Only one review but I'm so happy! Thank you brunettebookworm14 for the kind words! I hope you like this chapter, I made it extremely long...XD
"Fail..." Isabella's lips curled upward into a wolf like grin as she effortlessly sliced through a Britannian Knightmare and the gleaming red shield protected her from the thousand bullets attempting to penetrate through her. "Now I win. Checkmate..."
The enemy Frame was disengaged and Isabella giggled darkly as it showered sparks around it and Isabella took off before it blew into pieces.
"That's what you get when you try and destroy Japan," Isabella sang and whipped her sword out of the warrior's body, "now for more fun."
The Geass shone in her eye and Isabella retracted back her blade, deciding it was unnecessary to have it out. She abandoned her Knightmare near a desolate building and lowered herself to the ground, keeping a sharp eye out for any Britannian solider.
"I need to pry information out of them about Nunnally...and that general I have to discover who he is. I know him from somewhere...a distant memory...but i can recognize a note in his voice..." Isabella's thoughts trailed out of her mouth as she began walking casually through the ruins, the icy blue wig's braids tapping lightly against the back of her shoulder.
I love Rolo like a little brother...but Nunnally...she needs me...doesn't she? I haven't seen her for five months...and I have to keep my guard up for Suzaku...it was dumb to leave my Knightmare but in order to get to those Britannians, I need to be out in the open to activate my Geass...
Isabella kept to the shadows, trying to hide herself in the looming buildings shadows, the overcast clouds sending an even more haunting feeling through the area. The echos of Kallen's Knightmare battling with another Britannian made Isabella shiver but she continued on like an alley cat roaming the city, looking for a solider and keeping both her ears and eyes perked for Suzaku's Lancelot. Her stomach churned at the thought of fighting with one of the people she lived for; the first time she had encountered the Lancelot she had been trying to kill one of her best friends the whole time.
Does this really make us enemies? Do I really have to kill Suzaku in order to protect Lelouch and Zero? I can't...no matter what Suzaku does or what side he's on...I couldn't bring myself to kill him...never ever...
Isabella pressed her fingers to her forehead and her stomach lurched and twisted.
Damn...I think I'm going to be sick...
There was a whistling overhead and Isabella looked up at the sky to see the Lancelot speeding towards her, its MVS bolting straight for her.
"Holy shit!" Isabella lept out of the way as the MVS barely missed her then retracted back and sped for her again.
Isabella dodged out of the way, her wig swaying and she sprang back into the protection of the ruined buildings, panting.
"And I try to spare him?! BASTARD!" Isabella shrieked and Suzaku fired several bullets at her.
Isabella yanked her useless weapon out and tried to find him in the piolet seat to make eye contact. Suzaku stared at her through a screen in his Lancelot, the target mark aiming right at her heart, his finger over the firing button.
Suzaku...why are you on their side...I feel weak...
Once again, Isabella felt a tear escape out of her eye, her gun aiming up at the Lancelot as a force of habit.
I can't use my Geass and it's no use running...I'm dead...I'll die here...at the hands of Suzaku...I'm gonna die...I hope he makes it fast...Suzaku...why Britannia? What have they ever done to deserve your loyalty?
Suzaku's finger froze over the button that would fire at the Black Knight standing underneath his target screen. He didn't know why but something was telling him not to shot the blue haired girl staring up at his Lancelot, her gun pointed up the huge, metal chest, giving her a noble look despite the two weapons difference in size.
Why can't I shoot?
Suzaku lifted his finger off the button and lowered the Lancelot to the ground and let himself out. Isabella watched in disbelief as Suzaku exposed himself to her gun point and her hand shook, making the gun rattle.
"W-what are you doing?! Are you stupid?! I could kill you, you know!" Isabella screeched, totally floored by her friend's actions.
"You're the one I've been fighting all this time, aren't you?" Suzaku asked, not recognizing her immidatly. "I find it odd I'm so impressed with your fighting skills..."
Isabella growled and Suzaku's green eyes fixed on her Geass power.
"You really are an idiot! You don't just step out of the saftey of your Knightmare and start talking to an enemy! I could kill you so easily right now!" Isabella cried and Suzaku half smiled.
"I know you won't."
"How?!"
"You would have at least fired by now."
Isabella froze, her gun still aimed at Suzaku's chest, and gritted her teeth.
