Of Things Never Said

#16: Visiting A Ghost

Wales
Graveyard

Gino stood in front of a grave. He looked at a photo and gave a weak smile. It's a picture of a long curly blonde hair and gentle golden eyes. Judging from her clothes, she looks like a commoner and had a humble look in her eyes. Gino dropped hyacinth flowers and bent to have a clearer view of the name. "How are you? Are you living in peace now?", Gino broke the silence. The wind blow at his face and he felt hot sensation in the side of his eyes. He clenched his fist to stop himself from crying.

An old woman saw someone also visiting her daughter's grave. She dropped the candles and walked towards him. Together with her are youngsters. The old woman slapped the back of his head. "How dare you to come here!!!", the old woman shouted at the top of her lungs. Some of the youngsters stopped her. "We're truly sorry. Sir Weinberg", the youngest bowed low and apologized. "I'm the one who needs to give an apology", Gino knelt down. "Stand up! We don't need that! If you are really that sorry, give my daughter back!!!", the old woman cried and punched the guy's chest.

Gino's bodyguards came and dragged the woman away. Gino also stood up and left with the pain on his chest. 

Area 11
Ashford Academy

Eleanor entered the student council's room and saw the rest playing around. "You guys didn't go home?", Eleanor dropped box of pizza. "Are you planning on eating that alone?", Rivalz opened it. "Lelouch and Rolo will cry if we dare leave this place", Milly chuckled. "Also, president. Aren't you going to graduate? You're delaying your graduation intentionally", Eleanor sighed. "Don't worry, I'll already sign out. I'll be a newscaster just few weeks after", Milly boasted. Eleanor just nodded and placed the canvass facing the window. She closed her eyes and remembered how Suzaku's eyes looked like. She looked at her phone for just some references. "Do you like choco?", Shirley is currently baking. "Anything is fine", Eleanor answered and started to put a stroke on the canvass. "What are you planning to paint?", Milly was curioused. "A totem", Eleanor hummed.

After a while, Shirley and Rivalz clapped and shook Eleanor. "You're really a good painter. Isn't this... Suzaku's eyes?", Milly noticed. "A totem of?", Rivalz asked. "Forgiveness", Eleanor stood up to wash her hands. "News, Zero declared another war with the Viceroy even after being given a chance to be exiled".

"Phew~ he's so persistent!", Rivalz sighed deeply. "He must've been worried since Guren's pilot was taken. She's one of her pillars", Milly commented. "Kallen Stenfield", Eleanor said the name. The three remained silenced. "A former student council member", Eleanor did her homework. Milly cleared her throat and tried to light up the atmosphere.

Viceroy's Palace
Parking Area for Knightmare

Gino just arrived and saw Suzaku punching the walls. "I've always been sure of my action. How come I lost Zero this time?!", Suzaku had a bitter look. Gino sighed and passed through him. He met anya along the way. "You've arrived", Anya said without looking at the blonde. "You guys are cold. I don't even get a greeting", Gino pouted and proceeded at his room.

He received a phone call. "Guren's pilot was taken as a hostage. Do you want to interrogate her?", Guilford asked. "Eih? That hot babe? Well, I think I'll have to pass", Gino answered.

The next day,
Ashford Academy

Eleanor went to school again since there's no one to talk to. She saw Shirley talking to Lelouch. "Hey, you're getting out of the campus a lot. Are you doing something else?", Shirley asked. Her voice seemed to tremble. Is she afraid of something? Lelouch excused himself and saw Eleanor leaning on the wall. He ignored her and just went on his way. He's frustrated that Jeremiah, a brit soldier, is pursuing him personally. He needs to be extra careful.

Eleanor entered and saw Shirley crying. She took some tissue and passed it over the girl. "Is there something wrong?", Eleanor asked.  "Ever since my memories have come back, I've been feeling so very afraid. A teacher who wasn't a teacher. Friends who don't have memories to share. Everyone... was just.. lying... It felt as though the whole world was spying on me. He's been fighting this battle all alone, by himself", Shirley held unto Eleanor's arm. "I don't know what's real anymore", Shirley added. "Your reality is yours to own, Shirley", Eleanor patted her back. Shirley remembered that it was Lelouch who caused the death of his father. He is also Zero, the enemy of the state. "I don't want to leave him alone like that, Elly. It's like abandoning him when it's like I'm the only one who can understand him the most now", Shirley looked at the girl's eyes. "He's done so many dreadful things. He took away the time I can have with my father. He betrayed us. But then, I find myself forgiving him again and again", Shirley was referring to Lelouch. Eleanor cannot connect the dots but she's sure that her case was the same with Shirley. "I wonser how many times we forgive just because we don't want to lose someone... even though they don't deserve forgiveness", Eleanor can relate.

Tokyo Settlement Mall

Shirley decided to meet Suzaku to tell him about Lelouch. She met him and saw him wearing sunglasses. "You're really a celeb", Shirley elbowed. Suzaku kept a straight face. "Is there something you need to tell me?", Suzaku asked. "The truth is..", Shirley was about to say something but Lelouch appeared. "Fancy meeting you here as well", Lelouch was startled. He's on the process of fixing some things of his next plan.

They entered the mall and Lelouch bumped on someone. "Eleanor, I told you to look where you're walking", Albert sighed. Both of them are holding some groceries. "Oh, Dad. I will tag along with them. See you back at the apartment", Eleanor passed the paper bag to the guy. Suzaku looked at him and gave a polite bow. "Youth", Albert sighed then walked away.

Shirley led them to the boundary of the settlement. "This is the Boundary", Eleanor looked around. She saw Shirley shaking in fear. She seems to see someone else. She stepped back and hallucinated about masks falling. "You all are wearing mask", Shirley covered her head and climbed the railings. "Shirley!!!", Lelouch reached out for her. She already jumped but Lelouch grabbed on her hand. He already lost Nunally and Kallen. He can't afford to lose Shirley as well. There's so many lives that were sacrificed already. "Shirley, please. Don't die on me. I don't want to lose another person", Lelouch begged. Suzaku held unto Lelouch. "Suzaku!", Lelouch shouted. The mab pulled them up. "Woah, you're training must have paid off", Eleanor went close to Shirley and passed her handkerchief. She wiped her sweat. "I didn't know Lelouch will also jump", Shirley looked at the guy's teary eyes. "This happened before", Shirley remembered. They suddenly lets go of the tension and laughed.

Suzaku stopped. Why in the world is he laughing with the bastard who killed his Euphy?

Lelouch's phone rang. "A call from a friend", Lelouch excused. "This world is hard to breathe in but then when I tried to laugh foolishly with everyone else, it seems easier to breathe", Shirley smiled at the two. "I'd be borrowing Suzaku", Shirley grabbed on the guy.

Chapter end.

Credits for the quotes I borrowed.