Here is chapter 17!! I think I might actually get done with the whole story by the end of the week...keep your fingers crossed!! XD Don't worry though, I'll write more. XD Enough of my yammering, Thank you: brunettebookworm14, Usagi323, 0208 and Cherry Obsessed! Hope you like it! :D

"Rolo, you do know Lelouch didn't mean all those things he yelled at you, right?" Isabella asked meekly when she and her brother had returned to the ship. They were sitting in Isabella's room (she had claimed it XD) and Rolo gripped his crossed ankles.

"Of course, at least, I hope he didn't."

Isabella's eyes softened and she crossed her own legs on her bed.

"Come here, Rolo," she instructed gently and Rolo crawled into her lap like a small child. "I've never had a younger brother...but I always told myself if I was ever able to have a little brother, I would do this every time he was sad."

Isabella embraced Rolo, one hand on his head, the other around his shoulders and she rested her cheek on his hair. He rested his hands on her arm, feeling the same warmth and love that he had been deprived of when he was younger.

"Onee-san..."

Isabella hugged him tighter and he relaxed his head against her chest, her heart beat echoing through her shirt and into his ears. He began to feel sleepy after a few minutes, Isabella stroking his hair in a sisterly way, and humming a faint, soothing song. Rolo's eyes began to close and he leaned against Isabella more, falling into a comfortable sleep in her consoling arms.

"I love you, Onee-san," Rolo whispered through a yawn and Isabella smiled.

"I love you too, Rolo-otouto."

Rolo had a smile on his face as he fell asleep in her arms and Isabella laid him down on the bed, tucking him under the cozy covers.

"Sleep well, Rolo-chan," she whispered and caressed his forehead as if he really was her younger brother.

Isabella crept quietly out of the room and went back into the sitting area of the ship, where Lelouch was standing. He was by the window, looking out, back to her and hands folded behind him. Isabella figured she should show she had forgiven him for bursting earlier and walked up behind him, her arms snaking around his waist.

"Isabella?"

"Hm?"

Lelouch stopped as she rested her head between his shoulder blades.

"You've forgiven me?"

"Yup. It's not like you meant to do what you did. Nunnally almost died...I would have been freaking out as well if I were in your position."

"What do you mean 'almost'?"

"She's alive, Lelouch."

"You know this for sure?"

"Yes."

"How?"

"I have no idea. I just know."

"I'm holding that against you."

"I would assume you'd do that but trust me, Nunnally's fine," Isabella assured him and Lelouch's body relaxed. "Now answer this for me, will you?"

"Depends on what you're asking."

Isabella gnawed on her lip and felt Lelouch's fingers intertwine with hers and he lowered their hands to his sides. Isabella still kept her head leaning on him comfortably and let his fingers delicately play with hers.

"I want to know what you're planning with Suzaku."

"I can't tell you that, Isabella."

"Why is that?"

Lelouch turned around and placed his hands on Isabella's shoulders.

"Don't you think you've dealt with enough misery and loss?" he asked and her eyes shone.

"Lelouch--"

He kissed her, cutting her off and Isabella let a tear slip through her closed eyes. She pulled him closer to her, arms around his waist and lips trembling just barely as his hands ran through her hair.

Don't make me lose you too...I won't allow you to die!

Isabella No Kansou...(Kansou=Thoughts)

I've always wondered since I was a child, do we choose to be evil? Do we choose to do hideous acts, such a murder, rape or theft? Is Evil a choice, or is it instilled in every human when we are born and tends to take over us, usually in the times we most want to keep it chained inside? Do we always want to cause another person pain when we do such an act or are we blinded because we think we're not doing anything wrong? Maybe we think we're doing it for justice or in the name of someone else because we love them...maybe it was the way we were raised as a child...or maybe it's just a way of trying to scream out for help because all we really want is love...? Do we commit sins just because we think we will be accepted by someone or a group, mistaking their using us for love? Humans are complex beings...we do things subconsciously and blindly...sometimes not even realizing we're doing something wrong until we see the pain and tears drenching the person's face. So, I'm asking you again, is being evil truly a choice?

Back to the original story...

"C.C. has been gone for a while," Kallen said and Isabella perked up.

"Come to think of it, it's been three hours. That's not like her unless she's in Pizza Hut."

"I'll call her," Kallen said and raised her cell phone to her ear.

