Code Geass and its characters belong to Gorō Taniguchi and Ichirō Ōkouchi.
I only own my OC, Lynn 'Rin' Rossellini and her family.
"Let us be grateful for the people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." – Marcel Proust
Zero's Lady
Chapter 5: Cat Hunt
Rin was placing on her school clothes in the girls' changing room after finishing her morning lesson in the Equestrian Club.
As she placed on her shoes, a group of girls talking caught her attention.
"Have you heard that the Eleven suspected of killing Prince Clovis is now attending the school?"
"What? No way!"
"Just what the Principal is thinking? Elevens aren't supposed to be mixing with Britannians!"
Rin suddenly felt a boiling rage developing inside her at hearing the students' insult Suzaku openly without having second thoughts.
The brunette then headed out of the changing room with her school bag in her hands.
"Vermin."Rin thought with an angry glare."They judge people like they were in a gossip show."
Rin made her way to her classroom and sat down on the seat behind Lelouch.
"Hey, Rin."Lelouch greeted.
"Hey, Lelouch."Rin responded.
Rin covered her mouth to let out a yawn causing Lelouch to raise an eyebrow at her.
"Slept less last night?"Lelouch asked amusingly.
"No."Rin grumbled. "Just had an important meeting to attend to."
Lelouch smirked. "Which was more important than me?"
Rin rolled her eyes and smiled smugly.
"I'm not answering that."Rin stated.
Just before everyone would begin their class, a male figure arrived in the room causing all of them to become surprised to see. Especially Lelouch and Rin.
It was Suzaku.
"I'll be joining the student body here at Ashford Academy beginning today."Suzaku declared. "My name is Suzaku Kururugi. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Most of the students were shocked to see the person being framed by the Purebloods to be Prince Clovis' murder now attending their school.
"What's an Eleven doing here?"
"He was a suspect in Prince Clovis' murder!"
"But the teacher says the charges were dropped."Kallen reminded.
"He was suspicious enough to arrest, though. Right?"
"You don't really think he is a terrorist, do you?"
"Of course he isn't. The school board would know something like that."
Kallen quietly glanced at Suzaku as the students continued talking about the Honorary Britannian.
Nina spoke with Rivalz and Shirley.
"An Eleven here at school?"Nina said with a hint of fear.
"He is an Honorary Britannian."Rivalz reminded.
"I know…but still all the same."Nina whispered.
"Well, he doesn't look all that scary to me, why don't we just talk to him?"Shirley suggested with a smile. "I'm sure he's totally…"
Shirley was about to walk up and give him a friendly greeting, but Rivalz stopped her.
"Hey, the guy just got here."Rivalz reminded. "Give him some space."
Lelouch stood up from his seat and began to walk toward the door while passing Suzaku.
The black haired boy walked into the doorway before pulling up on his collar, surprising Suzaku as he walked outside.
Suzaku glanced at Rin, who gestures him to follow Lelouch while smiling and giving a small hand signal that meant 'we'll talk later.'
Suzaku walked onto the roof of the building to see Lelouch leaning against a railing before walking toward him.
Lelouch turned to look at his childhood friend with a friendly smile.
"Seven years since we used this signal."Lelouch remarked. "Long time, huh?"
"Meeting on the roof like the old days."Suzaku responded.
"Yeah."Lelouch remarked.
"I'm glad you're okay."Suzaku admitted. "I've been worried."
"Alive and kicking thanks to you."Lelouch complemented and frowned a bit. "You almost died trying to protect me."
"I was just returning the favor from 7 years ago."Suzaku answered as Lelouch's smile faded away. "Ah, what about that girl? You know, from the capsule."
Lelouch looked down.
"I don't really got separated during the fray."Lelouch lied and looked at Suzaku. "But you would know more about her than I do, right?"
"No."Suzaku responded sadly. "The only ones who knew anything were the inner circle of the Royal Guard."
"I see."Lelouch said simply.
"And your name."Suzaku replied. "Do I still call you Lelouch?"
"The records count my old identity among the dead."Lelouch admitted. "I go by the name Lelouch Lamperouge now."
"Oh."Suzaku said.
"And you?"Lelouch asked. "What happened at your court-martial? And why did you enroll at the school?"
"I'm as surprised as you are. What are the odds that we'd end up at the same school?"Suzaku remarked and looked down. "Truth is, someone arranged for me to receive a proper investigation. And that person said that a 17-year-old should be in school."
A slight smirk appeared on Lelouch's face since he realised who arranged Suzaku to go to school.
"It was my sister Euphie the one who arranged you to come here, right?"Lelouch assumed.
