Kiss No.3.a

Three a Day by angelcloudy

"Lelouch…" she softly spoke.

"Yes?"

Fidgeting before talking, Kallen finally said, "You do know that it's a school night, right?" Uneasiness dared not to hide, she sounded not secure and frail at the moment. Yes, just like the persona she puts up at school. Lelouch, ever observant, took notice yet answered 'yes' as if only asked if he was still breathing.

Somehow mocked by the manner his reply came, she burst, "It's a freaking school night and I'm here with you at the heart of the Settlement Area, and NOT at home. God, Lelouch, the clock struck eleven almost half an hour ago! How can you be so oblivious?" She made a face, certainly not the cute, pouty type but one of childish irritation.

The ex-prince panicked at the sudden mention of time, and looked at his phone to check. 11.28? Almost midnight! Without any more words, grabbed her by the hand and dragged her to the bus stop frequented by 'To Ashford Academy' buses. While doing so, he mentally slapped himself in the forehead for having lost track of time. Though on the bright side, thought that time does fly when having fun.

And to enumerate the fun he was referring to, there's… First, the thing at the Shinjuku ghetto. Next, there was the trip from the ghetto back to the settlement, which, to tell honestly, involved a few people.

Going back…

As they were passing a sidewalk charm stall, its Japanese owner called out to them, "Miss! The one in a lavender jacket,"

"Hai?" Kallen answered in casual and pretended difficult Japanese. She wanted to abort the man's attempt at English, Britannians' native tongue.

He adjusted to his own language, feeling that the 'miss' was capable of understanding. "Would you and your boyfriend be up for some of my charms? They are quite special, really. My customers say they bring good luck to their relationship," he offered. The redhead looked towards Lelouch, ready to translate everything that was said. Also, she wanted to ask if they could get one set.

His answer beat her to it though, as he smoothly talked with the stall owner in conversational Japanese. Said conversation ended with the vendor handing a small black pouch and the ex-prince paying for it.

Her interest for the miniature bag temporarily gone, she asked him, "You speak Japanese?" right after they were out of earshot. He didn't bother answering until not one Eleven/Japanese or Britannian was at close proximity.

"You've met Sayoko, right? She, along with Nunna-chan speak a lot of your language at home," he answered. What he said was half-true, his basic knowledge of it was actually from Suzaku, a childhood friend. He wasn't going to tell her that, though. There's a right time.

Satisfied with the answer he gave, Kallen shifted the subject back to the black pouch at hand. Like a little girl, she squealed, asking, "What does it look like? Let me see!"

Lelouch got two silver pieces out, and showed her the chain with a pink star charm. "Here's yours, keep it and I'll have the silver moon." He turned her around so that her back faced him and then unlocked the chain. It was then placed around her neck, probably in the sweetest and gentlest way possible.

"Thank you Lelouch," she responded shyly, still not facing him to hide a blushing face. Though not witnessing it, he still knew of what commotion butterflies were doing inside her stomach.

"Anything for my girl," he said smugly, again in an attempt to make her blush harder. He succeeds, of course, effortlessly, if can be added.

Kallen didn't want to be 'inferior' on the other hand, and tried to put up a brave front. "Shut up and let's just go on with..." Ah, her voice trailed off towards the last part, not knowing what the two of them were doing that time. Her conviction lost, a loss of words took over. "Date," the jet-haired boy completed. "It's a day in case you're not aware."

"Of course I am!" she defensively retorted.

They continued their walk towards the center of the Settlement Area, talking about each others' reasons for involving themselves in rebellion. "I need to free my mother's home, and fulfill my brother's dream," she stated. Her tears threatened to fall, but then she controlled it with composure.

"I became that man," Lelouch started, referring to Zero. "Because Nunally wished for a peaceful world,"

They found a bench towards the end of the park and took it. Their conversation was cut off temporarily by Kallen's sudden admiration of the setting sun. Mischievously, Lelouch snaked his arm over her should, trying to pull her closer. One moment she was sitting straight, the other, her head leaned on his shoulder. In his sweetest voice, whispered to her, "I love you," and kissed her on the forehead when he looked up to him.

