Chapter Four

The False Student

"S-Suzaku, I-I love you."

The brown-haired boy bolted upright as ringing filled his ears. Looking around the dark room, the Elven thought for a moment he was still in his nightmare. After a moment, he realized he was just in his dorm, the same as he had been nearly every day since he had become a student at Ashford Academy. Once again grounded the green-eyed student threw off his covers and reached out to his alarm, silencing the incessant ringing that had pulled him from the memory of his dead mother. He dreamed of her death every night, it was the reason he dreaded sleep.

Rising, Suzaku walked across the small space of his room and pulled back the curtains of his windows and peered out into the morning. Outside it was a gloomy day, rain was flooding from the sky and students with early classes could be seen rushing for their study halls. The day made Suzaku feel that familiar pit in his gut deepen as he turned and reached into the small mini fridge in the corner of his room. Reaching inside he retreated a pouch of juice and a sandwich he had purchased the other day while in the city. He had recalled the unpleasant exchange as the owner of the shop seemed reluctant to have his business, it was normal for Honorary Britannians be treated with such disdain, not just from true purists, but also from other Japanese or Elevens as the Empire had dubbed them. It still surprised him that he had been allowed to attend Ashford Academy at all, though if it hadn't been for Nunnally he probably wouldn't have been admitted at all.

He still remembered receiving the letter from the Princess; it had been a surprise, and had considered rejecting the offer, but he knew that it would serve him well to play the role of a student. Throwing open his closet, Suzaku retrieved the black and gold Ashford uniform, pulling it on haphazardly and neglecting to button it up all the way, as was his usual. Grabbing his bag, the student left his room, making sure to lock up after himself.

Making his way out into the rain, Suzaku unfolded his umbrella and stepped out into one of the many courtyards of the school grounds. After walking for a few minutes, heading for his class, Suzaku noticed a body rush under his umbrella. Turing his head Suzaku noted that Rivalz had once again neglected to check on the weather and his blue hair was now drenched along with his uniform.

"Geez, could the weather get any worse today?" Rivalz complained, dusting as much water as he could manage from the top of his temple.

"You should have checked outside before rushing into the weather." Suzaku scolded.

"Hey, I pulled an all-nighter for today's chemistry exam! Not everyone can be as smart as you, Suzaku." Rivalz pouted.

"Maybe if you had studied throughout the week you wouldn't have had to cram so much."

"That's not fair! Milly put me in charge of judging the talent show and helping Shirley out with the bake sale, which, mind you, I ended up doing all the work on. That girl is the clumsiest person in all of Area Eleven."

Suzaku couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of Shirley covered in cake batter as Rivalz rushed to clean up the multitude of messes she had doubtlessly created. "Milly put you in charge of the bake sale, but you did volunteer to do the talent show with me on top of that. You're the one who overextended yourself."

"I had to! You know I have the better taste in what accounts for a talent." Rivalz jeered with a stupid grin.

"That and you wanted to kiss up to the Prez." Suzaku quipped.

"N-No!" Rivalz replied, receiving a fresh chuckle from Suzaku.

"Sure, Rivalz, whatever you say." Suzaku laughed.

The day quickly shifted after their exam. As it was every afternoon; student's across campus filtered into their various clubs. At Ashford Academy, it was mandatory for every student to attend at least one club and Suzaku had been fortunate enough to be accepted as a member to the student council, but that also meant dealing with the school president; Milly Ashford. Milly had apparently been childhood friends with Nunnally and, upon hearing that Suzaku had been friends with the Princess, was given a seat on the council as a favor. That was where he had subsequently met Rivalz. While Suzaku detested most Britannians, he oddly enjoyed most of everyone on the council, he even went as far to call them friends, something he never imagined he would do after that fateful night all those years back.

Sitting in the corner of the room Suzaku read over his physics textbook as Milly went on some rant about the upcoming Spring parade that the school was designing a float for. Suzaku paid half attention as he read over his classwork for the week. As much as he detested classwork, he did it out of memory for his mother. He imagined she would have wanted him to keep up with his studies, even with his other activities.

"Suzaku, are you even paying attention?" Milly asked lightly, poking his forehead. Looking up Suzaku came face to face with the head of the school council, her long gold hair split across her face as here sea blue eyes bared down on him the way only Milly's could.

"Uh?" Suzaku looked up in stimulus to his head. "Oh, sorry madam Prez. I was just getting a head start on my classwork for tonight." Suzaku offered placing his textbook back into his bag.

