Chapter 16: Cat Hunt

Note: It took almost 2 extra hour and I want to just go to bed...but I did it, this version is the fully edited version, so please, enjoy

Lelouch moved through his school day while C.C. stayed home, free from pretense and responsibility. She could use his credit card to order pizza there—indeed, she had just done so. Eager for her meal, she swung open the door as the delivery guy barely had time to ring the bell.

"Good afternoon, ma'am. We appreciate your repeat business. Though the account is under a guy's name— is that acceptable?" the delivery boy asked, handing over two large pizza boxes. He seemed only mildly unnerved by seeing several large dogs lounging around; they'd grown accustomed to his visits.

That minor oversight meant neither he nor C.C. noticed the familiar stray—a cat with a bandaged leg—strolling in quietly.

“He won’t complain,” C.C. replied, accepting the delivery. Lelouch could have reclaimed his card, but he was too courteous to rummage through her belongings. In truth, she rarely kept it on her; instead, it usually resided in his drawer—a secret comfort, defying the clichéd notion that only men carry things in their pockets.

Meanwhile, Lelouch pored over a map of Area 11 in the Kanto region in his room, marking the locations where Cornelia had struck. He had advised Ohgi to remain calm, though the man's concern was justified. Cornelia, dubbed the "Goddess of Victory," had earned her reputation through blood and steel. Their advantage in this struggle lay in her inability to focus fully on them until she reformed the Area 11 government and military.

Unlike traditional forces, they had no armies, visible supply lines, or entrenched bases—a disadvantage for conventional warfare but a boon for Lelouch's asymmetric tactics. With no massive formations for Cornelia to target, her strikes risked only scattering their scarce resources, leaving them elusive and unpredictable.

Recalling lessons with Schneizel and studying military greats from Hannibal onward, Lelouch knew that fighting asymmetrically would keep Cornelia guessing. “But…she and the others must know this. Why was she sent?” he mused, glancing up as C.C. entered their room—now their shared space since she’d moved in after their night together.

"You say something?" C.C. asked, settling on the bed. Slowly, she removed her heeled boots, drawing his attention to her long, smooth legs. Lelouch's thoughts drifted momentarily to their intimacy, memories of tender moments. Noticing his distracted gaze, C.C. smirked and shifted slightly, inviting his admiration. Lelouch exhaled deeply and refocused on the pressing matter.

“Cornelia’s deployment makes little strategic sense,” he stated. “As a tool of intimidation, she works—most foes surrender before she even moves. But as a maneuver, it fails. Marrybell, whose skills are honed for counter-terrorism and asymmetric warfare, would have been the natural choice. Instead, she was passed over."

Lelouch had long prepared to confront his younger sister, Marrybell, who, since her early debut, had ruthlessly dismantled rebel cells in Areas 15 and 16. Her methods, though efficient and brutal, were born from a fire that had once consumed the Pisces Imperial Villa—an inferno rumored to be terrorism-linked. That made it all the more perplexing that Marrybell wasn’t sent after him after Clovis’s death—a deed he’d boasted about. Indeed, she should have been incensed on principle.

Flipping through files, Lelouch noted, “The data shows Cornelia should have struck at least five rebel cells since arriving, yet she’s hit only three. Even with the constraints I imposed, that number seems too low.”

“Is she moving too slowly, or are you expecting too much?” C.C. teased, kicking her legs while savoring her second slice of pizza.

Lelouch glared at her briefly before sighing. “Maybe you’re right. We’ll have to adjust the plans.” At least there was a silver lining—Cornelia’s underperformance could be exploited, buying them precious time.

A knock sounded at the door, sliding open to reveal Nunnally. “Alright, Lelouch, the tea is ready,” she announced, pausing to sniff the air. “I know that smell—did C.C. order more pizza?”

“Of course I did,” C.C. replied with unapologetic cheer, her pizza addiction drawing a soft giggle from Nunnally.

"You must really love it—you order pizza daily," Nunnally observed teasingly. To her, it was clear proof that Lelouch was head over heels for C.C. Her brother despised pizza and greasy food, mainly indulging when Milly bullied him into it. And yet, C.C. had ordered more pizza in the few weeks she'd been staying with them than they'd had in the past year, and all he did was grumble about it.

Lelouch grumbled as he rose. “It’s a mystery where she puts it all,” he muttered, prompting C.C. to give him a swift kick in the side as he passed. She ignored his scowl. “It’s downright rude to question a woman’s weight. For that, you’ll be sleeping on the floor tonight.”

Nunnally giggled louder. "She's right, Lelouch. You taught me better manners than that. You should apologize and make up with C.C. so you can both live happily."

Lelouch groaned, knowing full well this wasn’t the first—and wouldn’t be the last—time that C.C. and his own sister tormented him. Nunnally was always on his case, ribbing him for being overly strict about how Nunnally interacted with boys. Yet, here he was, skipping the marriage talk and inviting his lover to live with them.

"You've turned my sister against me," he complained, turning to C.C., who merely smiled like a pleased cat.

