Pairing: Rai x Nunnally/ Lelouch x Euphemia.

Chapter nine: A dance is born.

"Uh? A party? For what occasion?" Rai and Lelouch were studying together in Rai's room.

Even if he was a genius, that didn't meant that he could become part of the elite knights of Britannia so easily...so said lord Jeremiah Gottwald.

Just as they started, Lelouch told Rai about the party that would be in the royal castle.

"Yeah, it's to celebrate the day where my father became emperor of Britannia. Only nobles will come but he said he'll make an exception for you."

"He would? That very unusual for him..."

"Well...I kind of bugged him so that you can come."

Lelouch stared at the floor with a small blush on his face.

"That's very nice of you Lelouch but why is it so important that I come along?"

Rai was now very curious why Lelouch seemed very embarrassed.

"Uh? It's not...I mean..."

Lelouch's face was even more red.

But Rai was patient and told him calmly.

"You can tell me anything."

"I know that! It's just..."

They stayed in silence for what could have seem a minute or two, then...

"Euphi is...Well, she will be there too and there will be dancing so..."

Lelouch said nothing more. But his face was very red and didn't look Rai.

"...Lelouch." Began Rai.

"Yeah?" asked the young prince.

"You like Euphi?"

"...! ? W-w-what are you-"

"Then you should have said so!" said Rai with a small grin.

"I-idiot! That's not so simple!"

Lelouch rise from his chair and began to leave Rai's room.

"Enough! I shouldn't ask your help!"

But before he could reach the door, Rai took Lelouch's hand to make sure he didn't leave.

"Wait...What help?"

Lelouch gasped.

"Is that why you asked your father to let me come to that party?"

Once again gaps.

"What do you need of me?"

"Well..."

Lelouch start pouting and still refuse to look Rai.

"I told you there will be dancing..."

...Ah? Could it be...

"Lelouch...Do you know how to dance?"

Silence...

"I knew it!"

"Don't be proud of that, idiot!"

Still Rai didn't let go of his royal friend's hand and said:

"Then do you want me to teach you?"

"You! Rai, you know how to dance?..."

"Well I can't say where I learned that since I lost my memories but I still can."

Lelouch didn't like that at all, Rai was enjoying this too much...He even had a stupid grin on his face. Which was rare of him to do so.

"So...Will you dance with me, my lord?"

"...! Don't you have any shame? Me? Dancing with you? but you're...!"

"A boy?" asked Rai.

"..."

"If that's what is bothering you then I'll close the door and the window so nobody will know!"

Lelouch was still hesitant but...He really wanted to dance with Euphemia and see her smile.

"So, I'll ask again...Will you dance with me, my lord?"

This time he didn't hesitated.

The day of celebration has finally arrived.

The day Charles Zi Britannia became the 98th emperor of the holly Britannia empire.

All around the room, couples danced on the central dance floor so blithe and carefree, managing to portray it even within the strict confines of the dance steps.
And they should be, for it was not every day that such a happy occasion came to light, to be celebrated in such a manner, that allowed them such freedom that would still remain seemly.

But all around the couple was not all as empty headed joy; as one familiar royal heir of the throne in particular stood aside with characteristic aloofness
and was watching a familiar princess with pink hair.

Through the music and all the people there he could hear from behind, his silver haired friend Rai encourage him to invite her to dance.

Lelouch made his mind, it was now or never!

He walked slowly toward her, reminding everything he learned during the last weeks.

At first he tripped a lot on Rai's foot, "That's the first thing you shouldn't do when you dance with a lady" he said with a small smile and earned a glare from Lelouch.

But after a few time he learned how to lead the dance properly.

Rai was a good teacher. It was a lot easier than asking an adult.

He was now next to Princess Euphemia Li Britannia.

"Uhm, Euphi..."

She turned around and gave him her best smile.

"Will you dance with me?"

She was surprise, on those sort of event, Lelouch never wanted to dance and yet now he was willing?

It made her happy and she accepted:

"Gladly!"

Lelouch return the smile and began to dance with her.

At the same time, the young eleventh princess of the Britannia empire and Lelouch's younger sister,
Nunnally Vi Britannia was staring her older brother and her half sister dancing with amazement.

"Onii-sama (brother) is really good at dancing!"

"Do you want to dance too?" asked a familiar voice next to her.

As she turned around she overjoyed at the appearance of Rai.

"Rai-san! You came too?"

"Yeah I was given permission...So what were you doing now?" asked Rai.

She turned around to watch again Lelouch and euphemia dancing.

"I was a bit envious...I wish I could dance too..."

"Then...Will Nunnally dance with me?"

He took her hand in his.

"Eh? But Rai-san I-I don't know how to dance..." said Nunnally with a small blush on her face.

"It's alright, it'll be fine, I promise." answer Rai with a small smile.

Even thought she was a bit nervous at first, Nunnally became a bit more relaxed while dancing with Rai and even had fun during it.

Rai and Nunnally seemed to float on air, as though made of nothing but silks and ribbons, not skin and bone.
They seemed to be out of the portraits that hung on the walls around the ballroom-
spirits from another time, floating about the ballroom with such grace...

The final strains of the music died away as the sound of soft applause began to fill the air.

END

Bonus:

After the dance was over, countless young girls asked Rai for dancing with them while Nunnally was griping him,
plus with jealous stares giving to the other girls.

In the end Rai told the girls that he was already taken by 'His pretty princess'.

As a result Nunnally's face was bright red and less insecure.

But she was still griping him.

On the other corner:

"That bastard! Not only he took advantage of taking Nunnally dancing...But he didn't teach me to dance that WAY..."

"Lelouch? Is something wrong?"

"N-no Euphi...Nothing at all."