"Why are you on thier side anyway?! You're Japanese for God's sake...so why are you fighting for Britannia?!" Isabella exasperated and lowered her gun to her side, her eyes also dropping from his.
"Why are you fighting for the Black Knights, a terrorist group?"
"Britannia does nothing but take away. This empire has destroyed me...I'm avenging the people that have died because and for me," Isabella said and started to walk away. "You should reconsider who your really fighting for, Suzaku and I encourage you to join Zero's rebellion."
"Zero's gone," Suzaku said and Isabella's jaw dropped. She whipped back around, the icy blue braids flowing around her face as she spun back around and she stared at him in disbelief.
"How do you know?!"
Suzaku half smiled again, but it was kind, an almost compassionate look in his eyes. Isabella's eyes burned and she aimed the gun at him again.
"YOU BASTARD!"
Suzaku leaped out of the way when she fired, intentionally missing, and he swung his leg around, kicking the gun out of her grip. Suzaku grabbed her wrist as she tried to twist out of the way and pinned it against her back, his other arm locked around her waist.
"I was showing mercy, which is out of character for me on the battle field, and you shoot at me?"
"Zero will come back...I know he will!" Isabella declared loyaly and Suzaku's tight fingers around her wrist made her twitch.
"You're under arrest, that's all I can say."
"You're a naive bastard. You really are...you have no idea what kind of country you are fighting for!" Isabella's fist curled behind her as Suzaku began to push her towards the Lancelot.
"I'm trying to get the two sides unite. You don't know what you're talking about."
"If that's what you're trying to do, your methods suck!"
"Kururugi, what are you doing?! Just kill her!"
There he is again...that general...
Suzaku froze, his fingers loosening on Isabella's wrist as he stared at the general and a second solider in disbelief.
"Kill her! Now!" the second solider yelled.
"Do it, Suzaku, kill me," Isabella whispered and stared at him out of the corner of her eye. "Kill me, right here."
Suzaku stared back at her, his eyes flickering.
"Oh no...Isa--"
"Kill me, Suzaku-chan."
There was a gun shot and Isabella felt the familiar, burning feeling of the bullet tearing through her skin in her upper arm. Her mouth opened and she gasped in pain, and Suzaku let go of her wrist, freeing her.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU DUMBASS?! KILL HER NOW!" the general yelled and Isabella stumbled forward, holding her bloody arm.
"Suzaku, listen to him or you'll die too," Isabella pleaded so only her friend could hear.
"Isabella..."
"Do it now before he--"
The gun was fired again, this time by the second soldier, and Isabella felt blood spray across her face as she looked back to see Suzaku fall onto his knees, gripping his ribs.
"Suzaku--!"
He looked helplessly up at her and she saw another faint half smile tugging at the corner of his mouth and his eyes became foggy.
"NO! SUZAKU! YOU CAN'T DIE!"
Isabella lunged forward and broke into a sprint, her Geass activating and her molecules spreading apart as she plunged herself into the soldier that had shot her friend.
"I'LL KILL YOU!" she screamed as she forced control over the body and the general only stood and watched his companion struggle against the Black Knights determined force.
Once she had control, Isabella snapped the soldier's eyes back open only to see the general had run off.
"You cowardly scum bag. What general leaves his men out to die?" she snarled and looked back at Suzaku, who was unconscious on the ground. "I'll make you pay for this," she added to the soldier she was possessing.
What are you doing? his thoughts echoed and Isabella made him smirk.
"I'm going to kill you."
No...how? What are you doing to me you demon?!
"Oh, I'm the demon? I beg to differ. You stole the life of someone very precious to me, so, I'll take your life for the price of his. It'll create balance, you see? A life for a life, although," Isabella forced his hand to yanked the helmet off his head, his neck giving a slight crack and he groaned in pain, "I'll have to kill you in the most painful way possible in order to make up for Suzaku."
You sick bitch...!
"However, I'm looking for information and I'll make it quick, painless and clean if you give me exactly what I want," Isabella said smoothly.
What do you want?
"Where is Nunnally Lamprouge?"
I can't tell you that.
Isabella yanked off the armor protecting the soldier's arm and fired a bullet through his hand.