Isabella waited for several minutes and Kallen closed her phone, letting out a sigh.

"She's not answering her phone."

Isabella stood up and locked herself in the bathroom to change back into her street clothes back.

"I'll be back," Isabella told her friend and with that, strode out of the room.

C.C. no Kansou...

This isn't something I am looking forward to...Isabella has suffered enough and she's seen enough death. Still...we have a contract...I hope she forgives me...I honestly hope she does. I don't want to cause her any more heart ache...I don't want to anymore. I love her like a sister, she's one of the few that has ever given me the genuine feeling of acceptance and friendship. She has those traits of determination and strength I've always wanted more people to have...I admire her so much...I really do...can I do this to her? I know she'll use the power in a positive manner and she definitely won't abuse it. I can trust her to balance the power...but what about in the future when she won't be able to handle it anymore? Will she ever be able to have peace of mind? Immortality isn't something that is easy to pass onto another person...will she be able to do it before she losses all hope and will to live?

C.C.'s phone viberated in her pocket and she touched it but didn't answer.

Isabella...

C.C. approached the alter, the stained glass window showing an angel with her pure white wings spread out, symbolizing protection, and knelt down before the crucifix on the alter. C.C. folded her delicate hands together, her green hair flowing around her and a tear slipping from her eye as she prayed for forgiveness.

Isabella...I am so sorry...please don't hate me for this...

Flash Back to Isabella...

Isabella walked quietly out of the room and towards the door, her black pony tail swishing back and forth as she walked.

"Isabella, where are you going?" Lelouch asked when he had spotted her and she froze.

"There's something I need to do," she told him and Lelouch felt his heart rate increase.

"You know, don't you?"

"I have a good idea of what might be going on...however...if you take your father's Code then it might be able to all--"

"Isabella."

She didn't face him but she raised her head more, keeping her eyes straight ahead. She forced tears back and felt her fingers twitch as she pressed her lips together.

"I love you, so much Isabella, but my mind is made up. You don't have to go through this," Lelouch told her, his voice seeming strangled as if he too was holding back sobs.

"I told you I would fight for you until the end."

"It's not the end, not for you. Don't waste the rest of your time on Earth dwelling on me."

"I'm not wasting time. I'm not giving up either, no matter what or who else I'm going to lose. I will never stop fighting for you Lelouch. You're the reason I joined this war and the reason I'm never going to give up."

Isabella inhaled deeply and then made her legs walk forward, feeling as if someone was slowly pounding a dagger through her chest. Lelouch could only stare after her, using every ounce of energy he had to just not burst at the seams.

Half Hour Later...

Isabella stopped in front of a Gothic styled church, the rain pounding harder down on her as she gazed up at the enormous, circle, stained glass window near the top of the church. She balled her fists, the rain making it hard to decipher if she was crying or not, and slowly stepped up the cement stairs, reaching the brass handle. She pulled the door open with feeble strength and let herself inside, the invisible angels embracing her with comforting wings. Isabella paused, her black hair dripping rain water and then lifted her head, her eyes leading her gaze to the alter.

"I thought you would be here soon," C.C. said and the chapel doors faintly squeaked shut.

"To be honest, I just found myself walking here. I was hoping you'd just be at Pizza Hut," Isabella told her green haired friend and C.C. stood up.

"I went there first," she said and Isabella gave a light giggle.

"C.C., what are you doing?"

The witch was in front of her now and Isabella stared at her blankly, her former, lively green eyes now dead. She seemed to lost all happy emotions, there was no life left inside of her with the knowledge she was now bearing. The world seemed to have abandoned her and she had lost all will to live, and C.C. could see that easily.

"I want to know if you're willing to finish our contract," C.C. asked, her silky voice cracking and Isabella felt her heart almost stop.

"So, I'm going to lose you too?" she asked, working hard to not sound sorry for herself.

"Isabella, don't think that way. You don't have to. Immortality has many down points to it...suffering pain beyond belief and having to live with the mental torture you'll live on while the rest of your loved ones slowly disappear in the flow of time...that endless cycle of pain, death and rebirth..." C.C. trailed off and without realizing it, her gold eyes became consumed with fear and sadness.

"C.C.!" Isabella placed a hand on the witch's shoulder and the memories fled through her mind.

