A/N: Hey everybody, I'm back. Thanks to all of those who reviewed last chapter. Just to answer a question...
Yes, Lelouch will be a pilot in this fic. While he might not be some hotshot one-man-army like Suzaku, he'll be piloting and fighting alongside his army.
So I'll have to apologize on the late update. I actually finished up to this point a while ago and didn't touch it during Thanksgiving. Then I continued to write and write until I wrote too much (if that's even possible). I thought ending it here would be a good spot, so sorry for the delay! Happy belated Thanksgiving!
King's Disposition
Chapter 3: King's Gambit
"And the captain just kept screaming. 'Onward, onward! Onward you dogs!' And we just kept marching on and on. We were all tired, our foot bled, but we kept marching onward. 4 hours of sleep, 2 hours of rest, and 18 hours of marching. We didn't know why. It was orders from above. 'Get to Tokyo. 4 days.' So we kept on going. There was a steady beat to it. Thump, thump, thump. The sound of the hundred Knightmares towering above us all marching in unison. Thump, thump, thump. It was scary, really. We all wondered what was going to happen, you know?
"We all wondered what the fighting would be like. I mean, I've been in war before, but to have to march this far in such a short amount of time got us all thinking. What was so important about Tokyo. Lord knows its the capital of Japan and those are always the most heavily defended, so every night, we planned. Sometimes us soldiers would look up and see the bright lights in the command center and we'd say to ourselves: what kind of battle would it be? To have all of the officers up in the middle of the night, to have to march for four days straight. I wasn't afraid, no, but there was this tension building inside me. Excitement, perhaps. Not excitement for war, heaven forbid anyone enjoy the roar of gunfire, but it was an excitement for curiosity. I needed to know what was so intriguing about place. But the only thing I could do was wait and sleep, so that's what I did. And then that fateful day came.
"As we approached the city, we met little pockets of resistance. A few bands of people here or there, but nothing serious. In fact, these people were barely even fighting. We didn't know what had happened. They seemed so...hollow. All it took was one knightmare, and the Japanese just surrendered. No blood shed, no bullets fired, no cannons armed. When we finally arrived at the city, we were expecting heavy, heavy resistance. We prepped our weapons, checked them twice, and charged, the knightmare engines roaring as they sped across the roads. We ran to catch up and when we did, we met the first wall of Japanese civilians. It was strange though. They had no guns or weapons. All they did was make a crowd, a hollow crowd. Some were crying, and some were smiling, but most of them were standing there in silence, staring at us.
Then they did what none of us expected. They parted like the red sea. We had no clue why, but we just kept marching onward. Nobody spoke. We marched in pure silence until our entire regiment was sitting inside Tokyo. And then the crowd, all of the people, simply went home."
-Veterans Among Us: The Invasion of Japan. Aired on April 4, 2020.
Imperial Palace at Pendragon...
Clap! Clap! Clap! As Lelouch walked through those towering doors once more, he no longer received cold stares or harsh whispers as he trailed across the red carpet. The looks on the nobles were not of spite, but of intrigue. This little boy, only 10 – entering 11 – years old, with next to nothing to his name, had essentially conquered all of Japan, now known as area eleven, in a few months. His name – Lelouch vi Britannia – was rising. No longer was he a simple boy born to a commoner mother. The person who walked through those doors was worthy of the name Britannia. At least, by the looks on his face, Charles zi Britannia had thought so.
"Congratulations Lelouch. You have done well." The prince knelt to the ground in front of his father.
"Thank you." Lelouch kept his head down as he stood up. He almost felt sick for having succeeded in his mission, but remained composed as he remembered what he came for.
"I ask you to bring me Sakuradite, and you bring me the entirety of the new area along with it." Charles smiled as he thought about the new Britannian province. Japan – Area Eleven – as they now called it, was an incredible addition to the Britannian empire. Now, Britannia was the main exporter of Sakuradite. With that monopoly, she controlled the most valuable resource on the planet, and thus, controlled the global trading market. Dr. Bernanke was thrilled.
"I found it convenient to do so. I took the opportunity when it best presented itself."
"Of course you did. You're a prince of Britannia." Charles stared at the boy in front of him. Perhaps Lelouch would be more useful than the emperor had originally imagined. The boy remained apathetic to Charles' approval. "Well then, I suppose it's time to get to business. You came here for the investigation of your deceased mother, no?"
"Yes, I did."
"Hm...granted. Two months, and you give me a name. That person will die, and your investigation will end. Is this fair?" Charles had planned enough head of time. Lelouch would not find out the truth of his mother's death. At least, not with this investigation. Lelouch seemed to ponder the deal for a moment before nodding his head. Even if the deal wasn't fair, if Lelouch didn't take it, then the emperor would just rescind his offer.
"It is." With that, Lelouch turned to leave but the emperor stopped him.
"And..." Upon hearing that word, Lelouch looked back at his father. What else was there? That was their deal. Sakuradite for an investigation. Nothing else. "You did bring me more than I had asked, so it is only fitting that you receive the same."
"Of course."
"Viceroy of Area 11." That single title caught the attention of everyone in the room. To be viceroy was to own a little kingdom. Within those borders, nobody had more power than the Viceroy other than the emperor himself. The Viceroy was a king, and like all good kings, it is expected that the viceroy keep his kingdom in order. Lelouch narrowed his eyes at his father's offer. While it sounded good – too good – he knew a challenge when one was presented. Yes, the emperor was challenging the boy to rule a nation, and not just any nation. Area eleven was the most recently conquered province and would certainly suffer from public discontent. Controlling it and bringing it under the folds of the empire would prove a daunting task: a task Lelouch was not thrilled to take. Or at least, not just yet.
"I thank you for your kindness, however, I must respectfully decline this offer." At the rejection, Charles' face warped into fury and gasps were heard from the nobles.
