tampered | Log ; COMPLETE

Log ; COMPLETE

When; Afternoon
Rating; PG
Characters; Kururugi Suzaku (

requisitely) and Kinomoto Sakura (

bealright)
Summary; Sakura takes Suzaku as an observer into the past to discover the truth for himself.
Log;

Xanadu was truly an amazing place. Even with the lingering days of summer fading into the golden-red leaves of autumn, the cherry blossom tree stood there as though enclosed in its own world of spring. She had let her magical intuition guide her to this place, closing her eyes in hopes that it would take her some place powerful enough to use as a magical anchor. And there it was, towering as it swayed lightly in the passing wind.

"Hoeee, it's so big..."

It would be perfect.

[[ooc: Assume that Suzaku is following her? 8D]]

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Suzaku wasn’t sure what to expect. He had, of course, long since given up on trying to understand the workings of The City but there was no telling when one of those weird ‘curses’ might hit or when he would meet another person who really couldn’t be classified as human. So, he trailed along behind Sakura a few steps, following her lead into the garden.

"Do we need a smaller place?" He had picked up the girl’s quiet exclamation and now looked her at confusedly. The desire to be helpful was there, though Suzaku didn’t know what he ought to do other than just stand there with his hands by his side.

How were they going to be able to go back in time? Suzaku had no idea, though one thing he did know for sure was that he needed to learn the truth, to know what happened and finally, perhaps to understand it all if that were possible. Euphemia and Lelouch were both important people in his life, the knowledge that one had killed the other was murdering him slowly.

Sakura turned toward the boy, shaking her head gently in response, "This place is perfect! Have you ever seen such a big cherry blossom tree? And I thought the one in Tsukimine was huge~"

Of course she knew something was wrong with Suzaku. It was evident in his expression, and though Sakura really didn't know the reason for it, she assumed that it had something to do with Lelouch and his earlier mention of murder.

What am going to see..?

Sakura wanted to say something, even a few words to cheer up the older boy, yet she couldn't quite find the right words for the situation. So Sakura did what she could---she smiled, placing a small hand against Suzaku's own.

"Suzaku-san, are you ready?"

At her response, Suzaku finally pulled himself from his thoughts to thoroughly admire his surroundings. Indeed, the garden was breathtaking. Every flower in full bloom and every tree strong and wonderfully shaped and blossoms loose everywhere. "Yes, it’s magnificent. A fitting place for us to journey from." From someplace beautiful and at peace to the ugly, war-torn image he was sure to see.

He answered her smile in kind, albeit a little sad, and turned his hand to take hers gently. "Yes, I’m ready, Sakura."

The summoning words were already upon her tongue as she stepped away from Suzaku, small fingers reaching to undo the key that sat on her neck.

A flash of light was followed by a sudden burst of wind that sent fallen cherry blossoms scattering in the air. The scene calmed after a minute or so, light fading to reveal Sakura once more, staff in hand.

"I should explain it to you first, Suzaku-san! By using one of my magical cards, the return, we'll be going back in time as observers," she paused--I've never used this card other than that one time by accident. Should I tell--no, Suzaku-san shouldn't have more to worry about!, "When I say so, please grab the staff with me and think of the where you want to go~ "

All Suzaku could do was stare at the girl with his eyes open in wonder. It wasn’t everyday that he saw someone change a key into a... wand? Staff? The lights only added to the effect and he was sure his gasp was almost too loud, even to his own ears.

He nodded obediently when Sakura explained their roles. "I… I understand. I know I won’t be able to change anything, that I won’t be able to save her. Nevertheless, I still need to know."

Thinking about the scene was a different matter. It had replayed in his mind over and over perhaps too many times. It haunted his dreams and never gave him a moment’s peace during his waking hours. He took a deep breath and nodded once more, "I’m ready for your word."

Save her..?

She wondered to herself for a moment, finally realizing the severity of this trip. Would she see someone die? It couldn't be, right? Even with all the danger she had thrown herself into, Sakura could put her mind around the thought of someone someone actually dying, no less in front of her eyes.

I hope...I hope I don't have to see it.

Slipping a card from her pocket, she flipped the object into the air and brought her staff down upon it in one fell swoop.

"Suzaku-san! Now!"