“You did that yourself, boyo,” she teased.

“C.C., would you like to join us for tea?” Nunnally offered warmly.

“I appreciate the offer, but I’ll stay here and let you two have some father-daughter bonding. Besides, I can spend time with Matilda,” C.C. replied, gesturing toward the small border collie napping in the corner. At the sound of her name, the dog lazily lifted her head.

Lelouch opened his mouth to correct her about his dynamic with Nunnally but gave up, recognizing a lost battle. “Just don’t feed her pizza—she’s on a strict diet,” he added.

"And what's that?" C.C. smirked, meeting his deadpan stare.

“The flesh of my enemies,” Nunnally quipped, smacking Lelouch’s side.

"Lelouch, that's neither true nor nice!" Nunnally scolded, though a smile tugged at her lips as Lelouch laughed. As Nunnally led him out of the room, none noticed that a certain feline had quietly entered—the aroma of pizza distracting the dozing dog completely.

Line Break

The siblings managed to steal a few rare hours to relax and catch up. Though they saw each other daily, their moments together were precious—especially since Lelouch still had to hide parts of his relationship with C.C. by disguising their outings as dates. This ruse made his dual life as Zero easier to explain, and having their mysterious houseguest around was a welcome bonus. When she wasn’t busy trying to gauge how quickly Lelouch’s hair might turn white, she was chatting with Nunnally.

His sister clearly appreciated someone with whom she could be open since C.C. knew about their exiled royal status.

However, their afternoon tea was soured by distressing news about Suzaku's reception at school. Indeed, the way he was being treated was nothing short of appalling. Lelouch set his cup down and hummed in dismay after hearing how Nunnally's class had reacted. "I had seen hints of this, but I hoped people would be more aware," he murmured.

Nunnally sighed. "They don't understand they're being cruel—fear makes them act out. Many of my classmates have never seen a Japanese person who isn't a servant." Her words, though gentle, betrayed her own unhappiness. She longed for her brother's evident protectiveness over Suzaku to serve as a wake-up call to others. Instead, some saw his vigilance as overbearing, stoking the fear surrounding Suzaku even further.

“They do remember he was once a scapegoat, right? There’s nothing dangerous about him,” Lelouch insisted while absentmindedly scratching the back of Beren, the silver-and-tan Australian Terrier resting on his lap, as Willy lounged on Nunnally’s side.

"We know that, but he's still a soldier, Lelouch. And, well… the army doesn't look too good right now," Nunnally replied, biting her lip as painful memories of Clovis resurfaced. "I just hope those rumors aren't true."

Reluctantly, Nunnally had mentioned to him the unsavory gossip she'd heard—how some sought to punish Suzaku with humiliating pranks or even outright assaults while in disguise. Lelouch was visibly displeased that anyone would dare challenge his aegis around Suzaku. Like the person who had ruined Suzaku’s P.E. clothes, those fools would soon learn that a sleeping dog didn’t mean toothless.

“That will have to be made very clear sooner rather than later,” he said, picking up his tea for another sip.

“By the way, did you already speak with Milly about it?” Nunnally asked.

“This morning. She was oddly enthusiastic—probably sees it as another form of entertainment,” Lelouch replied.

Nunnally, who took pride in Milly’s kindness and intelligence—traits that set her apart from other noble girls—added, “Still, I wish Suzaku would be more open to us hanging out with him. I don’t care if people find it odd; why should he?”

Lelouch chuckled softly at her gentle mockery. “You know that stubborn moron. He always puts others first. He’d sooner take a bullet than let anyone get punched.”

Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by a shout from C.C., accompanied by Matilda’s distant barking. “Get back here, you stupid cat!”

“Cat?” Nunnally asked, confused; they didn’t own a cat.

“What’s going on?” he demanded as he rose to investigate. Before he could react further, a feline strolled into the room nonchalantly. The sight both stunned and horrified him—not because he feared cats, but because draped around its neck was a lacy pink bra, one of several that C.C. had reluctantly purchased when he discovered she had no spare underwear.

"What the hell?" he muttered as Matilda bolted. The old dog, not as spry as she once was, couldn't catch the nimble intruder. The cat deftly dodged Matilda leaped onto the table, and then out the window.

C.C. arrived just in time to witness this, her expression unusually engaged and irritated. "You-you're going to get that cat now,” she ordered sternly, clearly not wanting anyone to see its origin.

“Later, Nunnally. That cat has something of C.C.’s,” Lelouch called to his sister as he dashed out of the room. “Christ Almighty, how did that stupid thing even get inside?” No one answered as he raced away, whistling to summon their avian crew for backup.

Hearing his call, a flock of parrots and ravens swooped down from their perches. Lelouch didn’t slow, pointing toward the school. “There’s a cat with something pink on its head—find it!” The birds squawked in response before soaring off on his command. With eyes in the sky, he then called for ground support. “Henry! Pedro!” he shouted, determined to recover the elusive feline and its bizarre accessory.

