Stage Four "Lost Colors"

The next morning a few giggles fill Feite's dorm room while Milly takes a few pictures with a Polaroid camera. The bright flash fills the room while Feite was lying on the covers with her arms stretched out and in her underwear. "Feite, it's time to wake up cousin!" Feite mumbled for a moment and rolled off the bed slamming head first into the polished woodworked floor. "Ugh…" Her moved her arm to her forehead while her legs moved to the floor. Milly make a pained expression while she takes a few more pictures. "I bet a lot of the guys at the school would like these photos!" Feite's eyes opened while she looked up at the camera, and the photos in her hand. "Eh?" She widened her eyes a moment, and felt the breeze against her skin. "Milly you didn't!" Milly let out a laugh, and rushed out of the room. "You can't catch me!" Feite had half the mind to chase after, but she stopped herself at the doorway. 'I need to get those pictures!' She opened the closet and quickly put on her uniform blouse and skirt.

Moments pass while Feite takes several deep breaths in the middle of the school grounds. She was heavily fatigued still from the rigorous tests in India. Her vision was starting to blur slightly while she stumbled forward. She caught herself and held her forearm to her head. 'Am I going to pass out…' Feite exhaled softly, and took a seat underneath the shade of a tree. Her vision started to blur more while she closed her eyes falling into a forced nap.

"Welcome back Feite." Suzaku looked over holding a white box in his hands. He walked off the path while stopping to look over at her. "Are you alright? Why are you sleeping here?" Feite opened her eyes, and let out a small yawn. "Suzaku is that you?" Suzaku crouched down and looked down at her wrinkled shirt, and sneakers. "Feite, you look like you haven't been getting much sleep. Was your trip to India too much for you?" Feite rubbed her eyes, and shook her head. "No, I'm fine, what is that for?" On the side of the white box was the name for one of the prestigious bakeries in Area Eleven. Suzaku looked at it and held it up. "Milly didn't tell you? How about I walk with you back to the dorm, and wait for you to get dressed. We'll walk together to the student council building."

It took the pair a few minutes, but Suzaku sat on the staircase holding the white box on his lap while he waited for Feite to return. The doorway opened, and Feite walked out wearing her uniform blazer over a freshly ironed shirt. Her face however still showed hints of fatigue. "I'm sorry for making you wait Suzaku." She let out a small yawn, and walked down the stairs. Suzaku shook his head and let out a smile. "No problem, so let's head to the student council building."

The two continued down the pathway while inside the banquet room, the white haired youth from earlier stands dressed in a pair of uniform slacks, and a white shirt. "Are you sure its okay for me to be here for your cousin's return party?" Milly let out a smile while she looks through the various photos of Feite in her underwear. "No, it's not a problem Rai-kun." Rai rubbed the back of his head, and let out a smile. "It's nice that you have made arrangements for me to attend school here for the time being, but it wasn't necessary." Milly waved her hand and looked at the doorway. "I said don't worry Rai, look she's here."

Rai turned over to spot Feite walking in with Suzaku, his eyes immediately fix on her and his eyes widen. "That's your cousin?" Milly moved over and whispered into his ear. "She's in the same year as myself, and currently closer to graduating then I am." Rai let out a smile, while Nina looked over with a hint of fright at the new arrival. "It's nice that everyone here is so welcoming…" Shirley waved from the upper level at the two late arrivals.

With a few pops a few streamers fall to the floor while Rivalz waves from the upper deck. "Welcome home Feite!" Kallen stands by Shirley while waving weakly. Suzaku let out a smile, and looked over at Feite. "Everyone missed you a lot for those two weeks…" He blinked for a moment and looked up at Rai. "Who is that guy?" Feite let out a nod and also looked up at Rai with a pair of interested eyes. "I think we're about to find out."

Feite walked up the stairs with Suzaku and both immediately started to walk over to Rai and Milly. Feite crossed her arms and glared up at Milly. "So, who are you exactly?" Milly let out a cough and held her hand out to Rai. "This is Rai-kun, I found him outside the academy on my way back from the store. He has amnesia, and basically will be staying at the academy until he gets his memory back." Suzaku let out a nod and held out his hand for a shake. "That's most unfortunate, I'm Kururugi Suzaku." Rai gripped Suzaku's hand and shook it. Feite walked over and smiled, "I see amnesia is a horrible thing to have, I'm this eccentric girl's cousin, you can call me Feite."

