Alright, I think only two more chapters and then the story will come to an end. I hate dragging on and adding fillers. Unless it's for a humorous effect. XD Okee Dokey, my thank yous go to: brunettebookworm14 and Shoko-chan!! :D I give you Chapter 20: (This is, so far, the longest fic I have...)
Blades penetrate through anything...the blade of the Guillotine cut off 44,000 if not more heads in the French Revolution...the blade of a sword penetrates through a person's chest...the blade at the end of a baonette penetrated through the person's heart while in the American Revolution...the blade of the scathe that Death carries slices through life, reaping a person of their next breath. The sharpest blade, though, is the one Pain carries. Pain's blade is the one that tears through any and every part of someones body...the biggest gouge being in the heart...first the heart then slowly eats away the person's spirit and then continues onto their brain until their brain is consumed by nothing but the mental torment...it'll drive one to the point of insanity because they are so blinded by grief...Pain's blade being driven further and further into them...until they are slashed to pieces and unable to revive.
"I've come to the point where I could really care less if I win or lose," Isabella said as she walked through the empty halls of the palace, "it makes no difference now. Does it matter which happens? Personally, I have nothing to lose and nothing to gain. Both sides are at their climax...Lelouch could reach his goal or he could not..."
Isabella stopped walking and listened to the light hearted music floating through the halls from the ballroom of the palace.
"I will help Lelouch accomplish his goal. Japan will be restored to its former beauty. How the hell can he have a ball at a time like this?!" Isabella growled under her breath. She came to the staircase and sat down on the top step, the navy blue sky outside the window glimmering with stars and the milky white moon. Isabella sighed and continued listening to the music in the next room, feeling distant from Lelouch (who didn't actually plan to have a ball in the first place). She stood and walked passed the room, catching a glimpse of him in a black suit waltzing with some Noble's daughter. Isabella felt a surge of jealousy but it disappeared when she saw the bored expression in the young emperor's eye, despite the small smile.
He's all mine you blond Britannian bitch.
Isabella felt a smirk spread across her face when Lelouch's back was to her and Isabella caught a glimpse of the blond girl's face. It took a minute of wracking her brain when she recognized the girl to be Ally Welsh. (remember the really snotty blond from track tryouts in ch. 4??) Isabella had to turn and hurry away from the scene when she saw Ally walk back to her parents, a look of disappointment plastered across her face when Lelouch had shown no interest in her whatsoever.
I love conquering at least one Britannian. Lelouch is mine.
"Hey, Isabella, why aren't you inside?" Nunnally asked, her light pink ball gown sparkling in the hall lights and Isabella turned around.
"I don't have any clothes prepared and I wasn't exactly invited," she said and Nunnally steered her wheelchair up to her.
"Everyone is invited," the princess told her and took her hand, "and as for clothes, I'm sure I have something you can wear. There's a beautiful red ball gown you can have for tonight...I haven't worn it. I don't think I will either because I like pink and yellow...but it would look amazing on you."
Nunnally lead Isabella up the ramp and into her bed room, heading straight to her closet.
"Here it is," she said and gave the scarlet skirt a tug to bring it out into Isabella's view.
Isabella walked over to it and she felt her eyes widen twice their size.
"Nunnally...oh wow..." Isabella breathed and carefully removed the dress from the hanger.
The dress was a vibrant red and the bodice looked like thick ribbons that were sewn together in a layered pattern. The skirt of the dress was floor length and poofy, the netted fabric sparkling over the layers of scarlet silk.
"Thank you, Nunnally," Isabella breathed and Nunnally smiled.
"You can use some ribbons for your hair and some jewelry. I'll see you down stairs and Lelouch will be so happy you came," Nunnally smiled and Isabella returned it.
"Thank you Nunnally," she said and Nunnally left her to change.
I want her to be with Lelouch as much as she can...
Isabella managed to change in a matter of a few minutes and had her black hair tied in low pig tails with red ribbons. A diamond choker was around her neck and her own sparkling earrings were fastened in her ears, the red rose and pink lotus pendents being the perfect touched. Isabella took a look at herself in the mirror and pressed her red lips together.
I could never pull off being royal...never ever. I was wearing Lelouch's t-shirts back in the Academy with jeans and Converse...hopefully no one will notice I'm wearing them now...under the dress...
Isabella swallowed hard, nervous as hell, and then took a deep breath before starting down the steps. Heads didn't turn her way when she entered the room like it had always happened in movies but, the only head that did turn was the one that mattered. Lelouch was reluctantly dancing with Ally again and the moment she turned to see who he was staring at, her jaw almost hit the floor.
"S-she's an ELEVEN! How can you--?! What--?!"
Lelouch didn't hear her and ditched her, walking over to Isabella (who was turning paler than the moon from nervousness).