"Yeah."Suzaku replied with a surprised look."How do you know that?"
Lelouch smiled.
"She's my sister."Lelouch chuckled."Helping people is her habit."
At the Clovis Memorial Museum of Art…
Princess Euphemia was looking at several paintings that were done by Prince Clovis while the curator stood close by.
The pink haired girl's eyes went on the image of Lelouch and Nunnally as young children sitting next to their late mother Marianne vi Britannia.
"Were all of these painted by Clovis?"Euphemia asked.
"Yes."the curator responded.
Euphemia smiled as she touched the painting in front of her.
"Such gentle colours. Very much akin to my brother."Euphemia complemented and her expressions saddened a bit."Clovis, if only you were gentle to those that were powerless as well."
Meanwhile…
A staff officer on board Cornelia's mobile base reported as the data was illustrated on a radar screen at the front.
"We've successfully identified the guerrillas."the Staff Officer stated.
"That's good."Darlton declared. "Now all we need is their hide out. Get that Intel to the Viceroy."
"Yes, my Lord."the Staff Officer said.
In the Blood of the Samurai Base...
Several large motor cannons were lined along the side of a large mountain as they opened fire on a bunch of Britannian tanks on the ground, who were firing back at them.
Cornelia's Gloucester went up the mountain as the rebel forces fought the Britannian military.
"What the…"
"Is that Cornelia?!"
"Relics of a forgotten age."Cornelia retorted.
Cornelia's Gloucester took down several motor cannons with her Knightmare and landed on the ruins of one destroyed motor turret before contacting Darlton.
"Darlton, in here, correct?"Cornelia asked.
The 2nd Princess of Britannia drove her Gloucester into the tunnel and into the mountain where the rebels were hiding.
"Yes, my lady."Darlton replied. "Shall we accompany you?"
"Not for this level of resistance."Cornelia answered.
"Understood."Darlton said.
Cornelia entered the rebel base where she spotted her enemies.
"Surrender at once, you feeble-minded Elevens!"Cornelia scowled.
"DOWN WITH BRITANNIA!"
The Blood of the Samurai members opened fire with their rifles, but they barley did any damage to Cornelia's Gloucester.
Cornelia looked around with her Knightmare.
"Doesn't seem Zero is here. No point in going after them one at a time, I suppose."Cornelia complemented before she opened fire with her Gloucester's rifle. "Vermin! Rot like the filth that you are!"
Back in Ashford Academy...
It was now night time.
Lelouch and Rin were inside the clubhouse, waiting for Nunnally to return.
Nunnally then returned with Sayoko pushing her wheelchair.
"Hi, Lelouch and Rin!"Nunnally greeted with a smile. "I've returned home!"
"Hi, there! Welcome back, Miss Sayoko."Lelouch commented and looked at Nunnally. "I've got a special present for you today."
"Really?"Nunnally asked. "What could it be?"
"It's something special, Nunna."Rin exclaimed with a wink. "You're gonna love it. Trust me."
Lelouch held a finger to his lips in silent, looking at Sayoko, who raised an eyebrow in confusion.
Lelouch turned to the kitchen door, signalling for a person to come out.
Suzaku approached Nunnally and bent down in front of her before placing his hands onto hers.
Nunnally gasped lightly when she placed her hand onto Suzaku's and immediately recognised it was him.
"Ah! This hand..."Nunnally whispered as tears of joy appeared in her eyes. "Thank heaven. I knew it. I just knew you'd be alright."
Suzaku smiled softly at Nunnally, allowing her to clasp onto his hand.
"It's been a long time, Nunnally."Suzaku admitted.
Rin helped Sayoko prepare some tea and snacks before she went to sit down with Lelouch and Nunnally to talk with Suzaku.
"So, tell me you will stay the night, won't you?"Nunnally asked.
"Suzaku's enrolled as a student at Ashford Academy now."Lelouch explained. "So you can see him anytime you want to."
Nunnally smiled. "Is that true?"
"Well, I still have military duties, so I can't be here every day."Suzaku stated.
"Oh, you're still in the military?"Nunnally questioned with a hint of worry.
"Don't worry. I've been reassigned to the Engineering Corps."Suzaku assured. "It's a lot less dangerous."
"How cool."Lelouch complemented. "Engineering, huh?"
Rin simply smiled, but deep down had a feeling that Suzaku was hiding something from him.
Lelouch stood up from his seat to refill the teapot.
"Oh…let me help you."Suzaku suggested.
Suzaku tried to stand up, but Lelouch smiled in response.
"You just sit down."Lelouch insisted. "Unlike seven years ago, we get to be your hosts now."
Suzaku looked in surprise before smiling back.
