Title: Higanbana

Pairing: Ohgi x Lelouch

Summary: The equinox flower symbolized bewitching, unluckiness, grief, parting, and death. Falling in love with an amnesiac Zero; Ohgi wonders if this is Mother Nature’s way of teaching him that even the most inauspicious of her creations are still beautiful.

Disclaimer: Sunrise owns Code Geass and all I own is this piece of fan fiction and I make no money writing this whatsoever. So please don’t sue me.

Warnings: M-Rated for pr0n, and if I need remind you – Lelouch is a minor, but I’m sure you’re willing to overlook that you clicked on the link to read this story. Oh, and take a look at the paring… if that’s not your cup of wasabi, please do not read any further and blame me later that you had to gouge out your eyeballs with sporks (if you did, can I have them?)

Additional Warnings: Weirdness. OOCness. Written in spare of the moment, like always, so expect tons of grammar and spelling errors.

Part 5

“You want to take time off now?” Ohgi frowned while he clutched his cell phone with one hand and a heavy bag of groceries in the other. “We’re short staffed as it is, Kallen.”

“I know… I know…” the redhead on the other line spoke in her meek voice due to the fact that she was still at school. “And I wouldn’t if it wasn’t serious, a few friends of mine have gone missing and as a member of the Student Council, I’ve been asked to look for them.”

“The police can’t handle it?”

“Unfortunately no, the Student Council president said she would wait on contacting them unless our leads turned up empty…” Kallen’s voice dropped into a low tone that sounded more like her true self, “and personally I don’t want Britannian authority anywhere near me and asking questions.”

He sighed, and decided not to push and give in. Even though her Kallen ‘Statfield’ persona was just an act, he sensed his best friend’s kid sister was genuinely concerned about these Britannian classmates; just as she was for those of her few friends who were involved at the hotel jacking. He was also grateful that she had friends close to her age that she cared for and hoped they returned her sentiments.

“Alright,” the temporary leader of the Black Knights consented as he arrived at his apartment, “I’ll let the others know you’ll be taking time off for a couple of days. I hope you find your missing friends and that they’re all right.”

“Me too, and thanks, Ohgi – you’re the best!”

He couldn’t help but smile at that and tried not to think of how cross Tamaki would be to have another shift added onto his. Ohgi put his cell away and began to fish out his keys. He was at least glad Kallen had gone back to school and hope she could distract herself from the rebellion, her mother being incarcerated, and Zero’s absence.

“I’m home,” Ohgi announced the moment he stepped through the doorway. It was both a strange and pleasant feeling of knowing a stranger was in his home and waiting for him. His house guest wasn’t a complete stranger. Ohgi had known him prior to the events which formed the Black Knights; and at the same time, did not know him. Zero, his leader and most wanted criminal in Area Eleven, was an enigma… even more so without memories.

Seated on the sofa, a dark head lifted while violet eyes left the pages of the book they were reading to acknowledge him. No longer did those eyes stare at him with such scrutiny as they had before; instead they welcomed him even if the boy’s mouth twisted into a frown. The boy he had named ‘Rei’ closed the book and stood up from his seat, appearing rather annoyed.

“You said you would come home early, but instead you’re twenty minutes late,” the teenager informed him. Hands on his hips, Rei leaned forward and tried to apeear intimidating. “Dinner was getting cold. You should have called!”

Even though he was being chewed out by a teenager, Ohgi couldn’t help but rub the back of his head with a guilty expression on his face. “Err… sorry… just couldn’t get away from work…”

Actually he couldn’t get away because of Tamaki trying to drag him along with some of then new recruits to go drinking again. His loudmouth friend from the Shinjuku resistance group was definitely taking advantage of Zero’s absence. Every so often he would shirk off his duties and start harassing Ohgi or Miname for access to the petty cash so he could impress some of the female recruits. Fortunately Kallen was able to keep him in line, threatening to have the Guren play hopscotch on him if he dries up all their funding from Kyoto.

“I don’t mind waiting, just call if you’re going to take so long.”

Ohgi smiled as he removed his coat and draped it over the sofa. “Sorry, Rei... I’ll do that next time if I’m running late again. You could have just eaten without me.”

Mollified, the boy nodded towards the kitchen. “I would have if you had taken over an hour; but I don’t like eating alone.”

“Why not..?”

Rei just shrugged nonchalantly before bending over to retrieve their dinner that was warming in the oven, and when he did, Ohgi – who was sitting at the table pouring two glasses of with juice – couldn’t help but notice the expose pale skin of the teen’s abdomen. The black shirt he had let his guest borrow was the smallest size he owned and the only one Rei deemed comfortable to wear on a daily basis. It was also too short to be tucked in, would ride over the waistband of his dark slacks and exposed thin hip bones and a flat midriff.

Normally, this wouldn’t bother Ohgi who has seen his fair share of male nudity have been exposed quite often in the men’s lockers and public baths. There were even times when Naoto, when he wasn’t able to find clean clothes, would streak about in their shared apartment back in those carefree days. So what made Rei different? Why would his barely exposed skin suddenly make Ohgi anxious for some reason? All he knew was that he didn’t like that feeling. He wasn’t remotely interested in other men, and certainly not to ones who were ten years younger than him.