"I've seen people I love die in front of me, Suzaku's not being the first. I will show no mercy to the men that took those innocent people away from me and I will torture you until you give me what I want. I'm a sick person so you better come quietly or this death will be painful," Isabella snarled, her rage overtaking her for the first time in her life. She had never intended to ever torture anyone, but now with the loss of Suzaku, Zero, her parents, Scotty and her brother, had shoved her past the point of showing mercy.
"I will ask you again, where is Nunnally Lamprouge? If you don't tell me this time, I will rip the bullet out with your bare hands."
I don't know who she is.
"Liar."
I swear I can't tell you anything.
"LIAR!" Isabella began to force the fingers into the open wound and the soldier's thoughts screamed in pain.
ALRIGHT! I don't know exactly where she is but I know she is alive! I swear to you, that's all I know!
"Is she being treated well?"
Yes, she is perfectly healthy and she is being treated like royalty.
"How can you know that and not know where she is?"
I am only told these things. I have never seen her but people have told me she is one hundred percent okay.
"One last piece of information I need from you."
The solider grimaced as more blood leaked from his hand and Isabella was able to prevent him from nursing it.
"Where is Michael Liberata?"
What difference does it make to you?
"He is my brother and I want to know if he is truly dead. I think there's a possibility he is alive but I don't know where he is."
So you're Isabella?!
"Yes."
Isabella Liberata...your brother was the general that shot you.
Isabella felt her heart stop beating and she dropped the gun in the Britannian's hand.
"I-impossible! He can't be--!"
I can assure you the general is him. I would know, I've been under his orders since war started.
"Michael is on your side...but why?"
Isabella's time was up and she stepped out of the body, picking up the dropped gun in the process, her body becoming more solid.
"Your brother is a traitor to you then," the solider gruffed and Isabella aimed the weapon at him.
"You must of brainwashed him or something. There is no way my brother would ever fight with you vermin after what you did to our family. I hope he's planning to kill you all," Isabella said and shot the gun, hitting the soldier in the chest. "All of you--" gunshot- "every last one."
The Britannian crippled to the ground, blood pulsing out of his chest and neck. Isabella turned back around to her fallen friend, and then the gun clattered back down to the cement ground when she saw who was holding him, a tourniquet around his wound.
"We need to get him help. He'll live, but the sooner he gets help the better of he'll be. You should've called for help the moment he was injured. He could've died," Zero scolded and Isabella gaped.
"Zero--how did you--?!"
"Later," he cut her short and swiftly departed, Isabella at his heels.
Two Days Later...
Suzaku's eyes fluttered open and he was greeted by the strong scent of roses. His eyebrows creased and he peered next to him, almost blinded by the brilliant vase of red roses sitting on the table next to his bed.
"Who left these?" he wondered aloud and grimiced as he sat up, sharp pains shooting through his ribs and back.
"A young lady by the name of Isabella left those for you, Suzaku. Said the room was too gloomy and you needed something pretty to look at when you awoke," Lloyd said as he sudden;y entered the room, startling Suzaku.
"You scared me," Suzaku said and Lloyd smiled, his blue eyes blank but a look of amusement on his face.
"To be honest, if she wanted you to have something pretty to look at, she should have stayed," Lloyd teased and his amused smile widened as Suzaku's face flushed red.
"Don't even start."
"Hey, I'm not the one whose in love with her. It's not like you don't agree. She's a nice girl, from what I saw. She actually was friendly enough to sit down and have tea with me while carrying a friendly conversation. Why don't you date her? I approve," Lloyd continued to ramble and traced his long finger over one of the silk petals of a rose.
"She's not interested in me like that."
"She had you in her arms when she came here, almost as if she knew I was here," Lloyd continued, ignoring the answer to his own question.
"Maybe I was muttering something unconsciously," Suzaku said and laid back down, the stabbing pain in his chest and back calming down.
"Possibly, I can't think of any other way since I have never seen anyone like her walking around here."
"Isabella carried me the whole way here?"
"Yes, bridal style, your head on her shoulder, one of your arms around her neck and it would have been even more adorable if you weren't bleeding so much. Little Isabella was sobbing and pleading me to do something. 'Don't let Suzaku die! Do something, please make him live! I can't lose my Suzaku!' It was heartbreaking really how desperate she was to save you. During your surgery, she wouldn't sit down for a second and practically drowned the doctor with questions when he came out," Lloyd said and continued to finger with the rose petals.