"You dare refuse a gift from your emperor! Ungrateful little vermin!"
"My apologies as I am truly grateful for what you are offering, but it is not within either of our best interests to do so. Jap – Area Eleven...knows what I look like. They might not have known who I was, but they have seen me many times in public. If I were to take the viceroyship of Area Eleven, then words of rebellion would begin to spread. I was present in the Japan when Genbu Kururugi still maintained power, and now I, a prince of Britannia, would become viceroy after he has died. It would be far too convenient for conspiracy theorists arise and postulate the assassination of the Prime Minister to be my doing."
"...Very well. Your brother Clovis shall be given reign of the new area. However, do know that I am the emperor and I will hold no debts. If you happen to...take...the area away from your brother, I would have no objections."
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Lelouch promptly strode out of the grand hall leaving many of theh aristocrats stunned. To decline an offering by the emperor was unheard of. Disobedience was grounds for execution, but Lelouch had seemingly got away unscathed. Perhaps it was his success that had given him a shield against his father's wrath. Perhaps it was his logic and intelligence. Whatever the reason, Charles zi Britannia did not seem mad at all.
"Bismarck."
"Yes, your Majesty?" The Knight of One walked up and knelt before his lord.
"You know what to do."
"At once."
Lelouch's Room...
Lelouch mindlessly tapped his pen on his desk as he scanned through another document. Code. Code. Code. Code. Code. Code. Code. Code.
What was this...code? Was it a password? Was it a puzzle? A riddle? Lelouch grumbled as he pinched the bridge of his nose, trying to think of an answer to his predicament. The investigation team had done exactly what Lelouch told them to do. Looked for clues. Followed trails. Interrogated people. Everything that needed to be done was done and yet Lelouch was still sitting at his desk without a single lead. Every single lead had taken them back to the document that was sitting in Lelouch's hands. It was on an old floppy – the ones from decade past – and it simply sat in the corner of one of the assassins' associate's cabinet, acquiring cobwebs until Lelouch and his team picked it out of the abandoned building.
The document was an analysis on hijacking neurological pathways. It consisted of a full research report with the psychological effects of each experiment over the course of three months. It seemed like there were over a hundred candidates, each of them, not surviving past the preliminary stages of testing. The document states at the project was eventually terminated due to 'numerous unsuccessful trials.'
However, what was curious was not the topic on which the document was centered around. No, during those times, the human psyche was something many sought to discover and eventually control. The experiments were not all that surprising. What was surprising, was the number of times a 'code' was mentioned.
The research droned on and on about some code that was the source of these experiments. A code. Perhaps in due time, this code would reveal itself like the missing link; it would turn up like a missing jigsaw piece. Perhaps.
He placed the paper down and leaned back on his chair. What was this code, and how did it connect to his mother? He had to relax. He hadn't seen Nunnally in a while.
li Britannia Villa...
"It's good to finally hear you again, Nunnally."
"Lelouch!" Nunnally whipped her head around at the sound of her brother's voice. For the past few days, Euphy's voice seemed to shake as if she was trying to restrain her excitement. Even Cornelia seemed more upbeat than usual but neither of the sisters would divulge a single piece of information. It was supposed to be a surprise, and what a surprise it was. Her brother was back.
"Yes, it's me. How have you been? You know, I read every single one of your letters while I was in Japan."
"Really?"
"I did. Cornelia seems to have been a great help these past few months."
"Yes, she has. I'm sure you already know but they've been keeping me good company."
"I'll be sure to thank her."
"I know you will. So why are you here? Aren't you busy with the investigation?"
"What, I can't even visit my little sister anymore?" Nunnally seemed to giggle at the mock hurt in his voice.
"Of course you can visit, but something in your voice tells me it's more than just a visit."
"Ha. Clever. You're right, I'm here because I need to ask you something." The seriousness of his voice alerted her and she prepared herself for any question he might ask.
"Do you..." Lelouch paused. He must be trying to think of some way to word his request: an indication of his nervousness. Perhaps his question was more life-changing than she had expected.
"Do I what, brother?"
"Do you want to leave?"
"Leave the house?"
"Leave Pendragon." Pendragon. Capital city of the Britannian Empire and home to the imperial family. Nunnally had never once thought of stepping outside the city borders.
"But why?"
"...Nunnally...I don't know how to say this, but we are...unpopular amongst the nobles." Memories of the nobility giving her cold glares surfaced as she briefly shuddered. She didn't like the feeling, a feeling both of them knew all too well. "And we have very few allies."
Once again, she understood what he meant. Out of all of their brothers and sisters, only Clovis, Schneizel, Euphy and Cornelia cared for the vi Britannians at all. Some such as Odysseus or Guinevere simply ignored them, while others like Carine were rather hostile. The majority of her time was spent with the former five people, and even then, there were others who would rather see the vi Britannians dead than alive.
"If you want to leave Pendragon, where would we go?" They might have very few allies in Pendragon, but at least some existed. Who else was there outside of the palace walls?
"Area Eleven. Japan."
"Japan?"
"Milly and the Ashfords are there." So that was why he wanted to go to Japan. The new area was home to the Ashfords: the only nobility to show any loyalty to the vi Britannians. Their titles hinged on the vi Britannian name and with Marianne gone, the Ashfords were in a difficult spot staying in Pendragon. Moving out of the capital was the best idea at the time. At least with Lelouch's sudden approval from the Emperor, the Ashfords' title would be safe.
"I haven't seen Milly in a while." Before the death of their mother, Nunnally and Lelouch would often get visits from the Ashfords. Reuben would bring Milly along whenever he wanted to speak to the empress, and the children would spend their hours together playing and talking. After the unfortunate death of Marianne, Nunnally hadn't heard from the Ashfords at all. She hoped they were all right.
"I know. That's why I was wondering if you wanted to come. I won't force you if you don't want to go."