Henry's small head popped out of the bushes as he dashed toward his master. At the same time, Pedro rounded the building, alert as always—knowing that his tone meant this was important. Reaching Lelouch, both hounds sat patiently, awaiting orders.

“Follow me; we’re hunting for that nosy little cat,” Lelouch commanded, his voice trailing off as he added, “…and once I get my hands on it…” The hounds barked and bolted after him, chasing in the direction Matilda had disappeared. He wasn’t entirely sure why, but he trusted that he would prove the old adage about curious cats true when he captured the wily feline.

From the bedroom window, C.C. watched with a grumble. She hurried to change out of her prisoner clothes before joining the pursuit—she’d rather keep her undergarments hidden from prying eyes, especially from horny teenagers, and refused to be outed by a stupid cat.

Line Break

Nunnally, ever the worrier for her brother and now for C.C., fretted over their latest mishap. C.C.—an enigmatic woman who refused to reveal her name—had a curious way of bringing out Lelouch's more relaxed side. Their playful and non-confrontational banter always eased tensions, even when they teased one another.

When Nunnally heard how panicked they were about the cat, she decided to call in reinforcements from the student council. A quick call later, Rivalz, Nina, and Milly arrived at her door. "And he bolted just like that?" Rivalz asked eyebrows raised as Nunnally recounted the incident.

“That’s right,” Nunnally confirmed. “I’m not entirely sure what happened, but the cat sprinted off with something important. Lelouch sounded unusually anxious—more than I’ve heard him in ages.” She kept to herself that it wasn’t an object belonging to her brother—a detail best left unsaid for now.

"Unusually anxious? We're talking about Lelouch here, aren't we?" Rivalz teased since he knew he was rarely rattled—unless it was something personal about his little sister. Nunnally nodded. “I’m certain of it. Whatever it was, he wouldn’t let it be damaged or lost.”

C.C. wasn't one to treasure material things. Still, perhaps she possessed a special trinket—a locket or another cherished item that Nunnally hadn't seen before. Rivalz, Nina, and Milly exchanged puzzled looks. They couldn't fathom Lelouch being so attached to an object.

“What could be so important?” Rivalz mused.

Nina ventured, “A love letter?”

Milly added, “Maybe an embarrassing photo?”

Rivalz continued, “Or perhaps some poetry?”

“I doubt it’s any of those,” Nunnally observed, though she entertained the idea of a photo. She preferred to believe that C.C. wasn’t cruel enough to leave something so personal lying around.

Milly, however, was thrilled by the bizarre suggestions. “Leave it to us,” she declared, “we’ll recover it before Lelouch does, no sweat.”

"Don't you mean you'll help him find it?" Nunnally protested, but Milly only cackled, already scheming ways to gather dirt on her brother. Perhaps Nunnally had erred in summoning them, yet it was too late to back down.

Line Break

Lelouch dashed across the school grounds, his pace quickened by urgency as Matilda's barking guided him toward the elusive cat. Most students were used to seeing him with his dogs, so their curious glances hardly registered. Yet the nimble feline had already dodged several capture attempts. It was on the verge of being spotted by passing students. Lelouch knew it was only a matter of time before someone noticed—and then he'd have to decide whether to use his Geass to make them forget or face a barrage of questions.

Earlier, the cat had slipped away from him, but he was sure it had darted toward the soccer pitch. Panting from the chase, he barely had time to catch his breath when Milly’s vibrant voice boomed over the school’s loudspeaker system. “Good afternoon, my lovely students! This is your wonderful student body president, Milly Ashford, speaking!” Her tone brimmed with mischief and excitement.

“An announcement? Now?” Lelouch wondered, glancing at his watch with a frown. Milly rarely made unscheduled proclamations—she usually left such matters to Rivalz. Yet today, her voice carried a peculiar energy.

"I have a surprise for everyone—a campus-wide cat hunt!" Milly continued. At her side, Nina lingered shyly while Nunnally, ever the worrier, looked resigned as she braced for the ensuing chaos.

The announcement reverberated through every corridor, reaching even Suzaku, who was quietly catching up on English in class. “Cat hunt?” he murmured in disbelief.

Milly’s voice persisted: “There’s an adorable little kitty loose on campus, and I need your help to catch it!” A pit of dread formed in Lelouch’s stomach.

Meanwhile, Kallen, strolling through the forested part of the school, looked up in confusion. Milly was eccentric—and admittedly a bit perverse—but she wasn’t so careless as to have the entire school hunting for her cat. Did she even own one?

"No, please no," Lelouch muttered, his unease deepening every second.

At that moment, Shirley, fresh from swimming practice atop the highest diving board, paused as Milly’s announcement crackled over the speakers. It was early for such news, but Milly pressed on: “I know many of you have club activities, but I’m nothing if not generous! Any club that captures the cat and brings it to me will receive top budget priority—and the student who retrieves it will earn a kiss from a student council member of their choosing!”

