enough! What else did the Great Milly do?", Marie asked.

"Um, what about Pirate Day, Crossdressing Festival, or Murder Mystery?"

"Wait! What did you say?"

"Murder mystery?", Kasumi repeated.

"No before that!"

"P-pirate day?", Kasumi hoped Marie wasn't thinking what she thought she was thinking.

"No. The Crossdressing festival. It's perfect!"

"I-is it?"

"Can you imagine? Someone as tough as Ivana would make a perfect boy!"

"Should you really say that about your cousin?"

"Then think about this. Jun's figure in a dress!"

"Marie, you sound like a pervert."

The hyper president went over to a computer and went into the school's database. She went to the president's file for the year 2017. There was a folder that said: Crossdressing. Marie opened it and saw dozens of photos.

"Milly sure knew how to party. Hmm, didn't Jun say that Suzaku Kururugi was his ancestor?"

"Yes, I remember something like that. Why?", Kasumi asked.

"This picture of him, it has given me inspiration. One way or another, I'm gonna get Jun in a sailor fuku."

"Shouldn't we let the other students decide what type of festival they want?"

"Oh sure, we'll let them 'vote'. But the decision will be ultimately up to me", Marie giggled sinisterly.

"Such dirty politics."

"Is there any other kind?", Marie countered. "Have Vince take the votes Mimi dear! I'm off to secure costumes! I shall expose Tsurugi's inner beauty!"

"Are you a high school girl or an old man? Take Jun's feelings into consideration!", Kasumi scolded.

"You're right Mimi. Maybe Jun wants to be a maid? Or in a formal dress? I'll pick up anything that looks cute!", Marie said before leaving.

"She doesn't listen at all, does she Arthur?"

The black cat meowed in response.

"It amazes me how she can be like a drill seargent to Vincent, and then a fangirl to Jun."

Arthur hopped off the table and started playing with his scratching post. Kasumi kept working through her files when she remembered something.

"If she goes through with this, I'll have to do it too! Arthur, remind me why I enrolled in this crazy school?"

"Meow!"

"Talking to a cat? Marie is rubbing off on me."

- - - - - - -

Up next: Alex figures out what kind of geass he has.

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