"Why can't you stay here in Pendragon?" In all honesty, Nunnally wanted to stay. It's where she grew up. She had people she knew and friends she could talk to. As a little child, she didn't want to leave her home.
"Once I'm done with this investigation, I'll need support. Staying here would only hinder that. Instead, I'll go to Japan where we at least have something and someone to work with. We have no one here."
"We have Cornelia, and Clovis, and Euphy and Schneizel. Are they not enough?"
"...No. For what I'm planning, they are not enough."
"And what are you planning?"
"...Revenge. For mother and our family. That's why I'm leading the investigation. I'll find the people who killed her and I'll make them pay for what they've done. Once I'm older, I'll take command of Japan, and that will springboard me up right into father's face. Then he'll have to help me find the perpetrators." While the hate was not directed towards her, Nunnally could hear and feel the spite in every single one of his words. Lelouch was hellbent on revenge.
"Stop it."
"What?"
"I said stop it. Stop doing this. You sound so angry I can hear it in your voice. Please, Lelouch. It's true, mother is dead, but please don't go. I'm afraid...afraid that something will happen to you too."
"Don't worry, Nunnally. I'll be safe."
"And we thought mother was safe too. She was one of the best knightmare pilots ever."
"...I'm not going to die, Nunnally. I promise you that, but I cannot stop. Father has given me this opportunity and I have to take it. It's something that I must do."
"And once you're done? What are you going to do afterward?"
"I'm going to keep going. 2 months for an investigation isn't enough time. We've made progress, but we've hit a wall. I told you, I'm planning on going to Japan and get some support. Make some connections. Then I'll come back and truly find out who the killers are." He sounded so determined it was almost scary. The words that were coming out of his mouth were full of hope and resolve yet his goal was wicked and vile.
"...I understand. Then I'm going to have to stay."
"What?!" She could hear the whip of air as he turned his head quickly, presumably in her direction. "What do you mean you're going to stay?"
"I can't go."
"Why not?"
"I can't tell you." This elicited another rather resounding 'What!' from her brother. He seemed shocked at the outright rejection. Evidently, he had expected her to agree.
"You can't be serious."
"But I am."
"What about Milly?"
"Give her my greetings."
"...You must be joking."
"I'm not." Silence descended upon the pair of siblings as she heard Lelouch run his fingers through his hair and sigh. While she did not want to leave her brother alone, Nunnally was sure this was the best course of action.
"Please. Don't make me beg. I will but please. Come with me to Area Eleven. It will be safer. It will be the two of us just like before. Don't leave me like this...please...don't." She heard a thud as Lelouch's knees hit the floor. His voice was shaking in fear and sadness. While he had left for a few months, every night he would sit in his bed thinking about his sister and how she was faring in their overturned world. To leave for a period of time that could stretch onto years was inconceivable.
"I can't. I'm sorry, Lelouch, but I want to stay. It's where I'm happy." An evident lie. Proceeded with silence.
"...Okay then. I value your happiness. If you wish to say, then so be it." Upon hearing those words, she almost wanted to cry. She almost wanted to go up to her brother and hug him close and keep him there and never leave him. She almost wanted to forget everything that had happened and instead, live whatever was left of her life with her brother. Almost. She kept herself from saying anything, and when she didn't answer, Lelouch continued. "I suppose I'll go now. I'll leave you in our sisters' care. Stay in touch. You know I love you."
"Of course."
"Goodbye, Nunnally."
"Goodbye, Lelouch." She was determined to stay, not because she had more friends here than in Japan; no she wouldn't stay for such a selfish reason such as that. Her brother meant more to her than anyone else in the world. It was this love for her brother that caused her to strive to become someone who was not a liability. She wanted to help her brother in any way she could, and going with him to Area Eleven to cling onto him and leech off of him every day would not help him in any way. No, she would do something much more. In that instant she decided to become a person who was respected by the nobility and the imperial family. Someone who was loved by the people of Britannia. She would support her brother's endeavors to the ends of the earth so that when he came home, home to Pendragon, he would come home to more than just an empty villa. He could come home to friends and family and allies who loved him because he was Lelouch vi Britannia, brother of Nunnally vi Britannia. She was determined to help him succeed. Tears threatened to fall from her face but she held her composure; she couldn't let her brother see her cry.
And had Lelouch only turned his head to look at his sister once more, he would have seen her eyelids flicker.
"I'm home! Nunnally, where are you?" Euphemia li Britannia stepped into the grand villa as she searched for her half-sister. She had just come home from her tutor and all she wanted to do was to run around with Nunnally and play and forget all of those complicated numbers and people. Learning was tiring. She would rather play instead, so she sought out to find the other girl. Strangely enough, Euphy found her sitting in her wheelchair across an open window, the cool air gently floating through the room.
"G-Good afternoon, E-Euphy." Her voice was shaky. Sensing something wrong, Euphy walked up to her, only to see the brief shimmer of the streaks of tears running down Nunnally's face. She had been crying.
"What? What's going on? Why are you crying?" Euphy instantly bent down to the little girl and started trying to wipe the tears off of her cheeks. Where were the servants? Couldn't they see the poor girl was in emotional distress?
"L-Lelouch came to visit."
"Oh, well that's good isn't it? I thought you wanted him to come visit."
"He said he wanted...wanted...he said he wanted to go to Japan." She forced those words out of her lips as she sniffled. Nunnally was doing her best to hold herself together.
"Oh." Euphy's mood seemed to drop into a solemn silence. She knew Nunnally couldn't stay forever, and she was sure that day would come. She just didn't expect it to be so soon. "When do you leave?"
"I'm not."
