AN: Man, I just couldn't get this idea off my mind, and continue with my other fanfics, so I decided to just make this first chapter and see where it goes from there. Hopefully this will inspire others as well.
Once again, just in case you haven't read the rewritten chapter, or didn't get an alert of it.
CHAPTER 1 IS REWRITTEN – SO PLEASE CHECK THAT FIRST
I ask everyone to please tell me any mistakes, or errors within the chapter via PM, or review.
Thank you!
POV will be first person, since I realized I'm sort of bad at other pov styles, though I might change the pov at some points if the situation fits.
WARNING: IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE MANGA, THIS MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS
flashback
?– ? – 2010 a.t.b.
'I finally found you.'
Suddenly a large form of a woman wearing an elegant white dress fell on me.
"Welcome to Iwo Jima! Eastern Fog Supreme Flagship Yamato at your service! Call me Yamato for short!" The woman, with a voice that reminded me of one of those high-class Britannian noble-ladies, hugged me.
Tired, injured, and cold as I was, I passed out. Heck it was a miracle I was even able to move this far.
End of flashback
It's has been five years since that day when I met Yamato, and in extension, the entire Oriental or Eastern, as Yamato insists, Fleet of Fog.
Today is the day when I sadly, and upon the entire Fleet's insistence, that I go to school. Ashford Academy, the school where Hyuuga was able to trace my little sister's trail to. It seems that after my supposed 'death.' Prime Minister Kururugi decided that all-out war was the only option, and according to secret channels that Hyuuga was able to hack, he was killed by his own son, my friend, Suzaku Kururugi. I don't know what happened, but I have no idea how Suzaku was able to do such a thing.
Speaking of Suzaku, he is said to be working with Clovis' Honorary Britannian Military force, a group comprised of 'Elevens' and other 'numbers' that applied for Clovis' Honorary Britannian program. I have to find a way to thank him though. It seems as though that he was the one who was able to get Nunnally to the Ashford's care, I don't know if he just gave it to the most well-known Britannian family around, when the invasion came, but it was the best move that he had made. Lucky since it was the Ashfords, an old family friend of my mother, and the best, since if it was another Britannian family, they would have done their best to keep a member of royalty safe, since gaining a connection with royalty is technically an assured power position within the Britannian Court.
"Don't worry, Iona will accompany you and Hyuuga and Hiei will send one of their mental models to your school, we have already contacted the Ashfords, and they immediately complied." Yamato assured me, "There's this cute girl too, named Milly, she was very ecstatic when she heard that you were going to enroll in their school."
Oh God... Milly. Knowing her, she has something planned. Something evil planned. But when I think about it, she has Nunnally! Oh what depraved corruption has she inflicted on my innocent little sister! Thus, with that in mind, and the other members of the Fog, whom I've come to know and call as Nee-chans, especially since they took care of me for all these years... Hyuuga's synthetic meat and veggies are actually pretty good, especially when she decided to up the ante, and experiment on the flavors... Errgh... I'm getting side-tracked. It must be due to Yamato-neechan's influence, she does love suddenly changing the subject from one thing to another, heck this entire enrolling thing was her idea.
"Lelouch, are you ok?" Iona who seems to have noticed my frown, tugged at my sleeve. She is the I-401 submarine under the direct command of Yamato and in extension, me. She is currently wearing the Ashford uniform for females; a long-sleeved light-yellow marching-band style uniform, with a green tie, and a short black skirt.
I was pulling a large stroller bag, with Iona carrying a large box with her other hand that was not tugging at my sleeve. Of course, several people noticed us and gave comments on how I was supposed to be the one carrying the heavier set, but when Iona suddenly stated 'Master' out in the streets... Well things just got a bit out of hand... Sometimes, I think that the Fog's been changing; when I was still a kid, they all used to be silent, robotic, and non-expressive, except for Yamato... Who was well... Yamato. Kongou, of course has 'retained' her non-chalant/non-caring persona, but she does show her care for the other members of the fog, especially Maya, whom Yamato stated to be Kongou's first friend since they were all re-activated.