Milly clapped her hands together, and smiles at everyone. "Okay everyone now that the cake is here, let's have Feite's welcoming home party!" She tugs on Rai's hand and pulls him over to the table. "Come on Rai you can help me get the supplies together." Lelouch looks over at Feite as does Kallen. "What happened in India Feite?" Feite looked over at Kallen, and Lelouch while Suzaku stared at the trio from a distance. "I had a good time, there were two specific artifacts that were amazing. The archeologist had them sent to a collector somewhere here in Area Eleven. My sister told me that they would be put to use soon, but I wonder where." Kallen looked at Feite with a confused look. "I see, you went to an archeological dig?" Lelouch let out a smile, and walked off towards the tables. "Don't talk to Kallen too long Feite, this is your party." Feite turned over and let out a laugh. "Okay Lelouch…" She paused for a moment and whispered into Kallen's ear. "Anything happen while I was out?" Kallen shook her head, and whispered back. "Nothing, we only stopped a few things in the past few days." Feite nodded slightly and grinned. "Let's party Kallen, come on, it'll let your body get stronger."

"So you don't remember anything about your past that is strange did you check the hospitals? They should have a record about you there." Suzaku looked over the table with a concerned expression while Feite and Kallen walked by taking the other seats. Rai shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. "When I called, no hospital said that they had a patient by the name of Rai. Not remembering my surname is annoying, I can't really do much as it is." Milly let out a smile, and patted him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, you'll get them back with the Ashford families support right Feite?" Feite looked over and smiled at Rai. She had no idea who this new guy could be, but if Milly trusted him she would have to as well. "Yeah, whatever it takes. So don't stress it okay?" Milly clapped her hands together while she looked over her shoulder at Lelouch. "Lulu, is the cake prepared yet?"

Lelouch looked over while he had already cut the cake into small portions for everyone. One of them however had a small strawberry on top. "Yes, but leave the strawberry for Feite." Milly let out a smile, and patted Feite on her shoulder. "Oh how sweet, he knows your favorite fruit." Suzaku looked over with a curious look. "Feite loves Strawberries? She hasn't changed at all…" He let out a smile while Feite brings the cake to the table. Feite growled while she curled up her fist. "I don't like strawberries! I hate them!" She poked her fork into the side of the expertly cut berry and crewed on it. "See I'm not…." Milly stared at her while everyone laughed. Feite's grumpy face started to turn while the flavor shot through her mouth. Her face was slowly turning red while she couldn't resist. "You were saying?" Milly let out a smile while she moved a strawberry to her mouth. Feite jumped out of the seat, and fell onto the ground yanking the Strawberry from Milly's hand.

Rai got out of his seat, and held his arm out to her. "Are you alright? Even if you like them you shouldn't hurt yourself in order to get them." Feite looked up with half of a strawberry poking out from her mouth. "I guess but…" She gripped his hand and he pulled her up. Lelouch shook his head, and sat down at the table unbuttoning his collar. "I need to find out who this guy is. He's too mysterious to randomly show up when Feite gets back from India."

Hours later, Feite sits on the stairwell in the main hallway with her arms folded over her chest. "I can't eat one more bite." She let out a yawn, and looked over to Suzaku and Lelouch entering the room. "Oh hey you guys. I could have helped clean up you know." Suzaku smiled and rubbed the back of his head. "No need, Feite it's your welcoming back party. Why would we have you clean up?" Feite looked away while she had some blush on her face. "Come on guys, I don't like to be pampered okay. I could have helped you clean up at least." Lelouch walked over to Feite and poked her in the center of the forehead. "Just say thanks, I'm going to finish some homework. I'll talk to you two later." Feite paused and looked up while she moved her hand slowly to her forehead. "Thanks for the hostility Lelouch…" She rubbed her forehead while Suzaku leaned on the staircase railing. "So do you want me to walk you back?" Feite stretched her arms out and nodded. "I guess so, Suzaku so how is it being in the Britannian Military?" Suzaku shrugged his shoulders and let out a laugh. "It's nothing I guess, but it gives me a chance to go to school with you and Lelouch. I don't know what I'd do if I couldn't see my old friends." Feite let out a smile, and laughed. "well that's a good thing, if I joined I probably wouldn't be in this conflict zone."