"May I have this dance?"
"You're emperor, you tell me," Isabella squeaked, the confidence gone from her voice.
I now know why I used to be the servant at these events...I have no idea how to dance!
Lelouch smiled at her and lead her out to the dance floor. Many nobles looked their direction, their hot eyes burning into her back and Lelouch sensed her uneasiness.
"Are you alright? I can tell this is making you uncomfortable," he said and Isabella followed his movement as best she could.
"N-no...it's alright," she tried to assure him and he kept a comforting hand on her back.
"Just pretend it's just us," he whispered in her ear and she felt her muscles relax.
"That's not a good idea."
"You're as bad as Tamaki."
Isabella smiled meekly, still dancing with Lelouch to the slow tempo of the music.
"It's not like you to be throwing parties and stuff," she told him and Lelouch shrugged.
"I didn't plan it. Some noble did."
"Which one?"
"Your favorite people."
"Alberns..." Isabella growled and Lelouch shook his head.
"Sorry...I was hoping you'd walk in though. I don't see you as much as I'd like to," he said and Isabella felt her heart swell.
"Yeah, it's obviously really different now," she said and Lelouch stopped as did the song.
"I don't want you to go through anymore mental torture. You can let go...you don't have to keep dwelling on me," he said and Isabella kept her distant green eyes on the floor.
"You make it sound so easy," she whispered, "excuse me...I need some air."
Lelouch watched her walk away towards the balcony and was then swarmed by admiring fan girls. Isabella leaned against the banister, her black pigtails spilling over the edge and her shoulders like long waterfalls. Her arms were crossed on the railing and her right ankle was over her left, head bowed and eyes closed. She didn't like being in a room full of people like that and could only imagine how nobles could do something like that under regular bases.
"It's hopeless," she sighed, a glistening tear splashing onto the polished wood. She didn't know how long she had stood there but it was long enough that by the time she noticed, the voices had died down and all the songs were slow, calming tunes.
"You've been standing out here for almost two hours. Not one for parties?" Suzaku's voice asked from behind her and a faint breeze blew, making Isabella's hair ripple outward towards the gardens.
"No, I can't stand being surrounded by people like that. I don't belong in there, I'm a Black Knight. I don't fit into the world of elegant jewels and fantastic parties. It's all a lie if you ask me...those people have never been exposed to pain or hardships. They just care about their images and money," Isabella said and raised her head to look up at the moon.
"I figured you would say something like that," Suzaku sighed and Isabella turned around, leaning back on her elbows against the rail.
"What about you, Suzaku Kururugi? What is it you are trying to do? Redeem yourself to Lelouch or turn against him even more?"
"I'm trying to fully redeem myself to you," Suzaku told her and she scoffed.
"Good luck. It'll take you a shit load of effort to do something like that," Isabella said and Suzaku crossed his arms.
"I understand why," he sighed and Isabella focused her green eyes on him, "I've hurt you in ways that are unthinkable. Most of the pain you've suffered is because of me, and I will do whatever it takes to earn the status I once had in your eyes."
Suzaku turned away, Isabella's eyes shining and he disappeared back inside.
"He's determined for you to love him," Lelouch told her quietly from a few feet beside her.
"I thought I told you I love you and only you."
Lelouch paused, pondering to feel selfishly proud or try to convince her she could love Suzaku if she tried.
"Don't bother trying to tell me otherwise Lelouch. I'm incapable of falling in love with anyone else because we have that bond of being best friends since we were born...my first memory of you is being two years old and we're just playing as if we knew each other already. Not many people have that foundation of love and then as we got older, I felt those feelings of genuine friendship blossom into a child's form of love. I don't know the exact time I fell in love with you...whether it was before the war started or during the seven years we were apart...or a little afterwards," Isabella confessed and Lelouch was in front of her, his arms on either side of her body, hands on the railing.
"So you just woke up one day thinking 'I'm in love with Lelouch,'?"
"Pretty much. I can't pin point it exactly so it's a way to explain it. I don't really try to comprehend it anymore...I just go with it."
Lelouch smiled and leaned closer to her, his lips parallel to hers. Isabella mirrored his actions and she could feel the electricity of his lips on hers.
"You Majesty," a guard came up behind Lelouch, standing in the doorway, and Lelouch cringed.
"Yes?" Lelouch turned around and the guard bowed.
"Some guests would like to say thier good byes and some last minute dances," the guard said and didn't even pay heed to Isabella.
"Very well," Lelouch sighed and the guard departed. "I'm sorry," he added to Isabella.
"You're just doing what you're supposed to," she stroked his cheek and kissed the corner of his mouth. Lelouch gave her a longing look then walked back into the brightly lit ballroom.
Isabella turned back around, standing up straight and covered her face with her hands as the faint breeze returned to keep her company and rippled her hair.