The offer sent ripples of excitement—and shock—through the campus. Whispers broke out among the students. Those around Lelouch, who were mainly girls, wondered if a kiss from him was on the table. In contrast, others debated whether it might be a chaste peck or something more. The prospect left many with eyes fixated not on his face but on his pants, drawing even his hounds to whine in anxious protest.

Lelouch’s focus, however, remained on the chase. “Steady, my hounds…don’t let them intimidate you,” he murmured, forcing himself to concentrate on the feline’s trail. “Let’s go—we have another sighting!”

Just then, C.C. slipped into the building in a spare school uniform, her expression uncharacteristically agitated. “I hate being the butt of the joke,” she muttered under her breath as she watched the commotion escalate. Glancing aside, her frown deepened. “This isn’t funny.”

As Lelouch bolted off into the distance, his hounds bounding after him, the campus erupted in a frenzy of whispered excitement and competitive chatter. The hunt for the mysterious cat had become the latest campus spectacle in that chaotic moment. This bizarre distraction united students in a wild, unexpected chase, even as Lelouch silently prayed his Geass wouldn't have to erase too many curious memories.

Line Break

As she had predicted, Milly's announcement sent shockwaves throughout the entire student body. With every student belonging to one club or another, the promise of bonus funds for the semester was enticing enough to spur them into action—and the extra incentive of a kiss from one of the council members made it even more irresistible.

Milly had a way of tapping into the wild urges and lustful desires of high schoolers. Except for Nunna, who was strictly off-limits, every council member was considered a knockout. Milly herself was a sexy blonde bombshell, Shirley a fit swimmer with a budding chest, Nina the demure girl everyone wanted to hug, Kallen the sheltered beauty, Rivalz the lovable goofball, and finally, Lelouch—the undisputed school heartthrob.

With such a reward on the line, the entire campus erupted into a frenzy. Some students worked alone while others banded together in clubs, determined to claim the extra funds and the coveted kiss. The rugby team charged through the grounds in a mass of muscle while the equestrian club mounted their horses for a speedy pursuit. Even the gardening club got in on the action, scouring for catnip to lure the mysterious feline into view as everyone dashed about in search of the prize.

Although unable to see the chaos firsthand, Milly could feel the electric energy in the air—and that made her all the giddier. “That's right, students! Search under every rock, behind every tree, in every closet, and all the classes! Find Mr. Kitty, won't you please?” she bellowed over the loudspeakers.

Lelouch muttered under his breath, “Of course, I should have known she couldn’t stay out of this,” as he spotted Muninn‘s dark, sleek figure circling over a section of the school. Recognizing it as a sign that the cat had been sighted, he turned and sprinted in that direction.

Meanwhile, Kallen was already inside the area where the cat had apparently fled. With few students around, she could run as fast as she was capable, though her mind was awash with irritation. “Offering people up as prizes? I should expect nothing less from Britannians!” she fumed internally. Soon, she heard a pair of schoolgirls chattering about what they’d do with the kiss if they managed to catch the cat—one even suggesting she’d love a kiss from Shirley. That reminder only deepened Kallen’s annoyance; it wasn’t just the pervy guys she had to worry about.

Determined to keep her focus, Kallen slowed to a demure stroll when she heard voices nearby, waiting for the perfect moment before resuming her pursuit. "Dammit, why do I have to pretend like this? I'll never find that stupid cat at this rate," she grumbled.

Rounding another corner, Kallen nearly collided with someone and was forced to act politely. "Jeez, I'm sorry about that, Shirley?" she apologized, looking up to see a familiar face. Unlike her usual school uniform, Shirley was dressed in her swimsuit—a rare sight for the redhead—and looked equally surprised to encounter Kallen.

“Kallen?” Shirley responded, clearly startled by the collision but understanding the urgency in Kallen’s hurried gait.

“Why are you—?” Kallen began, her eyes scanning Shirley not in a lustful way but with genuine confusion.

Sensing the gravity of the situation, Shirley quickly explained, "I didn't have time to change! Milly will make us kiss whoever finds the cat, and I can't let that happen." She admitted that she'd rushed out without grabbing her jacket when she overheard teammates discussing the wild incentive. Though she would never admit it openly, Shirley was determined not to be forced to watch someone else kiss her Lulu.

Kallen considered the matter for a moment before nodding. “Team up?” she offered, extending her hand in alliance.

"Agreed," Shirley replied swiftly, and the two set off together. Shirley, recalling a fleeting sighting of a cat earlier, led the charge, and together, they raced off, united by the absurdity of the hunt and the stakes it now entailed.

Line Break

With Milly’s attention fully absorbed by the chaos she had unleashed, Nina turned to Nunnally for details. After all, there might be more than one stray cat on campus—and only Lelouch knew which one was the target. If Milly got it wrong, she could end up handing out free kisses left and right, throwing the budget into disarray.

“Nunnally, is there anything special about this cat?” Nina asked.

Nunnally tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I only had a brief encounter, but I noticed something odd. I think its leg might be off—the footsteps sounded uneven. And I nearly forgot: it meowed peculiarly." At that, Milly wheeled Nunnally closer to the microphone.