"Huh?" The li Britannian was genuinely confused. Wasn't Nunnally crying because she was going to have to leave the villa? Was she crying tears of joy, now that she could be with her brother again? Was the li Britannian hospitality not enough to satisfy her? Euphy had many questions buzzing around her head as she tried to understand what was causing the girl in front of her so much distress. In Euphy's eyes, everything seemed perfect.
"I'm staying here. In Pendragon. I'm staying with you and Cornelia and Schneizel and Clovis. I'm not leaving this city."
"Why? I thought you loved your brother." Euphy cringed as Nunnally began crying once more. Perhaps those were not the right words at the moment. "Sorry. I didn't mean it that way."
"It's okay. I know what you mean." Nunnally sniffled as she tried to calm herself down.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Nunnally only nodded. "Okay then."
"Euphy, we're kids."
"Yeah."
"What can we do?"
"We can play around. There isn't much for us to do until we get older."
"Right. But look at Lelouch. After mother died, he's been working so hard to try and make our lives better. Sometimes, I imagine Lelouch as old as Schneizel." Euphy giggled as she imagined an older Lelouch. She combined Schneizel's stature with Lelouch's face and created a funny looking person who looked like neither of the two who had composed it.
"And?"
"I feel useless. I feel like Lelouch needs to take care of me all the time and I don't like that. We're only kids, Euphy, but I'm also blind and I can't walk. I can't do anything. All I do is make it harder for Lelouch."
"No you don't! You're the reason why Lelouch is doing all these things in the first place!"
"Am I? Sometimes I want to be more than just that... I want to be able to take care of myself. I want to help other people. Oh, Euphy, what can I possibly do?"
Euphy looked at the little girl in front of her and smiled.
"You mean what can we do."
Prime Minister's Office...
Two Months Later...
"Tell me, how goes the investigation?" The two princes, Schneizel and Lelouch, sat across from each other on glossy wooden chairs made of a dark mahogany, a battle of wits and tactics raging between them.
"Uneventful. All I have is a word, at least I suppose it's a word. Code. Heard of it?" Lelouch moved his King. Schneizel responded with his Knight. The White Prince's finger seemed to twitch at the word 'code' but Lelouch thought nothing of it. Schneizel's face remained impassive.
"Code? No. Not unless you go by dictionary definitions. What do you mean by code? A puzzle? A password?"
"I don't know, but that's where the trail died: at the word "code". The team has done all it could but these assassins hid themselves well. We traced it back all the way to a single document in an old floppy disc that mentioned something about a code." Lelouch continued his assault, trading a Bishop for a Knight.
"Unfortunate. Do you at least have a name to give to father?"
"Yes, but he's just a scapegoat. One of the assassin's associates. The actual killer is apparently already dead." White Queen attack. Black Rook block.
"What about Nunnally?" White Pawn advance. Threatens the Rook
"She wants to stay here. I don't know why, but I'll respect her wishes. I'm not going to force her to come to Japan when she would rather stay here. If staying in Pendragon will keep her happy, then so be it." Black Knight counterattack.
"She's in Cornelia's capable hands. She'll be fine." White Pawn captures Rook. "Clovis and I will visit her often. A promise between us."
"My thanks." Black Knight captures Pawn.
"Indeed." White Queen captures Knight.
"Game over." Black King captures Queen. Not enough pieces to checkmate.
"Again...You've gotten good. I might have to brush up."
"...Not good enough it seems...not good enough."
Class of 2017
Name: Lelouch Lamperouge
Date of Birth: 12/5/2000
Gender: Male
Height: 5' 10"
Weight: 120 lb
Hair: Black
Eye: Violet
Race: Britannian
Relations:
Mother: None
Father: None
Siblings: None
Residence: Ashford Academy Boy's Dormitories R-Wing Room 2
Date enrolled in Ashford Academy: 5/4/2010
Payment: National Britannian Full Scholarship
-School ID of Lelouch vi Britannia during his stay at Ashford Academy.
Seven Years Later...
"You're out of time." Ruben Ashford looked up from the board, surprised at the sudden beeping of the alarm. It seemed like his time had run out. Unfortunately, time had not been kind and the man's intellect was not what it once was.
"Huh. How unfortunate." He reached into his pocket and pulled out another wad of cash. Counting out another ten thousand, Ruben Ashford threw the stack onto the table where it lay next to the mound of cash he had been throwing out again and again. "Another ten minutes."
The nobleman only laughed and nodded, agreeing to the conditions. Ruben had called one of his substitutes over but until the new challenger got here, the old man would have to keep playing. And from the looks of it, the nobleman was going to be the clear victor. Giving Ruben more time just meant earning more money in the end.
It was then, the wooden double doors swung open as two boys strode in – if they could be called that. They were tall and lean, both wearing matching black and gold trimmed uniforms signaling their connection to Ruben and Ashford Academy. Perhaps these were the substitutes the old chairman was waiting on. Students. Upon further inspection, one of the students looked oddly familiar. It was as if he looked like...
'Lelouch vi Britannia.'
The eleventh prince had disappeared off of the face of the Earth ever since his game with Schneizel. Of course, those that were part of the Britannian inner circle would also know of Lelouch's underhand conquering of the new area. However, there have been no reports of anything regarding him since that incident. His name was rarely mentioned; on newspapers, on the news, on magazines. Lelouch vi Britannia had, for all intents and purposes, disappeared from the world. Yet here he stood in preparation for a game of chess.
"Prince Lelouch! Thank you for coming. You will have ten minutes to finish this game." Ruben stood up and offered the prince a seat. He sat down while his brown-haired companion stood with his back straight, staring intently at the board.
"Ten minutes Lelouch. Are you serious?"
"Are you doubting my expertise?" Lelouch smirked as he examined the board. Indeed, his position was a dire one and a crushing defeat would have ensued had he not intervened. The nobleman narrowed his eyes. He had heard of the Prince's genius level of intellect and strategy. Anyone who knew anything about chess would have heard of Lelouch vi Britannia's epic draw against his undefeated brother, Schneizel. The nobleman began to sweat. Perhaps the Prince might pull a victory, even in his predicament.