"It's funny, you're a lot more mellow then you used to be."Lelouch said.
"And you're a bit more rough."Suzaku joked.
Lelouch walked into the kitchen as Rin whispered something in Nunnally's ear.
"Lelouch is probably trying to make up on the time he accidentally spilled tea on my favourite dress."Rin whispered.
"I remember that."Nunnally giggled lightly. "That was also when your dad got upset and called him the clumsy prince."
The smile on Rin's face shrunk a bit at the mention of her late father before bringing her attention on Suzaku.
"So Suzu, made any friends in the Engineering Corps?"Rin asked with a hint of curiosity.
"Well, just two."Suzaku responded. "Though, I got to say one of them cook some very strange meals."
Rin and Nunnally laughed lightly at Suzaku's story as Lelouch went to the kitchen.
However, the former prince's smile vanished when he saw C.C standing inside the room with her arms folded.
"I told you to stay in my room."Lelouch reminded.
"That boy out there. He's the Britannian soldier from Shinjuku as well as the pilot of that Lancelot Knightmare, isn't he?"C.C questioned with a suspicious expression. "Are you sure this is wise?"
"Don't worry, it's fine."Lelouch assured while placing the teapot on the table and became sad. "He's an old friend…from the past."
In a Holding Cell…
Guilford was releasing Jeremiah, who was wearing a straightjacket in his prison cell claiming that the courts couldn't find anything about orange.
"You getting out, Jeremiah."Guilford declared.
"Lord Guilford!"Jeremiah remarked with a hopeful expression. "You see I'm innocent, don't you?"
"Well, it seems in the eyes of the court you are anyway, Orange Boy."Guilford retorted.
"Huh?"Jeremiah said in confusion.
"Whatever the truth is, Zero got away. And you Pure Bloods let it happen."Guilford declared. "You've been demoted three ranks for failure. You have two options to choose from. Starting over as a pilot or cultivating an orange farm."
Jeremiah had a horrified look on his face to know of his sudden failure.
Now he had received further shame as it was now been twice that he allowed members of the Royal Family (Empress Marianne and Prince Clovis) to be killed and now lost his own rank as a Pure Blood because of Zero.
However, the top incident that he will always consider his biggest failure was his time as a guard at the Aries Palace and failed to prevent Empress Marianne from being assassinated.
Later that Night...
Suzaku, Rin and Lelouch were standing on the porch about to go their separate ways.
"You two should come by again."Lelouch insisted. "Nunnally would enjoy it."
Rin nodded in agreement.
"I may have a job in the Sumeragi residence, but I won't likely have trouble on getting time to spend with you guys."Rin remarked. "It'll be like old times."
"Yeah. But..."Suzaku started. "Lelouch, I...I don't think we should be seen together at school."
This caused Lelouch and Rin to become surprised at Suzaku's declaration.
"What do you mean?"Lelouch asked.
"Suzu…"Rin started.
"Think. How would you explain it? Being friends with an Honorary Britanian? You have to guard your secret, Lelouch."Suzaku reminded. "No one can know your royalty and the same goes for Nunnally. I don't wanna cause you any trouble."
Lelouch gets upset at Suzaku's declaration.
"Doing it again, huh?!"Lelouch shouted angrily. "Everyone's needs but your own!"
Suzaku and Rin looked at Lelouch with confused expressions.
"Again?"Suzaku responded.
Lelouch looked away as he regained his attitude.
"Forget it."Lelouch retorted.
Rin held her school bag as she prepared to return to the Sumeragi residence.
"Thanks for having me and Suzu around, Lulu."Rin thanked as she began to walk away. "It was a lot of fun. So, I'll see you two later."
"Right."Lelouch said quietly.
Suzaku smiled. "Sure."
Rin gives Lelouch a kiss on the cheek before doing the same to Suzaku.
"I'm so glad, you know?"Rin stated with a relieved smile. "All of us were able to talk together again after so long."
Rin walked away from her childhood friends as C.C watched her go from the window of Lelouch's room.
The Next Morning...
It was another awkward day in school for Suzaku.
Lelouch initially didn't pay him any heed and the rest of the students abruptly stop talking whenever he entered a room.
Rin frowned at the students' behaviour on Suzaku, finding it completely annoying.
In her point of view, every student should be treated equally regardless if they were Britannian or not.
Everyone knew she was half-Japanese, but she was treated like she was a full-blooded Britannian.
Unfortunately, she didn't have the power to stop the unnecessary attention that Suzaku was getting.
If only she did.
At a Stairwell of Ashford Academy…
Lelouch stood in the middle stairwell while Naoto told him that the Blood of the Samurai group were eliminated by Cornelia.