“Meow!” echoed through the speaker, drawing confused looks even from Cecile, who stood far from the main gate. Despite the distance, the campus-wide commotion was unmistakable; she’d even seen someone riding by on horseback during the search.

"What a strange school," Cecile remarked quietly. With everything that's happened, they still have the energy to be so laid-back." Envy crept into her voice as she observed the relentless excitement.

Meanwhile, Lloyd emerged from around Lancelot’s trailer. “Well, it just means our devicer is bound to have an interesting time during off hours. Now, about the university…” He gestured toward the campus behind them.

“I’ve already made the arrangements,” Nunnally replied confidently.

“Hmm, but did they really have to be so rude and kick poor Lancelot out? He hasn’t done anything to offend them,” Lloyd grumbled. They had hoped to be closer to Suzaku day-to-day now that he was both their employee and a student. But Ashford had flatly refused access, arguing that stationing a military asset on campus was asking for trouble.

The university had been welcoming until they learned about the pilot. Then, with a polite dismissal, they were shown the door. "I know," Cecile sighed, "but not every institution is as accepting of Elevens as Ashford seems."

Line Break

With everything in motion, Milly no longer sat on the sidelines. Knowing her grumpy VP was working overtime to catch that elusive kitty, she couldn’t let it slip away. “Alright, let’s get moving!” she declared as she jumped into Rivalz’s sidecar and grabbed his spare helmet.

“What if one of the council catches the cat?” Rivalz asked, a note of concern in his voice.

Milly laughed. “We control the budget—so that’s moot. But remember, the kiss is still on the table.”

“Really?” Rivalz replied with a playful smirk. The offer was a bit cheap, but a kiss from Milly was worth it.

“Hold on, I’m gunning it!” he shouted, slamming the throttle and releasing the brakes as his bike roared off, Milly laughing beside him.

“Bye, Nunnally!” she called over her shoulder toward the student admin building, where Nunnally stood with the ever-faithful Sayoko and a motley crew of birds and dogs.

“How many times do I have to say it? No speeding on campus!” bellowed a teacher. But neither cared—they had a cat to hunt, and nothing would stop their wild chase.

Line Break

Kallen and Shirley beat everyone to it, cornering the suspicious cat by a stairwell. They hadn’t seen what it was carrying—only that it had darted under a table—but both suspected it was the real reason Milly was so fixated on it. “Finally, we’ve cornered the little guy,” Kallen said, narrowing her eyes. “All we need to do is seal the deal, and our lips—and wherever those pervs would want to kiss—are safe.”

Shirley shivered at the memory of how slimy it felt when some students caught her running in nothing but a bathing suit, Kallen to lend her a coat. “Don’t remind me.”

“Shirley, you cover the rear,” Kallen instructed as she advanced slowly. Cats, after all, were notoriously capricious and rebellious. Chances were, this little guy wouldn’t appreciate being chased and might bolt if given a chance. Though Kallen was best positioned to catch it, having backup didn’t hurt.

“Wait a sec, Kallen,” Shirley interjected, a thought nagging at her. “About that kiss thing—was there anyone you’d really want to get one from?”

“What are you talking about? I would never—” Kallen snapped, offended that Shirley would even suggest such a thing.

Shirley’s cheeks flushed as she agreed with that but mentioned something about an incident. Now, Shirley was referencing when Lelouch had grabbed Kallen’s face in the courtyard—but Kallen’s mind darted instead to the humiliating shower incident that left her flushed with embarrassment and blood.

“Nothing happened!” Kallen yelled.

Shirley’s voice rose in panic. “So, something did happen?”

"You're imagining things—it was just an accident, a misunderstanding!" Kallen retorted fiercely. Their heated exchange grew so intense they failed to notice the clever cat seizing the chance to escape. Outside, a raven perched on a branch, cawed loudly, and took off in pursuit from above.

Line Break

Arriving at the school's bell tower, Suzaku exhaled, smiling as he saw the raven circling overhead. "Knew it." He rushed inside, finding Lelouch entering from the opposite side, flanked by two of his hounds.

“Suzaku?” Lelouch asked, still standing, his face slick with sweat.

“Hey, Lelouch.” Suzaku looked untouched, his energy seeming endless.

“How did you get here?” Lelouch asked, eyes scanning the area, his thoughts racing. If Suzaku had followed that damn feline here, others might be trailing them too.

Suzaku pointed upwards. "I figured you'd be on the hunt with your pets helping. So, I've been following those big ravens of yours." The truth was that Suzaku had seen Lelouch use animals like this before.

Lelouch exhaled, relieved. 'Thank God Milly and the others didn't think of this.' "Alright, then, why are you hunting the cat? If you’re trying to get a kiss, my opinion of you will change, and not for the better.”

At the sound of the cat meowing above, they all looked up the stairwell. Suzaku shook his head. “Not interested in that. I just thought it’d be fun. But you?” he asked, his tone light.

