138 Chapter 136 ~ A Lifetime

"K-Karen… I-Is this… really it…?"

"Yeah… I know how you feel, mom…"

Standing in awe before the massive, grand, luxurious mansion that spanned even wider than her field of view, Akane froze as her eyes widened and her mouth opened into the shape of an "o". 

She stood before a massive gate of gold that more than doubled her height with tall walls on either side. Through it, she could see a glimpse of what seemed to be only a small part of a massive garden and courtyard, which had already encompassed an area more massive than her childhood home, with a beautiful, shimmering, ever-flowing fountain in the distance. 

She snapped out of her daze when the gate suddenly opened, and Yuuji stepped before her, leading her in. 

And when she entered, the full appearance of the fantastical garden and beautiful, grand mansion finally came into view. 

With Yuuji in front and her daughter by her side, holding her hand, Akane looked around in awed shock, walking through a beautiful, straight, path made of various kinds and shapes of stones while pulling a medium-sized suitcase with her other hand, filled with everything she owned. 

To her sides were beautiful bushes of flowers and vibrant greeneries, and as she continued to enter deeper and deeper, she couldn't help but felt like she was walking into a fantastical world with a grand mansion unlike anything she had ever seen slowly coming towards her. 

Before she knew it, she had stopped before a massive, mahogany double door of intricate design, and she could no longer see the entire span of the mansion anymore. 

"Mom, are you ready to see the home we'll be living in now?"

Karen asked from her side, excited to show her mother around. She couldn't wait to enjoy all the things they have in their home. And the first, she decided, would be the hot springs bath which she knew her mother would love. 

"U-Uhn… I-I'm sorry, this is just so much to take in…"

"It's fine, Ms. Kozuki. You have all the time in the world to get used to this, since this will be the home where you and Karen will be living now."

Yuuji said as he smiled from her other side.

"Yes…"

Akane responded in a daze. She… She still couldn't believe that she'll actually be living in such a massive mansion. This mansion was at least two times the size of the Stadfeld mansion she worked in. 

She looked at the boy before her… And a feeling of awe and gratefulness filled her heart. 

Karen found someone amazing… I'm glad…

A soft smile graced her face as she turned towards Karen, and held her hand tighter. 

Karen noticed her gaze and her hold, and turned towards her with a similar smile on her face. She was extremely happy to be living with her again… This time, as a true mother and daughter. 

"Well then, let's enter."

Yuuji opened the door and led the two into the foyer.

The moment they entered, Akane was stunned once again…

This mansion… It seemed to come straight from some fantasy world…! It was beautiful beyond words. Much more beautiful than the Stadfeld mansion. 

The foyer alone was enough to make her gasp with the beautiful marble floor and soft, pure white, fur slippers placed within a beautiful, intricately carved, mahogany cupboard to the side for guests. 

She could also see into the massive living room where a massive chandelier of various colored crystals hung down from the high ceiling at its center as well as couches and a marble coffee table of intricate make right below it.

And on the other side of the living room, she could see a massive swimming pool that shimmered under the sunlight through the massive glass windows. 

"T-This is-"

"Even more beautiful than you expected?"

Akane's heart skipped a beat when she heard a beautiful voice of a woman finishing her thoughts for her. 

She turned and saw a young woman dressed in form fitting white dress with long, silky, emerald green hair cascading down below her slim waist, jade white skin, a pair of piercing golden eyes that seemed to be capable of seeing through her very soul, and a perfectly shaped figure walking towards her. 

Upon her arrival, even Yuuji was shocked. 

She didn't expect Cecilia to come out of their room and even approach Karen's mother the moment they arrived!

"Ah… You are…"

Yuuji immediately felt like a small child who was caught doing something wrong. 

Although his relationship with Cecilia and Karen was not something he would hide and would care less about how other people think of it, he could not deny that people might find this kind of relationship a bit… Unusual. And since this was Karen's mother, he'd naturally be nervous.

What if she didn't support her relationship with him…? Even worse, what if she was against it? 

Such a thing… He couldn't simply break up with Karen, but he also didn't wish to get in between the newly reunited mother and daughter. 

Just as Yuuji's mind run at full speed to try and get an answer for this situation, Akane's next words snapped him out of it.

"Miss… C.C?"

Yuuji and Cecilia's eyes both widened in shock the moment her name came out of Akane's lips. But Cecilia recovered more quickly and noticed the smile on Karen's face, clearing her confusion.

"Yes. My name is C.C, Karen's close friend as well as Yuuji's girlfriend. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"Ah, yes. It is a pleasure to meet you as well. I've heard a bit about you from Karen. Thank you very much for taking care of her."

"Likewise. She had been taking care of me as well. Please, come in and put down your luggage in your room. I believe the one next to Karen's would be fine?"

"Yes. Thank you."

C.C helped Akane change from her outdoor shoes into a pair of slippers and entered, leaving the stunned Yuuji at the foyer with Karen.

"Hehe, surprised~?"

Yuuji looked at Karen in shock, and let out a deep sigh of relief, realizing what she had done.

"Hah… Extremely so. Did you tell her about us?"

Karen nodded.

"Of course I did. I told her our relationship right after I told her about you."