"Lelouuuuuch!" A loud female voice shouted across the street, which was where Ashford Academy was. Wait... This tone of voice... Impossible!
"MILLY! Wait Don't!" With that, Milly ran across the speed in speeds unknown to mankind, and glomped me with her... Umm... Damn Puberty! It feels good though, smells like orange too.
"Ohh! Are you enjoying this Lulu? Who knew that you would turn to such a person, if only Nunnally knew..." Mily then started teasing me, "Iona, you must be more assertive on Lulu here if you want to take the lead in his harem!"
Hmm? Did Milly just say something? Damn it, I couldn't hear anything in this dark soft place.
*Crash *Crash
Umm... Did the boxes just fall? Ugh, I can't see everything in this nice, fluffy place... "Mrmmppfff!" I groaned out, I can't breathe, damn Milly, I knew 12 years ago that you would be the death of me. Yamato-neechan, Kongou-neechan, Haruna-neechan... I'm sorry, please tell the others that I've gone on, who knew that the bottom of the ocean floor was this soft and nice...
"Ms. Ashford! Please step away from the Young Master!" Milly then got off me, wait is that Hiei's voice? Based on what I remember on the mission briefing for this, Hiei would be known as Georgina Thurston, and she was sort of drafted by Milly into becoming the school's head prefect. She did have this air around her back at Iwo Jima, and she had this certain liking to wearing that student council uniform that was prevalent back before Britannia invaded Japan.
"Adm- Lelouch, are you alright?" Hiei helped me up, while Milly simply smiled as she looked at both Hiei and me... Wait; is that a camera on her hand?
*snap
"That's another picture! More blackmail that I have on Lulu!" She stuck out her tongue, and then hid the camera inside one of the pockets on her uniform.
"Ms. ASH-"
"Georgina!" I stated in a voice that I use when I am serious. Its fine, Milly will always be Milly." I stated before the situation escalated any further.
Milly then gave a smile, "Come on then Lelouch, your little sister was very excited this morning, you owe me a lot though, I took care of her while you were doing whatever you liked." Milly stated, a small hint of the playful-tone that she uses, but her eyes stated that she was quite serious. With that, she led the three of us, well mostly me and Iona because Hiei already knew the way, towards the Ashford Academy's student council building.
Lelouch POV – Ashford Academy – Student Council Building – 2015 a.t.b.
"Big Brother!" A strong missile suddenly hit me as I entered through the door. This voice...
"N-Nunnally!" I hugged her tighter, a heavy feeling starting to come over my eyes...
"It's alright, you can cry, I won't take pics." Milly stated, no jokes can be sensed in her tone of voice, as she gave a warm smile, and placed the stroller bag that I was pulling along, somewhere at the side.
"It's not like I won't allow her to do so again." Hiei added, Iona's monotonous look at her side, sort of making her comment a bit funny. Especially when Iona looked at Hiei and then narrowed her eyes, still with that same monotonous look that she always has; if this were any setting, I would have laughed my heart out.
"Mmmf..." It seems like Milly finds that scene funny as well, especially with that laugh of hers that she was able to suppress, "Georgina, oh whatever do you mean? It's not like I will steal him from you, you're not the only part of his harem you know." Milly teased, gesturing to Iona, who then noticed the look she was giving Hiei. The Fog has really grown from what they used to be back then; Iona just made a gesture that she did not mean to, like any other human, when faced by a surge of emotion.
Speaking of this harem; I do understand what is happening, I have read up on puberty, and if the Fog are indeed turning more 'human,' then it is entirely possible that they may form a certain attraction to the best male in their vicinity, which would technically be me since I was the only male around them for 5 years. Despite this however, it still feels wrong to go through such a relationship with people whom I've dubbed as my big sisters.
"Lelouch, what's this I hear about you creating a harem?" Oh? Umm... Was that Nunnally? Oh God, her hug on me just tightened, "First you disappear for 5 years, FIVE Years, and now you come back with two women! I demand to join in!"
