Lawli: Sorry for the wait. I had the hardest time writing this chapter. D: And I'll promise ahead of time, Lelouch won't always be such a douchebag. Suzaku's putting him in his place this chapter. So he shouldn't seem so misogynistic from now on... ;p

And also a warning in advance. I won't be able to update for a while. My spring break is next week and I'm going to ITALY~ And while there I won't have internet acces. (The only downside. D: ) So sorry if it takes me a while to update again... Hope you all enjoy this chapter though!

THANKS TO... YaoiOkami, Serena the Hikari of Love, Vermillion Lies, mnb, Unadorned, machined, random league, bloodlustphyco, neogoki, Cheese-kun, xxxCodeTsubasa, eMi-to-mAo 374, icarus923, , Arkaham, Candact, L Lexuran, Miraploy, mochiusagi, Suffocated Entity, CrispyRice, RangerInBlack, loveableneko, 6-The-Cloaked-Nocturne-9, wonderful, DarkBombayAngel, CrimsonUtopia, Trishmeister ... FOR REVIEWING!

The Charlatans of Circumstance
-Chapter Seven-

The ride to the Lamperouge Estate was, for the most part, silent. Suzaku, dressed in another of Rakshata's old gowns – this time, a green one with gold accents that, according to the blonde self-proclaimed fashion expert, really brought out his eyes – sat on the opposite side of the limousine as Lelouch, who hadn't said more than five words to him (those being: "are you ready to go?").

Kaguya, who had also been donated clothing by one of the more petite women in C.C.'s brothel, sat to her cousin's right, content with watching the cars and other buildings zoom by. They had entered a more upscale part of town. Cars became fancier, houses became larger and more spread apart; Suzaku found himself staring out the window in awe, pointing out things like horse-drawn carriages to Kaguya, who could barely contain her excitement.

"Wow, it feels like we're real nobility, Suzaku!" Realizing her mistake, Kaguya flushed and immediately corrected herself, "I mean, Suzako."

Suzaku smiled at her, wondering how she could be so at ease. They were only in the streets of an elite part of town and he felt out of place, unsure of what to do. It made him worry, thinking about how he was supposed to act when they actually arrived at Lelouch's home. Suzaku would be scared to touch anything in fear of breaking it. He tried telling himself not to be so panicky; it would only make his act all the more transparent.

Nevertheless, when the limousine passed the large iron gates of what had to be the Lamperouge Estate, Suzaku broke out in a nervous sweat, hands clenching in the material of his dress.

Lelouch must have sensed his anxiety (Suzaku didn't doubt that even the driver, who was separated from them by a black divider, could feel it), for he reached out slowly, settling his hand over one of Suzaku's. Suzaku swallowed the lump in his throat.

"I don't know if I can do this," he admitted, voice barely above a whisper. And he'd been so sure of himself the night prior... what happened to all of that confidence?

Amethyst eyes narrowed, but Lelouch didn't say anything.

The limousine pulled to a halt, and Suzaku tore his hand out from underneath Lelouch's. Before he could say anything else, he found Lelouch kneeling on the floor in front of him, somehow threatening even below eye level.

"I'm not giving you the option of going back." Suzaku's lips parted, but Lelouch spoke first. "Remember why you're here." His amethyst eyes flickered over to Kaguya, who stared out the window still, admiring the many flowers planted along the driveway. Suzaku's followed, only to avert back to Lelouch when he noticed the other man moving. Lelouch reached into his back pocket, extracting a velvet purple box, which he presented to Suzaku. "Here."

Taking the box wordlessly, Suzaku waited for an explanation. Lelouch sighed and opened it for him, revealing a thin gold band with a single diamond, no more than a karat, in the center. Despite himself, Suzaku sucked in a quick breath of air.

"Don't get too excited. It's mine. I'll let you borrow it for now, but at the end of all this I expect it back."

Suzaku quirked an eyebrow at this display of trust, an uncharacteristic smirk forming on his face. "What makes you think I won't just take it and run?" he challenged. The ring was small, but it had to be worth a decent chunk of change. With it, Suzaku knew he could afford at least one treatment for Kaguya.

Removing the ring from the box, Lelouch slid it onto the appropriate finger of Suzaku's left hand. "You will return it to me," he said with such certainty that it made Suzaku want to steal it, just in spite of him. But stealing was what got him into this mess in the first place; remembering that was enough for Suzaku to change his mind and begrudgingly agree to hand it over when the charade-game ended.

The door of the limousine opened, the chauffeur's hand appearing to help the ladies out of the vehicle. Kaguya took the invitation first, followed by an uncertain Suzaku, who attempted to bow in gratitude – only to be stopped by his cousin's heel accidentally, or so she claimed, digging into his foot.

