Thank you: Usagi323, 0208 and brunettebookworm14! :D The end is near...almost...sorta...few chapters left...okay read now. XD Enjoy! :D
"I don't want to hurt Isabella-onee anymore. I can't do that to her..." Rolo said, his voice trembling, and squeezed his ankles sitting cross legged on Suzaku's bed.
"Rolo, I don't want to hurt her anymore either, but you know the Emperor. Isabella is a tra-"
"Don't say it! No she's not!" Rolo slapped his hands over his ears and Suzaku sighed. "Onee-sama is a wonderful person and she has a solid reason for everything she does! She's not a mindless killer. Every that has died by her hand deserved it."
"Listen to me. We're under orders and-"
"I won't do it," Rolo declared and Suzaku was taken aback. "I won't do anything else to help Britannia because all I am to them is a tool. Isabella and Lelouch...they're the only ones that have ever shown me that I'm not just some tool for people to use...Isabella was the first one that actually have all of her memories and accept me even if it took a awhile. I know she still probably loves Nunnally more than me...but still, she was constantly saying I'm her little brother..."
"She's trying to ease the guilt and pain from killing her older brother," Suzaku spat and Rolo's eye glared at him.
"Michael Liberata was the one that killed Isabella-onee's best friend. He took her parents and several best friends from her. If I were in Isabella-onee's position, I would have shot him too."
"Even so, he was a general."
"He deserved what he got. Actually, from my point of view, Isabella-onee was merciful. I think she should have tortured him for all the pain he caused her. You claim to be in love with Isabella-onee so why do you only betray and hurt her?" Rolo finally asked and then stalked out of the room, leaving Suzaku again, taken aback and having a ton to reflect on.
Flash to Isabella...
"So, Shirley died at the hands of my brother as did my parents and Scotty," Isabella repeated as she walked to the meeting place of the Black Knights.
"Unfortunately. To be fully honest with you, Isabella, I think you are better off not fighting. You have the whole Britannian army after you because of Michael's status, Suzaku included," Zero told her but she scoffed.
"Then let them come and get me. I know the consequences of killing a general. I didn't enter this war thinking I would keep my hands clean, Zero. I knew I would directly kill several people and I would not be an innocent little high school girl anymore," Isabella said and clenched her fists. "Besides, it was for Shirley's sake I killed my brother. I wanted to avenge Shirley's death as well as my parents and I accomplished my goal. However..." they had reached the stairs and Isabella paused on the third one, "murdering my own brother is a blood stain I will never be able to get rid of. I will never forgive myself for killing my family, whether or not he was the one behind my parents', Shirley and Scotty's deaths."
"So now what?" Lelouch asked her and Isabella looked at him from the corner of her eye.
"What?"
"Your reason for fighting. What is it?" he asked her and she smiled, but it was a sad smile. Isabella turned around and put her hand on hs cheek, her now distant green eyes looking deep into his.
"I'm fighting for Lelouch and Nunnally," she almost whispered, "I'm also fighting for a world where they can have the peaceful lives they deserve...no matter what Fate has cut out for me."
Lelouch returned her smile but his eyes had darkened a bit.
"Don't die," he said and she messed with his hair.
"Don't assume the worst you pessimist!"
Lelouch rolled his eyes but the smile remained on his face and he stuck his Zero mask back on his head before entering the quiet court yard just beyond the cement stairs. Isabella scanned the area before laying eyes on Tamaki, Kallen and Kaname Ohgi all but Kallen having their backs to her. Kallen was the first to notice Isabella's return and the ebony haired girl waved, Kallen's face lighting up brighter than the moon shining overhead.
"Hi Kallen!" Isabella called as she ran down into the courtyard, Tamaki and Ohgi turning.
"Isabella's back!" Tamaki pointed out the obvious and held his arms out, welcoming a hug. Isabella sprang into his arms, ecstatic to see him again (plus remember all the petty but amusing arguments they had all the time the previous year) and hugged him so tightly, he had to beg her to let go so he could breath.
