Here we go...The aftermath of the attack...Please enjoy. I try really hard to make my story spectacular. THANK YOU SO MUCH: Luka14, Cornelia Li Britannia, INNER-YAMATA-NO-OROCHI and Viper-Desi for reviewing and favoriting!
"Somebody get her in here now!" Zero yelled as he steered the Knightmare away from the explosion.
Tamaki and C.C. rushed over to the door and opened it carefully; the wind practically knocking them both over, but the arm of the Knightmare was raised enough so the two of them could pull Isabella to safety. She stepped inside, tears drenching her face, and her green eyes were wide in fear and shock on her now stark white face.
"C.C., take over as pilot," Zero ordered and the green haired witch hopped into the position as soon as he had moved.
"Hey, what's the matter? Please tell me you're not sick," Tamaki groaned, trying to cheer up the strange girl leaning against him but she only reddened in the face, obviously irritated.
"I--j-just w-watched a f-friend of m-mine die and y-you're a-ask-asking me if I'm a-alright?! We c-could have s-saved him! If we had just t-turned around--!" Isabella gasped between breaths and dropped to her knees. Behind his mask, Lelouch felt his eyes begin to burn from compassion for Isabella and he knelt down in front of her before lifting her chin to look up into his masked face.
"There wasn't anything we could do, Isabella. Had we turned around, we all would have died. I'm sorry, but there was no way we could have saved him."
Isabella's eyes shone and she forced herself to her feet, trying to maintain her dignity.
"I believe you, Zero," she said finally and strode over to C.C.'s pilot seat, her red Geass glimmering.
From here on out, it's all about the war. Defeating Britannia is the main priority, and I am going to have to be strong enough to make sacrifices. It's going to be painful, but this--Isabella gripped her hand into a tight fist--this is the Geass I accepted!
Later that evening in the dorms...
"Hey, Isabella, we haven't seen you all day! Where have you been, you look exhausted!" Shirley exclaimed when she opened the door to see her room mate lying in bed, her hands folded together at her eye level and she seemed to be staring off into space.
"I'm sorry," Isabella whispered, and Shirley glanced behind her, eyebrow cocked, to see what Nina's expression was. The young genius seemed just as puzzled as the red head was, for neither of them had seen their friend all day. It had just passed six o' clock and the rain had been falling in buckets for nearly an hour, but Isabella looked drier than sand paper.
"What's wrong Isabella?" Nina asked and Shirley sat down next to Isabella on her bed.
"Talk to us. You disappear all day then when we see you, you look as if you've seen death," Shirley remarked, her light green eyes shimmering with worry. Nina seated herself at her computer, thinking maybe the answer would somehow magically appear in the Internet, and typed in a search engine address.
"Th-the bomb--k-killed--" Isabella pressed her hands to her mouth and Shirley stroked her hair quickly but tenderly.
"Who was killed? Lulu?" Shirley asked, immediately assuming the worst possible thing she could think of. She hadn't seen him all day either.
"N-no--!"
"Hey, there was a bombing, and there's this article saying one of the victims was Scotty Young. Isabella," Nina swung the chair over to focus on her crying friend, "you knew him didn't you? I remember you telling us about--"
Isabella shot up off the bed and bolted out of the room.
"Isabella wait!" Shirley called after her but she was already half way down the steps.
I wasn't able to free him like I said I was going to...oh my God...poor Ami...she's alone in that house now...neither of us knew Scotty for very long but--but--for some reason--Isabella shoved the front doors open and sprinted down the steps into the pouring rain, her socks absorbing the cold rain water on the lush grass--I can't help feeling the way I do right now! I have no idea why I'm crying so hard over him, but I really wanted to become closer friends with him. I got so attached to Scotty in such a short period of time--I never expected him to end like this--who's going to take care of Ami now for me now that I'm no longer there--!? Ami-chan--!
Isabella slipped and toppled to the clammy grass. Mud and rain water splattered everywhere but she still pulled herself up and kept running. Where she was running to, she had no idea, but she was totally blinded by both tears and rain water, she didn't notice she had collided with someone until she fell back onto her butt.
"Isabella, what in the world are you doing?" Lelouch asked and Isabella's shining eyes rained tears.
