Heyas everyone...I finally was able to finish the third chapter of this awesome story. Lol...I thank you all for being so patient with me with these late updates. I'm also in the middle of writing the next chapter to Phantom of Ashford, Hotness Factor, a La Corda fic, and also a Romeo X Juliet fic...as you can see...I have a lot on my plate. Lol...Anyways...enough of my babbling...I now bring you the next chapter of Masquerade...enjoy! -smiles-

Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass, Kallen, or any of the impending Lelouch hotness you will see in this story...but I would love it if I did. -giggles-

-Masquerade- Chapter 3: Part Time Steady -

-Date: Beginning of May, Common Era 2017. Location: Britannian Botanical Gardens, Butterfly Sanctuary. Time: 1:30pm. -

-Kallen's POV-

I honestly could not believe this was happening to me! Without any warning, Lelouch just grabbed me and started kissing me! I wanted so much to slap him, but something was stopping me. Why did he apologize to me beforehand? He could have just not said anything and then did it like any other guy probably would have. I mentally slapped myself to clear these schoolgirlish thoughts out of my head and try to get rid of an impending blush, then I raised my hand slightly in an attempt to slap him in the face. It seems, however; that Lelouch sensed this coming, so he grabbed my hand before it could touch his face, and gently lowered it back down to my side as he continued to kiss me. I wasn't going to deny it...at least not to myself anyway...he was a hell of a good kisser. It was at the moment I admitted to myself that he was an amazing kisser, I could hear my conscience screaming: “No!”... “I shouldn't even be thinking this!”... “It's Zero that I...!” I suddenly stopped myself in mind thought as I realized: “I do...I love Zero. But why would kissing Lelouch make me think of Zero?” I opened one eye and glanced over his shoulder. It was then I also realized that Lelouch only appeared to be doing this because he wanted to get rid of Shirley and Millay, who were standing not ten feet away from us, extremely shocked looks on their faces. I've honestly never seen Shirley look that shocked before...well...I knew she liked him...but still...that look on her face is one I'll never forget.

Lelouch finally broke the devastatingly long kiss and tightly embraced me. I then did the only thing I could do at this point, and that was to put my arms around him and return his embrace. I only briefly closed my eyes, and when I opened them again, Shirley and Millay were gone, and Lelouch had released me from his embrace...an embarrassed blush on his face as he joked: “Go ahead. You can slap me now. They're gone.”

I heaved a heavy sigh and waved my hand dismissively: “Nah...forget about it for now. I'll do it another time. I'm feeling generous today for some reason.”

Lelouch smirked and chuckled: “Well...I guess that means it's my lucky day.”

I eyed him curiously. He seemed to be in an awfully good mood now compared to earlier this morning: “You appear to be feeling a lot better since this morning I see.”... “What brought about this sudden change in attitude?”

Lelouch simply smiled his usual cool smile in my direction: “I've come to the realization that this thing between Shirley and I isn't going to end well. She's going to keep on me until I go crazy. So...I think I need to distract her a little bit...” He paused slightly before he finished: “...by getting a girlfriend.”

I raised my eyebrow skeptically: “A girlfriend?”... “I'm afraid I don't follow.”

Lelouch chuckled as he skipped a small stone across the man made pond they were standing near: “It's quite simple really. I need a girlfriend to show Shirley that I've put the past behind me...meaning...I need a part time girlfriend who's willing to stay by my side whenever I need her. It has to be someone who's willing to keep her from constantly reminding me about our little tiff.”

It took a little while for me to fully grasp what the boy in front of me was saying, but I finally did and I shook my head: “I don't think that's going to work. This girl would have to be willing to sacrifice a lot of her time to put the right kind of devotion into this who would have enough time on their hands to do this for you?”

The raven-haired Lelouch turned to me and slowly started to approach me. His usual cool smile on his face...only this time, in his eyes; there was almost a sadness...a desperation. He was only a few feet away from me when he reached his hand out and asked: “Kallen...I need your help...please...there's really nobody else I can ask who would be willing to do this...or even put up with me.”

My eyes widened and I felt my face heat up slightly. I couldn't believe my ears...Lelouc Lamperouge actually asking for help. He's usually the kind that has people go to him and ask him for favors. I replied in a curious tone: “I understand your situation...but what I don't understand is why...why me?”

His violet eyes gazed straight into mine, as he replied in a serious tone: “Because I trust you...more than anyone...I trust you.”

I felt my face turn a slight red for about the fourth time today as I cursed to myself: “N-No!”... “Stop doing that!”... “Don't blush!”... “Not for him!”... “Not for Lelouch!”... “Only for Zero!”... “Only...only for Zero.”