"Wait, she said 'my Suzaku'?"
"Yes, showing possession, as if you belonged to her. I thought that was cute."
Suzaku flushed red again and thought about what Lloyd had just informed him about.
She's a Black Knight...we're supposed to be enemies...so why didn't she just let me die there? I thought she would feel betrayed and not do anything...
"I hope Isabella comes back, she is a pleasant girl, despite being a Black Knight."
"You better not give her away!"
"I wasn't planning to. I just ranted about how much I like her. You get some rest now and you'll be back in school tomorrow. I'm sure Isabella misses her Suzaku," Lloyd sang and waves of dispair hung over Suzaku's head.
"You're not funny."
The Next Day...
"Suzaku's back," Shirley smiled at Isabella and the masquerading Black Knight turned her head to see her other best friend smile across the room at her.
"Hey Suzaku! Welcome back!" Isabella grinned and waved then Nina tapped her shoulder.
"You and Shirley are going to the mall tomorrow, right?"
"Yes, are you sure you don't want to come, Nina, it'll be fun!" Isabella beamed and Nina shook her head.
"No, that's okay. I have something I want to work on," she said and Isabella sweat dropped.
"Another project that will make my brain twist twenty different times?"
"Probably."
Isabella gave her an uncomfortable smiling, trying to imagine the brain power it took to create one of Nina's mind bending projects.
"Isabella-onee!" Rolo pushed passed several people in the room to get to her desk and she looked over at him.
"Hey Rolo! What's up?"
"I was wondering if you were busy tomorrow. I wanted to see if Lelouch, you and me could all do something," he panted slightly and his eyes glowed with hope.
"Aw, sorry buddy but I'm going to the mall with Shirley tomorrow."
"When you get back?"
"Possibly."
"If we don't stay out all day," Shirley giggled and gave Rolo a friendly rub on the head.
"We have a tendency to do that don't we?" Isabella asked and Shirley's giggles accelerated to a laugh.
Rolo shot the unsuspecting Shirley an envious stare and Isabella flicked his fingers as a warning.
"Alright, well, maybe later this weekend," he redeemed himself and Isabella nodded.
"I'll keep my calender clear," she assured him and the bell rang for class. "You're late little brother, you better go."
"No, it's okay. Lelouch needs a ride because he's playing chess this--"
"YOU BOTH ARE SKIPPING?!"
Rolo's eyes widened in horror and Isabella caught sight of Lelouch scurrying away, hands dug deep in his pockets as he hurried away, Rolo following him.
"LELOUCH LAMPROUGE! YOU CAN'T BE SKIPPING AT A TIME LIKE THIS!" Isabella scolded at the top of her lungs and chased the two boys out of the room, Shirley, Nina and Suzaku all watching them from the door, very amused.
"I hope Lulu can run fast," Shirley said and Suzaku looked up at her (he was crouching on the floor, Nina then Shirley above him).
"Or at least got a good head start. Lelouch isn't one that is particularly good at running for long distances," Suzaku said and Nina clicked her tongue.
"Well, she tackled Rolo...oh never mind he escaped."
"This is better than cable," Shirley remarked and watched as Isabella started to take off after her two friends.
"RUN FOR IT ROLO! SHE'S GONNA KILL US!" Lelouch called, almost afraid for his life. Rolo jumped onto his motor scooter, helmet on both of them and took off. Isabella growled as she watched them roar away, Lelouch waving innocently from the passenger's seat.
"I hope you both fail your classes," she cursed and pushed back her ebony hair, stress marking. "Baka Lelouch."
"Well, you almost had them...Rolo at least," Kallen appeared and Isabella growled.
"I hope they both fail."
"Gambling or classes?"
"Both."
Kallen couldn't help chuckling a little at that.
"You love him though."
"Yes...I do...quit reminding me please," Isabella sighed and Kallen patted her on the shoulder.
"Alright, let's get back to class."
Isabella re-entered the classroom with Kallen beside her and Nina, Shirley and Suzaku all exchanged amused glances from their seats.
"None of you are funny," Isabella glowered and Suzaku shrugged.
"No, but you are," he told her and smiled angelically.
Waves of despair hung over Isabella's head as she sat down and wondered what it really was Lelouch was up to.
The Following day at the mall...