She immediately looked back the ground for her to hide a flushed face. Still, she answered, "Aishiteru, Lelouch-kun,"

He thought confident of himself, that it was the first time she said it. The fact that it was through her language made it even more special. Also, the affectionate honorific for his name perfected the sense of what she was trying to say. Because of what she just uttered, another thought came into his mind. 'I became that man to free Japan, Kallen's home.'

About the time he opened up a conversation, or at least tried to, someone interrupted. "Lelouch!" a voice called out. The couple looked around for the source of the voice, knowing fully of whose it was. Finally, they caught a glimpse of blond amongst the crowd a good distance from them. "Milly, it's nice to see you here," Kallen once greeted once they stood before each other.

Their student council prez, did not bother greeting back like she usually did and continued with her compliment of: "You look gorgeous, Kallen! I've never seen you wear such clothes."

"Lelouch bought them for me," she answered. Then, Shirley arrived to see her... uhh... long-term crush holding hands with a person she least expected to. To make things clear for her (Shirley wasn't the internet age type of person), Milly continued with her small talk with the redhead.

"So sweet... Clothes for first date, huh, Lelouch? You're such a gentleman for a boyfriend," Milly said and put emphasis on the last word. She knew that the girl she was with tended to have an emotional outburst so she bid goodbye to the couple as fast as she could.

Once the two girls were far enough, Kallen uttered, "Milly and Shirley..." and paused, thinking back to the question she wanted, no, needed to ask.

As if he read her mind, he asked, though the question still for him, "do have a past with me?" She simply nodded. Then, Lelouch chuckled, and started, "Insecure, my butterfly?" Surely enough, it was another of the sentences he used to make her blush. This one, used not only the thought of insecurity, but his name for her 'butterfly' as well. Like always, he succeeds as if painting a tint of pink in her cheeks.

Somehow, it was a rhetorical question, he continued with his explanation. "There was, is, will be nothing at all. Milly and I have been friends since Nunna-chan and I came to live on Ashford Academy grounds. While Shirley and I, we're just friends."

"How are you so sure of yourself?" she questioned.

Lelouch again stifled a small laugh, then answered, "Yes, yes I am. Because, Milly - she's like a big sister and you know that Shirley first came to Ashford for high school. How can I like her when I already laid my eyes on this girl when she entered in middle school?" He asked her, pointing out that the girl he was referring to was her. Kallen held a shocked expression and Lelouch smiled at her for having such an impact. He was also surprised by his own confession, but didn't show it.

To make his own nerves calm down, he began the teasing game again. "And by the way, you looked so cute in the pink mid school uniform." It earned him a playful punch and for his right arm, a tight hug.

"That clears everything, I guess. But promise me okay, it'll only be us..." she requested.

"It's not even a day, sweetheart," he joked.

The redhead insisted, "Just promise."

"Hai, I promise," he recited in casual Japanese. "In one condition -"

Well, that surprised her, what would his conditions be anyway? "What?" she inquired, confused.

"Three a day, since we're boyfriend and girlfriend now, should only apply to on the lip kisses. Agree?"

Kallen blushed in response... How would she cope up with such level up, anyway? Still, she nodded, but asked of him, "Let's start tomorrow, please?" She puppy dog-eyed to add an effect. Lucky her, it worked and he gave in to the favor. He could've admitted that her face-making had a big effect on him but decided against against it. What do we know? The day she'll use it against him will come.

"Let's go have some food," Lelouch suggested. They got up and played chase towards the nearest diner. They reached a brightly lit place, its road side sign glowing in neon pink. "Ah, it's so cute, Lelouch-kun!"

"I knew you'd like it here... though you're way cuter," came his compliment. "The food's great, too. Order anything you want - my treat."

"But you've already bought me clothes! Let me buy the food... please?" she pleaded, making Lelouch feel guilty. He did it again, giving in to her request out of her sheer cuteness.