Lelouch's brow twitched. “Because the home invader got past my hounds, snuck into my place, and stole one of C.C.’s bras.” He almost cursed, then reconsidered his thoughts on the blasted cat.

“Oh…yeah, I can see why that’s a problem. But why go after it? You could’ve just played the fool.” Suzaku laughed at the absurdity of Lelouch’s situation but was the first to move. The cat might have been cornered for now, but others could be arriving soon, and the equestrian club was always on the move.

“You try telling that to C.C. You haven’t seen what she’s like when she’s mad.” Lelouch glared at him. Forget breaking minds—C.C. would make his life hell if she thought he hadn’t tried hard enough to find the cat. She’d blame him for her having multiple pairs of underwear, which cats could steal.

“Noted,” Suzaku muttered.

Lelouch began to tire as they ran, pushing through with sheer willpower, but his pace slowed. His dogs and Suzaku pulled ahead. "This whole mess started because Nunnally told Milly, and now the entire school is on our tails."

“Looks like you’re not in top form, just like old times.” Suzaku teased, and Lelouch barely resisted the urge to punch him in the face.

“Do you know how much I’ve been running after that cat and dodging my fan girls? Not everyone has endless stamina like you, exercise freak,” Lelouch shot back, needing a break. Despite that, Suzaku reached the top first. While the cat was nowhere to be seen, its meow echoed, leading them to the one place it could be hiding.

Line Break

True to Suzaku’s worries, word quickly spread about the cat’s appearance, and soon, the rest of the student body showed up. Rivalz and Milly were among the last to arrive, with Nina even bringing Nunnally along.

“Is this where the cat is?” Milly asked, hopping out of Rivalz’s sidecar.

"Who's getting it?" Shirley asked while Kallen pointed up toward the bell tower, specifically its roof, where something unexpected unfolded. There, climbing the roof toward the actual bell was…

“Is that Suzaku?” Kallen asked, her voice full of disbelief.

Kallen was right, wondering if he was insane, and Suzaku would've agreed if he had time to talk. His grip was already a challenge, the tiles offering little but enough traction to keep him from slipping. But Suzaku wasn't a trained soldier for nothing, and he steadily worked toward the cat.

"It's alright, little guy, I won't hurt you. I just want to get you down," Suzaku called, inching closer to the cat. But he could only make out bits and pieces with its head hidden by the bell.

Below, Lelouch stuck his head out of a window and gaped in disbelief. “Suzaku, what are you doing?”

“It’s fine, just leave it to me. I’m almost there,” Suzaku called back, getting closer to the cat, which shifted just enough for him to see a flash of pink straps peeking out.

“Well, that’s certainly not something I’d want others to see,” Suzaku joked. He’d been skeptical that Lelouch would be this intense over retrieving someone else's bra. Still, he couldn't deny it was amusing to be proven wrong.

The cat, however, didn't seem to appreciate Suzaku's commentary. The cat hissed and swiped at his hand as he reached for it. Usually, this wouldn't have been a problem, but the sharp sting of its claws caused Suzaku's other hand to twitch. And in that moment, he lost his grip.

“Oh, crud!” he yelled as he started sliding, the momentum too much to slow down. The students below gasped in horror as they watched Suzaku plummet toward the pavement.

“Suzaku!” Or they would have if Lelouch hadn't been present, as he was already halfway out the window, one hand gripping the frame, the other extended to Suzaku. Seeing it, Suzaku didn't hesitate. He grabbed Lelouch's hand, his feet dangling over the edge, but with Lelouch's grip, that was the only thing that went over.

Strained from chasing the cat and holding onto Suzaku for dear life, Lelouch ground his teeth. "Did you really forget your terrible luck with cats? Besides, you need to go on a diet."

Despite the life-and-death situation, Suzaku found the energy to joke, maybe because it was his third near-death experience in less than 2 weeks. “Maybe if you spent more time in the gym, this wouldn’t be a problem.”

Lelouch stared, momentarily dumbfounded, but he couldn’t hold back the laughter. Suzaku had survived a bullet wound and a sham trial, yet it was a cat that nearly did him in. If that wasn't funny, Lelouch didn't know what was. "Oh no, I'm losing my grip; oh heavens, no, this can't be the end."

"Just pull me up already, Hamlet," Suzaku rolled his eyes as Lelouch slowly started pulling him in. Suzaku helped once he found some traction, and soon, they were both back inside, where Henry and Pedro seemed relieved to see them. Pedro didn't growl at Suzaku like usual, but Suzaku was willing to take what he could get.

"Let it be known that I really hate cats," Lelouch muttered as Suzaku patted him.

"Okay, this time, you lead the rescue. Just try and control that anger," Suzaku teased, but Lelouch gave him a sharp glare. Despite the look, he agreed. The two tried again, but Suzaku stayed behind as backup this time, leaving Lelouch to venture out. He returned shortly after, the cat in hand and C.C.’s bra carefully hidden in the crook of his arm.