"It hasn't made news yet, but the Blood of the Samurai faction was wiped out by Cornelia."Naoto exclaimed. "They were the largest group we had in central Japan. We need to be prepared, Zero. It won't be long until she comes after us."
"Just keep your head. Our chance will come."Lelouch assured. "Sit tight. I'll contact you later on the next step."
"Right."Naoto answered.
Lelouch ended the call and placed his phone down.
"Cornelia maybe the New Viceroy of Japan, but she's nothing like Clovis since she's known as the Goddess of Victory. She did admire my mother Marianne the Flash and graduated from the Pendragon Royal Academy like Nonette, the Knight of Nine."Lelouch thought with a frown. "Her goal is likely to lure me out just to avenge Clovis. I would need to make an army that will have people that I can rely on. But where do I start?"
Lelouch glanced out the window he was next to and notice Suzaku washing his white shirt which had red writing on it that said 'Go back to your ghetto, Eleven!' causing his eyes to widen in shock.
In an empty room in the school, Nina was typing in her computer and got startled when the door opened.
"Nina."
Nina became quietly relieved when she saw Nunnally in her wheelchair.
"I'm sorry."Nina apologised. "Am I too loud?"
"Not at all."Nunnally answered. "Why are you here? What about class?"
Nina looked down and shivered a bit.
"Oh…"Nina whispered.
"Something wrong?"Nunnally asked.
"Well, it's…I dunno, a little scary."Nina exclaimed.
"Scary?"Nunnally said in confusion.
"We have a transfer student in our class
now."Nina explained with a hint of fear. "It's that boy who was accused of murdering Prince Clovis. He is an Eleven."
Nunnally became sad when she knew that Nina was talking about Suzaku.
"You know what you're saying is actually stupid, Nina."
Nunnally and Nina notice Rin coming into the room.
"Rin."Nunnally said.
Rin kept her small glare on Nina.
"Suzaku maybe Japanese, but he happens to be a friend to me, Lelouch and Nunnally."Rin retorted.
"But how can you all be friends with that Eleven?"Nina asked nervously.
Rin immediately lost her temper at hearing Nina's respond.
"Just what exactly is your problem with the Japanese people, Nina?!"Rin snapped, making Nina flinch. "I maybe half-Britannian, but I treat everyone equally no matter who or what race they're from! It's really unfortunate that you and some people in school actually feel threatened by people that are different from you with very little shame! Might I suggest remove that filthy behaviour of yours if I were you!"
Nina clenched her fists on the table as Nunnally looked completely worried.
A deliveryman from Pizza Hut had pulled up to the Ashford Clubhouse with a pizza box and was about to ring the doorbell when C.C. already opened it.
"Oh, thanks for all the repeat business."the deliveryman commented. "Although the name on the account we debit has a guy's name on it. Is that okay?"
C.C took the pizza box but she or the deliveryman didn't notice the stray black cat that Suzaku and Euphemia had met together, walk into the clubhouse.
Inside the Clubhouse of Ashford Academy…
Lelouch was in his room putting his Zero costume inside his case while the mask was on a table.
C.C arrived inside holding the pizza box as the cat wandered in without being noticed.
"Unlike my geass, the mask is a physical piece of evidence."Lelouch explained.
Lelouch placed the mask in his bag when Nunnally came in.
"Alright Lelouch, the tea is ready when you are."Nunnally declared and smelt the air. "That smell. Hey, did you order pizza again?"
"I'm racking up reward points."Lelouch stated as he rose up from the table. "I'll be right down, okay?"
"Lelouch."Nunnally commented. "Maybe you should cut down on the pizza. You don't want a blubbery belly."
Lelouch walked passed C.C with a frown on his face.
"Just don't touch or rub it, okay?"Lelouch instructed.
"Ooh, scary!"Nunnally giggled lightly.
Lelouch and Nunnally left the room, leaving C.C by herself.
Before C.C could eat her ordered pizza, she failed to notice the cat digging his way through Lelouch's bag until it fell on him causing the cat to give a loud meow in distress.
The green haired girl looked around after hearing the cat's meow, only to hear the sound of the door opening before closing again.
"What the heck?"C.C questioned.
Lelouch and Nunnally sat down having tea together while talking about what was happening with Suzaku.
"Yeah."Lelouch replied. "I was wondering if that was going on."
Nunnally lowered her cup of tea to talk to Suzaku.
"They're just being cruel to Suzaku."Nunnally commented.
"No. It's just..."Lelouch started. "These things take time. People will come around."
"Isn't there anything you can do, though?"Nunnally asked. "I mean he is your friend."