"Tamaki! I missed you so much!"
"You didn't even remember me!"
"But I missed you from the time I got my memories back up until right now!"
"And how long was that?"
"About twenty minutes."
"I feel so special," Tamaki grumbled sarcastically and Kallen rolled her blue eyes.
"Well you're the only one she's voiced missing," the red head sighed and Tamaki gave Isabella a brotherly pat on the head.
"Yeah...I missed you too," he told her and Isabella smiled.
"He was in a depression without you, Isabella," C.C. came up behind Ohgi and Tamaki jumped.
"I was not! I just...missed her like everyone else!"
"Tamaki, you massacred four Britannians in her name plus held three hostage for hours while she was getting her memories erased trying to find her," Ohgi said with an amused smile.
"Aw, Tamaki, you did all that for me?" Isabella's eyes shone and Tamaki's eye twitched.
"Eh-"
Isabella's innocent smile spread across her face (the one that could make anyone's knees go weak) and little anime tears glistened down her face.
"Tamaki-onii! You're always there for me!" Isabella practically tackled him with a hug and Tamaki felt both brotherly love and extreme embarrassment flood through him.
"If she hadn't said 'Tamaki-onii' to me, I would say I hated both of you," Tamaki snapped at C.C. and Ohgi who both became very interested in the stars overhead.
"So, what's the order of business now Zero?" Kallen asked and Zero crossed his arms.
"We're trying to keep an eye on the Lancelot pilot, Suzaku Kururugi. He's a huge threat to Isabella as well as the rest of us. He knows Isabella is a Black Knight and it won't be hard for him to make the connection to any of us," he said and Kallen nodded.
"Understood...so what are we going to do? We can't just watch and hope he stays away."
Zero uncrossed his arms and kept his eyes on Isabella, who was now embracing a slightly surprised C.C.
"I don't know. I honestly don't know."
One Week Later...
Nunnally is Vice Roy now...Isabella's thoughts wandered as she rode the train downtown to the mall, Rolo sitting beside her reading a book contently. I can't remember the exact day that happened but as long as she's safe and healthy, I guess it's okay...but then again...
Isabella shifted her weight to her right foot, her fingers curled over the metal bar above her head. Her eyes followed the huge television screen showing Princess Nunnally giving her speech, hoping to bring peace.
With Nunny as Vice Roy, does that make her a threat to Lelouch? No, that's crazy. She's the reason Lelouch started the whole rebellion in the first place and Nunnally is the one he loves the most. He'd never hurt his sister...he'd never drop to that level.
"Isabella-onee? Are you feeling okay?" Rolo asked and Isabella perked up.
"I'm sorry...just spacing out," she said and turned her gaze back out the window.
Rolo doesn't know I have all my memories back...Lelouch never lost his memories when I did...I'm surprised he didn't do anything to Rolo...oh my God! I can't think like that! Lelouch must have found out about Nunnally as well otherwise he wouldn't be so together...but then...if Nunny is fighting for the same world Lelouch is, then why don't they just combine forces? Unless one plans on stepping down...
Isabella sat down next to Rolo, who forced himself to turn back to his book, trying not to keep so much attention on his sister.
But if Lelouch steps down, what will the rest of the Black Knights do? It's not like we can just be "Show's over! Let's go home!" No...that's impossible...but...that makes Nunny an obstacle...wait...
Isabella finally was able to pull it together and she rested her chin on her fist.
Nunnally isn't the obstacle here...Charles is! As long as he's around then neither Lelouch or Nunnally can restore full peace because...well he's an ass. There's no way to put it other than that. But Charles has a Geass in both eyes...he's much more powerful than I am and I can't just merely possess him and make him kill himself...that would be reckless because if I got caught then I would risk the rest of my friends, Lelouch and Nunnally especially. But what if I died afterward...? No, that would be pointless because everyone else would be convicted anyway.