At the command he brought back to mind the ceremony. The cheering crowds of Japanese people in the stadium just waiting to hear the announcement of the Special Administration Area, all of their faces hopeful and filled with joy that it was finally happening after all these years. Princess Euphemia has stood on the stage center and he, a few paces behind her as her knight. She had been ready for the ceremony, ready to speak and it was then that Zero, no, Lelouch had descended to request for an audience.

It was that moment in time that Suzaku wanted to go back to. He wanted to hear for himself what Lelouch had said to Euphie, what command he had used and finally discover exact command he had given to the gentle princess to force such an extreme change in character to appear. The massacre.

Suzaku reached out had grabbed onto the staff, the familiar images replaying itself over in his mind. He wasn’t sure if there were particular words to be said so he whispered the words to himself, "take me there, take me back to that time… to Euphemia."

It was just like how she remembered it, that billowing, dark portal that had led her to the creator of the Clow Cards himself. Nostalgia, one could say. It doesn't help that Suzaku-san reminds me of Li-kun... However, this time Sakura was sure The Return would work out right; she learned her lesson form last time, and would try best to pull this off properly for Suzaku.

"We have to step through," she nearly whispered, extending a hand to pull Suzaku with her as she headed toward the portal.

He let himself be led by Sakura through the portal. It looked intimidating but at that point, there wasn’t anything he was afraid of. Nevertheless, he closed his eyes and still kept the image in mind, just in case.

The peace talks, the speeches, the arrival of Zero’s knightmare frame and the worry and anxiety masked upon everyone’s face. It was all there. When he opened his eyes, he hoped he would be brought to that time. He wanted to follow Euphemia, see what she saw and where she went all the way to… the end.

As she stepped through, she followed suit by also closing her eyes. To be frank, she was nervous--no, frightened of what she would see once she opened her eyes.

"I think we're there, Suzaku-san."

It was exactly what he pictured in his mind when he opened up his eyes again. He stared longingly after Euphemia. The way the wind played with her hair, her kind smile and gentle eyes, he would never be able to see her like this again so he drank in her sight and engraved it into his mind.

"That’s her… " Suzaku said, after a moment and he remembered Sakura was with him. "Euphemia… my Princess." Zero came into view and he had led Euphemia to chat in private. "Zero." He set a firm, grim line with his mouth and he could feel his eyes narrow to a glare at the caped man, he nodded towards them. "I want to follow them, her,… and find out what happened." He wasn’t sure if he mumbled the last part for himself to hear or for his companion’s benefit.

ooc; kees~ :D

Beautiful was the only way to describe the woman. She reminded Sakura of the princesses in storybooks, benevolent, fair, and perfect in their world of fantasy. Yet, this was the real think. Here was a true princess and...her knight, Suzaku.

"Go after her," she urged, her stare meeting with that of Suzaku's.

He nodded silently and fell in step with Euphemia as Lelouch guided her into a closed room. All throughout the conversation Suzaku stayed close and attentive, regardless of what might have been happening outside. He didn't even check if Sakura had followed from behind.

It was as he had feared. Lelouch had revealed himself and uttered the horrible command, whether in jest or negligence Suzaku had no way of knowing. All he could see was the way Euphemia's manner suddenly changed and how she suddenly exited and did as she was told. A massacre would begin.

He turned and faced Lelouch in anger, "DO SOMETHING! FIX IT, TAKE IT BACK!" Suzaku found himself yelling that over and over again to Lelouch but his words fell on deaf ears. So instead, he ran out to find his princess, "Stop... you don't have to do this. I know you can fight this, Euphie!" For a scarce few moments he could almost see her eyes clear up in coherence but as soon as he reached out to touch her they fogged up again. His hand went right through her as if he were a spirit.

All he could hear again were the screams and the systematic fires from machine guns.

"No...!" He covered his ears and shrank down to his knees. Witnesses the horror again was painful, in less than another twenty minutes he would lose Euphie again. It was all too much.

[ooc; your choice!]

"...Suzaku-san?"

Her voice came out as mere whisper, eyes large as he dashed out of the room. What had Lelouch done to Suzaku's princess? It wasn't magic--she would have sensed it, yet he had done something to change the woman's demeanor. And the words he had spoken...surely she wasn't going to kill the Japanese people? She couldn't right..?