"I hope things will go smoothly this time," Isabella remarked as she walked through the crowded mall with Shirley at her side.
"Yeah, but if it doesn't, we'll stay together. Deal?" Shirley said and Isabella smiled.
"Definitely, I'll glue my hand to you if I need to," she laughed and Shirley strode into a music store.
"This should be fun, I love checking out what new releases the music industry has..." Shirley thought aloud and Isabella slipped head phones over her ears when she had entered with her best friend.
I still can't get Michael out of my mind...why is he fighting for Britannia? Let alone a general...unless he really is on Zero's side and is posing as a general to help take down the empire...that sounds like something he'd do...but that girl he killed...just an act...? He's been trying to kill me...maybe trying to warn me...and save me from other soldiers killing me...? It's possible unless he doesn't recognize me...
"Isabella."
"Yeah?"
"Are you alright? You look bored," Shirley observed and slid the head phones around her neck.
"No, I'm having fun, I'm just spacing out. I do that when I listen to music," Isabella said and gave the red head a reassuring smile.
Her phone vibrated in her pocket and Isabella jumped from the sudden feeling then excused herself from Shirley to answer.
It's Zero...why am I always out of Ashford having fun when he calls...? Oh well...
"Hello?"
"Isabella get out of the mall as quickly as possible."
"Why?"
"Just do it and keep Shirley with you. Don't let her out of your sight," Zero ordered and hung up.
Isabella clicked her phone off and blew back her bangs, irritated.
I hate it when he doesn't tell me what the hell's going on.
"Hey Shirley, that was Rolo. Do you mind if we go back to the Academy for a bit then come back later? He said it was important," Isabella said the first lie she could think of and Shirley looked disappointed.
"Alright," she sighed and Isabella's expression was apologetic as she and Shirley left the music store.
I feel safe leaving Shirley with Isabella...I can trust her to keep Shirley safe, Lelouch thought as he watched his two friends begin to leave.
"What do we do now?" C.C. asked him as she passed, disguised in a black wig that was fixed into a neat bun and a pencil skirt and navy blue blazer.
"We issue the orders," Lelouch said and clicked the button on his chess piece.
The fire alarms sounded and smoke began to pour out of almost every store. Isabella gasped and then grabbed Shirley's hand, yanking her outside.
"A fire?!" Shirley cried and Isabella coughed.
"You've got to be kidding me!"
"There's a terrorist threat..." a clerk yelled into his phone and Shirley stopped dead in her tracks.
"Shirley--come on!"
"I repeat there is a terrorist threat! Send in soldiers!"
Oh crap...and the Britannians know who I really am...if they find me they'll kill Shirley...
"This way!" Isabella hissed to her friend and pulled her in the opposite direction of the tidal wave of people was going.
I can't risk her...not Shirley...I can't risk having her killed.
Isabella lead Shirley through the empty, smoke filled halls and it finally clicked with her there was no real fire.
Zero, you're a genius.
Out the back exit, Isabella spotted police cruisers and ambulance surrounding the building.
I need to get back inside to Zero so he can tell me what's going on...
"Shirley, I need you to stay here. I'll be back. Officer, can you keep her here?"
"Yes I can--hey miss!" the officer called as Isabella tore back off into the building, her cell phone crushed to her ear.
"Isabella! Come back! Isabella!" Shirley cried, two officers restraining the red head back from following her friend.
"Zero, what the hell are you planning now!?" Isabella heard his phone ring endlessly on the other line and anger brimmed inside her. "You want me to do something now friggin answer your phone!"
Isabella snapped it shut and then removed her green contact out of her eye, the red, bird like shape gleaming in her eye.
"Screw it...I'll do my own thing..."
Back Outside...
I can't let Isabella be in there...if there's a terrorist attack, Britannian soldiers will be in there and she could be killed! I hope Lulu finds her before anyone else does!
Shirley paced around the confined area, waiting impatiently for Isabella do come back out of the smokey building. The three officers that had been keeping a close eye on her were now on their walkie talkies, trying to calm others down and had almost forgotten about the red haired girl pacing around between the cruisers and ambulance truck.
"Lulu...Isabella..." Shirely closed her eyes and tried not to worry, they were both marvolous fighters but even so, she still didn't block out the chance of one of them getting hurt.