"Doubting? No, certainly not. I find it funny that you need so much time to finish this game." The brown-haired one snickered as Lelouch rolled his eyes.
"My apologies my Prince, but there is a game to be played. It's your move, and you have ten minutes." The nobleman went back to filing his nail after pushing down on Lelouch's clock. The hands began to tick away. Black King advance. Lelouch's hand came flying up, hitting the nobleman's clock. "A King? Interesting move, my liege. Shall I try and prove to you that making that move was a mistake?"
…
"Checkmate." Lelouch let go of his Rook as the nobleman stared in complete shock. The man looked at the clock. 4 minutes remaining.
"Impossible..." The man slumped in his chair, still wondering how exactly this boy managed to beat him. Prince, yes. Genius, yes. But with such an enormous handicap, winning was nigh impossible, yet here the eleventh prince sat, the clear victor.
"You played well, but I believe this," Lelouch scraped every single bill into an open brown bag before handing it to his companion, "is mine. We still have twenty minutes before we need to get to the next class. Come Suzaku, let's have a drink."
Ashford Academy Student Council Room...
"Lulu! Suzaku!" Shirley waved the papers in her hand before smacking both of the boys on the head with it. "Off gambling again?"
"Hey, hey, hey. We weren't gambling. We were...investing..." Suzaku laughed before sitting down on one of the chairs. The student council room was relatively large, however, most of the space was taken up by large mounds of paper. "Tell her, Lelouch."
"Of course. Just...investing...a large sum of money. That's all." The look on Shirley's agitated face was priceless as the two boys chuckled. Their ability to get under her skin was astounding.
"You know, if you just study hard you could get really good grades. Why are you keen on spending all of your time gambling away."
"Shirley, my grades are fine as they are. Don't worry about it." Lelouch sat down at his desk as he pointed to a stack of paper. "Suzaku. Do these."
"Augh, do I have to? You're the vice-president."
"And you're a member of the student council. Do your job." Suzaku reluctantly grabbed a stack of paper before sitting down and going through it. As the two boys went to work, Shirley rolled her eyes at their antics and walked over her own stack of paper. The day was slow. With another one of Milly's school festivals coming up, all of the other clubs were sending in file after file with a detailed explanation of their part in the event. While entertaining, Milly's festivals were always a nightmare in the administrative side of the student council.
The council room was relatively quiet. Nina, like always, had yet to say more than a few sentences. Rivalz, without Milly's presence, was hunched over a paper, slowly writing his name on the piece of paper. Evidently, his mind wasn't in the mood for paperwork. Suzaku, Shirley, and Lelouch all scribbled on their pages, going through one after another after another. The only person missing was the President herself.
"Where is the President, anyways?" Suzaku looked up from his paper, the quiet was rather irritating. Normally, Rivalz would be constantly pestering Miley while Shirley tried to stop him. It was an interesting sight if anything, and provided quality entertainment for the rest of the council. Rivalz was the first one to jump at anything revolving the president.
"Actually, she left a few minutes before you guys came in. She went to get some mail. Apparently Lelouch got another letter from his 'secret admirer'." Rivalz snickered as Shirley looked away, pouting. She didn't like the idea of someone else sending Lelouch letters, much less him actually taking the time to read said letters. "She'll be back in a few minutes."
A large knock on the door distracted all of them. It was Suzaku who muttered,
"Speak of the devil..."
"...and he shall appear! Good afternoon to you too, Suzaku. How's it going everybody? I'm back!" Milly pranced into the room, excited for the upcoming festival. She tossed Lelouch a parcel wrapped entirely in brown paper. "And this is from 'her'."
Lelouch nodded in thanks as he took the package and placed it under his desk. It was thin and rectangular and leaned perfectly against the side of the drawers. Milly turned on the TV to another broadcast of the recent terrorism in Area Eleven. There were multiple reports of vandalism and theft across the area as native resistance gradually increased over time. Some were growing discontent with the Britannian sovereignty over what was once Japan. Although these were all minor individual crimes, groups had formed together as revolutionaries spread the word of rebellion. These groups were responsible for a recent bombing of an administrative building in Osaka, killing 8 Britannians and 51 Elevens.
"This is a report on the recent terrorist attacks on Osaka."
"How sad. I heard the Viceroy is going to make a public service announcement today. Something about the Osaka bombings." Lelouch noted as he signed off yet another approval for increased funding. That was one of the benefits of gambling: money, and lots of it. The equestrian club would get their new saddles.
"Are you really interested in listening to him?" Rivalz grumbled, trying to imagine sitting through one of the Viceroy's speeches. Suzaku, Milly and Lelouch all quickly glanced at each other in understanding. 7 years. It had been seven years and not a single one of them had slipped their tongue, and not a single one of them was about to.
"Well, he is the viceroy after all. It might do us some good to listen."
"To my imperial subjects and of course, to the many Elevens who cooperate with us. Do you not see? Right now, my heart is torn in half into a heart filled with sadness and a heart filled with rage! However, as ruler of Area Eleven, I will not allow terrorism of any kind! The reason being that the battle we fight is a righteous one! A righteous battle to protect the happiness of all. Now everyone, won't you join me in grieving for the eight who died in the line of duty for justice?"
"Bah, I suppose we should." During the brief moment of silence, Lelouch signaled for Suzaku to meet in the attic. Suzaku then signaled for Milly. The girl nodded and put up five fingers: five minutes.
"Eh, this paperwork is almost done. I suppose I'll go open the package. If you need anything, let me know. I'll be in the attic like always." Lelouch picked up the brown parcel and tucked it under his arm before strolling out of the student council room. Entering his humble abode, the prince sat down on his single-person bed and ripped open the package, revealing a large envelope. He pulled out its contents. More letters from Nunnally.