Lelouch was in his thoughts for a moment before he notice the cat showing up.
However, the black haired boy became horrified when he saw the cat wearing Zero's mask.
"Ugh!"Lelouch shouted in horror.
"Huh?"Nunnally said in confusion.
The cat hissed as Lelouch tried to chase after him, leaving Nunnally by herself and wonder was just happened.
"Hey!"Lelouch shouted. "Give that back!"
"Ah…Lelouch?"Nunnally asked.
The cat leapt out from the window and let out a few hisses as he tried to remove the helmet on his head as he jumped out the window.
"Yeah, a cat! Ah, stupid little cat!"Lelouch retorted as he climbed out the window and chased it outside. "You've gotta be kidding me! There's no way I'm getting exposed by a lousy feline!"
C.C then looked out the window to see Lelouch chasing the cat.
"Huh? That wasn't my fault, was it?"C.C murmured while eating a slice of pizza. "I didn't touch or rub anything."
Nunnally had called Rin, Rivalz, Milly and Nina to see if they could help with Lelouch's problem with the stray cat.
"A cat took something from Lelouch?"Naomi asked.
"Yeah, that's right."Nunnally agreed. "I think a cat ran off with something pretty important to him."
"Important?"Milly said.
"I'm not sure what exactly, but I'm positive it was something of value to him."Nunnally explained. "I've never heard my brother sound like that. He was completely hysterical."
"That's weird."Rivalz said. "What could be so important to the guy?"
"A love letter?"Nina guessed.
"An embarrassing photo?"Milly suggested.
"Poetry he wrote?"Rivalz asked.
"Poetry…"Nunnally said.
Milly and Rivalz chuckled lightly at each other.
Rin looked at her friends with amusement.
"Do you guys really think Lelouch could have any of those things?"Rin questioned.
"Hey, you never know."Rivalz complemented. "Lelouch might have hidden some of that. He probably have some secrets after all."
Milly smiled mischievously at Rin.
"Besides, wouldn't you like to know if he had a love letter?"Milly asked amusingly. "Maybe to a lovely childhood friend?"
A blush appeared on Rin's face at hearing Milly's respond.
"M-Milly, please don't make jokes like that."Rin begged. "And besides, no, I wouldn't have been interested to know."
This made Milly's smile only to grow more.
"Whatever you say."Milly sneered.
Milly then brought her attention to Nunnally.
"Leave it to us!"Milly assured with a smirk and then gives Nunnally a thumbs up. "We'll get our hands on the thing before Lelouch has a chance to blink! Just you wait!"
Rin sweat dropped, suddenly feeling uncomfortable with the confident look on Milly's face.
Lelouch continued chasing to the main building after the stray cat in order to get his Zero mask back.
"If I had those terrorists with me, we could encircle the enemy."Lelouch thought. "Maybe Kallen? No, she is suspicious of me as it is!"
Lelouch tripped and fell in a bush, but quickly went back up.
"Ughh!"Lelouch retorted. "Get it together!"
Lelouch resumed the chase with the cat making it inside the building.
The cat past by a few students in the hall, but none of them appeared to have noticed it, save for two girls as it stopped near them to try and remove the mask off his head.
"Uh? What's up with that cat? Is that the mask Zero wears? Or am I crazy?"
"No way. Why would it be here?"
Lelouch stopped running to look at the two girls.
"You two saw it?"Lelouch asked and activated his Geass. "Forget everything you've just seen!"
Lelouch used his Geass on the two girls to make them forget that they saw the cat wearing Zero's mask.
"Sure."the two girls said in unison. "No problem at all."
"Good."Lelouch answered.
Lelouch continued his chase after the stray cat as Milly announced over the school speakers.
"This is Milly Ashford, your Student Council President!"Milly declared. "Cat Hunt, everybody!"
Suzaku stopped reading the book in his hands at hearing Milly's announcement.
"Cat hunt?"Suzaku said in confusion.
In the PA Room…
Nina, Rin and Nunnally as Milly spoke through the intercom.
"There is a cat loose on campus that needs to be rounded up. Put everything on hold, people. Participating clubs will get budget priority."Milly exclaimed and a mischievous smile grew on her face. "And whoever catches our feline friend, will get an extra special prize! A big old kiss from one of the members of the Student Council! Ahahaha!"
Rin's face turned bright red in horror at Milly's announcement.
"EH?!"Rin shrieked in disbelief.
In the Ashford Swimming Pool…
Milly's announcement caused Shirley to loose her balance as she screamed and fell off the diving board to belly flop into the pool.
Outside…
Kallen was walking around campus while listening to Milly's speech.