Rolo has a Geass though...maybe I could use that...but that would endanger Rolo...I can't make Rolo a tool for my own goals. I won't use the people I love...even if he did in a way betray me but that was due to the fact he had been brainwashed by Britannia and was used so many times.
"It's where I belong"
Isabella closed her eyes and the train slowly stopped, making her sway.
"Onee-san? Are you sure you're alright? We can go back to Ashford if you want to," Rolo weaved his fingers through her hair and Isabella focused her distant green eyes on him.
"No, I promised to give you a fun day, so let's go," she said and followed him off the train.
"Where to first, Isabella-onee?"
"Anywhere, you can pick," Isabella smiled at him and Rolo gazed up at her as if someone letting him do something at his own will was new to him.
"It's lunch time, so, you want to go eat first?"
"Sounds good to me...I'm starving."
Rolo and Isabella found a Pizza Hut and ordered personal cheese pizzas with sodas when they had seated themselves near a window. To Isabella's satisfaction, the Hut wasn't crowded so it would be easy if either of them had to carry a private conversation without the risk of being overheard.
"Hey, Isabella-onee, there's something I need to ask you," Rolo broke the silence as Isabella sipped her Sprite and leaned back comfortably in the wooden chair.
"Okay, what's up?"
"Do you remember what happened to your brother, Michael?"
"Yes."
Rolo made a jerky gasping noise but Isabella's stare was blank as she continued to drink her soda.
"What-happened?"
"He ended up becoming a traitor, killed my parents and two of my best friends. He told me this in a manner of which he was proud of himself-the bastard-and then became a threat to the one I love the most. I didn't mean for his murder to happen but it was an adrenaline rush and I panicked. I'm not proud of killing him but if I didn't, I'd be just as responsible as he was had anymore innocent live be taken," Isabella said monotonically and Rolo's jaw dropped.
"I thought you got your memories..."
"I did but they came back. Cool, no?"
Rolo remained silent and Isabella's blank stare became icy.
"I can't say Kururugi was much help or has been much help in the war considering he turned his back on his friends and his own country but I have my own plans for him. He owes me his life," she continued on slowly and her voice low.
Rolo looked terrifyed for a handful of seconds and then seemed to relax somewhat after he convinced himself Isabella wasn't going to do anything to hurt him.
"I wanted to ask you something else too," the boy said carefully and Isabella bit into a slice of pizza.
"Go on, I'm not going to kill you, relax."
Rolo took a drink from his pop and then continued.
"I wanted to know what you would do if I asked if I could fight by you."
"Absolutely not. You're not getting into the war."
"I'm already in the war."
"No."
"Why?"
"I'm not going to let you risk your life for...well whatever. No, I am not going to let you do something like that."
"I want to fight for you and Lelouch though."
Isabella almost started choking on her pizza when the words came out of his mouth.
"I will not let you put your life in danger for someone like me!"
"Why not? I have more blood on my hands than you do on yours."
He's probably right about that...but...
"The Britannians were using you. It's not like you were raised with good morals."
"I know...but still...you ans Lelouch are the only ones that have ever given me that feeling of having a family. I've always been used but whenever I'm with Lelouch, and you especially, I feel like I can just be a regular human and I'm not just something people want to use," Rolo told her and Isabella felt her heart go out to him. "You're my big sister, Isabella."
"You little brat," she mumbled, rubbing her eyes, "you make me cry every time you say that to me."
"I'm sorry, I don't mean to," Rolo apologized and Isabella lifted her head, her black hair hanging in her face.
"It's cool. I get emotional easily."
"I've noticed."
"Baka."
"Hey!"
"I love you, Rolo-chan."
Rolo's eyes went twice their size when she said that and she smiled.
"It's not like you didn't see that coming little brother."
"No, I didn't actually..."
"Well, let's get to the mall I guess. Unless you have something else in mind."
"No, that sounds fun!"