“It feels strange.” The sudden reply caused Ohgi to snap his head into the opposite direction of his interest. Rei set down the meal before them and took his seat. “I have no trouble being by myself when I’m not spending time with you or the neighbors. But eating dinner alone just feels awkward; like I’m used to always talking to someone.”

Picking up his utensils, Ohgi could almost imagine the leader of the Black Knights eating by himself behind locked doors. Zero had spent several nights in his office onboard the MVC that it made the others wondered if he even had a family or friends waiting for him. Although they knew next to nothing about Zero, they assumed by his distanced that all he wanted was to be left alone; at least that was what they had believed before C2 made her appearance.

While chewing, Ohgi appeared thoughtful as he stood up and wrote down a number on a sticky note that he placed on the fridge. Returning to his seat, he pointed out to the yellow paper square that captured Rei’s curiosity. While the boy’s head was averted, he leaned in and stole one of his broccoli spears which were probably going to be tossed into the garbage disposal anyway.

“That’s the number to my cell phone,” he informed him. “Sorry I didn’t think about giving it to you before. Work is pretty hectic right now, so I can’t promise that I’ll be home every night, or that I’ll be able to talk; but feel free to call me about anything.”

Rei nodded before dumping the remainder of broccoli and peas he didn’t particularly care for onto the other’s plate. “Speaking of work… you don’t seem to like what you do at the warehouse everyday. Isn’t there anything else?”

Ohgi chewed methodically as he remembered his past life before the resistance, an occupation he longed to return to if this war was ever won.

“Being a teacher...”

~*~*~*~*~

The petals of a flower always felt so soft and fragrant under my fingertips; however, I always held that particular one by its leafless stem. I was always told that those crimson petals were poisonous and out of fear, kept my distance. However, those crimson petals that looked like legs of a spider, curled out to me… calling me into its web.

~*~*~*~*~

“I can picture it,” said Rei who as he climbed onto his side of the bed, “you would make a great teacher, Kaname.”

It had been such a long time since he has heard his first name spoken with such warmth, and the older man couldn’t help but blush at the praise. He did his best not to show his reddened face while bowing his head so he could towel dry his damp hair. Ohgi had a feeling the boy who took more than his fair share of the blankets on a chilling night, was smirking at him.

“Why did you stop?”

The former school teacher finally raised his head and tossed the towel over his shoulder as he approached the bed. It’s not a question he hasn’t heard and answered before, but it is the first time he’s had to for Zero. Ever since the beginning, he wondered if his leader had lived a normal life as a student why he would leave it to place himself in mortal danger.

“I made a promise,” Ohgi explained as he sat down at the foot of the bed, “to my best friend who I grew up with. When he died, I wanted to carry out his dream.”

“The bonds of friendship are admirable.”

He stiffened when the bed creaked and hands took the towel resting on his shoulder to throw over his still damp hair to obscure his eyes. His reaction was instantaneous for a man with combat training, spent years living alone, and had to be prepared in case someone tried to assault him when his guard was down. He swiftly knocked the offender back and pinned him to the mattress. Through the fringe of damp dark locks of his own hair, Ohgi saw two violet eyes staring back at him with mild surprise.

“Your hair is still wet,” Rei informed him calmly. “You’ll get sick and won’t be able to go to work tomorrow.”

Ohgi stared, his mind racing as he tried to figure out how they got into this position… Zero pinned underneath him… their skin touching… so close… much too close… and the boy was speaking again; but he was much too fixated on the movement of those lips that the actual words.

“Although… I wouldn’t mind having you all to myself for a change… germs and all.”

He leaned close, almost transfixed for it was probably the first in a long time to be so intimate and those lips were… lovely, much like a girl’s and he wanted to touch them with his own. ‘Why not…?’ his inner voice nagged at him ‘Why not give in, he doesn’t seem to mind.’

It was true; Rei was staring back at him placidly with half lidded eyes.

‘No! You can’t…,’ another inner voice that Ohgi couldn’t help but destest shouted back at him, ‘he’s just a kid and… and he’s Zero… and it’s wrong… it’s wrong! It’s…’

A tired sigh broke his train of thought as hands reached out to grasp either side of his face to pull his head down. Did… did Rei plan this? Ohgi opened his mouth to protest, to let his inner voice out to be heard; but it was in vain, as Zero’s mouth robbed him of speech. Those lips were soft like petals and - he couldn’t help but shudder as he returned the kiss with a hunger he’s never felt before - they were indeed poisonous.

End Part 5

Author’s Note:

I had a lot of trouble writing this part at first, because I wasn’t sure who would make the first move and naturally it dawned on me that Lelouch would have to take the lead (because he is the King trying to make his subordinates follow). Anyway, I’ll try and throw an actual date between Zero and Ohgi and maybe a cameo with some of the characters like Kallen and Mao (oh my).

Please review!