C.C. looked out from the veranda to spot Rai sitting the courtyard. She had a strange feeling forming inside her. There was something about that white haired youth, but she couldn't put her finger on it. "What are you looking at C.C?" Lelouch walked to the doorway with a closed book in his hand. C.C. turned over her shoulder and let out a smile. "It's nothing, so how is your plan going?" Lelouch shook his head while he stared at a nearby computer. "I still need more calculations, I think I'll have Nina help me out with them. However this plan won't work if we don't get the item in question from Kyoto."

The next day, Feite walks around the school campus with her bag hanging behind her. She kicks a small can that was on the ground while she pauses to look at the other students. It turned into another day at the school. Most of the students were going about their peaceful lives while innocent people were being persecuted by Britannia. She clenched her fist while she glared at the students. "Why are you so angry Feite?" Rai looked over from a nearby bench, with a Popsicle in hand. Feite looked over and let out a smile rubbing the back of her head. "I got a bad grade on my research paper. It seems the teacher was irritated that I went off topic in my essay." Rai let out a smile and licked the icy treat while he shrugged his shoulders. "You can't get high marks all the time. Hey let me get you a treat." Feite looked at the popsicle, and leaned forward. "How did you get that?" Rai pointed over to the club sponsored booth at the end. Feite let out a laugh while a few of the girls were already staring jealously at her. "Oh the drama club is trying to tempt people again with ice cream again…" Rai stopped for a moment and looked over. "Do you not like ice cream?" Her eyes widen while a hint of red formed on her cheeks. "Its not that I don't like it…" Rai let out a smile, and started to run forward. "Let me grab you one." Feite let out a small laugh, and shook her head. "What a weird person…"

The two walked alongside the sidewalk in front of the academy side by side. Feite held the small cone in both hands while Rai walked beside her with his hands tucked into his pockets. "So, how do you like roaming around the campus? I'm sure Milly has already told the teachers that you're staying here." Feite looked over while Rai paused slightly and shook his head. "It's actually very fun, the campus is filled with a lot of strange and interesting people. You for one are one of the strangest girl I've ever had the chance of meeting." Feite looked over with a shocked look and glared at him. "Strangest? How so?" Rai held his hand out in defense, and laughed. "Nothing like that, it's just you have some sort of Aura that makes me feel as ease. You're a…" Feite held her hand out and laughed trying to hide her blushing face. "Stop it! Hey look its Suzaku!"

Suzaku walked down the sidewalk holding his book bag and looked up with a smile on his face. "Hey, how are you two doing?" Feite looked up at Suzaku and grinned. "You missed classes again, is your job taking too much out of you mighty Lord Kururugi?" Suzaku held out his hand and let out a weak laugh. "Don't' call me Lord, it feels unnatural to me. About that, I asked a friend of mine in the medical department to help out with you Rai." Rai looked over with his hands tucked away in his pockets. "What do you mean by that Suzaku?" Suzaku reached into his book bag and pulled out a small pamphlet. "A DNA test, it will be great for you to find your identity." Feite looked at the pamphlet and let out a smile while from a large transport in the distance Lloyd lowers a pair of binoculars.

"So that's the person known as Rai, and ooh Azalea's sister. What a rarity in this part of the world." Lloyd turns back to Cecile who entered the cabin from the back. "I made sandwiches do you want to have one?" Lloyd hesisitantly looked at them and shook his head. "I'll pass on them for now." Cecile let out a smile while she took a bite from one of her odd sandwiches. "It's nice that Suzaku has such caring friends. Do you think that he is dating her?" Lloyd shook his head and laughed. "I wonder."

Feite tossed the wrapper for her cone into a nearby waste basket while she hustled over to Suzaku and Rai down the street. "Hey I told you guys not to walk so far away!" Suzaku shook his head and laughed. "I'm not sure if you want to go Feite, we're going to the Military office." Feite shrugged her shoulders, and scoffed. "Do you think I'm so sore that I'm afraid of a few uniform clad officers? Hah, I'm more strong than you believe Suzaku-kun!" Rai let out a small laugh, and stopped for a moment. His hand moved to his forehead, and a small shock of pain surged through his head with a memory. "Rai?" Feite looked up at him with a pair of concerned eyes. He blinked and shook his head while a smile formed. "Yeah, I'm okay….lets go."