Rejection...slavery...so much torture...guillotine...being burned alive...stabbed to death...seeing so many people she loved die right in front of her...stop it! Stop hurting C.C.! She doesn't deserve it!...betrayal...Not C.C...she doesn't deserve this! STOP IT! Then having to live on...this is what the price of immortality is...isn't it? Watching the circle of life continue but you remain frozen...unchanging...the world still moving on as if it doesn't care...this is the price of Geass.

"I'll make it go away, C.C.," Isabella locked her arms around C.C., both of them sinking to the floor, Isabella's tears burning her face. "I'll make it go away...I'll make it all stop. You don't have to suffer anymore...I won't let you."

C.C. retracted back, her golden eyes shining and Isabella let her go.

"You're one of my best friends C.C., I don't want you to go through anymore agony. You don't deserve it," Isabella whispered, her sobs tearing at her throat as she swallowed them down.

"You've been the only one to be able to complete the contract with me..." C.C. said, her voice soft and she put her hand over her mouth, "thank you...so much...for giving me the freedom I've been craving for...for so long."

"That's what friends are for, right?" Isabella forced a smile through her tears and C.C. held out her hand.

Isabella took it, trembling all over, and C.C. gave her a truly grateful smile. A faint light began to spark at the contact of thier skin and it grew bigger, completly engulfing both of the girls' hands. A young wind pushed it's way out of the light and C.C. made eyes contact with Isabella one last time.

"You are a truly remarkable person, Isabella."

"I love you, C.C. You're like a sister to me..."

One last smile from her friend and thin lighting bolt shapes began to pulse out in all directions of the church. The light became bigger and brighter and C.C. closed her eyes, tears streaming down her face and a smile on her face as Isabella caught one last glimpse of her and was then shoved backwards by an invisible force. She was lifted several feet off the ground, her hair whipping around her and shooting back to it's former hip length, colorful ribbons of light flowing in and out of her, vivid colors of red, green, blue, violet, orange and pink as the whole church was flooded with golden light. Isabella had her eyes closed and her back arched gracefully, the Geass sign glimmering on her stomach as her shirt blew around in the wind coming from the light and across her forehead as her bangs rippled with the rest of her hair. Her eyes shot back open, becoming immune to the harsh light, and they shone with a new intensity. Slowly, the ribbons entered her body, one at a time anbd the light faded, leaving sparkles raining from the ceiling. Isabella felt her feet touch the marble floor, the Geass sign still glimmering on her forehead and she was panting, her body feeling super humanly strong and powerful.

"C.C.!" Isabella finally spotted the green haired girl laying at the foot of the alter, her silky locks spilled around her, eyes closed but a faint smile on her face. Her body looked so feeble and defensless and Isabella rushed to her side, picking the girl up delicatly as if she would shatter to pieces at the new immortal's touch. "C.C.!"

C.C.'s fading gold eyes opened as Isabella held her in her arms, and C.C. smiled at the sight of the shining red Geass now beginning to fade back into Isabella's body.

"Thank you...Isabella...for always being there...for me...you really are...one of...the truest friends...I have ever had..." C.C. whispered weakly and Isabella let her tears pour forth from her eyes.

"I will not abuse the new power you have given to me. I will use it as a benefit to human kind...only that...I promise you I will...in your honor," she said and hugged her friend closely.

"Thank...you...for my...freedom..." C.C. breathed and did her best to hug Isabella back.

"You deserve it. You're free now," Isabella cried and C.C. gave a light laugh and her hand dropped from Isabella's shoulder.

Isabella sensed C.C.'s spirit moving on to Heaven and there was the sound of shattering glass as C.C. exhaled her final breath.

"C.C.," Isabella whispered into the dead girl's shoulder, "you can rest now. I will continue on, in your name, using this power as a benefit to the world."

Unable to hold back any longer, Isabella hugged C.C.'s unresponsive body tightly before sobbing uncontrollably and inconsolably.

T.T I tried to update last night but had to sleep. . I was going to make myself cry if I wrote anymore of this chapter. I thought in the series if Lelouch ever did C.C.'s code, she'd die immediately because...well think of how old she is...technically. o.O I used my imagination on how Isabella would gain immortality...it reminded me slightly of Sailor Moon (that was actually my inspiration, you know, when ever the chick goes "Moon Prism Power" or whatever? XD) Review por favor. Jya!