They finished thier pizzas and headed back outside in the direction of the mall.
"I'm glad we were able to get out today, it's so pretty out!" Isabella remarked and inhaled the crisp February air.
"Yeah, otherwise we would have been stuck at school not doing much," Rolo added and Isabella rested her hands behind her head.
A sudden wind started and Isabella dropped her hands at the roaring sound of a Knightmare overhead. Isabella latched her hand onto Rolo's shoulder but he pushed it off and then turned to her.
"I know what I'm doing," he said and then cut in front of her and sprinted away in the direction of the Knightmare.
"Wait, Rolo! Stop! Rolo!"
Isabella chased him, her stomach knotting when she came to the ghettos, and then lost sight of him.
"Not you too Rolo. I will not let you get hurt!"
Isabella reached inside her coat to the hidden pocket in her coat to pull out a small, silver pistol.
"This however, in a twisted way is convenient because of what I want to accomplish..."
Isabella slowly paced through the ghettos, ghosts moaning in her ears and the air turning bitter around her. She shivered, feeling exposed and defenseless, but she kept the pistol at her side, hidden in her side pocket. Isabella kept her eyes peeled for Rolo, who was nowhere to be found and then Isabella heard heavy, metal boots running in the distance.
"Lovely," she exhaled and made sure her Geass was prepared. Isabella slipped into a ruined building, the cracked walls and chipped stairs winding upwards and she followed the stairs towards the noise of the Britannian boots. "I need to know what's going on..."
"Terrorists, Kururugi said, terrorists with a bomb threat."
Why always a bomb?
"Also, that Liberata girl is still loose, we need to execute her ASAP," another solider said and Isabella readied her Geass and pistol.
"She's really powerful though...she has something called Geass."
Isabella's breath stopped and she listened more, wondering immensely who had told the soldiers about Geass.
"King Charles has that or so V.V. says to the Princess Cornelia-"
"You two," Suzaku's voice echoed through the room and Isabella kept her body pressed against the wall outside the doorway, safe from sight and eavesdropped more. "Where is she?"
"If you mean Liberata, we are searching for her now."
"When you find her, bring her to me, unharmed and alive," Suzaku ordered and his footsteps echoed away.
"Why?"
"Rumor has it, he's in love with her."
Don't laugh...they're gossiping...try not to laugh...
"Then why is he with us?"
"He's...I have no idea."
Neither does anyone else!
"Let's go, she's not here," the soldier said to his companion and they clomped out, leaving Isabella with new information.
Who's V.V.? I know C.C. but V.V. is new...maybe C.C. knows...I need to ask...if V.V. is the one that gave Charles Geass then...that means there's another obstacle...this one immortal. Fun.
Isabella carefully stepped into the open area, following the faint, distant footsteps of the soldiers. She kept her gun still in her hand and her steps were quick and cat-like as she crossed the room.
I wonder why Zero hasn't called with orders yet...
"Stop right there."
Oh great.
"Suzaku, don't even try to play hero," Isabella sighed and heard his gun cock.
"Don't move."
"Don't talk. You're annoying me."
Suzaku felt his blood begin to boil and Isabella kept her back to him, a smug smirk on her face.
"You really annoy me you know. One minute you're my best friend, the next you turn into some Britannian tool that only cares about his status," Isabella chuckled darkly and Suzaku approached her.
"Easy for a murderer to say."
"Hypocrite, you've gotten your hands as dirty as mine. Don't go acting like your the shit because you're not," Isabella snapped and faced him.
Suzaku opened his mouth then closed it, shaking his head.
"I never wanted to hurt you," he said and Isabella rolled her eyes.
"But you did anyway. You went behind my back and ratted your best friend and me out to our worst enemy not to mention you turned traitor to your own country. You're just a naive traitor that should have the life knocked out of him," she growled, her eyes becoming demonic flames. "You sicken me."
Suzaku didn't reply and kept a blank stare on her.
