Fuyuki City.
The scent of smoke hit him first. But immediately after, his sight was overwhelmed by the beautiful woman who lent her lap for him to use.
"Hey there, cutie. Enjoying your new pillow?" Oda Nobunaga's smirk was teasing as it was filled with sheer relief. Seeing her, after all, that had happened earlier… it captivated him. He couldn't help but continue to stare. "O-oi… Why aren't you saying anything?"
Lelouch could automatically tell. She was getting embarrassed. He didn't let the moment slip away. "Well, considering how comfortable this 'pillow' felt, and the fact that I'm being stared at by an angel, I guess you could say I was wondering if I actually got into heaven."
That the entirety of her face down to her shoulders turned red at that, it was clear he got her good. He didn't let up, however.
"Add on the fact that you look more stunning than I've ever seen you before, I really can't take my eyes off you, my adorable Daimyo."
"Ngh! Kkkkuh!" Red-faced, she stared him down as shame forced words through her grit teeth. "You've got quite the nerve to say inane things… after the worry you've caused me…"
"Worry not, my dear. I've made sure there'd be nothing to worry about now," he said as he reached out to caress her cheek.
The action surprised her, but feeling her lean in closer, he knew she too sought out more of his warmth. Considering she was bare naked, it might've been instinctual. An urge to get up and hug her immediately was suppressed with difficulty. Stressing his body after being revived a second time couldn't be good for his health, immortal or otherwise.
Instead, he slowly sat up and allowed her to hug him from behind. If she wanted to stay so close a little longer, he'd let her do as she wished. "Did you wait long?"
"No… but you dared make me wait anyway…"
"Hahah. Have I offended you by doing so, my love?" She didn't reply apart from squeezing him tighter than ever. He reciprocated by running his fingers through her hair. Nobu resorted to nuzzling his neck, letting him feel the tears she was failing to suppress. "My, how spoiled the former Demon King."
"Is it wrong to yearn so dearly for what I want?" she asked.
"No." He answered before trying to soothe her. Whispering in her ear, he said, "Relax. There's no longer any need to worry. Now that we have forever to do as we will, you need not fret over the small inconvenience of death."
"'Forever'?" She pulled away slightly, enough to meet his gaze head on but not enough to relinquish him of her grasp. To her inquiry, he had only one thing.
A ring suddenly appeared before her face, sandwiched between his index and thumb. "It's a bit late, but now that all of the more troublesome matters have concluded, there's very little reason to dally, no—mph!"
Nobu held her grip on him. The meaningful silence between them was accentuated only by slight moans and brief gasps of air as she tried her hardest to capture his lips. Such was the vehement answer conveyed to his unspoken proposal.
"Took you long enough!" she snapped, still fuming red even after being the first to pull away from the kiss.
"Must you be impatient, my love? Hadn't I already made a contract with you not a few nights ago?"
"A Demon King I may be, I'm still yet a young maiden at heart!"
Such a bold yet childish declaration was but one of many things he'd adore her for. Still, for her to openly admit it… Lelouch couldn't stop a smile from forming.
"Considering we have all eternity to enjoy ourselves, need we worry so much about delays? For one, I can propose to you as many times, in any way you so desire." He added the last bit whilst snuggling her cheek.
"That's beside the point!" she sheepishly snapped but while playfully slapping his shoulder. It would've been adorable enough, but as she shakily grinned back, he let slip a chuckle at how adorable she was being.
"Well? What say you, former Daimyo Oda Nobunaga? Would you grant me the honour of ruling this world with you at my side?"
"You fool." Nobunaga pecked him on the lips once more. "Was it not already a given? After all the emotions and feelings this heart of mine had to go through, don't you dare think I'd let you escape responsibility!"
"I wouldn't dream of it." Not in his life. A contract was a contract. He'd resolved his old life to live anew. Although thinking as much, he surveyed their surroundings. "Hm. Then again, perhaps a run-down ruin is not the best of spots for a proposal."
"Does it matter, darling? Isn't the barren remains of our battlefield perfectly suitable for such a grand occasion?"
"Says the supposed 'young maiden at heart'—?"
That earned another slap to the chest, however, Nobu was far too ecstatic to let it simmer. Still, Lelouch's attention did not drift away from what their last battle wrought.