She stopped pacing and observed the three officers, all of them had their backs turned to her and she got an idea. Quietly, Shirley crept up to one of the policemen and yanked his gun out. he whipped around and spotted her just as she managed to squeeze between a cruiser and ambulance. Shirley sprinted into the building, the officers yelling after her but she ignored them, only focusing on the protection of the love of her life and her best, truest friend.
Flash back to Isabella...
She fell to the ground, her arm bleeding and her body transparent, still fresh from possession. A Britannian kicked her in the leg and she held back a cry of pain before standing back up and aiming her gun at him.
"I've had enough of you damn people!" she snarled and fired only once, short on bullets, then ran for it.
Another solider spotted her and she immediately jumped into his body, easily taking control over his body.
"You've taken more than enough away from this country. You won't take away the ability to be in public without being attacked!"
Isabella made the body run furiously, coming to the other soldier and saw she had shot him only in the bicep. Annoyed, Isabella readied the gun in the borrowed hand and fired, this time the bullets entering the heart and stomach.
"Well done," she told the borrowed body and stepped over the corpse.
"TRAITOR!"
"See you," Isabella giggled and lurched forward just as the body she was just in crumpled to the floor in a blood bath.
She was flying only centimeters off the floor as she guided her molecules to underneath a staircase, a loaded gun still in her hand.
"Brilliant. I think if I keep this up, I might get the whole army down...no I can't think like that...I can't be mindless about who I kill. However...that one man's thoughts were somewhat useful. I know for a fact now Michael is the general and he knows who I am but I still need to figure out why he's not reverting over to Zero's side..."
Isabella's phone vibrated again and she checked the ID to see it was Shirley.
"Hey, are you still with the officers? I'll come get you now," Isabella said.
"No, I need to find you--"
"SHIRLEY! YOU IDIOT! YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO STAY WITH THE OFFICERS! YOU COULD GET KILLED!"
"So could you! Please let me help you and Lulu. I--Rolo...?"
Shirley lowered her phone off her ear and on the other end, Isabella ran as fast as she could through the deserted halls.
"Shirley, what are you doing here?" Rolo asked and Shirley swallowed hard, her gun clutched in her slender hand.
"I'm helping Lulu and Isabella."
Rolo only stared at her and wrapped his finger over the trigger.
"Rolo, please let me through. I just want to help Isabella and Lulu fight and be reunited with Nunnally!"
Rolo's eyes glared at her, his face twisting in anger and he pointed the gun at Shirley.
"Rolo please don't!"
"Shirley what is going on?!" Isabella shouted into her phone so loudly, Rolo heard her.
"Isabella-onee?"
"Don't hurt Shirley, Rolo! She's one of us, let her go!"
"But Isabella-onee, she'll interfere with you and Lelouch."
"Don't shoot! I mean it, if you shoot her I'll never forgive you for as long as I live! She's my best friend, let her go!"
There was a long silence and Rolo stared at Shirley's pink phone and she held her breath. Rolo lowered his gun and kept his eyes glued on Shirley, who sighed with relief, and then removed his finger off the trigger.
"As long as Isabella-onee says you're on her side and you are good friends, then I'll let you go," Rolo said but Isabella didn't hear him, for she was still sprinting through the building, her phone no longer to her ear.
"Thank you Rolo. I'll be a help to them both and don't worry when we find Nunnally, Isabella will still want to have you around. You're like her little brother," Shirley smiled and Rolo felt one spreading across his face as well.
"HEY! YOU THERE!"
Rolo and Shirley jumped and saw a Britannian soldier pointing his gun at Shirley.
"Rolo...Rolo!? What's going on!?" Isabella shrieked through the phone.
"Calling to rat us out, you damn Eleven."
"N-no!" Shirley stammered and Rolo dashed in front of her, his arms outspread.
"Don't, she's one of us!" he pleaded but the soldier cracked his gun over the little boy's head.
Rolo fell to the ground, the gun spinning out of his hand and Shirley tried to go to his side.
"ROLO!" Isabella cried and the soldier slapped Shirley's hand, sending the phone clattering to the ground.
"Filthy Eleven," he snarled and shot his gun. Shirley shrieked as he turned back around and took Rolo away.
Flash to Isabella...
"Shirley? SHIRLEY! ROLO!" Isabella screamed when she heard the gun shot and phone clatter to the floor.