"Lelou, why are you out--"
"I was trying to find Suzaku's cat but he went back inside and I was headed back in as well. What's the matter?"
He knelt down beside her and pushed back her dripping bangs, her eyes still fixed on his.
"Lelou-chan!" she burst and gripped his hand before pressing onto her cheek hoping it would comfort her, "Scotty's dead!"
Lelouch felt his stomach drop and his heart skipped a beat. He resisted giving anything about his being Zero away, and was trying to pass off as being naive, but with watching his best friend cry like this, it was hard.
"How did he die? Do you want to talk about it?" Lelouch asked her and aided her back up to her feet. Isabella gripped his shirt and he held her up, arms around her waist.
"Nina was on her computer and saw there was a bombing earlier today. I read the article and there was a list of the victims and his name was on it--!" Isabella started gasping as she sobbed uncontrollably into Lelouch's shoulder.
"I'm so scared Lelou!" she gasped and Lelouch tightened his arms around her, "Ami is back in that Albern house alone...probably doesn't even know about Scotty yet--! She has to be so frightened...I can't contact her...Lelou-chan..." Isabella lifted her head, her green eyes wide and streaming with tears, "please comfort me! You're so good at that...right? I'm so scared Lelou! Please--help me..."
Lelouch had absolutely no idea what to do without revealing information about his being Zero and he could only hold her, lost of words. Isabella clung to him, desperate for comfort and only half realizing what he was doing, Lelouch pushed her back a few inches by her shoulders and smoothed her dripping, ebony hair back behind her ear.
"I don't know what to say exactly, I'm sorry. What I can tell you is this though," he paused and his face was only centimeters from hers, "I am always going to be here for you whenever you need me. I'll always be here for you."
She studied him and Lelouch brought his hand to a rest on her cheek before locking his eyes on her lips, still bringing his face closer to hers. Isabella's eyes went wide after she felt Lelouch's lips kiss hers, and the same electric feeling that flooded through her body the first time she had kissed him, returned. Isabella felt her heart throb in her chest and she kept her hands on Lelouch's chest as his arms wrapped around her waist, holding her securely against him. After a few moments, Isabella felt herself relax and replied to his sudden kiss the electricity still pulsing through her.
I'm always going to be here for you…always…
Later…
"Hey, are you alright? You were gone for a while," Shirley entered the deserted commons to see Isabella sitting cross legged on a couch with a laptop on her lap.
"Yeah, I had to calm down and get some alone time. I'm alright now," she said and welcomed her best friend to sit next to her.
"Isabella?"
"Mm-hm?"
"I was wondering again after you left if you and Lulu are…well…together I guess," Shirley blurted out and Isabella's face glowed scarlet.
"Why do you ask?"
"Well, it just occurred to me again that since you two have been friends since you were little kids, I figured there was something more between you two," Shirley admitted and Isabella clutched the pant leg of her pajamas as she flashed back to Lelouch kissing her.
It could have just been an act of impulse…maybe he's forgotten of it by now…it may not have meant anything to him anyway…why does it hurt to think that? And why does that kiss mean so much to me…Lelouch is supposed to be like my brother but this is the second time we've kissed and that same infatuated feeling won't leave! Damn it…I want him and Shirley to be together since it's obvious she loves him…but at the same time I want him to myself…do I love him or is it just stupid infatuation?
"Isabella?"
"Yeah—oh—sorry, I was just thinking. You know, I can't answer that. I—don't really know."
Shirley gazed at her curiously, her light green eyes seeming to give the emotions of betrayal and heart break. Isabella sweat dropped and tried to say something that would keep Shirley from being hurt, but it was useless to give false hope. There was no way Isabella's feelings would disappear any time soon and she knew it too.
"Shirley, you love him, don't you?" Isabella asked even though she knew the answer.
The red head gave a squeak of surprise then turned redder than Isabella had a few minutes before and raised her hand to her mouth.
"I—I—uhm—well yeah but if you two are together then I—"
"We aren't together. I honestly think that my infatuation—if it's even that—is just temporary. Even if it isn't and I really am falling in love with him or starting to then I still want you two to be together. I think you'd make a better couple," Isabella said and resumed typing on her laptop. Shirley stared at her.
"What about you?"