"I'll have a veggie burger and milkshake please," Kallen told the waitress. She looked somehow sinister while talking to the redhead, but turned angelic when she was taking Lelouch's order of fries and rootbeer. Such treatment didn't go unnoticed by the couple and they exchanged looks after the woman left.

"You're such a charmer Lelouch-kun," she chuckled. "That waitress was obviously flirting with you - even though you're probably 5 years younger."

"Was she?" he asked naively. "I didn't notice. Sorry for being a charmer then." He looked up and acted as if a light bulb hovering over his head lit up. "But then again, you also fell for those charms~" He winked at her and she tried fighting the blood trying to creep up her face.

"You're so oblivious to your surroundings, y'know," said Kallen who was sounding disappointed.

Lelouch, knowing that sweet talking was the safest way out of the situation he said, "How can I be not, when you're the only girl I see?"

This time, she blushed for real which gave way to a hearty laugh from her boyfriend. The serving of their orders spoiled the fun as the flirt-for-a-diner-waitress, named Lia (as her name tag suggested), interrupted.

She was, let's say, practically glaring daggers at Kallen, her fierce brown eyes completely exclaiming, "You're not even that cute and you have a guy like him?" Lia was still in the process of writing down their bill when the redhead started eating. Messily, for that matter. She had ketchup right on the corner of her lip, and Lelouch leaned in and licked it off after he handed the money to Lia and before she could even turn to leave. After witnessing the scene, she hurriedly left.

Kallen looked at him, already stating the question through her doubtful eyes. "To get that waitress a piece of three a day," he answered a-matter-of-factly.

"It wasn't even a kiss," she retorted, her arms crossed. "Besides you've had 3 out of 3 for today. So no more for you," reminded Kallen. A childish bickering followed over the meal, discussing Lelouch's payment for the food, the licking as well. In the end, they went out of the diner Lelouch having a five-dollar bill clipped on his bangs. Kallen had dared him to, and if he survived until their next destination wherever it was, then she won't insist on paying for anything the rest of the day.

It was past eight when the couple had taken a seat around the fountain in front of the government building. Once again they talked about their double lives, with Lelouch saying that someday a rebellion will rise up in the very area. Kallen said she would look forward to its success and both of their participation in it. "Tell me Lelouch, why us to be allies?" she asked out of the blue.

"I see it in your conduct that justice is top priority. You don't rebel like barbarians but you do because you are fully aware that what the Brits are doing is wrong."

"Brits?"

"I, myself, am not a fan of their harsh ways Kallen. Call them my fellow Britannians, but I hate them, and damn them to the depths of hell. I want to give an end to them, and make the kind world Nunna-chan is wishing for." He stared hopefully at the starry sky then asked Kallen, "Do you hate me now because I am using all of you?"

"No, Lelouch. The both of us always say that whatever evil we do, as long as the reason justifies it, then it is not evil," she assured him.

"Thank you."

Lelouch kept silent for a while and thought that he should tell his sister in due time. Kallen, on the other hand, took a glance at her phone.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, brings us back to the start of this chappie. :)

Kallen got down of the bus but was surprised when Lelouch followed. Ashford was still more than a mile away from her house and how would such a wimp like him walk it? That gave him a scolding from Kallen though she was touched all the same.

"Thank you," she uttered shyly. "For all these." Kallen took another glance at her phone. It read, 12:02 A.M. She kissed him, and stayed still for at least 3 seconds. Then he kissed back, finally recovering from the surprise she brought by initiating one of the three kisses he had for the day. It was a chaste yet love-filled kiss. The moment they broke apart, Kallen was already having slightly uneven breathing. She felt shy at her own boldness, but certainly not ashamed.

Once again, she said her thanks and before she entered the gates, said to Lelouch, "That's one for this day!"

angelcloudy: thanks for reading and please review! i hope nobody is bothered by the unusual length of this chappie - it's not very me, right? and to protect myself from any flames [since i'm not so confident with my skills on this chapter]: NO FLAMES PLEASE. i'm just 14.