"Girls don't bow," Kaguya said under her breath. "Even if they did, remember your place. You could be the future lady of the house, you know."

Resisting the urge to massage his aching foot, Suzaku waited for Lelouch and their bags. Lelouch exited the limousine a moment later, offering his arm to Suzaku, who did not hesitate to take it.

"Our things will be brought in for us," Lelouch explained to her, waving his hand to the chauffeur to continue on before starting to lead his two guests up the cobblestone pathway to the front door. Suzaku turned to glance back at the driver, who had begun unloading bags from the trunk. "I expect one-hundred percent cooperation from you in this, Suzako."

Suzaku frowned. "I already told you, I—"

"Yes, I know you've agreed. I just want to make sure you play your part to the fullest."

"Same to you."

Lelouch ignored the comment. "My mother is a very keen woman."

"So I've been told..."

"If something seems off, in terms of our relationship, she'll notice right away. She's not... going to be easy to fool." Lelouch paused in his tracks, meeting Suzaku's eye. "There's a chance she may need a bit of convincing, so we... we..." his voice trailed off and Suzaku rolled his eyes at the dusting of color on his cheeks.

C.C. really wasn't lying when she accused Lelouch of being a virgin.

"I know," Suzaku saved Lelouch from the embarrassing task of explaining himself. "And... I can do that, if I have to."

Lelouch's eyes widened. "Really?" he asked.

Suzaku began walking again, tugging Lelouch's arm to get him to keep up. "I am also a man of my word," he promised. "And I told you I was committed to this. So I'll do what I have to. But..."

"But?" Lelouch echoed.

Suzaku wetted his lips, releasing Lelouch's arm. Bowing his head, his gaze fell to the floor. "I'm nervous."

They stood several feet away from the large oak doors. Lelouch turned to face Suzaku, eyes sweeping up and down his form, as though taking in his appearance for the first time. Then, to Suzaku's surprise, he smiled. "You'll do fine. You're..." he stopped to measure his words. "You're... good at the part."

Emerald eyes widened, Suzaku beginning to chuckle quietly. "I don't know if I should take that as an insult or not."

Lelouch crossed his arms over his chest, his attempt at sympathy thoroughly ruined by Suzaku's laughter. "It was supposed to be a compliment."

Setting one hand over Lelouch's arm, Suzaku tugged on it gently, and when Lelouch begrudgingly took his hand the brunette smiled. "Thanks," he said quietly, finding that holding Lelouch's hand didn't really bother him as much as it had a few minutes ago.

The double doors to the mansion were pulled open, as if sensing their presence on the outside. Two men stood beyond the threshold, stepping aside and gesturing for them to enter, one of them offering to take Lelouch's hat. Lelouch declined and dismissed them.

To Suzaku, who was busy taking in his new surroundings, the inside of the mansion was just as intimidating as the outside, if not more so; what, with the heavy crystal chandeliers that hung from the ceiling and the black, white, and gold décor that made everything look expensive, fragile and irreplaceable. Suzaku gulped at the flag emblazoned with the Lamperouge family crest and held tighter onto Lelouch's hand as the sound of clicking heels met his ears.

"Lelouch, darling!"

Marianne Lamperouge, a vision in white, descended the staircase, her sleek back hair (which Lelouch obviously inherited) flowing behind her. Her red lips stretched upwards as she came to stand before them, disregarding Suzaku's presence for the moment to fawn over her son.

"You were running so late I'd begun to fear something happened to you," she said, tone morphing into a disapproving one as she continued, "or that you'd pulled another of your disappearing acts."

Suzaku shot Lelouch a questioning glance, which Lelouch responded to with a mere smirk.

"Mother," Lelouch said, stepping out of the embrace and grasping Suzaku's hand in his own once more, giving it a gentle tug. Suzaku obeyed the veiled command and approached, trying not to look so nervous as he curtsied politely. "This is my fiancée, Nagase Suzako."

Marianne blinked, her large violet eyes moving up and down Suzaku's body, sizing him up – to see if his appearance warranted her son's attention – before settling on his face, which she also scrutinized. "Suzako, hm?" she repeated, lips curved in a smile that didn't strike Suzaku as entirely friendly.

"It's..." Suzaku cursed himself for stammering, "it's an honor to meet you, Mrs. Lamperouge." Bowing his head a little, he focused on the floor, which was undoubtedly more comforting than Marianne's steely gaze. "Lelouch has told me so much about you."