As he briefly read through them, he couldn't help but smile at his sister's joy. While it's true, he had not seen her in years, she sent him photos and letters once every two weeks. And since his departure more than seven years ago, she had not missed a single letter. She recounted her days, and what she had learned. She had successfully mastered braille and was reading and educating herself at an astounding pace. She had even been invited to numerous parties and with her amiable personality, was invited again and again. She might have been disabled, and she might have been the daughter of a commoner, but many of the noblewomen saw her as a sweet little girl. Of course, being next to Euphy was always helpful. Over time, Nunnally had been associated more with the li Britannians than the vi Britannians, and as such, was treated by most like a li Britannian. Cross Euphy, and you cross Cornelia. Cross Nunnally, and you too would have to face the wrath of Cornelia, and many of the aristocrats liked to keep their titles.
It seemed like a glamorous life, however, Nunnally had never once let it get to her head. Every letter, she would sign her name as 'Nunnally vi Britannia, fourth princess of the Holy Britannian Empire and daughter of the Fifth Empress'. Not once did she forget who she was and for that, Lelouch was proud.
He peaked at the bottom of the letter and smiled as he saw those very same words were signed at the end. No, she would never forget who she was.
"You know, you're going to give Shirley ulcers if you keep on stressing her out like that." Suzaku strode in with Milly behind him. The two sat down on the wooden chairs lying about.
"Hehe. She'll be fine. It's funny to tease her." Milly chuckled as she recalled Shirley's beat red face as Lelouch received his parcel. "She'll figure out it's your sister sooner or later."
"Of course she would, because it's not like years have already passed." Suzaku rolled his eyes. The president could tease someone endlessly, and Suzaku knew that firsthand. But it was true, eventually, Shirley would figure out and they would all get a good laugh. But of course, Lelouch Lamperouge didn't have any siblings. However, Lelouch vi Britannia did.
"Yes well, Shirley is besides the point. There's a reason I called you here and it's not because I want to discuss Shirley's misunderstanding."
"Of course not, Lelouch. Straight onto business. Like usual." Milly smiled before propping her elbow on the tables. She checked her fingernails before motioning Lelouch to continue.
"I'm thinking about taking back Area Eleven." A single 'What!' resounded between Suzaku and Milly, both of whom were looking at Lelouch as if he had grown another head. Suzaku was the first to recover.
"Are you sure?" Evidently, Suzaku began getting excited. During the Britannian rule over Japan, many of the locals were oppressed, being quarantined in the ghettos while pure-blooded Britannians were given free reign over the rest of the land. The ghettos were overpopulated, so much so that there were many homeless living in the streets. Of course, Britannia's police never went in, so the area was relatively restless, filled with crime and violence. It was a terrible place to live in.
As a person who wanted nothing more than peace and equality for his people, Suzaku felt himself slowly die through the years. He had condemned his people to a life of hardship. Was his father right? Perhaps death was the better solution. He had pondered this thought for years until he realized the past was never going to change. The choices were already made, the cards already played. The only thing left to do was to keep moving forward, and forward he moved. Since then, Lelouch promised to remedy the Britannian oppression once he gained control over Area Eleven. It was a promise Suzaku waited on for years.
"Of course. Now is the time. While I'll admit, Clovis has done a relatively nice job at keeping this place under control, both you and I know that his policies are less than appealing. As you can see, the recent terrorists have gotten even bolder, and I'm afraid my dear brother will do something he might end up regretting."
"Well, do you think you can do better?"
"Hmph. I know I can."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Suzaku stood to leave but Lelouch put up a hand, signaling for the boy to calm down.
"Relax. We can't simply waltz into the Viceroy's Palace and demand the seat."
"Well why not? You're the rightful viceroy anyways..."
"And what do you think would happen if I did? Clovis has the backing of an army. He won't give up the throne so easily."
"Then what do you propose we do?" Milly decided to speak.
"Nothing."
"Nothing?"
"Nothing. There's nothing we can do right now. Until the right opportunity presents itself, we will remain here as we always have." At that, Suzaku let out a groan. More waiting.
"Bah, I've waited seven years. I can wait a little longer."
Milly looked at Lelouch questioningly.
"What kind of opportunity are we talking about here?" A smirk slowly appeared on the prince's face.
"Terrorists."
Area Eleven Freeway...
"Nagata, what the hell! Drive faster!" Kallen looked at the side view mirrors of the truck, only to see three helicopters directly on their tail, their barrels glinting in the sun. "Watch out!"
A hail of bullet fire rained down onto the armored truck, denting the thick metal but never puncturing it.
"I can't shake them off! Kallen, you know what you need to do." Nagata swerved as the vehicle banked along the curve of the freeway.
"Ugh, fine. Just be careful." Kallen got out of the passenger seat and entered the back of the truck where a large spherical canister lay. 'This thing better be what we think it is...' She thought as she went to the far back of the truck where a single leather seat lay encased in metal.
"Nagata, now! Open the hatch!" Nagata slammed his fist on a button and a low rumbling could be heard as gears and chains turned, slowly opening the back of the truck. When the first glint of light poked through the dark hold of the truck, Kallen took her aim and fired. A single slash harken flew out of the tiny opening and struck one of the helicopters directly in the cockpit, causing it to explode moments after. As the hatch completely opened, she leaped out onto the freeway, her landspinners revving to life, encased in a suit of steel.
"Glasgow!" One of the other helicopters managed to scream out before another harken drove into it. Swinging it to the side, both helicopters collided in a ball of fire and steel as they fell to the ground.
"Good job, Kal-" Nagata couldn't finish his sentence as he made a sharp turn to the left, trying to dodge the Sutherland that had appeared in front of him. It seemed to have dropped out of the sky. "Whoa! Kallen, I need you here!"