He took a few steps to the shattered side wall. With Nobu clutching his arm tightly, she trotted along to stand by his side as they viewed the devastation laid out beyond.
The city of Fuyuki was set ablaze.
Half of the buildings nearby were nought but piles of debris, supports and steel beams melted before the rest of the structures collapsed in on itself. Glass and concrete both resembled molten rock as a flood of flames continued to spread out with the community centre they were in as its origin.
'The curse of Angra Mainyu, hm…' Justeaze had warned him enough before leaving the Marble, but to see the results himself… He couldn't help but grimace.
It was partially his Avenger's flames that kickstarted the inferno, but at the interference and subsequent last-ditch attempt at killing him, the paltry deity's control over and power within the Grail exploded. The expelled curses that infused with Oda Nobunaga's vengeful flames set everything from eleven to a hundred.
Though, that really wasn't a problem now that both of them were free from it all. "Hmph. Quite the mess for a parasite to make on their way out."
"Oh? Is that pity I hear?" Nobu gently whispered into his ear. "Are you feeling sorry for them, love?"
"The citizens? Of course," he grinned a little before brushing her grip off momentarily. Taking off his coat, he threw it over Nobu's shoulders. "If I am to be a ruler of all things in this world, it would only be justified that I will be angered at an attempt to destroy what is rightfully mine."
"You're starting to sound like that blonde idiot," a pout formed on her face which he placated almost instantly.
"So you say, but his words ring true. A ruler is a ruler, regardless of their circumstance."
It was a pity that so many had to die. But beyond his accomplice, he couldn't spare any more thought to the masses beyond this. Besides, a few thousand dead to the flames or an entire world subjected to the horrors of a spiteful ghost, Lelouch was certain it was a cheap price to pay.
Still, starting again from scratch, he now had no one but her in his life. Seeing the path they'd taken to resolve this conflict, bridges burned and people betrayed would no longer threaten their lives. Even if they could do a thing to immortals.
And, noting the path they'd have to take to maintain his and Alaya's deal, Lelouch didn't see the need to involve themselves with anyone else either. On this path, they were alone.
Alone, but together.
"Come. It'll be a little troublesome for the time being, but we have to rebase and start preparations once again. While I quite enjoy finishing up a war I was tossed into at the last minute, we now have a new task at hand. " Extending a hand which she took immediately, he added, piquing Nobu's interest. "A second Grail War to win."
"Hoh? Another one so soon?"
"Not so. This time, we'll be given a decade of free time. Until then—Mmph!"
He didn't finish as she shushed him with a finger. Leaning in, she hungrily finished for him. "Until then, I have you all to myself, isn't that right?! Daaaaaarling~~~!"
Lelouch didn't even get to reply. Red in the face, he fell back slightly into a half turn-in-place when the half-naked woman leapt into his arms. Embracing him once more, their foreheads touched as she stared deeply into his eyes.
"Something you wish to say, my dear?" he asked, sensing something in her silence.
"Just one thing…"
"…"
"…"
"…"
"I love you… Lelouch vi Britannia," she said, far gentler than he'd ever heard her say before.
"… … … I know…" he said bluntly and without even batting an eye.
"Tch, not going to say the words every woman wants to hear?" she pouted, earning his chuckle.
"Not every woman can raise hell at a whim, literally and figuratively." She continued to pout, but he surprised her by digging into that pout with another surprise kiss. When she reached the need to breathe, he parted their lips and followed it up with, "Besides, it's more fun when you put in the effort to make me say it."
"You're a jerk…" she retorted.
"And you're a tease." He shot back. "Don't think I haven't noticed how you keep pressing yourself onto me."
"What's the matter, cherry boy? Too much stimulation for you?"
Lelouch didn't bother responding and just escorted her down the half-destroyed stairwell. For two young adults, one looking ragged as though he swam through hell and the other barely even clothed, to flirt so flagrantly in the middle of a hellscape, it would've been an unbelievable sight.
But with their newfound freedom and future, was there any reason for the lovebirds to actually care?
Under a full moon floating high above a burning skyline, the two Demons descended upon the world, incarnated and ready to sow hell amidst their new lives amongst mortals.
Though the city looked to be glowing amidst the pyre, it was as romantic as can be for a couple of tyrants.