"Oh? Have something going on, do we?" Milly jeered growing a mischievous smile. "Who is it?"

"Who?" Suzaku asked confused. "I'm not sure I follow."

"Oh, come on Suzaku. You've had your head in the clouds for a few days now." Milly rolled her eyes as if it were obvious to everyone. "So, who is she?"

Suddenly Suzaku became aware that everyone was staring at him. Becoming somewhat embarrassed with what Milly was implying Suzaku felt his face grow hot. "I think you have the wrong idea Milly, I'm not with anyone."

"Oh, then what is it?" Milly inquired being as nosey as ever.

"I-It's nothing really." Suzaku said, feeling rather embarrassed now.

Milly looked Suzaku up and down for a moment before deciding that she wouldn't get any further. "Fine, but I'll figure it out at some point." Milly winked.

"Now, Shirley, what was your idea on the float?" Milly said, turning to the auburn-haired girl, her green eyes that lighting up with surprise as Milly turned her attention onto the girl.

Upon the meeting's end Suzaku strolled out of the building, Rivalz following closely behind. "So, there's a big game tonight. My favorite football club is playing, we just signed this great new forward, so me and some of the guys from the dorm are going out to watch the game. Interested?"

"Nah, I have arrangements already tonight." Suzaku smiled. "But I hope your team wins."

"Arrangements?" Rivalz asked, puzzled. "Don't tell me Milly was right."

"No. It's nothing like that. I have to get some information off campus for a project I've been working on." Suzaku chuckled.

"All right, but you have to come with me next time. You don't get out enough." Saying their goodbyes, Suzaku watched as Rivalz made his way for the school's lot where his bike with its sidecar was parked. Suzaku made sure his friend was gone before making his way back to his dorm room. Once inside, the young Eleven proceeded to change out of his flashy uniform in favor of a pair of worn jeans and a black hoodie. He had learned that it was best to appear as bland as possible when out to draw as little attention to himself as possible.

Leaving the grounds, Suzaku made his way onto the tram system that connected nearly every part of the Tokyo settlement. Keeping his hood up and head down, Suzaku passed through crowds without any problems, and if anyone noticed him, he simply avoided eye contact as usual, it wasn't the first, nor would it be the last, time he had made this trip.

After an hour of traveling Suzaku had finally arrived in the executive district of Tokyo, the place where most of the important Area Eleven Imperial builders were located. Crossing a busy street, Suzaku came to a large, white building flying the Imperial flag of Britannia; the Area Eleven Hall of Records. He had visited this place many times, and every time he came the less imposing it felt. Looking away from the structure, Suzaku ducked into a nearby alleyway as always and sat himself in a corner that perfectly blocked him from view of the street and steeled himself, sure that his concentration would not be broken.

Closing his right eye, Suzaku trained his focus upon his left until he felt the familiar power of Geass manifest itself there. Feeling its power, he allowed it to fill his body until at last he looked down at himself. Smirking Suzaku still marveled at the site of his own form, his one eye shining bright red which granted him the ability to project his form forward.

Turning, Suzaku walked through the thick outer wall of the Imperial building and straight inside. Passing by officials and guards who had no defense against him, no secret the Empire could keep safe from him with simple walls and trained men. Strolling down one of the many long halls of the building, Suzaku came to a large metal door, guarded by two men on either side. Without hesitation, the Eleven strolled passed them and straight through the interlocking metal, and found himself inside the room that held the most valuable schematics and documents Area Eleven had to offer.

Looking around Suzaku peered over the documents that had been left out from some past visitors' readings. The newest of the documents were the blueprints to of the Tokyo Settlement Command Center. Suzaku grinned as he read over everything that was there for his taking, and took note of everything that could be of use to him.

After some time, Suzaku had finished looking over what was of use to him and decided it best to return to his body. Cutting his connection to his astral projection, the school boy returned to his body in the alleyway. Feeling his head swim, Suzaku took a deep breath. It was normal that using his Geass for such an extended period would lead to such a great level of fatigue.

Stumbling out of the alleyway Suzaku made his way back for the tram station, mentally reviewing his recent findings as he strolled back. Lost in his own thoughts Suzaku felt his shoulder bump into a man passing by. Glancing up Suzaku attempted to apologize intensively but was met by the bulky figure of a Britannian man who, upon seeing that Suzaku was an Eleven, grew a sour expression.

