~~~Shinjuku Ghetto~~~
The setting sun cast on the disfigured and crumbling buildings in the ruined city cast long shadows on the ground. A slight breeze crept up, causing some to shiver in response. An eerie silence, save for the shuffling of feet could be heard throughout the Shinjuku Ghetto. Of the few people alive after the massacre earlier that day, they attempted to find somewhere to reside for the time being. Most of the homes were destroyed and make-shift tents were appearing throughout the residential area. An occasional wary whisper could be heard, trickling through the crowd. Why was a cease fire suddenly ordered? No one would ever really find out of course, but it had been a relief nonetheless for the rebels. They had lived another day.
~~~The Conduct Floor~~~
"I... I'm overjoyed, Lelouch! Cornelia! They said that you both died when Japan was brought into the fold. What a blessing to have you two back! We should depart for the homeland immediately!" Extremely frightened, Clovis la Britannia cowered into his elevated seat. It was reminiscent of a throne, although noticeably less elaborate, and white being the predominant colour. Lelouch was holding a gun, aimed straight for his head.
"Hello, brother..."
"Wh- Where did y-you just come f-from?" If Clovis had had way, he would have melted into a puddle on the throne. Cornelia had suddenly appeared, seemingly from thin air.
"Cornelia..." Lelouch chuckled, "try not to frightened Clovis too much. You've taken to enjoying your power... Callously manipulating his sight..."
Smirking, Cornelia simply sauntered over, to Lelouch, standing behind him, and ignoring him, she simply addressed her other half-brother, "And what makes you think we want to go back?" Putting heavy emphasis on 'wanting,' Lelouch refocused on Clovis, still trembling into the throne.
"So you can use us as tools of diplomacy? It seems you've forgotten why we were used as tools in the first place." Lelouch continued in an unnaturally calm tone, masking his growing irritation at the pathetic man in front of him. It irked him that his brother was all theatrics and nothing else. Clovis had never been good at anything other than acting. Lelouch remembered, what seemed like ages ago, that they had played chess against each other at the Aries Villa. Of course, Lelouch had always won unanimously.
"That's right." Lelouch continued, as if Clovis was even capable of even formulating a coherent answer, with a gun trained to his forehead. "It was because my mother was killed."
Shuddering as the horrendous memories of his mother engulfed him, Lelouch shook his head, clearing his thoughts. Now is not the time to be crying about it. Composing himself, he continued, "Mother held the title of Knight of Honour, but was a commoner by birth. No doubt the other imperial consorts held her in contempt... Even though you made it look like the work of terrorists... I'm no fool."
Standing behind Lelouch, Cornelia noticed the slightly visible tremors of rage begin to rack Lelouch's small frame. What poor luck Clovis has. I would never thought he was capable of ruling in any form. And to be assigned to Area 11... There's no way out now...
"You people killed my mother!" Lelouch finished with an aggressive accusatory glare.
Pupils contracting and eyes widening from the visible aggression, Clovis backed even farther into his chair than one would think was possible, bringing both his hands next to his head in submission.
"It wasn't me! I swear to you it wasn't!"
Cornelia temporarily allowed herself to plunge into the depressing memories she held in the past... That's right... Marianne herself told me that I was not to enter that day... She told me not to be in the palace... I- I should've held my ground! I should've stayed with her even as she refused! Her eyes watered, for she was inspired and looked up to Lelouch's mother, but she knew that dwelling in the past was of no use now...
"Then tell me everything you know. The truth cannot be hidden from me any longer." Lelouch commanded, flaring his Geass. "by who's hand was she slain?"
Overcome by the Lelouch's Geass, Clovis slumped back, relaxing into the mock throne, a red glow encircling his iris. Under its influence, unaware of the imposing threat of the gun, his jaw slackened and was slightly agape.
"My brother, second Prince Schneizel. They can tell you." Clovis answered, in a monotonous tone.
"He is at the heart of this?" An incredulous look momentarily broke through Lelouch's emotional mask. Schneizel?! No... It can't be! He had always been his favourite brother, and was, in fact, the person who taught him to play chess in his pass time, and was the only person that Lelouch could never definitively beat, for his mental prowess was unparalleled.