Hours Later...
"I cannot think of any royal figure that asked a woman to be thier Knight," Isabella said as she and Lelouch walked in the garage of the palace.
"Well, I don't want anyone else to be my Knight...plus you're rather convenient," Lelouch told her and she gave a dark laugh.
"Yeah, that's true. If something happens to me, I'll just revive. Immortality has its upside," Isabella said and lifted the skirts of her dress to walk easier.
"What do you think of the royal life?" Lelouch asked, not really needing to know the answer but asked any for the sake of a conversation.
"It's too hecktic for me. I don't see how those people can do stuff like that under regular bases," Isabella sighed and was extremely glad she was wearing her black Converse instead heels.
"Same here. I can't say I liked that very much," Lelouch agreed and Isabella let go of her skirts, letting them flow back down to her ankles.
"All of those girls liked you."
"They like my title and the fact they got to dance with the Emperor."
"Yeah, you're right. One of them I recognized from school."
"Which one?"
"The blond you were dancing with when I came in. Ally Welsh."
"Oh God...she was...I swear I practically fell on my knees and thanked you for walking in at that moment. That girl was hinting at marriage."
Isabella tripped over a loose shoe lace and her black pigtails whapped Lelouch in the face.
"MARRIAGE?!"
"I'm a young emperor, Isabell,a and these nobles will do anything to become royalty," Lelouch coaxed and Isabella glared at him intensely.
"I'm trying not to be possessive now," she glowered and Lelouch laughed softly.
"There's no need to be," he assured her and she relaxed.
"Gomen."
Lelouch smiled at her and tilted her head back with his forefinger and thumb on her chin. Isabella wrapped her arms around his waist and thier lips touched. Not a kiss just yet--
Craaaaaashhhh!
"Are you kidding me?!" Isabella cried as she jumped in front of Lelouch, yanking her gun out from the strap on her thigh.
"I'm not doing this for revenge or my country," Kallen's voice came over the radio and Isabella pushed Lelouch back up against the wall.
"What are you doing Kallen?!" Isabella shrieked and kept her body protecting Lelouch's. "Did you invite her to the party?!" she hissed to Lelouch and he nodded.
"She didn't say anything about coming or not!"
(A/N, I just screwed up a REALLY serious moment...)
Isabella pushed Lelouch out of harm's way as Kallen aimed the guns at her and then fled to her own Knightmare.
"Kallen, what are you doing!? You're suppossed to be helping Lelouch!" Isabella cried once she was inside.
"That was before he became the Emporer and annhilated the Japanese people's dreams!"
Isabella blocked a punch from Kallen's Knightmare and swung another blow which struck the red Knightmare in the chest.
"He's not doing anything like that! I thought you of all people would realize that!"
Kallen stumbled back and then drew out the sword. Isabella readied her own and the swords collided, making Isabella grimace at the metal sound.
"It would explain the amounts of bloodshed he has caused!" Kallen snapped and Isabella forced her backwards, back outside.
"I don't know what exactly he is planning but I know Lelouch would not do anything to hurt anyone!"
"He's gone traitor! And you're defending him!"
The two Knightmares got into a martial arts fight, throwing skillful punches, blocking and attacking.
"I'm his knight! I am not a traitor because my vow is to help Lelouch with his goal!" Isabella cried and Kallen lunged at her.
"So you're assisting him in this massacre!?"
"EVERYTHING IS HAPPENING FOR A REASON! YOU'RE HIS MOST FAITHFUL FOLLOWER KALLEN! HOW CAN YOU LOSE TRUST IN HIM?!" Isabella yelled and Kallen stopped.
"You win this time," Kallen told her after a minute and Isabella scoffed.
"I'm surprised you think I care about winning or losing. What's the difference now?"
Kallen sat back in her Knightmare, her head bowed and deep red hair hanging in her face.
"I don't know," was her reply and Isabella a tear slide out of each of her eyes.
"Are we going to start a war against each other or are you going to help us out?" Isabella asked after a handful of endless minutes.
"I trust you," Kallen told her and Isabella lowered herself from her Knightmare.
"You have to trust me one hundred percent, no matter what alright?" Isabella ordered more than stated and Kallen nodded as she too lowered herself down from the mechanical warrior.
"I will."
Isabella gave her a long, blank stare and then retreated back into the palace.
Depressing...this has turned so sad...I never intended to make myself feel like crying...thankfully I have some Paramore playing so I don't cry. XD Pathetic how I can myself cry and laugh with my own story...that's just...wow...Alright, please review!! I'll upload whether I get any or not but the main reason I love reviews is I like knowing what the readers think. Yes, give me YOUR opinion! -ahem- I apologize for being so demanding. Just because I love you guys so much I'll start the next chapter right away and post it ASAP. :D