Silence. Complete Silence.
My mind, one which has outsmarted several nobles in Chess Matches, one which even my half-brother Schneizel sees interest in, just froze at what my innocent little sister said.
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Milly suddenly laughed, "Nice one Nunnally! Look at your brother's face!" Milly then pointed at me.
"Hehe, it's all right Big Brother, I was only joking, unless you want me to?" Nunnally suddenly released her hold on me, and fell back to the wheelchair, which the maid, whom I noticed to be Japanese strolled right to my front.
"Ah, this is Sayoko, a caretaker we have assigned to your little sister." Milly gestured to the maid, Milly then cupped her hands and placed her mouth towards the maid's ear, and then spoke a whisper-like voice, which was still loud enough for everyone to hear, "Lelouch here seems to be forming a harem, Sayoko watch yourself!"
"M-Milly!" Damn it, control yourself Lelouch! Breathe in, breathe out. Yes, Nunnally was only joking! And you're not forming a harem... Oh no, what have I done? I should have been here! Your sweet innocent little sister has been corrupted by the witch Milly!
"Anyway, let's get you settled in!" Milly suddenly stated, as she gestured for us to follow her.
"Now, remember, starting tomorrow you will be the School's Vice-president!" Milly announced, as though it was an announcement for a lottery winner, "And no sleeping together, that's why I had separate rooms provided for you, Iona, and Georgina!"
With that, Milly left the room and left me alone to my own devices. In my small stroller bag is a laptop, which I was able to procure in one of my trips to the Tokyo Settlement; it has several files, and projects that relate to strengthening the fog, such as additional plug-ins and software, and some notes on how Britannia is faring, especially in the EU war.
Looking over a bunch of papers that had my current funds, I remembered that I have a cover to act as a noble's son, thus enabling me to easily join in Chess gambling Tournaments without much question, the forged files that have been made legitimate by the Fog's supreme networking skills helped as well. In these Chess Tournaments, I have beaten nobles that have put up a very large bet, which most have not been able to pay as of yet. So technically, I currently have around 80% of the nobles here in Area 11 in my debt.
Yamato is currently acting as my proxy; under the cover that she is my 'fiancée;' her original cover was supposed to be my extra, or 'hired-man' in these matches that I'm unable to play in. In some cases, the other members of the Fog help out by forming Nano-Material versions of me that play instead. Though great care is insured to avoid any questions about why there are several of me at once around the settlement.
Now I have considered the Fog's power, and it is indeed superior to Britannia's naval force in every way, though I still had my doubts. This was due to a danger of exposing the fog this early into the game. Britannia has a great advantage on land with their knightmares, and if the confidential information that Hyuuga was able to hack was true, they are well on their way on creating air-borne ships and knightmares. If Britannia ever does find out, then they will most likely use all their resources to procure the Fog, and as I once pointed out to them; once Iwo Jima is captured, we have all technically lost, since our only supply-line would have been cut. Thus, I've decided on a plan to develop a strong enough force on land, and possibly the air; the first step to this plan, of course is procuring funds, such as with these Chess Gambling matches, and the other, is to form a Shipping company within the Asian continent.
This Shipping company was of course easily formed when several nobles were put in debt in certain chess matches. What I had them do was sign a few legitimate-looking documents that approved of the creation of the 'Misty Shipping Company,' the MSC for short. Basically, the company ships materials to and fro around Asia, and the materials that are transported, range from weapons, to consumer products. It is currently run by Kongou-neechan; a suggestion provided by Yamato, since Kongou is her second-in-command and must gain more experience in sending out sorties. Speaking of these sorties; the transport ships are all fog ships, camouflaged in a way that the nanomaterial makes it look like they are just another normal transport ship out in the ocean. Of course, for certain customers who paid extra, a few weapons are unconcealed to provide more security for the cargo.
This shipping company, however, gave more credibility to the fact that I am the heir of a noble who is currently expanding his business over at Area 11. And I guess I have to be thankful to Yamato as well, because due to her continuous statements of being my fiancée, not many noble heiresses sent me letters of proposals, though the few that did received a threatening letter from Yamato... Or the letters most likely got intercept by Yamato herself, and then returned back to their addresses with a little something extra... Which I don't want to know anything about.