Clovis opened and promptly closed his mouth, unable to give an answer.
Relinquishing the hold of his Geass over Clovis, and said man stiffened in his seat, suddenly aware that a gun was threatening to rob him of his life again, and threw both his arms up flailing and trembling again.
"I swear it wasn't me! I had... Nothing to do with it!"
A malicious smirk crept up Lelouch's face as Cornelia observed the whole exchange. It was quite sickening really... To watch her brother turn from a frightened, abandoned puppy, to a docile slave and back again. The way Lelouch was able to manipulate his victims to do his bidding was slightly unnerving, to be utterly honest... I guess I'm not THAT much better... I mess with people's ability to see...
"I believe you..." Lelouch lowered his gun with a cruel smirk. "However..." Traversing the short distance between them, he once again brought the gun up to his brother's head, an inch from his perspiring skin, destroying all hope that Lelouch would go easy on him.
"Please, you can't! We might have different mothers, but you and I are still blood!" Not having the intended effect, he turned to Cornelia, hoping to try and appeal to her compassion.
Unfortunately, Cornelia was a fearsome, ruthless warrior. She was incapable of feeling compassion. Of course, there was a rare exception, but Clovis was not included. She stared back blankly at Clovis and then at Lelouch, curious as to whether or not he would have the guts to actually kill his own brother.
Pushing down on the trigger, Lelouch stated, "You can't change the world without getting your hands dirty."
~~~Ashford Academy~~~
"Wake up, Lelouch! I know you were sleeping! Your hands stopped moving!"
An irritated blond held rolled up papers, and was currently whacking Lelouch on the head with it. Head propped on up his left hand, Lelouch woke with a start. They were in the Student Council room, a pleasant little room, really. Beige walls were occupied by bulletin boards, some notices tacked to the wall. Two cabinets lined the side wall behind Lelouch, and an impossibly enormous window grace the room with morning sun. Dust motes were seen swirling in the gentle sun rays. Bookshelves lined another wall, and couch occupied that last. The wooden table they were all currently working on took up the middle of the room.
"Well you don't have to beat me up over it do you?" Glancing around the room, Lelouch noticed that evidently, everyone else was indeed working. Nina, sitting in her usual corner, furiously typing away at her laptop... I wonder what use she could be... She seems awfully focused on whatever it is that she's working on... I'll have to investigate this... Perhaps Cornelia would have an idea... Shirley, who sat to the immediate left of Lelouch, had her orange hair half pulled up and had both arms on the table, paper scattered around her. Rivalz sat at the head of the table, left leg crossed over the right in a nonchalant fashion, with a pencil in his right hand, he faced a mountain of paper, tapping the butt of the pencil against the bottom of his lips in fake concentration. Finally, Milly stood directly in front of Lelouch across the table, with a stern look on her face.
"Serves you right for ditching me like that." Rivalz lectured, waving a pencil in Lelouch's direction with a stupid grin on his face.
"That's right! What was up with you yesterday?" Turning to face Lelouch on her right, an annoyed expression painted her face as she recalled him abruptly and rather impolitely ended a call on her.
"Oh... Well..." Lelouch trailed off, as he stared at the fascinating lines on the table, unconsciously curling his left hand into a fist at the memory. Clovis...
"That's enough you guys! Let's not get sidetracked here. If we don't come up with a fix for the club activities budget, there won't be money left for anything at all!" Milly lectured, a sigh escaping her, lips pursed from having to take a break at torturing Lelouch. She loved teasing the council members, but above all, Lelouch was her prime target... He was such fun to banter with! Besides, she was the only one here who knew of Lelouch's true identity, but that was aside from Cornelia of course, who was inducted as a teacher upon her grandfather's request.
"And if it comes to that, then the..." Nina started.
"The equestrian club will be pissed. We don't want them coming in here on horseback!" Rivalz supplied, earning a huff from Milly as she crossed her arms under her chest.
"Rivalz, can't you be a more serious student council member?"
"You know..." Shirley butt in, " it would've been nice of you if you would've reminded us of this mess a day ago!" defending Rivalz. Although she liked to help out on the Student Council, it was never fun to be notified the day before something as important as a budget was due.
"I would have to say a day later, then we would've given up!" Rivalz joked, paying no attention whatsoever to Milly's comment.