Before Lelouch could stash it away, Suzaku caught sight of it. And since it was comedy hour…

“You know, up close, it’s not as risqué as I thought it would be,” he quipped, smirking.

Lelouch shot him a deadpan look. “Get your head out of the gutter.”

Line Break

“Wait a second, I’ve seen this cat before,” Suzaku noted, eyeing the animal. The familiar spot on its face and the bandage on its leg triggered a memory.

Lelouch grumbled as they stepped out from the tower and into view of the student body. “Where exactly did you see it? Because I’d like to return it to its rightful owner as soon as possible.”

The two looked toward the crowd, who seemed uncertain about what to make of their close proximity. Suzaku worried he'd crossed some line. He didn't notice that Lelouch and Shirley were the only ones who didn't seem to care. In fact, Shirley looked annoyed. Deciding to take action, she slapped on a smile that wasn't entirely convincing and approached them.

“That was amazing! You two worked so well together,” she said.

“Oh, uh, thanks?” Suzaku responded, surprised by her friendly tone. Rivalz, noticing Shirley’s approach, joined her.

“Hey, none of that, Suzaku. You caught the cat, you won the hunt,” Rivalz said, offering his congratulations. The others, remembering the near-death experience, grumbled about having lost the chase for the reward.

"The cat was carrying something," Milly said, batting her eyelashes at Suzaku. "You wouldn't happen to have seen it, would you?"

Suzaku gulped under her seductive gaze but glanced at Lelouch, reminding himself of his loyalty. “I saw it had something on its head, but... it’s not my secret to tell.”

“Wise choice,” Lelouch added, knowing that if Suzaku had cracked under Milly’s charm, he would make his life miserable.

“Even if the student body president asked?” Milly tried one more time, but Suzaku shook his head.

“Even then.”

Milly snapped her fingers, pouting. “Oh, darn. Just when I thought I had some dirt on you.”

Lelouch rolled his eyes, cradling a tired Henry in his arms. “It’s concerning that I’m not surprised you did all this just to get ‘dirt on me,’ Madam President.”

“One of these days, Lelouch. Mark my words,” Milly warned.

“I still don’t know how the cat got into the council building with all those dogs around,” Rivalz added, thinking the place should have been a cat-free zone.

“I want answers to that too, but consider this little adventure a fluke,” Lelouch said, glaring at the cat, which hissed back at him. “One that won’t be happening again.”

“So...do you two know each other?” Nina asked, cutting through the banter with a question Suzaku had dreaded. He could sense the unsure looks from the crowd.

“Oh no, we—”

“Suzaku,” Lelouch interrupted, shaking his head. Suzaku looked like he wanted to argue but stepped back. “We’re close friends. We just haven’t seen each other in a while, so it was nice having him around campus,” Lelouch explained, shocking the crowd. The only ones not surprised were Kallen, Milly, and Rivalz, who had seen him being open with Suzaku. They’d assumed he was just being a good classmate and vice president.

“But... he’s an Eleven,” Nina muttered, and for a brief moment, Lelouch’s gaze locked with hers. No, it was shorter than that. There was something in his eyes—something dangerous.

“Is there an issue with that?” Lelouch’s voice was calm, but the question wasn’t for Nina. His eyes scanned the gathered students, daring anyone to challenge him. It was clear to all that doing so would be a fool’s game.

But this wasn’t about acceptance. At this point, Lelouch didn’t care what they thought. He turned to Milly. “Madam President, I think it’s time to announce it.”

“Announce what?” Shirley asked, confused.

Milly smiled knowingly. “Ah, I see now. Why did you make that request," she said, spinning to face the rest of the students. "As all students must be in at least one club, Suzaku here will join the student council."

The announcement was met with stunned silence, but no one opposed it. They knew better than to challenge Lelouch, and any resistance would be futile with Milly backing him.

Lelouch took over from there. “We were planning to wait until the end of the day, but that’s irrelevant now. So, what do you think, Suzaku?”

Suzaku glanced around, but instead of looking at the crowd, he focused on the council members. They all seemed welcoming, even eager. “If you’re willing to have me…”

"Of course we are," Shirley said with a smile. After everything that happened today, she was happy to have someone as dependable as Suzaku on the council.

“I’ve got no problem with it,” Rivalz added, joking, “The council could use more guys.”

Nunnally smiled and had an idea. “Alright, that’s settled. Now, you two—come here,” she said, a little mischievous. Lelouch and Suzaku exchanged confused looks but complied. Nunnally quickly kissed both cheeks when they bent down, leaving them frozen in surprise.

Though she couldn't see it, Nunnally imagined their stunned expressions with a grin. "There, as promised. That's your reward. Since you both caught the cat, you must settle for me."

Her little stunt broke the tension, and others stepped forward to welcome Suzaku, their initial doubts melting away. Suzaku felt a weight lift off him, finally relaxing for the first time since arriving at school.

Lelouch stepped away, giving Suzaku a knowing look from the side.

‘I told you, you were worried over nothing.’ Lelouch didn’t need to say it aloud; Suzaku could hear it in his gaze as he turned and walked back toward the student council room. There was something he needed to return before anything else came up.