"Members of…Wait!"Kallen said in realisation. "Like, me?!"
"EXACTLY!"
Two group of boys from the film and gardening club emerged from the bushes, much to Kallen's panic.
"You've been hanging around the Student Council, haven't ya?"
"Wouldn't mind a taste of those lips."
"It's not gonna be like some lame peck on the cheek though, is it?"
"A kiss on the cheek would be fine with me."
"Wait. We can choose where she plants it?"
Kallen, for her part, simply wore an expression of complete disbelief as she watched what was happening in front of her.
"Yeah!"All the boys cheered and raised their fists up. "ALRIGHT!"
All the boys immediately ran off in excitement to look for the cat as a blush crept up on Kallen's face.
"There's no way that's how I'm gonna get my first kiss!"Kallen retorted before running off to look for the cat.
Some of the female students became thrilled at the prize for catching the cat.
"What?"the first girl said. "From a member of the Student Council?"
"Does that include Lelouch?"the second girl asked.
All of the girls, with the exception of one, were excited about the idea of getting a kiss from Lelouch.
"Actually I would prefer Milly."the fifth girl said shyly.
This caused the other girls to look at her in disgust.
"Could you get back in the closet, please?"the first girl requested in disgust.
"Hut! Hut! Hut!"
The Football Club immediately joined in the hunt for the cat as well.
The Equestrian Club rode on their horses.
"We have the advantage of mobility!"
Members of the Gardening Club were looking in the garden for the cat while the rest of the students looked at the other sides of the school.
"Hurry, you look for catnips!"
"Science will prevail!"
"And when you do catch that cat, bring whatever it's carrying to me!"Milly cackled. "To me! To me!"
Milly continued cackled joyfully before coughing furiously in the speaker.
Lelouch frowned at Milly's announcement as he ran in the hallway of the school.
"Milly! Stay out of this, will ya?"Lelouch retorted.
Kallen ran in the hallway, completely upset at what was going on.
"Offering people up as prizes that's why I hate Britanians."Kallen scowled.
Kallen stopped running as she past by a few female students in order to maintain her sickly appearance but resumed running once she walked past them.
"Damn it!"Kallen cursed with a frown. "Why do I have to pretend like I'm sick and feeble?"
Kallen then ran around the corner and runs into Shirley in search of the cat.
"Oh, yaah! Huh. Jeez, I'm sorry about that..."Kallen started and became surprised to see Shirley in a just swimsuit and shoes. "Shirley! Why are you dressed like that?"
"I didn't have time to change."Shirley answered worriedly. "They're gonna make us kiss somebody! We've gotta hurry!"
Kallen nodded. "I'm with you."
In the PA Room…
Rivalz notice Rin preparing to leave the room.
"Where are you going, Rin?"Rivalz asked.
"Isn't it obvious? I am going to look for the cat!"Rin exclaimed with a frown. "I definitely don't want to end up kissing some random stranger!"
"Or because you're worried that someone might end kissing Lelouch."Milly guessed in an amused tone.
"No!"Rin snapped with an angry glare. "I just don't want end up as a prized obsession!"
Rin headed out the room with her face utterly red as Nina looked at Nunnally.
"Nunnally, is there anything about this cat that's special?"Nina asked.
Milly brought the intercom towards Nunnally's mouth so that everyone else could hear her description.
"Hmm… I think that its leg must be hurt, because its footsteps sounded off to me."Nunnally explained. "And, uh…oh, I almost forgot. It meowed like this."
Nunnally took a deep breath before giving out an adorable meow.
"MEOW!"
"MEOW!"
All the students shouted and copied Nunnally's tone to call out for the cat.
An irritated groan escaped Rin's as she ran to look for the cat before some random pervert caught it.
"I want a good first kiss like every girl does!"Rin scowled. "But being offered as a trophy prize is just damn gross!"
Rin's mood brightened up when she caught sight of Lelouch.
"Lelouch!"Rin called out. "Still looking for the cat?"
"Yeah!"Lelouch replied. "That feline stole something really important to me!"
"And that would be-"Rin started.
"No time to explain!"Lelouch answered quickly. "Let's go!"
Rin felt butterflies in her stomach, not happy Lelouch didn't want to tell her the identity of the item that the cat stolen from or the importance of it.
"Secretive as ever."Rin thought with a sigh. "One of the least thing I like about you, Lelouch."
Lelouch and Rin started running together to look for the cat.
Milly hopped into the sidecar of Rivalz's motorcycle.
"Okay!"Milly remarked. "Let's go!"
"What happens if a member of the Student Council catches the cat?"Rivalz asked as he placed on his helmet. "We don't get a prize, do we?"