"Good idea! We can still do that." Lelouch turned, smiling at the suggestions that his friend made. Sometimes Rivalz was just hilarious to be around, and he really did appreciate his company, but sometimes he was a little too... Slow... For Lelouch's liking. Truthfully, he liked having someone challenge him...
"GUTS!" The president of the Student Council bellowed.
Cringing from the sudden outburst from Milly, Lelouch cracked open an eye lid and countered: "I really don't think that your magic is going to do a whole lot." Besides, there's no- Lelouch was interrupted from his thoughts when he was surprised to find Shirley acknowledge the president.
"Actually, it's got me going, Madam President!" Attempting to lighten the mood, Shirley cheerfully supported Milly.
Putting her hands on her hips, a wolfish smile stretched across Milly's face, "Supple and willing, that's what I like."
Bringing her right arm up from her side, Shirley flexed her arm to show off, beaming. "I train hard in the gymnastics club!"
"That's not what I'm getting at." Milly responded slyly. Her eyes narrowed and zeroed in on her chest. "You're a ten. From what I've seen in the girl's bathroom anyway. You've been filling out in the right places huh?" Her voice was husky, still locked in on her newest victim.
"Ho, ho..." Rivalz chuckled at Milly's temporary target, glancing at Shirley's chest, before Shirley managed to cover as much of her chest as possible with crossing her arms protectively over them.
"Wh- What are you talking about, you perv?!"
After the short trip to wash his face off in the boy's bathroom, Lelouch trudged back to class, his eyes briefly settling on the white-washed walls with golden patterns outlining the doors. Upon entering the classroom, Lelouch froze, staring at the red-head sitting at a desk two rows up and across from where he usually sat.
"Kallen! It's been ages!"
"Are you alright? Sophie's been worried sick all this time!"
"You're okay though, right?"
Bubbly girls surrounded Kallen's desk, overwhelming the girl with questions. They obviously seemed to be her friends, and Lelouch's eyes widened in recognition... Of course! That's why she's so familiar! She's the one who was piloting the Glasgow! Moving to assume his usual seat, he overheard Kallen:
"Anyway, if I stay home any longer, I'll never catch up!"
Placing a friendly arm around Lelouch, he sat next him, teasing: "What's up buddy? See something you like? You got a thing for her don't you?" Knowing that it would probably irritate Lelouch, Rivalz said what was on his mind anyway. Wasn't it obvious? The first thing Lelouch did when he walked in the room was stare at the poor girl. Luckily, she didn't seem to notice, but Lelouch had practically handed him ammo...
Shaking his head in denial, Lelouch responded hastily, "Just thinking this is a rare event... She hasn't been here at school since this whole term started..."
Catching a glimpse of Kallen, still occupied with chattering with her friends and catching up, Rivalz sighed, explaining, " Kallen Stadtfeld. They say she's sick or something. And she barely showed up at school last year either. Still, her grades are at the top of the class." Pausing briefly for effect, he continued, " And she's a member of the Stadtfeld family, which means she's well bred and rolling in money. Man, you sure know how to pick 'em!"
Lelouch was quick to deny any feelings, however.
"Class, please settle down!" The teacher strode into the classroom, settling behind her desk with her elbows on the table and her hands clasped together. "I would like to introduce to you a new student who will be joining us this semester!" The teacher continued with a smile. Turning to face the door at the front of the class, she gestured for the student to come in.
A girl with silky, wavy, shoulder-length, black hair walked into the classroom, fidgeting with her new Ashford uniform. The girl was certainly beautiful, but was she Eleven? The girl's AshfordAcademy uniform hugged her curves tightly and a slight blush crept up his face. The beige colour of the uniform highlighting the beauty of her sharp cerulean eyes, scanning the room. Her gaze settle on Kallen and a smile tugged on a corner of her lips, pausing momentarily.
She knows Kallen...? How...? Kallen's hardly in school! He got an unnerving feeling from this girl, and a chill ran up his spine when her gaze stopped on him. Her eyes widened in fear, settling on his left eye, but just as soon as fear broke through her facade, it was gone, leaving Lelouch in a frenzy. What? Was she afraid... Of me? I don't understand... Her eyes... God, what the hell was up with those soul-piercing blue eyes? It's like she knows about my- A tiny gasp escaped his lips, as a realization dawned on him. Is that why, she looked at my left eye, like that?