"Has he?" Marianne said, eying her son briefly before setting her sights back on the brunette. "I'm afraid he hasn't said very much about you." Suzaku didn't know if this was supposed to be a masked insult, but he was sure that, had he truly been engaged to Lelouch, the comment would have offended him. "But that is my Lelouch, always so secretive. I'm delighted he actually considered his poor mother's feelings at all by allowing me to meet you." Again that thin-lipped smile returned. "You must be an amazing woman, Suzako, to have made Lelouch fall in love with you. Personally, I never thought it possible. Especially with a woman of your... well, background."

Suzaku's pleasant expression faltered. "E... excuse me?" he asked, incredulous, wondering if his ears were failing and he'd really just heard what he thought he heard.

"And this is Suzako's cousin, Kaguya," Lelouch's voice broke through the tension in the air. He motioned to the black-haired girl, who curtsied in a ladylike fashion that contradicted the glare in her eyes. Apparently she hadn't missed the racial slur, either. Lelouch did his best to ignore the scowls from both her and his pretend fiancé. "Kaguya lives under Suzako's care, so naturally she will be staying here along with Suzako."

"Naturally," echoed Marianne. "It's a pleasure to meet you both." She walked around to Lelouch's other side, taking his free arm. "Now then, enough standing in the foyer, it's hardly comfortable. The parlor is this way. I'll have Sayoko prepare us tea."

Tea was quiet, Suzaku looking completely out of his element in the finely furnished parlor with a delicate china cup in his hands, but every bit a lady with the way he crossed his legs at the ankle, kept his posture immaculately straight and took dainty little sips of his drink at long intervals. It wasn't the role of acting as Lelouch's fiancée that made him so uncomfortable anymore – rather, the aspect of being waited on by another person, and someone of Japanese descent, no less. It certainly made him feel out of place, and even guilty to sit there as Sayoko refilled their cups and wheeled in fancy trays of cucumber sandwiches and crumpets.

As they drank, Marianne asked questions every so often about Suzako's past – where she grew up, what brought her to Spain and into contact with Lelouch. Never the best liar, Suzaku turned to Lelouch for help often during the interrogation – for really, it couldn't be called anything else. Prior to that afternoon, Suzaku hadn't thought there could exist a pair of eyes more cool and calculating than Lelouch's, but now he knew exactly where Lelouch had gotten them from. Granted, Marianne softened the impact of her stare with the perpetual smile on her face, but the intensity was still there.

When tea time ended, Marianne had Sayoko show them to their rooms, insisting that if they were tired they better rest now, for she would not tolerate absence or tardiness at dinner.

Up the grand staircase, down a seemingly never-ending hallway, and one turn right brought them to the room designated as Kaguya's. One look inside the room showed that her luggage had already been brought and unpacked.

"Wow," the black-haired girl said in admiration of the wonderful service. She made her way over to the bed, running a hand over the silk comforter.

She then strayed from the bed, exploring other parts of the room, and Suzaku couldn't help but join her. To both their shock and awe, the room had a closet they could actually walk into and – even more amazing – it's own private bathroom, complete with a toilet, shower, and a tub big enough for at least two people.

Idly Suzaku wondered if every room in the house was this large. And he wondered how much money it had to take to make such a house with so many extravagant rooms even possible.

"Miss Suzako," Sayoko called from the doorway. "Allow me to escort you to your room."

Ceasing his marveling of the bathroom's granite countertops, Suzaku nodded wordlessly and followed Sayoko out the door. Kaguya opted to stay behind to enjoy her new bedroom – she'd just discovered the television set behind the doors of the bureau.

Back down that long corridor, and they took a left this time, stopping at the second door.

"Lelouch's room is directly across from yours," Sayoko explained, giving Suzaku a look he could only label as suggestive.

Despite himself, Suzaku blushed and averted his gaze to the floor. Lelouch, he noticed, did the same.

With a soft chuckle Sayoko pushed open the door to his room, which was just as big – if not bigger – than the one given to Kaguya. Like in Kaguya's room, Suzaku found his clothing already unpacked and the suitcases stored away. Tilting his head back, he took in the two-tiered chandelier, watching his own reflection in the glittering crystals.

Amazing. Amazing, how wealthy the Lamperouge family must be.

If only he really was a woman and could marry into this; he would never have any problems ever again. Not that Lelouch would ever get married; that was the whole cause for his being there to begin with.

"Thank you, Sayoko," Lelouch's deep voice snapped Suzaku out of his thoughts. "That will be all."

The servant bowed lowly to them – Suzaku had to fight the urge to return the sign of respect – reminded them that dinner was at five, and took her leave. As the door closed softly behind her, Lelouch rounded on Suzaku.