"I'm just happy I have him as a friend. If he doesn't reciprocate the feelings I have for him then that's fine. As long as he's happy with whom he's with then I'm satisfied," Isabella said unemotionally and Shirley let the words sink in as the clock ticked by minutes and the only sound now was Isabella's pale fingers pressing onto the keys of her computer.
"Right, well, we shouldn't let something like this get in the way of friend ship right?" Shirley perked up and Isabella nodded.
"I agree with you. So what are we doing about shopping?"
"This weekend, tomorrow bright an early!"
Isabella's face shone like the sun as she smiled.
"I can't wait!"
Midnight…
Isabella found herself wide awake in bed, staring up at the ceiling. Her briefs memories of Scotty were flashing in her mind, and she couldn't help feeling so sorry for him. He had died so young, so innocent and there was nothing she could do to bring him back. She thought of Ami and how alone she must feel right at the moment.
I am going to get her out of that house as soon as I can. I will win her freedom so she won't have to be so alone. I can only imagine how the Alberns are treating her…maybe they'll get another servant so Ami will have some company…I can't stand the idea of her being so alone...
Isabella pulled her covers up to her chin and rolled over onto her side, staring at the wall blankly.
The question of how I'm going to get her out of there is the obstacle there. I can't just waltz in and take her, I'd be arrested for kidnapping and she'd be sent back. I'm no good at chess and there isn't much else I could do to win her liberty fairly…ironic how I'm worried about being fair after all those damn nobles did and still do to Ami. Even so, I'd have to show some pride and dignity…I'd have to show I'm a better person than those people…
Isabella's eyelids started to become heavy as sleep began to wash over her like a calming wave.
I'll get Ami out of there one day…very soon…I'll get her…out…
Isabella sighed softly and drifted off into a deep, peaceful sleep.
The Next Day at the Mall…
"Hey, let's go in here!" Shirley pulled at Nina and Isabella's sleeves to lead them into a clothing store.
"Shirley, this is a vintage store. I didn't know you liked this kind of clothing," Isabella said and fingered a puffy, blood red dress decorated with black roses in the stitching.
"I find some interesting stuff in here sometimes. Hey, Nina, you should get this!" Shirley held up a carved flower bracelet and Nina studied it.
"It's really pretty! I really like it!"
"It would suit you," Isabella chimed in and stuck a wide brimmed black hat on her head. "What do you think?"
She faced her two friends and struck a model pose, making Nina and Shirley both burst out laughing.
"I don't think so, the hat just isn't you," Shirley said through a fit of giggles and Isabella placed the hat back on its rod.
"I agree, however I love this necklace," she said as she caught sight of a rose carved necklace on a leather strap. It wasn't the prettiest necklace she had ever seen, but something about the wooden red bloom intrigued her.
The bloom was no bigger than her two thumb nails put together with glimmering green leaves underneath the silky looking petals. The leather strap looked more like string, but once she was closer, Isabella could tell it was a thin piece of black leather being held together at both ends by a silver clasp.
"I'm going to get this," Isabella said and lifted the necklace off of the tiny, navy blue pillow.
"Wow, that's a unique looking necklace," Nina said and held her bracelet up to it, "they're almost exactly alike but this flower's a white lily with pink streaks on the petals."
"Hey Shirley, how about you get something with a flower on it," Isabella suggested as her friend remained undecided on what to buy.
"I don't know what though. I don't wear earrings much," she said and carefully examined the display of flowered jewelry.
"I really like the Lotus necklace, the pink one right here," Nina pointed out and Isabella joined her friend in seeing what she was talking about.
"Oh wow, I really like this too Shirley, look, it really fits you too," the ebony haired girl said and held it up for Shirley to see.
"I really like it too! The Lilac is pretty as well," Shirley ran her fingers over a lilac bracelet then turned her attention to the Lotus necklace. "I'll get the Lotus. I like it better."
The three girls paid for their jewelry and Isabella immediately secured the rose necklace around her neck. The blossom hung just over her light blue shirt collar and she smiled as her friends followed in suit.
"I love it even though it cost me the rest of my savings," Isabella said as she tightened her pony tail on top of her head.
"They are worth it though. Look how pretty they are!" Shirley said as the three of them stole glances at their reflections in a clothing store window.