"What do you think you're doing in the executive district you dirty Eleven rat?!" The man shouted down at Suzaku with an unexplainable anger at him.

"I'm not looking for trouble." Suzaku said lifting his hands up. "I'm just trying to get home, I didn't mean to brush into you, it was an honest mistake."

"Mistake? That's for sure, and now you're going to pay for it." The man grinned with obvious glee. It was apparent to Suzaku that the man didn't really care what Suzaku had to say or what excuse he could bring up, he was simply looking for any reason to pick a fight, and what better excuse than the simple fact that he was an Eleven.

Suzaku allowed the man to throw the first punch. Suzaku was amused when the man pulled back his arm, predictably telegraphing his punch. Stepping slightly back, Suzaku used one hand to deflect the punch finding that the man had put most his weight into the blow, sending the man flying forward right into a street pole. Suzaku smirked a bit as he heard the audible ring of the pole as the man's face plowed right into it causing the man to yellow out in pain. Suzaku stood his ground, both his hands in his pockets and waited for the man to turn back around. Once the man had at last gotten his bearings back he turned on the brown-haired boy, his eyes filled with rage and humiliation.

"It appears you tripped mister. Also, I think you may have broken your nose, you may want to have that looked at." Suzaku chided rubbing his nose.

"Why you little!" The man roared lunging forth once more, both his arms outstretched.

Suzaku sighed, finding this to be quite the waste of time and decided it best to end it before a police officer came by and intervened in favor of the dull man. Taking an offensive stance Suzaku avoided the man's large outstretched arms and firmly planted the heel of his foot in the man's gut with vicious roundhouse. Almost instantly the man lost his wind and was on the pavement gasping for oxygen. Suzaku shook his head at the man, somewhat disappointed in his utter stupidity.

"You should have walked away when you broke your nose." Suzaku scolded the man as he walked past the wall of people he had only now realized had formed from the beginning of the conflict. No one stopped him as he walked passed, most looked terrified that he had taken out the mountain of a man with such ease.

Entering the dorm, Suzaku came to his room, worn from the day's events. Reaching for his key, Suzaku noticed something strange, his door was ever so slightly ajar. Narrowing his eyes, the Eleven slowly gripped the handle and slightly opened the door and peered inside, he saw that his lights were all off, leaving the room pitch black. Pushing open the door Suzaku crept inside, quietly locking the door behind him before flicking on his light. Almost immediately there was movement as the sheets of his bed shifted. With an eye roll, Suzaku relaxed and kicked the post of his bed hard enough to get the green haired girl beneath to sit up.

"Need you wake me so abruptly?" C.C. complained rubbing her eyes.

"How did you get in here?" Suzaku asked, his patience already spent from his early encounter from the day.

"I'm an immortal, you think I haven't picked up a skill as useful as lock picking in my many years roaming the Earth? I would think you would expect more from me Suzaku." C.C. smirked, smug with herself as always.

"Quite." Suzaku rolled his eyes. "So why are you here?"

"I had business in Japan, and thought I would ensure that you still plan to live up to your side of our arrangement."

"Yes, of course." Suzaku confirmed. "Though somehow I doubt that's all you're here for."

"Yes, well I wanted to inform you that I will be staying here for the foreseeable future." C.C. announced before curling back into a ball in Suzaku's bed.

"Wait, what?!" Suzaku burst out. "You cannot stay here."

"And why is that?" C.C. asked refusing to move.

"I have enough to deal with as is with all my planning that I've had to put in place, not to mention school on top of that." Suaku explained. "The last thing I need is to babysit an immortal witch. Plus, God knows if Milly found out I had someone of the opposite gender in my room that I would never hear the end of it."

"Well, you'll just have to live with it. Besides, I can be of great help when it comes to dealing with Britannia." C.C. said.

Suzaku sighed, admitting defeat for the time being. He had not the time nor patience to argue with an immortal all night. So, he simply turned off the lights and made a makeshift bed on his floor out of an old sleeping back and spare blankets he stored in his closet. Laying down, the son of the former head of the Kururugi Clan stared at his ceiling and waited for sleep to come, until at last he drifted off into his usual restless sleep.

"S-Suzaku, I-I love you."

Authors Note:

Welcome to 2017 all! As you can see I have moved the story here. This is for a multitude of reasons, but simplicity is the main one. Thanks for your support in everything, and I hope everyone has had a great start of the new year!

Special thanks to BlackFruity

for beta reading and helping edit this chapter