"I'm on it!" The red Glasgow leaped forward to engage the Sutherland, both machines ringing as metal struck metal. Harken met harken and sparks flew as both pilots circled each other.
"Ha! That old Glasgow is nothing compared to this Sutherland, just like how an Eleven is nothing compared to the might of Britannia!" As if to prove his point, the pilot of the Sutherland dashed forward, stun tonfas at the ready.
"Shit, shit, shit!" Kallen's slash harken jammed as she slammed repeatedly on the button. She could see the enemy come closer and she began to panic. Luckily, her harken managed to fire but not before the tonfa made contact with her arm. In a flash of light followed by smoke, Kallen retreated with Nagata, the wires and hydraulics of her missing arm sparking behind her. Once the smoke cleared, the Sutherland looked at the two machines running far into the distance.
"Jeremiah, you're damaged." Another Knightmare slid next to the Sutherland whose right arm was barely hanging by a few wires.
"Yeah. I'll go back to base and report back to his Highness. The terrorists have entered Shinjuku ghetto."
"Currently, the terrorists have escaped into the Shinjuku Ghettos where they now plan to set off the chemical weapon. All Britannians living in the surrounding area are advised to leave and enter various shelters nearby. His Highness has ordered the royal guard to flush out the terrorists, and we are still waiting on the results. Please stay tuned for more updates on the terrorism in Area Eleven." The lady on the screen blurred before the original cartoon turned back on. However, the student council room remained empty, with three chairs all knocked down, their backs on the floor.
Shinjuku Ghetto...
Lelouch, Suzaku, and Milly all crept along the rubble of the ghettos with Suzaku and his knowledge of the ghetto's layout in the lead. Since the broadcast, the trio infiltrated the quarantined zone, albeit with ease. The guards weren't looking to keep people out, only to keep people in. With each step, the tunnels of the abandoned subway system echoed and moaned. If the terrorists were going to release poison gas into the ghettos, the best way would be through the subway. With the incredibly large and densely packed buildings, releasing a gas in the open would prove ineffective. The gas would spread upwards towards the sky, rather than expanding outwards. However, the subway systems would prove effective in funneling the gas through the base of the ghetto before letting it naturally flow from vents and stations, thereby increasing the spread of the poison.
"Shh. I think I hear something." Suzaku barely whispered but even then, his voice was amplified by the near silence of the railway. The trio stopped and listened, only to hear nothing but the heavy breathing of each other.
"There's nothing." Milly hushed before Suzaku put up a hand, silencing her. It was then, a soft voice carried through the tunnels. "Nevermind..."
"This way!" Suzaku sprinted towards the voice with Lelouch and Milly trailing behind him. It wasn't even a minute before he reached a rather open junction: a nexus where the many paths would cross before splitting off in many different directions. Upon entering the junction, Suzaku was tackled by a somebody as he and his attacker spiraled to the floor. "What the hell?"
The dim glow of the rail lights made it difficult to see, but Suzaku managed to grasp a fistful of hair. It was rather long, and he pulled.
"Augh!" His attacker let out a cry of pain as Suzaku suddenly stopped to register the high pitched voice. That wasn't a man's voice...
"A woman? What?" His only response was a fist to the face, definitely bruising but not breaking his jaw. "Ouch, that hurt!"
"Shut up, Britannian!" The girl continued to pummel at him with closed fists.
"I'm not Britannian! I'm Japanese!" At that, the fists stopped. "Jeez, you punch hard."
"You're Japanese? What are you doing down here?! Get out! It's dangerous!"
"Dangerous? Then why are you here? Unless...you're a terrorist?" A hand suddenly covered his mouth as the girl hissed.
"Shh! We're not terrorists, we're the Japanese Resistance!"
"Oh...okay."
"Good, now go. You probably don't know but we just armed the bomb. Get out of here as fast as you can. You've got ten minutes." And with that, the girl ran away into the darkness. The sound of motors and servos moving was evident she had gotten into a Knightmare. The sound of landspinners grinding on the ground reverberated along the concrete walls as the machine disappeared into one of the tunnels. The junction was left empty, except for Suzaku who merely stood there. A minute later, Lelouch and Milly appeared.
"Hah. Suzaku. Stop. Running so fast." Lelouch took in a huge breath before sitting down on the tracks, leaning his back on a pillar. Milly followed his example.
"Heh. Sorry about that. I guess I kind of got caught up in the moment." Suzaku grinned sheepishly as the trio took a moment to rest in the darkness. "But we've got to go. The gas is armed."
"There is no gas."
"What? What do you mean there's no gas. The viceroy himself said so!" Milly stood up and turned to Lelouch.
"There's no gas. I talked to Clovis a few months back. He's working on a weapons project, yes, but it's not a chemical weapon."
"How do you know for sure?"
"He told me it was a weapon meant for subjugating the locals. It would bring them under the control of Britannia. How he's going to do that is something I do not know, however, it wouldn't make sense to poison his future subjects to death."
"Maybe it's a threat? Or an example? The execution of thousands is used to fuel the fear in the hearts of the millions more?"
"Possible, but unlikely. Clovis has sent all of his forces to retrieve this 'bomb.' If it truly is what we think it is, then don't you think the terrorists setting of the bomb in Shinjuku would actually be helping him? If that's the case, then he wouldn't have sent the royal guard or his regiment of Knightmares."
"Yeah, because it would have been much easier to blame the terrorists for setting off the bomb while also getting what he originally intended to do."
"Exactly. That's why whatever this is, it's not a gas."
"Then what is it...?" The three stared at the large spherical steel container. Suzaku pried his eyes away and flipped his phone open, the dim LED lights illuminating the rather nasty bruise on his face. Before Milly or Lelouch could comment on it, Suzaku looked up and closed the phone, putting it back into his pocket.
