Lelouch's Final Destination:
I updated a lot quicker this time. Enjoy!
Chapter 6: After-effects
Following two days after the sinking of the S.S. Ashford-
Aboard, there had been nearly 700 passengers consisting of students, faculty members, and crew members. Out of these, a large majority survived with the help of the Black Knights, but there were still lives lost. It has been recorded that about at least 120 people ended up dead (either by drowning or pneumonia) or missing.
Ashford Academy was mostly quiet this week as people honored those who had died. There were no classes held that day, and most people had headed back to their families, especially those who wanted to grieve over the lives lost. However, some did choose to stay at Ashford Academy, and Lelouch and his friends were included. But they too were suffering after the loss of someone dear to them. To their horror, Princess Euphemia had unfortunately been one of the victims.
"She had gone off to look for Suzaku and Lelouch to make sure they were alright, and they didn't get to her in time." Once he heard these words, Suzaku ran off, and was nowhere to be found.
Lelouch just didn't know what to feel. He was happy as ever that with his help, most of the people on board had been saved, including all of his friends but one. However, his heart ached for the loss of his sister, because Euphemia had a huge place in his heart. Lelouch also felt disgust towards the people who had sent the bomb, and had been trying his best to figure out the culprits.
It can't be the Britannians because it was made live on national television the Royal ladies themselves, Nunnally and Euphemia were aboard the ship. But people can surprise you. Maybe they believed that losing both of them would be a small price to pay for almost a thousand lives. But why high school students? I guess it doesn't matter as long as they're lives. But then again, maybe the Japanese did it. Maybe they were willing to sacrifice their own people in order to kill Britannian royalty…How can I find out for sure? He thought in his room that day.
"Still wondering about the cruise ship incident I see." commented C2 quietly while lying on his bed.
"Are you serious? How can I not? Innocent lives were lost out of an act of terrorism!" Lelouch stood up from his desk, and started pacing back and forth.
"Now what are you going to do?"
"I've got to get to the bottom of this." I've got to start small, and work my way up. He stopped and closed his eyes to think. He wasn't exactly sure why, but his thoughts led him to the ship itself. When Lelouch had first walked onto the ship, he noticed that on the side of the ship, where it had S.S. Ashford printed, under it also had the words MITSURU Co.
Hm…wasn't that a Japanese company? Why would Milly's grandfather rent a cruise ship from a Japanese company when there were plenty of great Britannian ones to choose from?
Lelouch didn't think that wealthy Britannians wanted to associate in any way with the Japanese, unless it was to mock them. So why had he chosen a Japanese company? The Japanese-if they were the ones who had launched the bomb that is- definitely would have used this opportunity to bomb the enemy if they knew the exact location! He had to meet Mr. Ashford and confront him. Hopefully he would make some progress on solving this mystery.
Lelouch headed towards the door. "I'm going to go find Milly."
After spending several minutes searching, he found his friends at the library. Lelouch noticed that Suzaku wasn't among them.
He wasn't surprised.
"Milly!" Lelouch called as he hurriedly walked over to the table where they sat.
Shirely instantly perked up. Even though she knew that Milly was much of Lelouch's friend as her, Shirley couldn't help but feel a little jealousy take over her. Why did he want to talk to Milly when she was the one who had tried to comfort him and get him to talk about his problems? "Hi Lulu!" she cried.
"Hey Shirley." Lelouch responded, impatiently. "Milly, can I talk to you for a sec?"
Milly looked up surprised. "Huh? Oh sure."
Shirley and Rivalz glanced at each other alarmed as the objects of their affections exited the library.
Then after a few moments, they too rose and followed; it was too tempting.
Lelouch and Milly walked a little further away from the door. "What is it Lelouch?"
"Milly, do you know a way that I can contact your Grandfather?"
What a random question. Milly thought. "Um…I can call him and let him know that you want to meet him….Can I ask why though?"
What to do now? I can't seem suspicious. "It's just that I have to interview someone for a project..." Okay, not the best answer I could come up with, but…
"Um…"
"And your grandfather seems cool enough to interview, right?"
"Well..."
"Please..."
Milly had never seen him like this before."Oh, ok. I'll ask."
"Thanks!"
"No problem." She said, but instead of hurrying back to the library, Milly began to walk off in a different direction.
"Hm? You're not heading back to the library?"
"Nah, I'm just gonna go take a walk to clear my head. Can you tell everyone that I said bye?"
"Um, sure. Ok."
Milly waved to him and began walking off.
When Lelouch re-entered the library, Shirley and Rivalz were both trying to act innocent while Nina sat quietly, pretending to read, but couldn't concentrate on one word, with Euphemia's death totally on her mind.
Rivalz became alarmed when he realized that Milly wasn't with him.
"Where's Milly?"
"She decided to take a walk and clear her head. She wanted me to tell everyone that she said bye." Lelouch explained. He pulled up a chair and sat across from Shirley. She turned her head away, blushing hard.
Rivalz quickly got up from his chair and went after her.
Rivalz spotted Milly as she was just leaving campus grounds. Right away, he noticed the sadness in her and decided to try to help. Euphemia had been a good friend of hers, so he could imagine how devastated she must feel. What can I do to cheer her up? He thought. "H-hey, Milly!"
Milly stopped, startled. She turned head a little towards the voice and saw that it was Rivalz. "Yeah?"
"You're not going back to the library?"
"No, I'm just walking around for a bit."
"Well, I was gonna ask if you wanted to go for a ride?"
She smiled sincerely. "That's ok Rivalz. I'm fine."
"Oh." Rvialz commently quietly as Milly started off again.
Then he frowned. What am I doing? I can't give up that easily! "Really?" he asked. " 'Cuz I was thinking that maybe we could head to a pizza place and talk for a while-my treat."
Milly hesitated for a moment as Rivalz began sweating bullets. Please say yes. Please say yes…
Hmmmm…meh, why not? "Alright! Let's go!" she cried.
It was all Rivalz could do not to jump up and down while screaming at the top of his lungs with joy. "OKAY! Stay here, I'll be right back!" He exclaims as he runs off to get his motorbike. Milly just smiles and shakes her head.
Rivalz never knew he could be this happy. From the ride on his motorbike to the pizza shop and all the way through the meal, him and Milly chatted away. Milly at the same time couldn't believe how much she could laugh right after a friend of hers had died during an event that she had hosted. Some of the hurt in her heart had actually gone away.
When they decided to head back towards campus, they were still laughing at a joke Rivalz had told a few minutes before. Milly at last took a breath. "Wow, this was fun!"
Rivalz helped her onto her seat, and handed her a helmet. "Yeah, it was! And I'm glad you had fun!"
As they drove off, both resumed talking and laughing, and agreed that they should definitely do this more often.
As the green light turned red, Rivalz began to slow down, and Milly said, "Maybe tomorrow we can go shopping!"
Rivalz laughed a little nervously. "Heh-heh...Yeah..." Shopping?
When she saw his reaction, Milly reached over her seat and lightly punched him on the arm "Just kidding!" She burst out laughing.
"Hey!" Rivalz replied, but he was laughing as well.
The smiles on each others faces was the last thing they saw of each other before a drunk driver sped past the red light and crashed into them both, killing them instantly.
Now, this chapter is the most important one so far. How is it the most important? Well, if you've seen the actual Final Destination movies, then you'll know how this works. If not, then more fun for you I guess! :)
More reviews would be appreciated! I just need a little lift-up, that's all! :D Hope you've enjoyed the story so far!