Sakura felt her own hands trembling, panic at the thought murder. She had to calm down for now, someone needed to go out there and find Suzaku, and so she did.

He was on his knees when Sakura found him, and upon instinct she rushed toward the older boy. She didn't know what to do--what could she say? "Everything will be all right." ? That was her motto, her outlook on the world, yet could she promise such a thing? Instead, Sakura chose her words carefully while she reached out to Suzaku.

"I'm sorry, Suzaku. I-I'm so sorry, please--I'm so sorry."

Small hands clung to his shoulders, her cheek pressed against his own as she hoped that somehow these simple actions would comfort the distraught boy.

Suzaku allowed the girl to pull him into a comforted position and he simply rested against her. Her soft voice comforted him a little, though it still couldn’t drown out the resounding pain from those that surrounded them.

"It’s not your fault…" He finally croaked out, "I wanted to see this… so, I must see it to the end."

Slowly, Suzaku stood up, with one hand still clasping Sakura’s. He turned to her and hesitated before whispering, "…come with me?" It was wrong, he shouldn’t have her see any more than she needed to, the stadium was already soaking with blood and bodies but he needed someone there with him, someone soft and kind to remind him that this wasn’t another nightmare he was dreaming.

She nodded slightly, pressing back a nervous gulp while softly squeezing Suzaku's hand in assurance. In all honesty, she didn't want to see whatever tragedy was awaiting them. In her 10 years, Sakura had only a mere notion of death, created by movies and television shows that she had only by chance happened to watch.

"Just remember I'm here beside you," her voice, though just a whisper, was reassuring in it's own away.

They trailed behind Euphemia, watching the usually gentle girl kill in silent horror. The glazed expression, the unfocused eyes… Suzaku unconsciously tightened his grip on Sakura’s hand, perhaps a little too tightly without realizing it.

And then, it happened.

He did shoot her, without pause or any words spoken. "ZERO!!" Suzaku ran out to catch Euphemia before she fell but she went right through his arms.

"…Euphemia. No…"

Sakura quickly clasped a hand over her mouth as a strangled shriek forced its way from her throat. So this was death---this massacre, bodies strewn across an amphitheater like disregarded sacks. Sakura could see them suffering, calling out for this "hero" of theirs, but she knew it was fruitless to try and comfort them.

Quickly, her head turned to stare at Suzaku as he broke his grip. She would have run after him immediately, if it was not for her knees that ceased to shake.

"...S-suzaku, do you want to go back?"

It took a few minutes before Suzaku’s mind could register what Sakura said. Go back? Yes, he wanted to get away from it, even though he told himself to be strong, he couldn’t handle seeing her die again. It was much too painful.

He took Sakura’s hand again, gently this time and nodded. "I think I’ve seen enough."

"A-alright," she also nodded, hastily calling back The Return so to quickly remove this scene of bloodshed from her sight. But even if she couldn't see it with her eyes, Sakura would not soon forget the images stuck in her head.

The past soon faded back to the present, and she felt her legs give way as the returned beneath the cherry blossom tree.

He sank down to his feet and leaned his back against the tree’s trunk, an arm over his eyes to stop his tears from showing. It was all much more terrible up close. He had to take a few strong, labored breaths before he was calm enough to lower his arm.

"T-Thank you, Sakura. Thank you for letting me see the truth." Suzaku bowed his head politely to her. He didn’t know what he could do to repay her for the favour, but he was in her debt now. If there was ever anything she needed, all she need do was ask.

For now, he had to focus on Lelouch and what to do with him.

She pushed herself from the ground, wobbling ever so slightly while regaining balance.

"No need to thank me, Suzaku-san."

Sakura approached the older boy gingerly, deciding whether or not it would be better to leave him alone in this state. Finally making her decision, she went down upon her knees. Closing her eyes, Sakura leaned forward, pressing her face against the other as she spoke.

"You don't have to hide your tears, Suzaku. She...she was your precious person. You have every right to cry," pausing, she found her own tears on her cheeks, "I--I was glad to help. Even if I can't do much, I want to help heal that part of Suzaku-san that hurts."

And with those words, she let herself once again pull the other into an embrace.

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Log ; COMPLETE

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improvision is always fun 8D we'll be creative

Re: improvision is always fun 8D we'll be creative

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