Chapter 22: Appreciate
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"I felt a shift inside of me and I think I may have used Devil Magic." He said, going with a half-truth.
"I want you and Akeno, or even just one of you, to explain all that you can about Devil Magic, because I'm pretty sure shouldn't have been able to use it to fulfill that contract.
" He was collected on the outside, but inwardly he was concerned. He didn't appreciate the sudden shift he had felt messing with him.
He wanted to be in control over his own actions and not have to deal with some unknown instinct influencing him to act without his conscious knowledge.
Rias crossed her arms under her bust as she looked at Lelouch who was lazing back in the chair, staring her in the eye as he awaited her response.
She closed her eyes and breathed softly, opening them to give Lelouch a serious look. "I wouldn't normally consider teaching a Devil who has been Reincarnated for such a short time," Rias admitted, ignoring Lelouch's frown as she continued.
"However, as you already seem to have a knack for it I'll talk with Akeno about tutoring you after school in our spells, provided you and Koneko don't already have any plans?" She teased her Knight with a grin, pouting when Lelouch didn't even blush at her implication.
"I told you before you even turned me," Lelouch reminded her dryly. "I have no romantic inclinations towards anyone right now.
I'm perfectly happy being single." He shrugged. "Although I may have to amend my previous statement and say that Koneko and Kiba are definitely more than just acquaintances as I had called them before.
" He smiled softly as he thought of his petite roommate and the blond Devil. "They're the closest thing I have to friends in this school." 'Hell, in this world.
' He finished to himself silently, ignoring the sense of melancholy as he realized he was still having a hard time considering Kiba or Koneko truly friends.
It was something that Rias had noticed as well. "Why are you so hesitant to acknowledge Kiba and Koneko your friends?" Rias asked with confusion and concern.
"You know how they feel about you, Kiba begged me to save your life and Koneko slept next to you all through the night and a good chunk of the day to heal you.
" She glared somewhat at Lelouch. "Those are the actions of true friends, how come you can't say you feel the same?" She asked seriously.
'Because the last person I could truly call my friend is the one who killed me in front of the entire world on my orders.
' Lelouch thought before responding with, "The last true friend I had is no longer with me." He admitted with a half-truth.
It would be more accurate to say that it was the other way around. "I guess I'm just hesitant to get close to others after that.
" Getting stabbed by his closest friend had a strange way of making it less likely for him to want friends it seemed. How shocking.
Rias reacted with surprise at the frank admission from her Knight. "Oh, Lelouch." She stood up and pulled him into a hug, ignoring the fact his face was level with her breasts.
"I'm so sorry to hear that." She pulled him in harder, squishing him as she tried to physically convey her sympathy to her Knight.
He smacked her hip, making her draw back in surprise as Lelouch pulled back and coughed slightly.
"Look, thanks for the sympathy." Lelouch grumbled as he regained his breath. "Just don't suffocate me okay?" He huffed, standing up before he could get smothered again.
"I promise I'll try to begin considering Kiba and Koneko my friends, and I'll work on getting closer with the rest of your Peerage alright?" He swore. He truly did want to get closer to Kiba and Koneko, he didn't know if he had it in him though.
His heart hadn't been open in so long after all. "Let's just go, I want to try and understand why I seem to have this knack for Devil Magic as you called it.
" He didn't appreciate the near suffocation. He made his way out of the library, hearing Rias' heels quickly catching up to him as she led him back to the clubroom.
He looked at her in questioningly as she followed him.
"I need to get some stuff from the clubroom before I go." She answered his unspoken question.
When she opened the door she was surprised to see Akeno and Issei still in the room, though it looked like Issei was packing up to leave.
"You're still here?" She directed the question to her Queen, curious.
"I got a message from the Archduke." Akeno replied, making Rias hum in slight surprise.
Lelouch entered behind Rias and murmured his question. "The Archduke?" Ignoring Issei staring at him after he had walked in after Rias.
"Who's that?" He was curious, he wondered who that was as he leaned up against the wall.
He needed to wait for Rias before she could tell him the schedule she'd try and get Akeno to agree to so he could start his lessons, but this piqued his interest.
Akeno ignored him, focusing solely on Rias. "It was urgent, a Stray Devil's been causing trouble nearby.
" She told Rias seriously, none of her normal bubbly personality showing through. Issei and Lelouch shared a look and asked at the same time, "What's a Stray Devil?"
Rias and Akeno ignored their question as the red-head said to Lelouch, "Looks like we're gonna have to wait for now, sorry Lelouch.
" As Akeno prepared the Transportation Circle to move the four of them. "Ready Akeno?" She asked her Queen, ignoring Lelouch's nod of assent and Issei stumbling from his seated position to quickly follow them.
She grabbed Issei's shoulder to make sure he wasn't left behind. "Now Akeno." She ordered once Lelouch was in the spell's range and Akeno took them to gather the rest of the Peerage.
Lelouch would find himself getting a more hands on lesson than she originally planned, but this could benefit Issei as well. She didn't like that it came up like this, but she would seize the opportunity.
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