Lelouch eyed me curiously as I was fighting this inner battle with my conscience and chuckled as he seemed to be amused by my mental fight: “If you don't want to...it's okay.”... “You do have the right to say no you know.”

I heaved a heavy sigh as I finally came to the conclusion that this whole thing would be okay as long as Zero never found out. I mean...I do have a reputation to protect, and if he happened to see me with someone else, he might think less of me...and that's the last thing I want him to think. Besides, there wasn't any way that I would fall in love with Lelouch anyway. My heart only belonged to one man. The one man who had proved himself whole-heartedly to deserve it, and his name is Zero. Lelouch was still staring at me, that same small smirk on his face, along with eyes almost pleading for my help. I knew that he would never get down on his knees and physically beg for my help. He most definitely was not the type to do something so outlandish as that. He appeared to me to have too much pride within him to do something so subservient.

No...he wasn't down on his knees begging me, but I could see through that smile...his mysterious eyes told me that there was something else there...some other reason for his doing this that he wasn't revealing to me. My brother always used to tell me that a person's eyes were a gateway to their souls, and that by gazing into them; you could see who they really are and what they're thinking at that very moment. Well...I think my brother Naoto would have met his match with Lelouch. It was extremely hard to read him and god knows what was going on in that mind of his. All I know is that there was another reason behind those violet eyes of his, and I was determined to find out what it was. However, the only way I could find that out was by doing this favor he was asking of me. After this long internal battle with myself, I finally turned to Lelouch and nodded: “Okay...I'll help you...but first you have to tell me what this “favor” requires I have to do?”

Lelouch simply smiled: “Alright...you deserve to know that much at least.” He motioned for me to sit next to him on a nearby bench, which I did; and he continued his explanation: “What this job entails is very simple. All I ask of you is to cooperate with me when I do these things.”

I glanced at him and raised a curious eyebrow: “And said “things”are?”

Lelouch chuckled: “Well...you know...typical boyfriend things like...holding hands...sitting together at lunch, walking home together, hugging,...and the occasional kiss...be it on the cheek...or on the lips.”

I turned a slight red as I noticed his eyes wander down to stare at my mouth after he'd said that, and just as quickly as they did, he quickly averted his gaze. I shook off the small blush and nodded at everything he was requesting of me...however, only the kiss had me at a stalemate: “How often will the kiss scenes happen?”... “You know...cause I like to be made aware of this in advance so that I have time to prepare.”

Lelouch chuckled as he casually ran his fingers through his short, dark hair: “Trust me. You'll know when they're going to happen. I'll give you a subtle signal of some kind.”

I nodded again, a smile of contentment on my face as I was satisfied with that answer. I knew I was a good actress...hell...I have to play the role of the “good girl” everyday at school, but there was only one more thing I needed to know to appease my curiosity: “What's in this for me?”... “How will I benefit from this?”... “I know how you will, but I would like to know how I will.”

Lelouch nodded and laughed lightly: “Well...I wasn't going to tell you...but I'm entitled to give the same things I am asking of you right back to you. In addition to that, I will also take you out to dinner two nights a week, pull out chairs, hold open doors, kiss your hand whenever I deem it appropriate...you know...all that stuff a real gentleman does. That is what you'll get from me in return. “So...” He eyed me curiously, that playful small smirk still on his face: “...do these proposals meet with your approval Miss Stadtfeld?” He then gently lifted my hand up and placed a soft kiss upon it.

I turned a slight red yet again, but this time I managed to shake it off a lot quicker than before as I flashed him an amused smirk: “Yes. I can deal with those proposals, but...” I smiled coolly as I finished: “...throw in one night of drinking and dancing at my favorite club and you've got yourself a deal. I too have a reputation to uphold.”

Lelouch smiled and nodded as he lowered my hand back down to my lap: “Consider it done.”

I nodded and smiled, satisfied yet again with the answer I had gotten and I decided to myself right then and there that I would find out his real reason behind proposing this...no matter how much work it takes me...or how many times I have to kiss him. The sooner I finish this favor, the sooner I can confront Zero with my true feelings.

Okies Minna-san...that's the end of chapter three! -grins evilly- you all thought that she was going to slap Lulu for doing that to her didn't you? Lol Like she said, she'll save it for later when she feels like doing it. Lol So...Lulu and Kallen are going to pretend to be a couple? What is the cunning Lelouch's true reason behind this plan?...Will Kallen be able to figure it out the true feeling behind those mysterious eyes after just a few fake dates or will it take her more time? Well...we'll just all have to wait till the next chapter to find out won't we. -giggles- See you all next chapter and don't forget to press that little blue button at the bottom that says review...the sexy Lelouch, Kallen, and I would greatly appreciate your wonderful reviews. -smiles-