Moments later, Feite sits on a bench in front of the military hospital with Suzaku seated beside her. Rai was currently having his blood drawn, and Suzaku didn't want to have Feite wait outside by herself. "So Suzaku, do you think it will help Rai knowing his identity this way?" Suzaku shook his head and stared off at the sun setting. "I don't know, but its impossible to keep hiding your past. Eventually it would come back, and either haunt or give him release." Feite looked down and let out a small chuckle. "I guess you're right, but why look to the past when the future is so exciting. You have a nice career as a soldier, and I well have…" Suzaku put his hand on her shoulder. "You have a bunch of friends that will support you till the end. Feite you're not alone in this world." She responded with a small punch to the side of his arm. "You're such a playboy Suzaku, saying those embarrassing words around me."

The front doors opened while Rai walked out with a small wrap of bandages on his elbow. He looked left to right and waved over at Suzaku and Feite. "Hey guys, I'm finished." He took a few steps and paused while letting out a laugh. "Am I intruding on something?" Suzaku looked over and rubbed the back of his head. "No, it's nothing at all. Hey do you guys want to get something to eat?" Feite stretched her arms out and cheered. "I thought you'd never ask Suzaku!"

Before the trio reached the gateway, a solider stands with his arms crossed over his chest. "It's nice to see you, Murderer." Feite's eyes wide while her fist immediately clenched forward. Suzaku looked over while he took a step forward. "What are you saying?" The soldier let out a smile and pointed out at Feite. "Come on honorary, you must be the only idiot that doesn't know. That girl right there killed a noble in cold blood and due to her connections got off with just an exile. You have some nerve to show up here." Feite growled while Suzaku moved in front of her. "Who cares, she was acquitted of that charge, and is serving her sentence out. Why do people like you always have to bring hate back up?" The soldier let out a laugh, and threw his arm out. "Listen here Eleven, that bitch killed my best friend, and if you don't get out of my way I'll…" Rai glared at the solider, and quickly interrupted. "Do what? I won't let you touch her. What happened in the past is done, its people like you that make me sick." The soldier rushed forward only to hear a loud voice behind them.

"Stop it now you idiot!" The loud voice was familiar and belonged to Cornelia's right hand man, Andres Dalton. Feite looked over with shock in her eyes while the solider paused mid punch. "Lord Dalton…I." Dalton walked over and punched the solider knocking him clean off his feet. "How dare you threaten a friend of the royal family?" He turned over to Suzaku and nodded. "I'm glad at least one of our soldiers is capable of protecting a maiden. Private Kururugi you have my gratitude." The soldier growls while he held the side of his face. "Damn you, I won't forget this you bitch. I don't care if she's a friend of the princess, you deserved to be hanged for killing Luca!" A group of security personnel rush forward whiel Dalton points to the soldier. "Shut up, and arrest him now!"

Inside a small room, Feite sits holding a cup of coffee in her hands. Dalton sat at a desk with a odd look on his face. "Why did you come here Avalon? Did you want to tell me your answer personally?" Feite shook her head while staring at the reflection in the cup of coffee. "I came here with Suzaku, our friend Rai lost his memory and Suzaku said it would be better for him to have a DNA test done. I didn't know that that guy would be here in Area Eleven." Dalton folded his hands over one another and smiled. "Its best not to think of the past." Feite looked up with a mixture of anger and tears in her eyes. "I didn't kill him, I swear…" Dalton's smiled faded while he rushed to her side. "Come now…." He pulled out a handkerchief from his uniform, and wiped tears from under her eye. "It must be hard keeping bad memories suppressed…"

Feite stepped out of the room holding her bag in her hands. Suzaku sat up from the chair, as did Rai. "Are you alright Feite?" Suzaku looked over with a vague smile on his face. "Do you want me to bring you back to the Academy? I'm sorry I didn't know that…" Feite shook her head, and let out a smile. "Don't worry Suzaku, it was my own fault for coming here…" Rai walked over and nodded. "I'll walk her home Suzaku, they still want your report of the matter. So since I'm not a soldier, I'll take her home." Suzaku let out a nod, and waved. "Protect her okay?" Rai shook his head, and winked at Feite. "I don't think she needs protecting Suzaku."