"Do we get a kiss?"Milly said and placed on a helmet. "But of course."
"Is that so. Well, what are we waiting around for, then?"Rivalz complemented as he started his motorbike. "This is my day to shine!"
Rivalz started up his motorbike and dove off with a teacher yelling at them for speeding on campus.
"Hey!"A random teacher yelled out. "No speeding on campus!"
Kallen and Shirley had actually managed to corner the cat underneath a table, but luckily neither of them didn't see Zero's mask.
Kallen gave Shirley her jacket to prevent anyone from seeing her in her swimsuit.
"Okay. We do this right and our lips will be safe."Kallen informed. "Shirley, you cover the rear."
"Oh, wait a sec!"Shirley protested.
Kallen stopped walking forward and glanced at Shirley.
"What's the matter?"Kallen asked.
"Who would you wanna get a kiss from?"Shirley said desperately. "Is there anyone in particular?"
Kallen became confused. "Huh?"
"It wouldn't be Lulu, would it?"Shirley questioned with a hint of worry.
"Uh."Karen scoffed in disbelief. "Just what would make you think that?"
"Oh, how…I guess it…it's just…"Shirley started as she blushed a bit.
As the two girls continued to converse the cat gets away and somehow gets on the roof of the school.
Lelouch and Rin headed towards the bell tower and almost ran into Suzaku.
"Suzaku/Suzu!"Lelouch and Rin said in unison.
"Lelouch! Rin!"Suzaku spoke up. "Are you both looking for the cat, too?"
"Meow!"
Suzaku, Rin and Lelouch both run up the stairs to get to the cat.
"Up there."Suzaku responded.
"Let's go!"Rin insisted.
Lelouch started chasing after Suzaku and Rin when they started to climb up the stairs.
"Suzaku, Rin, wait!"Lelouch protested. "Don't go up there!"
"But the Student Council President said to catch it."Suzaku reminded.
"Don't worry about it!"Lelouch assured. "I'll get the cat."
"We were always more agile than you."Suzaku remarked. "Remember when that little bird got loose?"
"Oh, I remember that!"Rin chuckled in amusement. "Not even 30 seconds passed and you already got tired!"
"Quit talking ancient history!"Lelouch argued.
"It was only 7 years ago!"Suzaku reminded.
Suzaku and Rin continued running up the stairs as Lelouch tiredly followed from behind.
"Oh, for Pete's sake..."Lelouch muttered. "They were always the exercise nuts."
Lelouch gets severely outpaced by Suzaku and Rin, but arrived at the top a few moments after they do.
Milly and Rivalz arrived where the other students were gathered in.
"So, someone's got it cornered, huh?"Milly said excitedly. "Who's the lucky winner?"
Shirley looked up and pointed on the figure.
"Up there!"Shirley said and became surprised. "Suzaku? Rin?"
The students looked up to see Suzaku and Rin began to climbing up the roof as Lelouch started following them from behind.
Suzaku and Rin climbed carefully on the roof to get closer to the cat.
"Easy now."Suzaku instructed. "You don't have to be scared."
"No need to worry, okay?"Rin assured.
Lelouch arrived near the entrance to the roof.
"Suzaku, Rin, come back!"Lelouch protested.
"It's alright."Suzaku answered. "Leave this to us."
"That's funny."Lelouch thought, looking at Suzaku. "He never went along with the crowd like this."
Lelouch attempted to climb on the roof but he slipped and almost falls off just to be saved by Suzaku and Rin at the last moment.
"Lelouch!"Rin gasped.
"Are you okay?"Suzaku asked.
"Y-Yeah."Lelouch answered.
The students watched Suzaku and Rin save Lelouch.
"Is it possible?"Nina asked. "Those three are..."
The stray cat finally slipped out of the mask which rolled down to the ground before catching on a window-pike on the other side, where no one else could see it.
Lelouch heaved a sigh of relief that his secret was safe as Suzaku and Rin helped him back up.
"Pretty calm for someone on the verge of death."Suzaku complemented.
"Yeah, right."Lelouch remarked. "I was just limp with fear."
"More like a really close call."Rin scoffed.
Nunnally looked at Alice.
"What's going on?"Nunnally asked.
"That transfer student and Rin just saved Lelouch from a really closed call."Alice explained.
Suzaku picked up the cat and walked out with Rin while Lelouch went to bring the Zero mask back to a safe place.
Shirley, Rivalz and Milly rushed up to Suzaku and Rin.
"You and Rin saved him."Shirley responded happily. "Thank you so much, Suzaku."
"Well done, new guy."Alice praised with a smile.
"Yeah!"Rivalz chuckled. "Way to go there, new guy."