"So, what do you think?" To Suzaku's chagrin, there was an arrogant smirk on his face that made him want to insult the house somehow. Unfortunately, he could find absolutely nothing to criticize. The Lamperouge Estate was, truthfully, breathtaking.

Suzaku sat down on the edge of the bed. "It's," he began, toeing off his shoes, "extravagant."

Lelouch raised a dignified brow and approached, taking a seat beside him. "Is that good or bad?" he asked.

"Both," Suzaku replied easily enough, elaborating once he caught sight of Lelouch's prompting gaze. "I mean, it's beautiful and all but... isn't it a bit much? What do you need all this space for?"

Lelouch scoffed. "You say that because you come from a shack in the ghetto."

Suzaku glowered. He wondered how Lelouch could try and comfort and reassure him one moment – as he had when they were outside the Estate – and then say such rude things to him the next. Which Lelouch was the real Lelouch? This arrogant one, or the blushing virgin he'd seen outside and the night before?

"I hope you don't intend to always act this way with me."

Lelouch blinked. "How do you mean?" he replied, and Suzaku shook his head, exasperated.

"I mean it will be very difficult for me to act like I'm in love with you if you continue to have this attitude that you're better than me." Amethyst eyes widened and narrowed almost simultaneously, becoming hard with the anger that settled over Lelouch at the comment. Suzaku paid him no attention. "You may have the big house, the expensive clothes, the servants that wait on your every beck and call – you may even be the man in this so-called relationship of ours – but you are not better than me, Lelouch Lamperouge!"

Suzaku was surprised by his own outburst. He was never the type of person to speak his mind like that, in a way that might insult others, but damn it, Lelouch really needed to be knocked down a peg, especially if he wanted Suzaku's full cooperation in this.

A startled cry escaped him as he suddenly found himself on his back, Lelouch hovering over him with an iron-like grip on his wrists. There was an unattractive scowl on his pale face.

"Think what you want, but this is my house and you are my fiancée, Suzako. And if you ever want to receive you're payment, you'll learn to accept that I have the upper hand here."

Growling, Suzaku used his strength to flip them over. The folds in his dress parted as he straddled Lelouch's waist. With one hand, he pinned Lelouch's arms above his head. "I can walk away from this right now, Lelouch. I don't need this, and I certainly don't need you! I could find another way to get that money if I had to, but you... you're the one who needs me."

Lelouch squirmed underneath him and Suzaku pressed against him more forcefully, earning a short groan in response.

"Get off of me," Lelouch ordered, his face becoming red as Suzaku only leaned down closer to him.

"Say it," Suzaku countered, lips curving upwards at the flustered appearance of his pretend fiancé. Words apparently were useless against Lelouch, but physicality... intimacy... those were the most effective weapons at Suzaku's disposal, and he had every intention of using them now that he knew they made Lelouch so terribly uncomfortable.

Lelouch growled, but fell still underneath him, apparently willing to give in if it meant Suzaku would get off of him. "Say what?"

Lips hovering mere inches above Lelouch's, Suzaku whispered, "say that you need me."

Amethyst eyes flitted to the side, avoiding contact with the brunette at all costs, which only heightened Suzaku's amusement. This disconcerted reaction from Lelouch almost made Suzaku forget all his hostility toward the other man. Again, he wondered which side of Lelouch was real.

Lelouch's lips moved, but no sound came out. He sighed, warm breath ghosting over Suzaku's jaw and neck, making him shiver involuntarily. "I... need you," he tried again, voice barely audible.

Suzaku grinned, feeling distinctly victorious now that he'd successfully turned the tables. "Say it again," he instructed. "This time, say my name. And say it like you mean it."

Lelouch glared at him but did so anyways. "I need you, Suzako."

Suzaku's squeezed his thighs against Lelouch's sides. The blush on the other's face darkened. "Who?" he asked, outright teasing Lelouch now.

"Suzaku," Lelouch ground out, teeth clenched. "I need you, Suzaku."

Satisfied, Suzaku released Lelouch's wrists and got off of him. "Remember that," he said, standing up from the bed and adjusting his dress.

Lelouch sat up and immediately straightened his own clothes, pointedly looking away. "We're going to be late for dinner," he said, folding his arms across his chest and walking out the door without waiting for Suzaku to follow. "Change and meet me in the hallway in ten minutes."

Still smirking triumphantly, Suzaku eyed him from where he stood in the doorway, face stilled flushed. "Of course, darling."

Lawli: I love Suzaku. 8D

Sorry Marianne's a bitch.