"What am I to you, Suzaku Kururugi?"
"What-?"
"Don't play coy because you'll only irritate me more. What am I to you?"
"You were everything to me! I loved you until you turned into a killer...your brother, several soldiers and Shirely."
"HOW DARE YOU KEEP ACCUSING ME OF HER DEATH! YOU SON OF A BITCH! BURN IN HELL!"
Isabella fired her pistol and Suzaku's ear piece shattered as she jumped into the air and swung her leg around. Suzaku blocked her and she landed in a cat like postion then pounced back to her feet, aiming several punches for his blank face. Suzaku managed to dodge Isabella's punches, shoving her aside, and she slapped him once across the face in one, swift motion before he could blink. Knowing they were going to be found if this continued, Suzaku grabbed Isabella's hand and pinned it against her sweaty back.
"You're going to be executed if anyone finds you," Suzaku breathed into her ear as he kept her pinned against him. Isabella hissed through her teeth and yanked herself free standing a few feet away from him, her pistol aimed at his chest.
"You've got a gun. Do it yourself if you're so great."
Suzaku blinked then took aim, the gun pointing right at her neck, and her heart pounded.
Lelouch...
"I can't," Suzaku said and the gun lowered. Isabella felt a wave of relief and Suzaku's eyes dropped thier gaze. "I can't after that one day of saving me."
"Oh, so you can hand me over to the king of all jackasses and not give a second thought to what I have done for you, but now you can't shoot me because of that? What the hell is with you? Are you on my side or not?"
Suzaku didn't answer and Isabella heard the pounding of metal boots against the crumbling building floor.
"You better get out of here before-!" Isabella started to say but the boots had sounded directly behind her and the rest was slow motion.
Isabella whipped around, her hair swishing with her and her mouth opened to let out a scream.
"For the murder of Michael Liberata-"
"No! Don't shoot-!"
The gunshot cut off Suzaku and fire burned through Isabella's rib cage as she fell onto her side. There was another blast and she gritted her teeth in shear pain as the bullet ripped through her stomach.
"Su-za-ku-" she coughed, crimson splattering onto the floor, and the shadow of Suzaku fought to get to her.
"ISABELLA! ISABELLA!"
"Suz-a-ku..."
Everything is going black...
"She got what she deserved," the soldier gruffed and yanked Suzaku away. He fought but the soldier whacked him over the head with his gun and he was dragged away, Isabella half dead on the floor.
Flash to Lelouch...
"Are you sure she's okay?" Lelouch asked C.C. landed his ship on the ground.
"I believe so, I left her back at Pizza Hut," Rolo answered over the speaker.
"That's always a pleasant place to be left," C.C. remarked, perking up and Lelouch put his hand over his eyes.
"I'm going in here to make sure no one got left behind, alright? I'll meet you back at the Academy," he said to Rolo over the speaker and C.C.
The witch took off and Lelouch (he's in street clothes...just an FYI) ran into the building, his cell phone pressed to his ear.
"Come on, pick up Isabella," he muttered and came to her voice mail. "Damn it..."
He hung up and dialed again, still running...
I have to call 911...Lelouch or someone...Lelouch...I hope you're safe...
"Isabella where are you?"
I didn't plan on dying like this...so much pain...these two bullet hurt worse than the rest...Lelouch...oh God...Lelouch...I love you so much...
He kept running and searched the hallways, the feeling she was there growing more and more.
I love you so much Lelouch...I don't know when it all happened but I guess I always was I just never admitted it to myself...
"Isabella!"
The fact that you're Zero only makes me love you even more...
Lelouch took the staircase three stairs at a time, coming to another room where he saw a pool of crimson and ebony hair.
"Oh no..."
You're my hero...Lelouch...you're my hero...
"Oh no...Isabella!"
Lelouch kneeled down next to her, the crimson stained on her clothes and slowly seeping out onto the floor. Her eyes wer closed and her face was frozen in an expression of agonizing pain.