"That cat was carrying something, wasn't it?"Milly asked.
"Yeah, there was something on its head. But I never really got a good look at it."Suzaku explained with a sheepish smile. "Guess it's slipped off when I wasn't looking."
"So, where is Lulu?"Shirley asked.
"Lelouch said he forgot something."Rin admitted.
"That's it!"Milly declared in realisation. "The embarrassing secret that he's hiding!"
"So, that's it, Madam President?"Lelouch questioned.
Lelouch walked up to the group with nothing in his hands.
"Guess there is nothing embarrassing from this guy."Rin chuckled.
Milly frowned at Lelouch.
"Aaah!"Milly said in disproval. "After all this time I thought I had some dirt on you!"
"Yeah."Shirley agreed sadly. "He almost lost his cool for once."
Kallen brought her attention on Lelouch, Rin and Suzaku.
"So, ah...do you three know each other, then?"Kallen asked quietly.
"Yeah, but...he is an Eleven."Nina reminded.
Rin glared at Nina, upset that she still had her repulsive behaviour even after yelling at her.
"So what?"Rin demanded with a hint of anger. "He is still a human being as we are. As a matter of fact, me and Lelouch have been friends with him for seven years."
The students (minus Nunnally) were stunned at Rin's revelation.
"Rin is right. There isn't any difference."Lelouch admitted and looked at Milly. "Madam President, would permit both Suzaku and Rai as members of the Student Council?"
Everyone became surprised at Lelouch's declaration.
"The rules are clear."Lelouch commented. "All students are required to join a club. Although..."
Milly smiled, understanding what Lelouch wanted.
"Well, you are the Vice President."Milly reminded with a smile. "I suppose I can't refuse."
"Well then, I'd say that's the end of that."Nunnally giggled. "Now, come here you two. Lend me an ear."
Lelouch and Suzaku brought their faces closer, only for both of them to receive a kiss on the cheek from Nunnally for saving the cat.
"N...Nunnally?"Suzaku said in surprise.
"There you go, the reward Miss Milly promised."Nunnally remarked. "Since you both caught the cat, you'll just have to settle for me, almost a student council member."
"That's fair enough."Rin chuckled with a small smirk.
Alice nodded in agreement as Rivalz raised his fist up.
"Alright then, let's celebrate the catching of the cat!"Rivalz insisted. "Everything's on the new guy, naturally."
"Oh, back off!"Shirley snapped and smiled at Suzaku. "Hi, there! I'm Shirley. Pleasure to meet ya."
"Oh, right."Rivalz responded. "I'm Rivalz."
"My name is Alice."Alice added. "I'm Nunnally's best friend."
"Milly Ashford, Student Council President."Milly replied.
Suzaku smiled. "The pleasure is mine."
The Student Council members all greeted Suzaku while Nina looked on in fear.
Later that Day...
The entire student body were gathered to watch the funeral of Prince Clovis on the big screen.
"And now, His royal Majesty, the 98th Emperor of the Holy Britannian Empire!"the M.C. announced.
The Emperor gave a rousing yet incredibly racist speech to conclude the funeral service while Lelouch, Rin and Kallen angrily listened to it.
"All men, are not created equal. Some are born swifter of foot, some with greater beauty, some are born into poverty, and others born sick and feeble."Emperor Charles declared. "Both in birthland and upbringing, in sheer scope of ability every human is inherently different. Yes, that is why people discriminate against one another, which is why there is struggle, competition and the unfaltering march of progress."
Rin felt her anger boil consuming inside her body as she listened to the Emperor's cruel words like everyone else.
"Inequality, is not wrong, equality is. What of the EU, which made equality a right, rabble politics by a popularity contest. The Chinese Federation, with its equal distribution of wealth, a nation of lazy dullards. But not our beloved Britannia, we fight, we compete, evolution is continuous."Emperor Charles continued. "Britannia alone moves forward, advancing steadily into the future. Even the death of my son Clovis demonstrates Britannia's unswerving commitment to progress. We will fight on. We shall struggle, compete, plunder, and dominate. And in the end, the future shall be ours. All Hail Britannia!"
"All Hail Britannia!"the Audience chanted. "All Hail Britannia! All Hail Britannia!"
In Lelouch's Room...
C.C sees the speech and realizes that the emperor is Lelouch's target while stroking Zero's mask.
"So, this is Lelouch's enemy."C.C said simply. "Well..."
In the Assembly Room...
"All Hail Britannia!"the Audience continued. "All Hail Britannia!"
Lelouch glared at Emperor Charles on the big screen as he narrowed his eyes with a hateful expression on his face.
Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter:)