The necklaces and bracelet were very unique and Isabella beamed with pride at how the rose around her neck seemed to complement her.
I don't think I have ever been this content with something so simple…roses in general always remind me of the people I love so much…this necklace is a souvenir of this day with Shirley and Nina…the strong friendship we're developing…just us three shopping and just being carefree and ignoring the fact there's a war going on…
"Hey, Isabella, let's go get something to eat at the Food Court. I'm thinking pizza," Shirley said and Isabella and Nina nodded in agreement. They entered the crowded area and ordered personal pizzas before sitting down by an artificial oak tree that reached from the floor to the ceiling of the mall.
"We need to do this more often, you know, get out. We don't always have money but window shopping sounds fun so we can get ideas of what we'd like for whenever we do have cash," Nina said as she sipped her cola.
"I have to find a job. I feel like such a bum being seventeen and jobless," Isabella relaxed back on her chair and slurped down her milkshake contently while examining her surroundings.
"I think there's an opening for a job in a book store near school, if that sounds interesting," Shirley informed her and bit into her second slice of cheese pizza.
"Well I can't argue that. I love books even though I'm not the best reader. But, thanks to Nina, I've gone from total dummy to just average," Isabella gave Nina a teasing wink and she smiled.
"You weren't a hopeless case Isabella. You're easy to teach," Nina told her and Isabella grinned, feeling slightly more confident with herself.
"Attention please! Everyone, please exit the building as quickly as possible!" a clerk's voice echoed off the speaker and Isabella lifted her head off of her curled fingers, her lips curling off the straw to her milkshake.
"What's going on…?"
"Please, everyone exit the building as quickly as possible! There has been a bomb threat and…"
The clerk's voice was drowned out by shrieks of terror and Isabella forced herself to look as if she was just as clueless and scared as everyone else.
Zero, what are you doing?! And why the hell didn't you ever tell me?!
Isabella flicked her phone open under the table to see a new voice message and then snapped it closed, inaudibly as Shirley and Nina began to stand up.
"Where are we supposed to go?!" Shirley gasped and Isabella stood quickly, rapidly coming up with a plan to make it look as if she was being swept away with the crowd.
I'll have to use my Geass but I can't right now with them watching…
Isabella dropped her phone to the floor purposely and reached to get it. As she had planned, the phone got knocked away from her into the crowd became thicker.
"Isabella! Come back!" Shirley called over the wall of humans and Isabella weaved through them.
"I'll be right back!" she lied and reached her phone, Shirley and Nina gone from view.
Isabella stole back into the storage rooms of the mall, completely alone and flipped her phone open again. She pressed the send button to hear the voice message Zero had left for her and triple checked no one had followed her.
"Isabella, what I want you to do is this: use your Geass on whoever you can to get to the roof of the building and I'll send Kallen to come get you. I'm searching for a certain solider and I'd rather do it with you out of the area. Do whatever it takes to make yourself safe."
Isabella snapped the phone shut and shook her head. She removed the green contact off her eye and the red Geass glowed.
"I wonder what he's planning," Isabella wondered aloud and heard approaching footsteps. She pressed herself up against the wall and the running person became closer and closer to her. She braced herself then stepped out into the hallway, a girl with dark brown hair gasping at the sight of Isabella's glowing eye.
The girl backed up and Isabella's became transparent. Her molecules spread out and Isabella controlled herself to go straight into the girl's chest, trying to dominate over her brain as she felt her limbs match up exactly with the girl's.
The body had become paralyzed and Isabella blinked several times to make herself be able to see straight out of the girl's blue eyes. She felt herself gain control over the girl's arms and she flexed the long fingers, the feeling regaining in the legs.
"I've got ten minutes. Looks like I have to possess more bodies if I want to complete what Zero wants me to do." Isabella made the borrowed legs begin to run awkwardly as she weaved through the halls, searching for a staircase. The body felt heavy and it was hard for Isabella to control it but in the last five minutes, she felt herself be able to use it much more easily.
"Where the hell are the stairs?!" Isabella breathed and the echo of metal boots sounded in the hall. "Shit."
Isabella made the girl's feet stop running and searched widely around for some place to hide.