"Isabella, not you too! I just got you back...I can't lose you again!"
Lelouch removed his jacket and tried to use it as a tourniquet for her bullet wounds but her blood only drenched the jacket more. Hystarical, he dialed 911 and connected to the operator.
"A girl was shot-! Sh-she's bleeding to death!"
"The paramedics are on their way."
"Isabella...not you...not you too!" Lelouch sobbed and picked her up, laying her across his lap, the jacket still trying to masqurade as a tourniquet.
Lelouch...I can't move...so much pain...
Isabella felt tears slip through her closed eyelids and she groaned.
"Lelouch..."
Her eyes opened slowly and she tried to smile through the pulsing agony, her whole body shaking with the effort to circulate the oxygen through her body, eyes fighting to stay open.
"It's okay, I'm here," Lelouch coaxed, tears dripping onto her face.
"You know...I have...a tendency...to always get...shot..." Isabella tried to joke but Lelouch closed his eyes, his hand stroking her face. "Lelouch...you know...I love you...right?"
"Yes, and I love you too," he said and she raised a shaking hand to his face.
"When I first joined this war...I knew it would be a decision that would cause me...a ton of tribulation...but I don't regret it...because this war has made me realize...how much you mean to me...and finding out you're Zero...only made me...love you even more..."
"Isabella-"
"Lelou...I'll never stop fighting for you...I want you to be happy in this world...with Nunnally...because you deserve to have a happy, peaceful life...more than anyone...else. You've seen your loved ones die in front of you...your memories were tampered with...the whole world...was spying on you...acting as if you were something evil...but...you aren't...and when I almost lost you...waking up to see everyone I loved believing all of these lies...it just made me want to fight for you even more..."
Isabella's heart jolted excruciatingly and she gasped.
"Isabella, don't die! You can't die!"
"Fate...you know my saying about it...death is something no one can prevent..."
"Damn it Isabella! Don't give up! Don't die!" Lelouch's Geass flew into her eye but it didn't affect her. The outsides of her irises glowed red faintly but her life still slipped out of her the more time passed.
"It's okay...Lelouch...I'll never stop fighting for you...even if I'm not there physically..."
"ISABELLA! You can't die! Dear God, Isabella, live!"
The Geass activated again, the green irises still glowing a faint red, but failed to revive her. Isabella caressed his face as best she could, knowing he wouldn't be able to save her and her fingers touched his tears.
"I'll always...love you...when my memories were erased...even after...we both had to...start from scratch...I began to fall in love with you again...that's destiny...isn't it? True love or something? So...it's okay...right...? Even if something...as little as death...will separate us...temporarily...love will still find a way...isn't that how it goes...?"
"Isabella...don't leave me...! You can't die! I ORDER TO LIVE! DON'T DIE!"
"Lelouch..." Isabella's eyes began to close and sirens sounded outside, "no matter...what happens...or how many times we're both reincarnated...I'll always fall in love with you. You're the only one...I have ever truly..."
I can't breath...
"...loved..."
Keep Lelouch safe...
"...only one..."
Shirley...Mother...I'm so scared...
"Don't die...don't die!"
I don't want to...
The red Geass soared once again into Isabella's dazed, green eyes but her mind failed to be manipulated by the command. Lelouch gripped her hands and could only watch helplessly as Isabella smiled softly at him, his face becoming a mere blur in front of her and everthing began to fade to black.
"Isabella-!"
"...my hero...I love you...so much-"
"No...this isn't-! I'm not going to let you die! ISABELLA!"
I'm sorry...
Lelouch picked her up and sprinted down the stairs, sirens echoing off the wall and tears practically blinding him as her body fell limp.
What would happen if I made Isabella die? Hm...there's a plot twist no one would want...(right?) Next chapter going to be uploaded...sometime soon. Reviews por favor! :D
A/N I edited this chapter too...did I over do the ending of the chapter?