"We'll find out in six minutes..."
Viceroy's Palace...
"Your Highness, the terrorists have yet to be found. However, the truck supposedly carrying the bomb was found without anything in it. The bomb is missing." Clovis' knuckles turned white as he clenched the armrests of his golden chair. How dare the elevens cross him. To steal such a valuable weapon from right underneath their noses was unbecoming of Britannia's rule. He would rather die than let terrorists take control of his area.
"Go. Flush them out. I, Clovis la Britannia, Third Prince of the Empire, order you to destroy the Shinjuku Ghetto!"
"At once, your highness."
Shinjuku Subway...
"I hear some people coming. Get down." Lelouch stood up as Milly and Suzaku retreated back behind a subway pillar. "I'll handle them."
"Hands up! Make any sudden moves and we'll fire." A bright light shined in front of Lelouch's face, blinding him for a brief moment. "Who are you? You don't look like a terrorist."
"I'm not. My name is Lelouch vi Britannia, Eleventh Prince of the Holy Britannian Empire." He stared at the guns pointed at him, expecting them to drop their guns. However, they never did.
"Ha. Haha! HAHA! Boys, did you hear what he just said? He just said he's a prince!" The soldiers began to laugh as Lelouch grimaced. Of course they weren't going to believe him. He wasn't in his royal garbs, nor was his name or face well known throughout the empire. He was the prince that disappeared only months after he shook the imperial world. "Now really. Impersonating a royal is a criminal offense."
"Hey, I think that's a schoolboy. I'm pretty sure that's their uniform." Several of the soldiers grunted in agreement.
"Well, well, well. A schoolboy pretending to be a prince. That's something we can't accept now, is it?" A series of 'nope' rang through the soldiers. "Heh. Kill him."
"Yes sir." The clicks of multiple rifles being readied caused Lelouch's heart to pound within in his chest as if it were trying to get in a few last beats before it was silenced forever. The world seemed to slow as the soldiers' fingers moved to fire.
'No. Not today. I can't die today. I haven't found out who killed mother. I haven't seen Nunnally in years. I haven't played a game with Schneizel in ages. I still have that promise with Suzaku. I can't die today...'
Behind him, the canister opened, illuminating the darkness as something landed on his back. While it wasn't heavy, whatever fell out of 'bomb' latched onto his back.
"You appear to have a reason for living." A woman's voice. It was soft and airy as if it were merely the wind whispering in his ear.
"I do."
"If I propose a deal, could you go on?"
"But of course. I must not die here."
"Then I propose a deal. In exchange for this power, you must agree to make my one wish come true."
"Just a single wish? Very well. As a prince of the empire, I shall grant you your wish."
"Then may the Power of the King condemn you to a life of solitude. Prepare yourself."
"Very well. Give to me what is inherently mine!"
Time seemed to return as the whispers disappeared. He looked behind him and saw nothing on his back.
"Kill him." Lelouch spun around, looking at the officer who, for the second time, ordered his execution. And once again, the clicks of various rifles being armed alarmed him. But instead of his heart beating rapidly in expectation of his death, his heart slowed and calmed. There was no nervous jitter of fear. There was no mercy to be begged. In him, there was only the will to survive. And a single word appeared in his mind as if it were an answer to his troubles.
"Kneel."
Before the soldiers could finish pulling the trigger, they all fell to one knee with their heads bowed and their weapons on the ground. Many did not register their body moving and only stared at the wooden tracks beneath them.
"What the he –," one of the soldiers tried to speak.
"Silence," and the man fell quiet.
Lelouch walked up to the officer that had ordered his death and placed his foot on the man's head. It was now him who was shaking in fear. He who had, in a single instant, lost control of his entire body and bowed to the person before him.
"Rise." Every other soldier besides the officer rose, their weapons once again in their hands. However, their muzzles were no longer pointed at the prince.
"Who are you..." The officer managed to utter.
"I told you. I'm the prince. And soon, I'll be the King." Lelouch grinned as he raised one of his hands. Each and every soldier armed there weapons and for the third time the clicks of their rifles could be heard. This time, bullets would actually fly. "Fire."
A singe volley of steel splattered into the man's back as he fell forward, dead. Lelouch only looked at his new subordinates and laughed. He pointed down a random tunnel.
"Leave." The soldiers saluted before running down the path Lelouch had pointed them towards. He turned around as Milly and Suzaku appeared from behind the pillar. He gave them a smile before falling back, unconscious before he even hit the floor.
"What was this? This 'Geass?'"
"Well, from what we know and from what the legends say, Geass is a right bestowed upon those who were given the 'divine right of kings'. Now, one could compare that to the Mandate of Heaven in early dynastic China."
"It is said that those with Geass have special abilities. Ones that could change the hearts of armies or stop the arrow of time itself."
"Yes, that is what the legends say. However, we can easily call that a myth. There is no such thing as mind control, or stopping time. Physics proves that it simply cannot happen."
"So then the powers of Geass are a myth?"
"They are as mythical as Zeus' bolts of thunder. Lelouch vi Britannia is credited to having a Geass that would bestow undying loyalty in his subordinates. It is said that each word he spoke held such authority that those around him were compelled to follow his orders. Now, a supernatural reason is an obvious lie, but what we can infer is that Lelouch vi Britannia was a very persuasive man who could win the hearts of his subjects. There is no magic or supernatural power here. It is merely the power of words. That's what Geass is: it's merely an illusion."
-Documentary on The Powers of Geass: Magic or Myth? Aired on the History Channel on April 2, 2230.
A/N: And that concludes chapter 3 of King's Disposition. I hope you've all enjoyed it and it seems like I've taken a liking to write long chapters. Expect chapters to be around this length from now on. Thank's for taking the time to read it. Please leave a comment/review below, and I'll see you all next time!