Line Break

The reason afternoon classes had been suspended quickly became clear as the entire student body gathered in the gym, much like when the principal delivered his eulogy for the fallen viceroy. This time, it was for the state memorial of Prince Clovis—an event being broadcast across the empire.

It wasn't just Ashford watching; Lloyd and Cecile observed from Lancelot's trailer with their crew while Jeremiah and Viletta stood with the soldiers. Cornelia and Euphemia watched from the viceroy's palace office.

The Pendragon imperial palace was filled with the empire's most important figures on-screen. In the center, under a giant portrait of Clovis, were his immediate family members and several other important figures: his younger sister, trying desperately not to cry, and his mother, stoic despite the loss of her son. But all eyes focused on the man seated at the center.

“And now, his Royal Majesty, the 98th Emperor of the Holy Britannian Empire, Emperor Charles zi Britannia!”

Charles rose as his name was called, an imposing figure in his domain. His movements were steady, his face carved from stone as he approached the podium to deliver his eulogy.

“All men are not created equal,” Charles began, his voice booming across the gathered audience and the entire empire. “Some are born swifter of foot, others with greater strength, beauty, into poverty or wealth. In birth and upbringing, all men are different!”

He paused, allowing his words to settle. “This is a truth upon which our Britannia is built. Look to our so-called rivals. The E.U., which made equality a right? A result of rabble politics created by a popularity contest. The Chinese Federation, with its equal distribution of wealth? A nation of lazy dullards too blind to see they live like rats.”

At Ashford, Shirley frowned at the Emperor's coldness. Clovis was dead, and yet this was his eulogy? Milly, however, showed no surprise, expecting nothing less from such a heartless man.

“But Britannia is different,” Charles continued. “We embrace our differences. We embrace competition, for competition breeds discrimination, and that struggle is the unfaltering march of progress! Progress belongs to the smartest, the fastest, the strongest, the most ruthless!”

Suzaku, like Milly, showed no outward reaction. Kallen, on the other hand, barely held back her fury.

Charles pointed to the portrait of his son, Clovis. Still, his expression held no sorrow, only the cold detachment of the Emperor. "My son Clovis is dead because he was weak, culled by Zero. Just like the Elevens he put to the sword. That is the natural order of the world."

The Japanese audience reacted with fury, unable to stand the Emperor’s dismissal of their people’s suffering. Even Britannians felt uneasy, but the Emperor’s overwhelming presence kept them in check. Lloyd and Cecile, watching from the Lancelot, didn't salute like their crew did. Though disturbed by the heartlessness, Lloyd couldn't deny the political genius of turning the memorial into a rallying cry to silence all opposition to Clovis.

Cecile, too, found the move cruel, regardless of its political impact. With her viceroy and sub-viceroy now both gone, Euphemia felt for her younger sister, who had to endure this public degradation of their brother. Cornelia, hard-faced, was unsurprised; after the events with consort Marianne and her children, nothing Charles did could shock her. Still, it didn't make it any easier to witness.

“His death is not a loss but a boon to Britannia!” Charles declared, his voice rising in triumph. “The removal of his weakness strengthens our empire. Let this remind the world that we will struggle, compete, plunder, and dominate! Britannia will remain the strongest, the greatest empire ever to exist—even if half my children are weak and must be slain in battle. Only the mightiest shall stand when the dust settles, and they will lead us to even greater heights!”

With that, Charles raised his fist for all to see. “All hail Britannia!”

Line Break

From Lelouch's room, C.C. sat on his bed, listening to the hall full of soldiers and nobles singing along to the "eulogy"—a thinly veiled battle cry and warning to both them and Charles' remaining children. Charles didn't care if they died as long as the strongest survived to crush Zero and any who opposed him. "So, this is Lelouch's enemy," C.C. muttered, her gaze unwavering.

Line Break

From Lelouch's room, C.C. sat on his bed, listening to the hall full of soldiers and nobles singing along to the "eulogy"—a thinly veiled battle cry and warning to both them and Charles' remaining children. Charles didn't care if they died as long as the strongest survived to crush Zero and any who opposed him. "So, this is Lelouch's enemy," C.C. muttered, her gaze unwavering.

Line Break

Yeah, I totally jinxed it by saying how I had all this time during the week as life just had to make me regret that by throwing a bunch of unforeseen shit at me, one of which was a fuck-up in the mailing of my study materials which had me running around town trying to find them as God knows my lecturers won’t care if I didn’t have the correct stuff, when assignments are due, they’re due and I won’t get extra time to read up on the materials to actually produce something worth a passing grade.

Because of that, I had to wake up super early today to start work on this so I could get it done faster than my commission, which I was only barely able to get posted yesterday close to fucking midnight. Like shit, that was just embarrassing. Tomorrow, I’m just going to relax, play some games and avoid any form of word doc.

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Before any of you start, yes I made changes to the lore of the series, it was done so things would flow smoothly as things move on.