Not Shirley...not Shirley...not her...oh God...let her be okay...please, not innocent Shirley...she never did anything wrong...Shirley, my best friend, please let her be okay. I love her so much, she's like my sister...don't take her away from me too! She was my first friend at the Academy...she's nothing but kind to me and everyone else, please not her...not Shirley...she's been through so much already...getting her memories erased and having to deal with my love for Lelouch...she's lost too much...don't take her life...
Isabella felt tears brimming in her eyes as she flashed back to the first time she had met Shirley, the bright smile and "Hello! I'm Shirley!"...the warm feeling of friendship that Isabella could only feel around the red haired girl...the sister-like bond between them...the lotus and rose necklaces they had bought with Nina...the pink lotus flower never left Shirley's neck since they had bought it...
Shirley...Shirley...Shirley...please be alright, don't die...don't die!
Isabella came to a staircase and she sprinted up it three stairs at a time, tears already flowing down her face. She came to the top stair and reached the landing, spinning around and almost suffocated from the smoke.
"Shirley?!" she called and saw a figure laying on the floor, a crimson pool around her. "Oh God...SHIRLEY!"
Isabella dashed to her side and saw that Lelouch had beaten her to the dying girl, his own face soaked in tears. His Geass was glowing and there was a red circle around the outside of Shirley's fading green eyes, as if he were ordering her to not die.
"Shirley...!" Isabella gasped and Shirley turned her distancing gaze to her.
"Isabella--whatever you do--don't blame--Rolo for this--"
"Did he shoot you?! Who did this to you Shirley?!"
"It's not Rolo's fault--I shouldn't have run off--it's going to be okay--don't cry anymore--I'll always be with you--Isabella--"
"Don't talk like that Shirley! Don't die! Please don't die! You can't--!" Isabella's tears rained off her face and she lifted one of Shirley's hands to her face.
"You know, you--make me so--happy--you both do--I love you both so much--" Shirley felt her heart jolt painfully as she looked from Isabella to Lelouch, a faint smile on her face.
"Shirley--" Lelouch gasped and Isabella tightened her grip on her best friend's hand.
"I love you too, Shirley, you're like my sister. I've never had a friend like you...you're always there for me, no matter what...thank you for that...that feeling of acceptance you gave me..." Isabella said through her tears.
"You're like a sister, Isabella...Lulu...I hope maybe one day...you two can be...together..." Shirley's eyes began to close and Isabella felt her heart shatter.
"SHIRLEY! YOU CAN'T DIE! DON'T DIE! NOT YOU! NOT YOU TOO! SHIRLEY!" Isabella cried and Shirley felt her hand become drenched with her best friend's tears.
"I want you to protect him...Isabella...Lulu...please...will you...?"
Isabella gritted her teeth to keep from crying out and nodded.
"I swear!"
Shirley gave her another smile and her heart jolted excruciatingly as more blood from her chest wound flowed out onto the floor, staining Isabella's jeans.
"You both make me so happy--I love you both so much--no matter what happens--or however many times we're all reborn--we'll all still be bonded by that immortal friendship--won't we? No matter what--" her eyes closed and Isabella inhaled sharply.
"N-NO! SHIRLEY!"
"No--matter..." Shirley's hand dropped from Isabella's and her heart stopped.
"Shirley!" Lelouch gasped and touched her shoulders, giving them a small shake.
"Shirley! Not you! Not you too!" Isabella cried and sobbed uncontrollably. Her teeth gritted and she let out a yell that echoed through the mall, Shirley's now lifeless hand again gripped tightly in Isabella's hand.
Why did it have to end like this...why Shirley?! WHY?!
I'm sorry Shirley. ;.; I feel like MY best friend died...Isabella's gonna go crazy...-sobsobsob- Please don't judge her too harshly, I think I made her kind of a mindless killer in this chapter...she gets it from me though...if I had watched my parents and two best friends die, PLUS be robbed of 7 years of life that were full of abuse and think the one I loved was dead...I'd go crazy...sorry...ranting again. Well, I hoped you liked it! I finished before I got 2 reviews and I want to get this fanfiction done by Valentines Day. ^-^ it is almost done come to think of it...XD Don't get me wrong, I love Shirley and I cried like a baby when she died in the anime. :'( Reviews would be awesome! :D