Turn 02: Conversation
I don't own Code Geass. Anything I use is property of its creators.
Welcome to Chapter 2 guys. Get ready for more of Kallen's hunt for Zero's true identity.
(Kallen P.O.V)
A few days after the battle at the harbor I was still thinking about Zero's words. I just finished a meeting with the council, and although Rivalz Shirley and Nina were there, Lelouch and Suzaku weren't there. It was something that bothered me quite a bit but I had other matters to work out "Is everything alright, Kallen?" Milly asked nervously. Clearly she noticed my concern and I was lucky for it.
"No, it's not, and I need to talk to you about something." I said calmly.
"No problem." Milly replied calmly.
"This is a private something." I said nervously.
"I see." Milly replied with a stern look on her face. The look on her face bothered me. However, if I wanted any information on Lelouch, she'd be my best bet.
"Let's go to my house and talk." I suggested.
"Sure!" Milly said happily. This was certainly going to be interesting and although I had no clue where it would lead, I knew Milly could give me some insight.
(Scene Skip)
When we arrived at home I told my mother and all the maids that we weren't to be disturbed unless it was an emergency. Of course everyone nodded their approval and we went up to my room and I closed the door. "Alright, we shouldn't be disturbed." I said sternly.
"So what did you want to talk to me about?" Milly asked calmly.
"I wanted to ask you about Lelouch." I said bluntly.
"I see, so what does the Ace of the Black Knights want with little old Lelouch Lamperouge?" Milly said calmly shocking me completely. She was acting completely different from the usual president and she just revealed my secret without batting an eyelash.
"How did you know that?" I said in shock immediately turning serious.
"Oh relax Kallen, it didn't take much to figure it out, and if I was going to tell anybody you'd already be arrested." Milly smirked almost relaxed by my attitude.
"So putting how you know about me aside, my question is…."
"You want to know why I allow Lelouch and his sister to live in the student council building. Even with circumstances like Nunally's, that isn't something that just anybody can do so I can understand why you'd want to know." Milly explained. She had me figured out so easily. I couldn't believe it.
"So are you going to tell me?" I asked calmly.
"I'll tell you, but I'm curious about why you want to know, and don't worry, I won't reveal any of our conversation to anybody." Milly said smiling.
I groaned for a minute but I realized that if Milly was smart enough to figure out my secret, then she was smart enough to know the rest. "The reason I want to know is because I think Lelouch is Zero." I said bluntly. I was curious how she'd react but I never expected what eventually came.
"HAHAHAHAHA! Oh that's rich. Lelouch being Zero huh?" Milly laughed.
"Milly, I'm serious." I said angrily.
"Yes, I know and I'm not laughing because I think it's funny. I'm laughing because as much as Lelouch might have reasons to destroy Britannia, I can't see him as Zero." Milly said catching me off guard.
"Wait a minute, Lelouch has reasons to destroy Britannia?" I said in shock. I didn't see that coming at all.
"Yes, and the reason is a very fascinating one. Outside of me and my family, nobody else knows this about Lelouch, so it's a highly guarded secret." Milly said with a cat eating the canary grin.
"So why are you telling me?"
"Because it makes my life more interesting and I know that if you tell anybody and I find out, your secret will come out." Milly warned.
"Alright." I said calmly as I prepared to hear the truth.
"His real name isn't Lelouch Lamperouge."
"Wait, so what is it?" I gasped in shock.
"His real name is Lelouch V Britannia, former eleventh prince of the Holy Britannian Empire." Milly said and I had to hold back a faint. Lelouch was a prince of the realm! But wait a minute, Milly said FORMER prince.
"You said former prince, right? Then what happened?" I questioned.
"I only need to mention one name and it should make sense to you as a girl versed in some Britannian history." Milly said with a cheeky smile. She knew that despite my origins I did know a bit about Britannia.
"What's the name?" I asked cautiously.
"Marianne the Flash." Milly said calmly and the rest did indeed make sense. Despite my living in Japan, I knew about Lady Marianne and about her unique circumstances. She was a commoner by birth, but she made her way up the ranks and eventually was one of the Empire's best knightmare pilots, and eventually became one of the Emperor's wives. Ironically enough, it was my desire to be like her that spurred me into being the resistance's knightmare pilot. If I remember correctly, her daughter was paralyzed during her assassination and that she had another son. Oh my god, then that means….
"So Nunally and Lelouch are…?" I gasped realizing the truth.
"Yes, they are Marianne's children. They were sent to Japan a few weeks after her death and have lived here ever since."
"So who did they stay with in Japan and how come they're here now?" I asked in shock. This was a lot to take in and her next words shocked me but it really shouldn't have been.
"That should be obvious, Kallen, especially considering Lelouch's relationships in the school." Milly revealed and again I should've picked it up.
"He stayed with Suzaku and his family. That's why he was so insistent on helping him." I exclaimed and the picture became clearer. After he was exiled he stayed with the Kururugi's until the war happened.