*knock *knock
"Come in!" I answered the knocking, and Milly's head suddenly popped out from the doorway.
"Oh yeah, my Grandfather wants to talk with you tonight, I'm not sure why though." Milly states, after which she closes the door and leaves.
Hmm... I wonder what Reuben wants to talk about me for... From what I remember, Yamato referred to the Fleet of Fog as a secret ally of the vi Britannian line that was found outside of Britannia's Capital. In Yamato's story, the Fog is sort of like a 'Secret Service' group, like the OSI, that Empress Consort Marianne created, when she became Empress. They were used to guard her family when they are outside Pendragon, or even help out in some missions that the late Empress Consort was sent to.
It's a pretty far-off, yet plausible cover story, especially when Reuben asked why they were all females. Of course, Yamato, being Yamato, went on a long speech that emphasized feminism, and how my Mother wanted to support such a cause, thus the secret all-female unit was created; 'Unit: Fog.' A very believable tale, especially when Hyuuga hacked certain mainframes, and implanted a minor report about the unit. which was only placed in Area 11's Royal Administrative databanks, which the Ashfords somehow have a secure (and most likely illegal) connection to.
Ashford Academy – Principal's Quarters – 2015 a.t.b.
*knock *knock *knock
It was night-time, and there was no other student in sight. The only people with me were Iona, Hiei (Georgina Thurston), and Sayoko.
"You may come in." An old man's voice beckoned us to enter.
Upon entering, a fast missile once more headed towards me. This time, my reflexes were more prepared, due to Nunnally's earlier missile-like glomp. I swiftly stepped aside, wherein I knew a sturdier force was, Iona.
"IONA-NEESAAAMA!" Ah, it's Hyuuga. I guess I wasn't her target after all; forgive me Iona! Everyone, including me, watched on with a sweat-drop as Iona tried to pry Hyuuga off, Hyuuga's white doctor's robe swishing back and forth, her face rubbing on Iona's.
"I missed you sooo MUUUCH! Do you need a hull check? I know all about Submarines!" Hyuuga then started to raise Iona's upper-body uniform; Iona's toned stomach already showing. Before more were revealed however, Iona was finally able to push Hyuuga off.
"Ahem!"
"Ah, Mr. Ashford, to what may I owe the pleasure of this meeting?" I asked, hoping to get to the main agenda of this talk.
"As I have just observed, it seems that you have finally met Hyuuga, whom according to Ms. Yamato, will be nicknamed, 'Isolde' during her stay her at Ashford." Reuben stated, gesturing to Hyuuga who now adopted a casual serious face.
"Don't worry your highness, everything will be just fine!" Hyuuga gave a smile, "I will be teaching science, mostly physics, since that is more on my line of expertise." Hyuuga explained, as she handed me a box.
"That box contains a modified version of your school uniform, we of the Fog have outfitted it to be able to last through several gunshots, and an explosion of need be; of course it's as light as a feather!" Hyuuga then handed me the box, which as she stated, was indeed light, it's as though I was only carrying an empty box, though the ruffling inside proved otherwise.
"Thank you Hyuuga, can Nunnally also get one?" I inquired. From what I could gather, it seems like this uniform is made up of nanomaterials, and could act as a weapon too, if need be.
"Of course your highness, in fact, I have already replaced all her clothes with the same material, but retaining the designs of her old clothes." Hyuuga bowed, emphasizing the cover that the Fog was of a Royal Secret Service unit with how she spoke and acted. A sudden tense atmosphere appeared, with everyone suddenly gaining more serious faces, especially Reuben, Hiei, and Sayoko.
"Ah, very good, yes with this we can implement the plan." I decided to act with the setting that Hyuuga caused, "How are the Super Gravity Cannons?" I asked with utmost seriousness, using the voice that I use when I was giving out orders within the Fog in emergency situations, for added effect on Hiei and Iona, the two other humans however, flinched at the sudden tone of voice.
