Downward Spiral

Chapter 1

When Rivalz arrived later that day, Shirley and Millay were still doing their best to comfort Lelouch. It took both of the girls to hold him back when the ambulance came to pick up Nunnally's body, and, now, he was sitting in one of the chairs surrounding the table in the dining room, staring at a half completed origami crane. Nunnally had loved making the paper birds.

Her wish was for a better world, same as mine. Nunnally was the reason for everything I've ever done since we were sent here, to Japan. What do I do now that she's gone?

Both Shirley and Millay just watched him, neither one knowing what to say, but both were worried about their friend.

"Hey, what happened?" Rivalz asked as he stepped into the room and he was surprised when Millay looked over at him with unshed tears in her eyes.

"Nunnally died," she replied.

"Aw, man. I'm so sorry to hear that. She was a nice girl," Rivalz said, taking a seat.

Hearing that, Lelouch numbly shook his head.

"N-no," he murmured; the first words he'd said since Millay and Shirley had found him.

"Yes, I'm sorry to say this, Lulu, but Nunnally died," Shriley whispered to him, concerned that he was in denial. Her arm hadn't left his shoulder the entire time.

"N-not that...k-killed...sh-she was...k-killed. She...was too h-healthy...t-to...j-just die...l-like that."

"What? Who would..." Shirley began before Rivalz interrupted.

"Hey, Lelouch, there's an envelope addressed to you over here," he said, picking up the envelope and reading it.

"But, why's it addressed to 'Prince Lelouch'?" he asked. At hearing that, Lelouch seemed to snap out of his depression enough to shakily stand and walk over to take the envelope and open it. There was a note inside, the handwriting very neat and precise.

It read:

Hide yourself better, young prince, or you could end up like your sister.


Signed,

Someone interested in taking the throne

"B-bastard..." Lelouch grumbled, despite not knowing who left the note. Millay, Shirley, and Rivalz all watched the flash of rage that appeared in their friend's eyes, disappearing just as quickly, in concern. It was clear to all of them that he wasn't mentally stable at that point.

"You know, Lelouch, maybe you should take a few days off from school. I'm sure the teachers would understand," Rivalz suggested, but Lelouch shook his head.

"No...can't. I-I need...to keep going...I n-need...the distraction."

Just then, Sayoko walked in, a grocery bag in her arms.

"I didn't know we'd be having company," she said with a smile before realizing that something wasn't right.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"N-Nunnally..." Lelouch began, looking like he was going to break down into tears again.

"Huh?"

"Sh-she's...dead."

Sayoko had to set the grocery sack down before she dropped it, looking completely shocked.

"How did it happen? She was fine this morning," she said and Lelouch shrugged.

"I-I think...she was...k-killed," he growled, suddenly angry about it again.

"Will you be okay?" she asked.

"I'll be fine!" Lelouch snapped before storming out of the room to go to his room on the second floor. Once he was there, he shut and locked the door before sinking to his knees in the middle of the floor, not knowing what he was going to do or who was apparently after him.

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A/N: Luckily, I don't like leaving things unexplained for too long. I didn't want to post this until I came up with a believable reason for Nunnally to just up and die like that. Political intrigue and mystery is fun. Moodswings are also fun(though, poor Lulu). ^^;

Suzaku will come into the story in the next chapter.