"I see… What did she think?"

"Well, she was naturally shocked and asked me if I'm alright with it. She seemed… Quite against it at first knowing… You know, her own marriage. But after I told her about you, Cecilia, and our relationship, she told me she'd hold her judgment until she met you."

Yuuji turned to see Akane and Cecilia walking towards the left wing of the mansion, towards where Karen's room was. 

"I hope she accepts this…"

"She won't be here if she doesn't. She said that as long as you can take care of us and… l-love me, she'll respect my decision to… s-stay with you."

"Karen…"

Yuuji looked at her with widened eyes and his heart, skipping a beat. An urge to embrace the cute, blushing girl that belied her usual tough, confident, brave appearance filled his heart. But just as he was about to pull her into his embrace and lean in for a kiss… Karen held onto his arm and began dragging him in.

"N-Now, let's go in already! There's a lot of stuff I want to show her!"

Karen quickly dragged him inside, running from the fluffy and pink atmosphere she knew she wouldn't be able to escape if she stayed a second later. 

If they were alone, she… would've let him embrace her shower her with his love. But her mother was here, waiting for them! And she wasn't ready to show her mother their romantic interactions yet!!!

"Alright…"

Helpless and slightly disappointed, Yuuji let himself be dragged by her. Though, as a compensation for not being able to enjoy those luscious lips and embrace her soft, sexy body, her adorable red blushing face was enough to satisfy him… for now.

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Deep into the night. 

A comfortable silence filled the darkened room, lit solely by the moonlight that shined through the tall window panes overlooking the swimming pool. 

On the bed, Yuuji laid down under the comfort of the duvet with Cecilia cuddling onto him from his side, sharing their warmth with each other directly, skin to skin. 

Cecilia's jade white skin was flushed and slightly wet from sweat after several rounds of love making. From between her thighs, she could feel Yuuji's potent, warm seeds flowing down onto their bed. He had filled her womb so fully that no matter how hard she tried to prevent it from flowing out, there was simply no more room for her beloved's seed to stay within her. 

But it was fine. She knew she could have her fill whenever she wanted. So now, after exhausting herself plenty by riding her beloved all night long, she simply wanted to relax and rest on his chest while hugging him. 

Normally, Karen would also be cuddling him from the other side. She would have already fallen asleep since she hadn't gotten used to Yuuji's bottomless libido and endless love for her. But tonight, she wasn't there.

Karen was spending the night with her mother in her room. They would be sleeping together for the night, making up for the time they've lost. 

After a full day of touring the mansion, having dinner together, and the girls spending hours in the hot spring, Akane and Karen retired early to their room, giving Yuuji and Cecilia more time to make love in their room. 

As Yuuji softly stroked her hair, Cecilia mewled comfortably and pressed herself even more onto his hard, warm body. 

Just then, she opened her eyes upon remembering something. 

"Ah… That's right. Lelouch asked me to inform you about something."

"Hm? What is it?"

Cecilia rolled towards and onto Yuuji, resting her entire body on him and pressing her breasts against his chest. Her arms slithered around his neck and she looked up to him as Yuuji wrapped his arms around her to prevent her from rolling over. 

"He plans on meeting Cornelia to convince her to leave Japan."

"I see… Well, that would be the most ideal situation…"

If Cornelia, the cornerstone of Britannia's military presence within Japan, left, then their operation to unseat the current oppressive Britannian government would go much more smoothly. 

In addition, Lelouch also wouldn't need to fight against his half siblings… 

"He… He wants you to carve a path for him…"

The tone of Cecilia's voice quickly turned gloomy. 

The nature of Lelouch's request… That would mean that Yuuji would need to face all the danger and carve a path for him to reach the most dangerous and heavily guarded place within the enemy lines, where Cornelia was. 

She clenched her hands tightly and pursed her lips… 

After having lost everything for so long, now that she had regained the one thing she so dearly treasured, there was no way she could simply stand watching it disappear once more… 

She truly didn't want Yuuji to be in such danger… No matter how powerful he was or how skilled he was as a knightmare frame pilot, there was still a chance that he could lose his life in the battlefield. 

Even if it was less than a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a small percentage, it was a risk she was unwilling to take if it meant losing him. 

The look of worry and unwillingness she showed in her eyes and expression was obvious to see, especially to Yuuji. 

He embraced her closer, leaning in towards her lips, and kissed her. 

"Thank you for worrying about me. I will be careful… And I will return to your side. I promise you."

He wouldn't tell her to not worry. Since telling her that would mean telling her to kill her own emotions and suppress her love for his own peace of mind. 

It would be too selfish of him. 

Instead, he made a promise. To be careful. And to return to her side. No matter what.

Cecilia frowned and lowered her head, nuzzling into his neck, knowing there was nothing she could say that would stop him from doing it.

"...If something happens, don't hesitate to use your powers. You don't need to worry about anything… Strange things can happen when there are geass users. So… Please. Return to me…"

Yuuji nodded and kissed her head.

"I promise. After all, I haven't taken you to see my family and the many worlds we'll be visiting together. And even then, we still have a lifetime to spend together."

"A lifetime… Yes."

For the first time… Cecilia thought that being an immortal wasn't so bad after all.

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