"Oh God…help…" Isabella prayed and saw three Britannian soldiers running straight across the hall. "Oh God…"
Isabella made herself begin to sprint in the opposite direction then saw three more soldiers.
Wait a minute…this is a good thing…
The lips on the borrowed face curled into a smile and Isabella directed the body straight for the soldiers.
"YOU THERE!" one of them yelled and aimed his gun. Isabella felt herself leap out of the girl's body and immediately possessed the soldier's body.
Brilliant…
Isabella fought for the control and the soldier gasped for breath as the young girl fell to the floor and Isabella increased the effort to control the enemy. After a minute of the soldier fighting internally and his fellow soldiers making feeble attempts to help, Isabella triumphed.
"Hey, are you alright? Can you hear me?!" one asked and Isabella made the head nod.
"Yes, just a muscle spasm but I'm fine," she made him say and waited until the other two had their backs turned.
"General, what do we do with this girl?"
"She looks like that one that we saw with the Black Knights," the General said and the other made her stand on her feet, her eyes still closed.
"I thought her hair was longer."
"No," the General said and aimed his gun, "this is her."
The gun blasted and Isabella watched in horror behind the masked face as the innocent girl fell to the ground, blood forming a pool around her.
"Damn…Britannians…"
"What was that?" the General snarled.
"Nothing," Isabella made herself reply and felt the gun in her hand. "Hey, let's go search around and see if the Black Knights are here."
"Fine, you two go I have to clean up here," the General said and gave the corpse a kick.
Brilliant again…see if I don't avenge innocent blood…
Isabella and the other solider took off down the hall and Isabella observed there was no one surrounding the space they were in. Turning down a hallway, Isabella guided the body through the deserted hall and her companion stopped.
"Hey, it's a dead end, let's go search around back," the solider said and Isabella smirked.
"I think I'll go myself," Isabella said quietly.
"What do you—?"
Isabella aimed the gun and fired four times, hitting the solider in the neck, chest hip and in the face. He crippled to the tiled floor, his gun clattering beside hand and a crimson pool forming around his entire body.
"I'll avenge the innocent blood you have spilled, you vermin," she said darkly and grabbed the second gun as she sprinted away.
Isabella passed two more soldiers and shot them both to death, confiscating the bullets out of their guns.
"I need all I can get…can't take any chances…" Isabella told herself as she reloaded the first gun and ducked under a staircase.
"Where is he?! Where is that traitor?!" she heard more trampling footsteps coming from in front of the stairs and readied the guns.
"YOU--!" the General yelled and Isabella didn't hesitate to fire both her weapons simultaneously, killing one more soldier and injuring two others including the General. The three remaining shot at her but she managed to weave through the bullets with inhuman speed.
Isabella began running again but the soldier's body was becoming heavier and heavier with every step she took.
Oh no…the ten minutes are up!
Isabella felt herself being flung from the body and the two guns crashed to the floor next to her transparent body. The dazed Britannian she had possessed swayed on his feet and there were more gunshots. Blood sprayed all over Isabella's face as she seized the two weapons and sprinted away but not fast enough.
"CATCH HER! SHE'S THE ONE WE SAW!" the General yelled and his comrades obeyed him.
"Shit…I totally forgot about the ten minute limit…Zero's gonna kill me if these bozos don't!"
Isabella whisked through the halls, her body still in a spirit like presence, and kept the guns clutched in her hands. She heard more metal boots chasing after her and she sprinted up four stairwells through a back room she had found up to the roof. The soldiers followed her and she aimed the guns at them, firing mercilessly. She reached the roof and saw a red Knightmare heading in her direction and Isabella waved her hands in the air wildly to flag it down.
"This is my last straw with you," the General hissed and aimed his gun at her.
Isabella gasped and dropped her weapons as her body became more solid and the gun exploded.
"N-no…Michael…don't let them…" Isabella's memories of her brother flashed through her mind as pain seared through her body.
The second gun dropped to the cement landing and the roar of the Knightmare became distant as screams echoed in her ears and she fell backwards.
Don't worry, Isabella will be okay...just a plot twist. XD Anyway, 3 reviews before next update woudl be great! I'm sorry this is so slow...I have so many other stories...:( But thank you for being so patient with me!! :D It's greatly appreciated! ^^