"They were separated after the war began, and until he showed up here they hadn't seen each other." Milly explained with a smile. This was some major information that Milly was telling me and there's no way she should know most of it.
"Wait a minute, Milly, how do you know all of this? I've asked my friends about Lelouch and all they could tell me was that he was cute. Yet you know all this stuff about him." I exclaimed. You can find information about nearly anybody at our school and Lelouch was one of the few true unknowns.
"For someone who gets such good grades you're missing a lot of obvious stuff today." Milly teased.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I huffed angrily.
"What's my last name?" Milly smirked.
"Ashford so what's your... point." I gasped yet again because I forgot about an obvious piece of information. I forgot, that the Ashford family were consorts of Marianne the Flash and that her family held the famous Ganymede that she used to use in battle. That meant that Milly knew Lelouch as a child back in Britannia and must've been extremely close to him and his sister.
"As you've likely figured out. I've known Lelouch for my entire life and after the war my grandfather found him and his sister along the side of the street and brought them to our home in the settlement. After some food, he told us about what happened and ever since then he's been living with us. Honestly, I'm half convinced my grandfather started the school in order to help me and Lelouch reconnect, and to a certain extent it's worked. It doesn't hurt that, most of the people who would know the truth about him are in the homeland." Milly said with a pained expression. That was an expression I rarely saw but I knew what it meant.
"You love him, don't you?" I said already knowing the answer. Given everything she told me that should've been clear. His position in the council and the favors he's been given as far as me and Suzaku. You wouldn't do those unless it's for somebody special.
"Yes. I always have and I always will. To be honest, we were probably going to get married if things had stayed as they were… well if Euphie didn't have anything to say about it." Milly teased.
"What about Shirley?" I wondered since it was well known that Shirley had a crush on Lelouch.
"She has no idea and I intend to keep it that way. Hell, Lelouch probably isn't aware of my feelings either."
"Well you've certainly told me a lot. If this got out things would become even more insane for Lelouch." I groaned.
"Yes, and that's why I revealed what I know about you. Basically, if Lelouch is exposed, you'll be exposed." Milly smirked. I knew she would come through on her threats and that was it. "Well, I've gotta get going." Milly smirked before leaving. It was annoying because she actually put me closer to the idea that Lelouch is Zero, but at the same time there were other things that I didn't understand.
(Scene Skip)
"Zero, it's time." I said calmly as our group prepared to save Tohdoh the miracle worker with the help of the Four Holy swords. The Black Knights had been fairly inactive for the last few weeks, but interestingly enough Lelouch was more tired than before. He wasn't the only one since Shirley's personality did a total 180. She went from crushing on Lelouch to almost ignoring his existence; it was almost as though she didn't know who he was and that shocked me. At any rate, I needed to focus on the current mission and my issues with Lelouch would take care of themselves sooner or later.
"Are you ready, Q1?" Zero spoke out in his regal voice. I had to admit that the way he ordered people reminded me of that of a nobleman... well without the arrogance.
"Yes sir!" I said sternly. This was a big operation and soon the time had come for us to launch. If we save Tohdoh then we get a powerful ally with the loss of the rest of the JLF.
As the battle continued, we had the clear advantage and once Tohdoh was freed we were in business. "Keep going everybody, the time has nearly arrived!" Zero called out as the white Knightmare appeared at last.
"The Lancelot." I growled wanting to take revenge for everything he had done against us.
"Leave him to the Holy Swords, Kallen." Zero instructed and I watched as Tohdoh and the swords had him by the ropes.
"This is it." I smirked as Tohdoh's sword cut the top of the Lancelot. The pilot was finished and now everything would be better. At least that's what I thought until the pilot revealed itself.
"Suzaku, is that you?" Tohdoh shouted out in shock. Oh you've gotta be kidding me. So you're telling me that our greatest enemy is the person that Zero saved. This was not good.
"Zero, what do we do?" I yelled out. After a minute he didn't' respond so I yelled again. "ZERO!" I screamed hoping that my leader would respond.
"Retreat." Zero said weakly. Clearly Suzaku being the pilot shook him and he wasn't the only one.
"Yes sir." I replied before leaving with the rest of the swords.
(Scene Skip)
Back at the base most of the group was torn between being happy for Tohdoh's return and shock at the revelation that Suzaku was the pilot of the White Knightmare. It made me angry since of all people, he should want to see Japan free more than anybody. It was the greatest insult Japan could have received that the son of Japan's last leader was aiding its oppressors. I wondered how Zero would react and I soon got my answer.
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Master Zero seemed to laugh out loud. It was a laugher that comes from somebody who can't believe what happened and is stunned. It was a pained laugh that shouldn't come from such a leader. I could tell that he was shaken and I couldn't blame him. It made me wonder. How would Lelouch feel if he knew about this? Well this was only the beginning and now everything had changed.
That's it for Turn 02 everybody, and get ready because this is gonna be good. Next chapter Kallen is trapped on an island and while her thoughts are with her master she must confront perhaps her greatest foe of all, Suzaku Kururugi.