"Hello, my name is Kagome Kanejo," she began, positively beaming at her classmates with an enchanting smile plastered on her unblemished face, "I've just transferred here to Ashford since Kallen is my cousin, and I'm honoured to meet you all! I look forward to meeting you!"
Most of the boys in the room were already salivating at the sight of her curvaceous body and not to mention Kagome's natural charm and finesse with speech was truly admirable. Just as the most of the girls in the class had a huge crush on Lelouch, Kallen was confident that for the boys in the class, she would now share the damned throne with Kagome. A sigh of relief escaped her lips before a giggle slipped out. Those boys won't know what hit them!
Strolling through the well-tended to lawns of Ashford, she paused to momentarily enjoy the view. This serene atmosphere was nothing short of breath-taking. A slight breeze ruffled through her purple locks, toying with her bangs, and teasing her skin. She wore a white blouse with the top unbuttoned and the sleeves up half-way. Her flared, black dress pants caught the wind and rustled with it. Inhaling deeply, Cornelia visibly relaxed loosening her shoulders. It had been a while since she was able to let her guard down like this... She was on a staff lunch break, and stood quietly, leaning against a pillar in the courtyard, merely observing the interactions between some of the students.
Gazing around, her breath caught and she nearly choked when her eyes fell on a familiar looking red-head, who was currently nibbling on a sandwich with the rest of her friends, with the addition of an unfamiliar girl with wavy jet black hair, sitting next to her. A strange sense of foreboding settled in her mind as she stared at the back of the girl.
Unconsciously taking a step forward, she glanced around, checking for any one watching her, and continued her advance.
A sudden shriek sent the girls scurrying, and upon closer examination, Cornelia saw a bee, circling around the girls, and shook her head. Pathetic. Don't they know that as long as you leave it alone, it won't sting you?
The only girls who seemed not to be effected at all was the red head, maintaining her frail demeanour, and her friend, who's facial expression still did not change, even after the rest of their friends bolted off in a panic-induced frenzy. The red head and the raven haired girl slowly rose from their seats, and jogged to a nearby bush, crouching and turning around to face the direction that their friends who were still hiding. The red-head seemed to be completely oblivious to Cornelia, only a few feet behind her, lurking in the shadows cast by the supporting structures of the school. The same could not be said for the other. Said girl whipped her head around to bore into the shadows, searching, as her eyes adjusted to the sudden and sharp contrast in light. Momentarily blinded, Cornelia took the chance to flare her Geass, and stepped behind the pillar, completely out of sight.
Blinking in confusion but still staring in the general direction, the girl refocused on the red head next her, gripping a sandwich in her hand. Kagome feared the sandwich would soon turn into a messy clump, under the violent grip...
I sense someone hiding from sight... And a terrible power, emanating from... From the left eye...? What on earth? Maybe it's that boy in my class... I felt a similar power in his eye too... No, it can't be... This one feels lighter, less... Conniving and manipulative... More... Brazen... Yes, this person felt more impulsive, but not nearly as terrible as Kallen. She smirked, scrutinizing Kallen. I'll have to use this amnesiac school girl act a little longer... I haven't quite dragged enough information out of you yet...
"I don't get it, why's a bee after us? I wonder if there's a hive nearby?" The red head inquired, to no one in particular. Allowing her patience to wear thin, Kallen's eyes narrowed in aggression, and with an alarmingly accurate swipe, struck down the bee in a flash. It was as if the bee never even existed. Kagome cocked an eyebrow, to the point where her bangs eventually covered one of her eye brows.
What an amusing girl. She has such a choleric disposition; it should prove entertaining to trifle with her emotions...
"God, I hate this! I'm sick of acting like a freaking invalid!" Straightening, with a hilariously frustrated expression, she glared at the sky, roughly shoving her sandwich in her mouth and taking a frighteningly large bite out of her it, freezing when she noticed someone had appeared to the left of her.
Crap! He saw me! Only Kagome knows here, I can't let him know too!
