Lelouch began jerking on the table. Trying not to let Farid noticed Ishi tickling him, he whispered, "Not fair, you can't lose in this situation. At least let me go so it can be an even fight." Lelouch tried so hard not to laugh out loud; the last thing Farid needed was a distraction from his work.

"Mmm, I don't think so," Ishi smirked, now using both hands to ravish his tender sides. She rarely got a chance to do this, so she was going to take advantage of every second of it.

"That's not fair!" Lelouch was trying his best not to laugh out loud so as not to disturb his father's work. He decided that the only way to win right now is to fight dirty, and he had just the idea.

Lelouch did his best and concentrated to conjure up some shadow arms from underneath the table. In his current 'predicament', his concentration only allowed for one but that would be enough. The arm secretly sneaked around Ishi so she had no idea what was about to happen. With a quick movement, the arm quickly wrapped around Ishi and covered her mouth so that way her shriek wouldn't be heard.

'Darn you, Lelouch!' Ishi thought as she struggled to get free.

"Mess with the bull, and you get the horns." Lelouch laid back and now that Ishi wasn't tickling him he could concentrate more and conjure up more shadow arms. Two more arms appeared at attacked Ishi's sides.

If it weren't for the shadow hand across her mouth, Ishi would have burst into loud squeals of laughter. They were still there, only significantly muffled.

'L-L-Lelouch!' Ishi thought as she jerked all around, intent on running away. 'Okay okay, I get it! Please...s-s-stop!"

"Alright fine. But now you know not to start that business up again." Lelouch released Ishi and set her down on her feet.

"Killjoy..." Ishi muttered and worked all four restraints in less than 15 seconds, moving back to the wall afterward. "So much for having a bit of fun."

Lelouch quickly wrapped his arms around Ishi's body. "Never said I didn't want to have fun." Lelouch turned back to his father. "Hey Farid, do you still need me here or can I step out for breath of fresh air?"

Without looking up, Farid answered him, "You can go. I have more than enough to finish this up."

Lelouch turned back to Ishi. "Let's go for a walk."

Ishi was still pouting cutely as she followed him out of the room leaving Farid to finish his work in peace.

Lelouch led Ishi out into the garden behind the house; roses and lilies as far as the eye could see. "Been a long time since I have walked through this place. I can remember a time when my mother and I would walk through this very garden...when she was still alive that is. She would tend to these plants like they were her own children." Lelouch gently brushed the petals of a rose and feeling the wet dew stick to his finger.

"I can't believe that it still looks the same after all these years. I wonder who has been tending them."

Ishi was taken aback by the beauty of the garden, her slightly sour mood almost immediately washed away and replaced with awe. She answered Lelouch, "Whomever has been, they have been doing a really good job."

Dropping down to her knees she tenderly cupped a white rose, feeling the soft petals and remembering when her own mother used to tend them in her little garden back home.

"Yeah I guess so." Lelouch looked down as Ishi was admiring the garden. In an instant, his memory began to replay the events of times past. Visions of his mother in the same position as Ishi. 'I wonder how long it's been I have seen this before me...'

Lelouch began to walk down the path of the garden towards a set of outdoor tables and chairs. He stood in front of them with a saddened look on his face.

The young woman looked up with a smile on her face that slowly disappeared as she saw her companion walk away, eyes fixed on whatever it was he was focused on. By the looks of it, it did not seem to be a happy memory. 'Lelouch?' Ishi thought to herself as she raised herself up off the soft earth, brushing off any blades of grass, and quietly followed the man.

"She would always tell me stories on this chair while we enjoyed the afternoon breeze." Lelouch brushed his fingers on the armrests of the small, rusted out chairs. "Stories of a time long since past.....Heh, ironic since now I am telling you stories of a time long since past as well."