"Yes! All cruisers have been outfitted with a variant!" Hyuuga smiled, and gave a salute.
"With this, our quest of World Domination is SECURE!" I stated the last word in a higher tone of voice, since I did not know how much longer I can hold in the laugh.
A moment passed... A minute, then we both couldn't take it with the extreme silence.
"Mmf! HAHAHAHA!" We both finally burst out laughing, "Y-You all should have seen your f-faces HAHAHA!" Hyuuga managed to get out.
The joke was not entirely a lie though, it was also a status check on modernizing the entire Fog, since during my stay, I had noticed that not all the Fog ships had a Super-Gravity cannon, or mental models; thus I had Hyuuga, the one with the highest computational, and processing capabilities to take head of the project in equipping all the Ships with a Super Gravity cannon and hopefully some mental models, since those with Mental Models tended to be able to think up of better tactics, sort of like the difference between a foot-soldier and a captain.
"H-Hyuuga! That was uncalled for!" Hiei finally burst out from her sudden stupor and shouted.
*Ding *DONG! *Ding DONG!
The sound of a bell reverberated around the school. It seems like that's the midnight bell.
"Ah, I'm sorry for holding all of you up this late into the night, but Lelouch, I am glad to see you again; your sister has been doing entirely fine throughout the years you weren't here, Milly had a fun time taking care of here after all." Reuben stood up, and walked over to me, "I don't know what happened, but I can see that you have formed a strong friendship with these people that you have met when everyone believed you to be dead, enjoy your life to the fullest, and remember that whatever happens, we the Ashfords as a close friend of your mother's, will always welcome you." Reuben then gave me a warm hug, which I awkwardly returned. His was a real grandfatherly hug though, it was a warm hug that was truly full of sincerity and joy at seeing another person. I couldn't help but try my best to return it.
I also guess that I have to thank Milly in some way... Hopefully not by dressing up again... Those events years ago still gives me nightmares. I guess I will just see, the plan in modernizing the fog, as well as procuring the much needed resources is going well, in fact, we might be able to procure and reverse-engineer our first knightmare at the end of the year.
With that thought in my mind, Reuben released his hug, and I left with Iona, Hiei, and Hyuuga towards our quarters, which are in separate rooms inside the Student Council Building, from what I hear, Hyuuga or Professor Isolde, will be the Student Council's moderator.
? POV – Area 11 – Viceroy's palace – 2015 a.t.b.
I need to ensure that father does not hear about this project, if word gets out then I may get killed. Don't worry Lelouch, I am getting close to why you got banished, hopefully with this, I will be at least able to avenge you. Father thinks he can cover it up with the Elevens killing you, but based on my sources, several OSI agents were seen boarding that Cruiser Ship that you were on before it exploded due to artillery fire by the Elevens, thinking it was a Britannian ship. What makes it more hard to believe is that, the ship was a ship that the Prime Minister himself was aboard on, so there's no reason as to why the Elevens would shoot at it, except for carelessness.
With this project. With Code R, I am one step closer to finding the truth, and as a bonus, hopefully; the throne.
"My Lord, here are the available shipping companies that are known to be subtle in their services." A man, Lieutenant General Bartley Asprius, a man with an exceptional service record, gave me a list.
"Hmm... Misty Shipping Lines, this one's fairly new isn't it?" I asked, since the newer a shipping line is, the less it is widely known, and if there were any mishaps, it will be easier to fix. "Yes your highness, I can set-up a meeting with the company president this weekend if you would like to sir."
"Yes, please set it up for this Saturday." I answered, as the man walked off, "And Bartley." I called, as the man paused.
"How would you like to command my Royal Guard?" I asked, which the Lt. General simply answered with a simple smile.
"Of course your highness!"
AN:
Please give me your comments, reviews, PM's and tell me what you think is wrong, heck any criticism will be good, so that I may improve this fanfic.
I thank you all for reading and giving me your comments! Happy Holidays!