Rencontre
The world breaks everyone. War never decides who is right. Only who is left standing on their own with blood in their hands.
Chapter 1: Astasia
Born in a world wherein blood bath is their banquet. The Imperial children are forced to live under the roof that implements Darwinism. The strong have the right to stay alive and the weak are either dead or cast away. There is a prince whose blood boils upon his beloved mother's death.
"…." Whispers upon whispers can be heard inside his Father's court. He dragged himself and stood in front of his father, the 98th emperor of the Holy Britannia. These power hungry fools— He cussed internally. "My mother— Marianne vi Britannia is dead" The young prince informed the most powerful man in this empire.
"What of it? That's an old news and of no importance to me." He observed how his son's face contorted into angry frown. "Send the next one. I have no time to waste for childish banter" Uninterested, he added.
"What of it?!" He repeated carefully. "You—" He gritted his teeth, small fists balled. "You are the most powerful man in the empire and even more in the world! Why you did not protect my mother and Nunnally?!" Screaming out of anger, he indirectly blamed the emperor. You never care for your family because if you did then mother— The young heir thought.
"I have no use for feeble-minded children nor do I have interest in useless stuff." He signaled the guards to take away his son.
"I am sick of tired of the power struggle within the court! I have no interest in your throne!" The young boy snarled. "I have no dream to become your pawn in your games!" However, what transpired next surprised many and scared the boy. His father, the Imperial Emperor stood up from his throne and he loomed over his son.
"You are dead" He glared at his son. Charles' huge figure reminded everyone of a Titan. The powerful man will never tolerate insolence just like how he will not tolerate the existence of weaklings. "You've always been dead. Who do you think provided you your clothes that you wear right now? Your home where you sleeps at night? Your life? I am the one who provided you those things. You are nothing but a pawn. You are never been alive to begin with! I have no use for dead. From now on, Lelouch vi Britannia and Nunnaly vi Britannia will be used as political tools. From this day onwards, you will live under the roof of the enemies as political hostages!" He boomed and Lelouch shivered. His father is a scary man but he did not ever imagine that Charles zi Britannia can be this scary.
Lelouch's tantrum has reached the ears of his half siblings. Most of them snorted at the snot brat of the commoner knight who was once favoured by their father while some of them were shocked at the event. Cornelia, Schneizel, Clovis and Euphemia were the only ones who did not like what their father did but have no other means to help the disowned children of Marianne. Charles will not think twice to disown them too if they try to question the emperor himself. Schneizel stopped Cornelia from doing something stupid by locking the short-tempered princess inside his room with him while Clovis took in-charge of Euphemia.
"Get out of my way, Schneizel!" The Second Imperial Princess screamed at her half-brother.
"You will not do them any favour, dear sister. You'll end up like Lelouch and what will happen to Euphemia?" The Second Imperial Prince knew he won this fight. His sister will not risk Euphie's well-being for anything. The shorter royalty stopped from struggling. He is sure that he just earned bruises due to Cornelia's brusque action yet he did not dare to let her go as of yet.
"I—" She bit her lower lip to stop herself from crying. Unshed tears threaten to roll down her face.
"Lady Marianne ordered you to pull out her guards and you are faultless. You merely followed orders." Schneizel whispered on her ear. He eyed his distraught half-sister. It's been years since the last time Cornelia's façade was destroyed. The last time she was like this was when Lady Victoria was killed. He suddenly remembered the time he first met Cornelia.
Schneizel el Britannia is one of the spawn of the 98th Emperor of the Britannia to his numerous affairs with different women. The young boy possessed a beautiful face that went well with his blond colour hair. His eyes twinkled in amusement every single time he meet his father, the Emperor. Yet the young prince is not flawless in both mind and soul. In fact, the young prince does not care in the least about his other siblings and he wished that they all rot in hell. The truth is told that none of the imperial heirs are fond of each other and even if they share the same blood. Power struggles within the Emperor's family is the number 1 problem within the court. Jealousy between consorts which extends to their children always happens every now and then resulting to deaths of some.