A tram pulls into the station while Feite and Rai walk out on the platform. A few people turn to them while they continue down the staircase down to the floor level. "Anything you want to talk about?" Feite looked over at Rai and shrugged her shoulders. "It's nothing, people need someone to blame. I swear to you that I didn't kill anyone. How else would I still be living with people in such a carefree manner?" Rai shook his head and rubbed his temple. "I know, that's why I trust you Feite. You and everyone are my first friends, or at least the only ones that I can remember for the time being." Feite let out a smile and stretched out her arms. "Well it's okay Rai…let's just head back to the academy."

At the academy Feite and Rai enter the gates to see Lelouch leaning against the wall wearing his casual attire. Lelouch looks up staring at her for a moment before motion for her to come over. Rai looked over at Feite and let out a small laugh. "I'll let you two talk, it seems he's had something to say to you all day. I'll see you tomorrow Feite." He waved and started to jog off into the Academy. Lelouch waves nonchalantly to him while Rai disappears off into the school grounds. Feite walks over with her arms behind her back. She takes large steps while Lelouch shakes his head in embarrassment. "If you act like that, people will start thinking that we're more than friends." Feite rolled her eyes pushing her hand forward into Lelouch's chest pinning him to the wall. His face starts to let out a light blush while Feite moved slowly into his face. "Feite….you.." Feite stopped a few inches from his lips and stuck out her tongue. "You're such a loser Lulu…" She removed her hand and turned around letting Lelouch get resettled.

"What do you want to talk about?" Feite stared off into the distance staring at the few cars that happened to pass by. Lelouch adjusted his collar, and looked away from her backside. "It's about the shipment, and the plans I have for Narita." Feite put her hands into her skirt pockets, and let out a sigh. "I'm a bit exhausted to talk about revolutions, but indulge me." Lelouch shook his head and started to walk back into the academy. "We'll be talking about this in a more secure area. Follow me R1." Feite shrugged her shoulders and looked over her shoulder with an annoyed look on her face. "R1? I'm not a chess piece you idiot…" She let out a small pout and followed Lelouch.

The pair entered the gymnasium's pool to spot C.C. wearing a school swimsuit. She looked over at the pair and looked especially at Lelouch. "So, you decided to bring her here as well." Feite turned over to C.C. and let out a small nod. "So we meet again, it's been quite a while since I last saw you." Feite put her hands on her hips and grinned at the witch. C.C. let out a nod, and walked off towards the diving board. Lelouch sat on a nearby foldout chair, and pulled out a laptop. He flipped open the top and opened an application. A list starts to flash down the screen showing various names of members that were applying for the Black Knights.

"So, what exactly are we going to talk about?" Feite sat behind Lelouch and stared at the monitor at the applicants. Lelouch flips through a few of them and spots a most peculiar one. Diethard Ried, Feite had seen this man a few times. He was a popular man in the news, but due to recent event hasn't been seen around for a while. "Hrm…a Brittanian isn't that a bit too daring for a spy? Is he an idealist?" Feite shrugged her shoulders and nodded. "But it could be an advantage no-one would suspect one of their own being in our Black Knights." C.C. backstroked through the water and floated by the two looking over at the two. "Isn't it great, that the number of applicants have increased." Lelouch moved a stand of hair from his eyes. "Although I hate Britannia, I don't support activities like terrorism. That's how a majority of Eleven's Feel." C.C. turned to the sky and looked up at the moon. "In other words, a large population of Elevens support the order of the black knights." Lelouch stood up and stared over the edge of the pool. "That makes it easier for the Order to move." Feite crossed her arms and nodded. "Lately, there has been no news about the Order. It seems that you're right. During my stay in India, I had no idea what was going on over here in Area 11." Lelouch looked over his shoulder and nodded. "The group in Kyoto is going to supply us the Knightmare Frames, I'm grateful for your help in that matter Feite." Feite let out a loud yawn and waved her hand. "I'm going to bed…"