Chapter 1

Departure

The vast blue sky that gives the feeling of serenity and the random shapes of soft white clouds that encourages smiles and happiness from everyone. Truly, peace has finally been attained.

* * *

The warm breeze carries with it leaves that have fallen from time and takes it away, moving from one place to another. Dancing around until it reaches its destination and the wind dies. The dancing leaves started to lose its flight, the breeze fading away, and the leaves slowly descending making its way onto the lap of a sleeping girl. The breeze had died.

Her slow breathing— randomly parting her luscious pink lips, her soft straight red hair that flows around the lovely shape of her face down her delicate neck passing beyond her shoulders, the girl slowly opens her bright cerulean eyes.

Seven months have passed after the death of the Demon Emperor. A lot of things have changed since then. Japan was restored to its former glory and has reclaimed its old name. It was no longer just a number but a vision of the progress and the success to come to the country and its people. A vision that Ohgi Kaname, Prime Minister of Japan will ensure to fulfill. Brittania proclaimed peace to the world by liberating the countries it had conquered. It has joined the UFN to help aid the countries devastated by the war and help them get back on their feet and become independent nations. It was the step that the Empress of Britannia, Nunnally made to help build and maintain the peace that his late brother had given them. Despite the absence of wars and conflicts between nations, the Black Knights still exists to help protect and maintain the peace at hand with Zero as their leader. Even after the war, the death of the Demon Emperor, and the attainment of peace, most members of the Black Knights chose to stay with the organization with the exception of some. Ohgi Kaname left the organization after he became the Prime Minister of Japan but he still continues to keep in touch with his friends and comrades from the Black Knights. The other exception was Kallen Kozuki who left the organization with no clear stated reason. Some say that she left because she had already fulfilled her brother's wish and that she was already tired from all the fighting and just wanted to live a normal life together with her recuperating mother while some say that the reason why she left was because it was too much painful for her to stay with the organization after the death of the Demon Emperor— their once so called leader and the man who once made miracles, Zero or was it Lelouch vi Brittania? The Ace of the Black Knights, the loyal follower and perhaps lover of Zero and the greatest enemy of the Demon Emperor Lelouch vi Brittania ran away just because her heart got broken? For whatever reason it may be no one would really know it except her.

Kallen entered as the electric door of one of the rooms in Ikaruga opened. She saw him standing near the big glass windows looking at the view— the perfect clear blue sky and the rolling waves of the strong ocean waters.

"What can I do for you Kozuki?" Zero said monotonously as he continued to look at the view from the window not even caring to look at the woman who entered the room.

Kallen was surprised that Zero was able to tell that it was her who entered the room even without looking at her. Maybe it was just a lucky guess or he really knows her that much to even recognize her presence. Kallen composed herself and looked at the figure of the masked man before opening her lips.

"Zero, I have decided to leave the Black Knights." Kallen said as she stood in the room now dominated by silence.

The rolling waves of the ocean waters continued rolling, the flapping wings of the seagulls outside continued to keep them at flight, the moving footsteps and shots of voices outside of the room came and went, the ticking clock of the room continued ticking, his racing heart beating faster and faster, and her calm conviction still absolutely certain of her decision.

The silence between them was deafening.

Kallen closed her eyes, breathe in as if trying to absorb and understand the result of her action. She slowly opened her eyes and turned around and walked back towards the door she had entered.

"Kallen!"

Kallen stopped walking as soon as she heard him called her name. Zero gradually turned and pulled his eyes away from the view and fixed it onto her.

A lot of things were racing in his mind but he cannot find the right words to say to her let alone he cannot recognize the emotions that were going through his heart.

"Why?" Zero asked while his eyes were still fixated on the back of Kallen Kozuki.

A million thoughts, an overdrive of feelings and yet he was only able to utter one word to her.

Kallen smiled and turned to face the masked man. She looked at him with the most charming cerulean eyes and gentlest of smile.

"I have a promise to fulfill." She said smiling even though her eyes show a glint of sadness and hurting in them. She then turned towards the door and before exiting she stopped quickly turned her head to the masked man one last time.

"Besides, I think even without me you will be able to handle the things around here, right Suzaku?" Kallen said as a smile tried to play on her lips. She then turned back to her path and left.

Kallen Kozuki left the room, leaving behind the stunned Zero. Her footsteps can no longer be heard. The door has closed once again. Zero was left all alone. The masked man was motionless, absorbing what have just happened and then out of nowhere a soft chuckle escape his lips.

Zero placed one of his gloved hands onto his helmet removing it and revealing emerald green eyes and soft brown hair.

"Good luck Kallen." Said the unmasked man before a smile appeared onto his lips.

That day Kallen Kozuki left Ikaruga, the Black Knights and Zero.

The girl placed her hand onto the cuff of her sleeves moving it to reveal her watch. She looks at the time when she heard the bell ring. She then picks up her bag and slowly stands up from the bench she had fallen asleep on. The leaves on her lap fall to the ground as she dusts off her uniform, fixes her hair, and breathes in before taking a step forward.

The girl makes her way inside the campus and occasionally stops to stare at her surroundings as if it she was away from that place for a very long time— but indeed she was. She missed this place so much. There were so many unforgettable and beloved memories in this single place alone. She continues walking until she reaches one of the school buildings wherein a heavy yet reputable blonde man was waiting.

"Thank you very much Mr. Ashford for accepting my request to continue my studies in this prestige school of yours." The girl said as she extends her hand to the man.

"Well anything for the friend of Milly." The man accepted the girl's hand and extends his own to shake it.

"Also do not forget that your father has been a very good friend of mine and besides it is an honor for us to have you back Ms. Kallen Stadtfeld."

* * *

The fallen leaves of time will once again be picked up by the warm breeze. Slowly lifting it to flight and making it dance as it travel from one place to another. Though there will come a time when the breeze will die and the leaves will fall back to the ground but for sure the breeze will be back to take it once again, dancing from one place to another until it reaches its destination under the vast blue sky that gives the feeling of serenity and the random shapes of soft white clouds that encourages smiles and happiness from everyone. Truly, peace has finally been attained in the world that you, no… we have created

Author's Notes:

There is a good reason why I used Stadtfeld for Kallen's surname instead of Kozuki. You will find out probably on the next chapter.

Your comments and suggestions are very much appreciated. Thanks