"…" The young prince no older then the age of eight is walking inside the garden when he heard sniffles from a distance. Walking closer to the source itself, he found a young girl that is more likely around his age. It is rare for him to meet children closer to his age but it is never news that he might have siblings around his age knowing the nightly rendezvous of the Emperor with different women.
"…" The young girl looked up at the boy around her age. Her face is a total mess, snot and tears ruined the girl's beautiful face.
Clovis sighed once the distraught little Euphie fall asleep after crying for hours. The little girl heard the news of their Father's decision to send away Lelouch and Nunnally to the dangerous place of Japan. He heard from one of his relatives that the Emperor is planning to conquer Japan too and covert it to one of their territories but there is no former announcement as of yet from the Emperor. However, the fact that Charles zi Britannia sent two his children to Japan as tools somewhat confirmed the suspicions of other consorts.
"Poor Euphie" Clovis shook his head and soothes the girl's pink hair. "Someday we'll see them again" He promised the sleeping girl.
Genbu Kururugi's son that is who he is or at least that is the only thing he can hear from everyone wherever they go. His persona is overshadowed by his father's own huge figure. The young boy not older than the age of seven was dragged by his father to meet their visitors. He heard that a prince and princess from the Holy Empire of Britannia will arrive today; his father wants him to accompany them during their stay in Japan. He couldn't understand at first to why a royalty from the Imperial Family of Britannia will ever come to their country and more on to stay in their home. One thing is for sure, the Britannia wants none of Japan's friendship. Sakuradite must be one of the reasons the Emperor will send his own blood and flesh to Japan.
"My name is Suzaku Kururugi" He introduced himself to the pompous snot prince and to the princess on the wheelchair.
"Nunnally" The girl smiled genuinely and tried to hold out her hand. Suzaku gently shook it with his and earned a glare from the snobbish prince.
"Lelouch" The older of the two royalties said.
Unlike their first encounter, Lelouch and Suzaku became good friends as time goes by. The two boys started to like each other and even dotted on little Nunnally whenever the girl is not in the hospital. Their life is peaceful until one fateful night. Lelouch was on his way to the bathroom when he heard a commotion coming from Genbu Kururugi's room. Out of curiosity and perhaps worry, he stepped closer to the door and peeked through slightly ajar door wherein he witnessed the crime that is unintentionally initiated by Suzaku.
"?!" He gasped which earned the little Japanese's attention.
"…" Blood tainted his face and hands; he turned around and saw Lelouch.
"W-what have you done, Suzaku?" Lelouch carefully stepped back once his friend steps closer to him, gun in Suzaku's hand.
"I-I did not—" He stuttered. "He said he'll kill you and Nunnally" His emerald coloured eyes watered.
Before Lelouch could even react, they heard the screams of horrors and deaths outside. They peered outside and saw warships floating in the air and Knightmare frames coming from the said warships. Out of instinct Lelouch rushed to Nunnally's room and he did not think twice to carry his sister to safety.
It took days for them to travel from one area to another while seeking for safety. Suzaku Kururugi is quietly tailing Lelouch who is carrying Nunnally. They have not been able to bring anything with them aside from themselves and the clothes that they wear for several days now. The scent of blood and foul stench of rotting flesh lingers in the air.
"U-umm brother? Are we passing by a dumpsite?" Nunnally cringed once the awful scent hits her nose. She cling on Lelouch as he piggyback her.
"…" Lelouch was reluctant at first but Suzaku nodded.
Days became nights and nights became days. The three children lost count of how many days is it since the invasion and to how many days are they traveling from one place to another. Nunnally is now currently sleeping in a makeshift bed made from ruined bed sheets and leaves that they have collected on their way.
"I swear that I will bring down Britannia!" Lelouch promised his distraught friend. He will never forget that Suzaku killed his father for Lelouch and he'll do the same for Suzaku. Someday he'll kill Charles for the sake of Suzaku and Nunnally but for now they must survive.
"L-Lelouch" Suzaku's eyes widened at his friend's determination.