Yeah... That's definitely her... She's so... Fiery... Feisty...? How ironic that she has flaming red hair! Cornelia grinned. This should prove amusing... Let's see how she gets out of this one... But that other girl... My eye gets all tingly around her...
There's no question it's her... Lelouch stood stalk still, peering into the shadows. A peculiar sensation settled in his left eye, as he glanced at the new girl, feeling slightly edgy and nervous. Ridiculous! Lelouch berated himself. Don't be obnoxious! You've never even met this girl before in your life; what the hell do you have to be anxious about? Returning his focus to Kallen, he opened his mouth to interrogate her when Kallen interrupted.
"C-can I help you with something?" Kallen asked demurely, masking her panic. There's no way I'm going to let this egotistical lazy Britannian find out who I really-
"I want answers." Lelouch simply replied, flaring his Geass. And as Kallen abruptly dropped her sickly school girl act, Kagome gasped.
What was he DOING to her? Kagome ogled in horror at the boy's left eye, as it glowed a sickening red, and a bird-like sigil appeared in his eye. Kagome felt a massive surge of power pouring from his left eye and found that Kallen was held, paralyzed, by this awful power. A telltale, glowing red ring around her eye, indicated that she was under the complete control of this boy.
What was strange was that although she could feel the command wrestling with her mind to gain dominance, Kagome easily fought it down having been exposed to enemies with more mental prowess, but thought it wise to pretend to be submissive as well. She decided that she wouldn't talk unless absolutely necessary.
"Were you the one piloting the Glasgow in Shinjuku?" Lelouch needed to confirm this... She was supremely skilled in piloting a knightmare, and he knew that knightmares would be integral to his victory against Britannia... His suspicions were confirmed when Kallen provided an affirmative answer. Pleased, he moved on to discover what the motivation was for her to fight.
"Why terrorism?"
"Because I'm Japanese. Though I'm technically half-Britannian." Kallen responded in the ever familiar monotonous, emotionless tone.
"Half-blood? Why go so far...?"
Kagome let slip an involuntary cringe at the word 'half-blood' but quickly maintained her facade, when she noticed that Lelouch now bore down on her with his illuminated left eye.
It would not do if he saw through my disguise, he is one of remarkable power, that I'm sure of, so I must keep an eye on him... Keep him close... It was quite disgusting how the boy could ask for anything right now and Kallen would never have refused, unable to fight off the command implanted in her mind... A slight shiver wracked her body, thinking of all the things that could've been done to her...
"And you, Kagome. Who are you really?" Lelouch turned to face her, bringing her out of her thoughts.
Keep cool, keep cool. Kagome reminded herself. You've been in plenty of stressful situations, right? No need to freak out! Trying to imitate the dull, uniform tone that Kallen was using and replied curtly, "I'm Kagome Kanejo, I'm also a half-Britannian."
Distracted, the Geass broke hold of Kallen, who blinked, and immediately resumed her sick girl act, as if completely forgetting what happened.
"I got what I wanted here." Lelouch turned to head back to the school, seeming as class was about to start soon. Stopping in his tracks, he spun around to face the two girls again. "Oh wait, just to be sure."
Flashing his Geass again, he commanded, "Don't tell anyone about Shinjuku."
"What do you mean about Shinjuku?"
"Why would you say that?" Kagome supplied, watching the boy's face morph into one filled with shock and surprise.
I guess it's true all powers have their limits... Kagome trailed off, relishing his confusion.
Trying again, the scrawny, ebony haired teen forcefully instructed them to go back to class, and upon refusal, he slowly inched away, and was saved when a familiar voice from above called them.
"Hey, Lulu! Kallen! Kagome! You know it's time to head over to the Chemistry lab! You better get a move on!" Shirley waved from the open window, beckoning.
Using it to his advantage, Lelouch dramatically clasped his head in both his hands in look of feigned alarm. Sprinting off in the direction of the science department, he yelled over his shoulder, "Aw crap! It's my turn to set up for class!" leaving Kallen and Kagome to stare questioningly at each other, before they also made their way to class.
Waiting for a moment before peeking out from her place, after a minute or so, Cornelia removed herself from the cool of the shade and sauntered off to the next classroom that she would be teaching at. This is an interesting development indeed...
