Hi All,
Welcome once more to chapter seven hope you all enjoy the chapter! :)
'Lelouch' - Thinking to ones self
"Lelouch" - Talking to one another
Chapter 7: Days Leading Up
Lelouch and C.C ran for two blocks, ducking into an alleyway Lelouch huffing and puffing, "What was that for Lelouch? I had found something I wanted to have!" C.C demanding an answer
"That… woman…was…Kallen." Lelouch trying to get his breath back, "Of..all..the..times.. too see her it had to be when I lifted up my head, damn it." Lelouch kicking a trash can "If she starts to nose around she might find out the truth about me." Kicking the trashcan again. C.C threw herself at Lelouch hugging him before he kicked the innocent trashcan again.
"I know you do not want to be a burden to the world, but you have to accept what has happened and work through it, use that brilliant head of yours and find another way." Trying to calm her husband down
"Thank you C.C, your right I can't let this get me down, I'll think of another way." Hugging her back
"Now let's go to pizza hut seeing as you owe me pizza", Taking Lelouch's hand and walking out of the alley.
Kallen had just served table 6 their food, Kallen looking back outside to see if the strange tourists had come back. For some strange reason after meeting eye contact they had run away, Kallen wasn't sure why, but the man's eyes were something she had never seen before.
'Those eyes where..where have I seen them before..' Kallen went over to collect table four's glasses when her boss called for me.
"Hey, Kallen?" Kallen walked to him standing behind the cash register, she noticed his face had a worried look on it.
"Yes, boss?" Kallen handed him the dirty glasses, he placed them near the glass wear cleaner. Using his finger he gestured me to come and sit at the empty booth, I sat down with him in an empty booth.
"You alright Kallen? Your face has seems to lost some color. You, feeling ok?"
"I'm fine boss, I guess with the whole Ares thing..it's gotten me a little worried. I might have to take a break for a little while soon. I might be called back into service again." 'The man's eyes, I could have sworn I've seen them before, but its proberly nothing.'
"Dam really? I can understand as you are Japan's number one pilot. You will be somewhat missed here, you are probably one of my best waitresses here hahaha." The jolly man chuckled "But please Kallen let me know if you need to take some time off, this can't be easy for you."
"Thanks, boss, and of course ill let know you if something happens." Kallen got up again quickly as one of the kitchen bells went off, she didn't really want to talk about going back to war.
'I might go visit his grave again, is probably time to lay new flowers down.'
Later that afternoon.
Kallen turned off her bike as I got to the graveyard putting my bike into park. Grabbing the fresh flowers off the back she wandered up the path to where his grave was. On top of a hill under a small tree that looked over some of the city. When he first died we didn't know where to put him, most of the graveyard keepers didn't want him anywhere nearby by theirs thinking it would scare other grieving families, who had suffered under his short rule. This graveyard was meant to for those "unknown" people who had died with no connections or relatives. Kallen got to the top there was a bit of a breeze, the tree was in full bloom as the set-sun light crept through the branches.
"Hello, Lelouch" As she looked at the gravestone, "It seems to be another nice day here today, I hope you have been getting enough sunlight and enjoying they view. I had some strange looking tourists today. A man and a woman, the man was dressed in a flowing white robe and a strange looking hat. The woman, on the other hand, was wearing a red and yellow dress, her eyes..those golden eyes I haven't seen a pair of them since…"
Kallen looked at the grave once more, "I haven't seen a pair of golden eyes since…. C.C…" Kallen dropped the flowers onto the grave as she looked at his resting place.
"No….. It cant….bel..I-I-I, I refuse to believe that, no it can't be. The man's eyes they were Geass.." Her knees buckled as she fell to the ground, her eyes still fixated on the grave.
"C.C…don't tell me… don't tell me you have found… a way to bring him back from the dead.." Kallen placed my hands the sidse of her head trying to shake the thought away, however it didn't work.
"The man's eyes.. no, no, no, no I cannot believe it, I will not believe it. He's…hes… meant to be here resting … But those eyes they were definitely Geass there's no doubt about it. But… why now, why now of all times, with the threat of war looming over our heads."
'Calm your self Kallen he's dead. Dead! We all saw him being stabbed through the heart, his lifeless body falling down the ramp into Nunnally's hands. But what if C.C as done the impossible, what if she really has brought him back to life. She was never found in those months searching for her.'
"Lelouch is dead Kallen she wouldn't have done it, maybe…maybe… maybe she's made another contract with someone else maybe, she has returned for revenge against those who betrayed him…"
"Calm down Kallen this can't be real."
She looked towards the grave once more, 'I don't have a choice I will have to let the others know, Nunnally should be able to arrange a meeting.'
Kallen didn't have a choice, she picked up my phone and dialed the number still looking at Lelouch's grave
"Hello Sayako speaking how many I help you?"
"Hi Sayako its Kallen, is Nunnally somewhere nearby I need to talk to her about something." Kallen was still nervous about what she had just realised, she hoped Sayoko didn't pick it up.
"Of course Kallen just give me a second to find her highness." A few minutes Nunnally was on the phone.
"Hi Kallen this is a surprise, I never get a phone call from you, Sayako mentioned you wanted to talk about something? What can I help you with?"
"Are you able to schedule a meeting with yourself, Kayuga, the black knight's core member as well as Ohgi?"
"That shouldn't be a problem, why? Has something happened?"
"You could say that, but I'm not 100% sure if its something important or not are you able to do it?"
"Of course Kallen anything for a friend, tomorrow afternoon? I'll give you a proper time tomorrow morning?"
"That should be fine Nunnally thanks, bye."
"Bye Kallen."
Kallen hung up the phone and looked to the skies, "The thought of C.C returning with another Geass user, I can't shake this terrible feeling that something bad is about to happen." she sighed 'Im going for a drink, this is too much information is such a short time. Hopefully, the invite for a drink is still open.'
Both C.C and Lelouch had returned back to the hotel after getting pizza from pizza hut and doing some more looking around. C.C removing her sari, sitting on her side of the bed and lay there, rubbing her belly.
"We are going to have to do something about Kallen C.C, and I'm not sure you are aware of it."
"Then you go deal with it then, I'm staying right here, it's your own fault that you looked up at the wrong time. Make sure you don't back home late and if you do make sure you are quiet", C.C snapping back at Lelouch
"Fine." Lelouch sighed as he headed out the door, after exiting the hotel he started to walk through the streets of Tokyo till he came across an internet café, entering and buying a card he got on one of the machines and started to dig into what the black knights were doing. The first couple of articles was about the core members had left the service and retired to the civilian lifestyle, others decided to stay. Black knights had been recruiting new members to join their cause to fight for the world, mainly being used to squash rebel forces, helping transporting high ranking officials safely and helping those who could not help themselves. Everything Lelouch had dreamed of what the Black knights would do they were doing it, Tohdoh was the man leading the black knights as Lelouch had somewhat expected.
As he kept scrolling through the various names and articles he came across a picture that was roughly five years old, it was the core group of the black knights all standing smiling in a bar holding their drinks in their hands. Lelouch looking at the picture seeing the bars name "Knights' bar", 'I guess a simple name for a simple-minded fool', Lelouch looking up at the address tapping it into his phone it loaded up the address and the route to get there. Removing the card from the computer Lelouch headed out the door. 'That's the first place where I'm going to check for Kallen'. As Lelouch started following the GPS towards the bar, he had no idea what would happen if Kallen did find out, 'Do I tell her the truth, do I get C.C to come so I can use my other Geass. '
As Lelouch was lost in thought he came across a familiar looking gate, as he looked past the gates he saw it 'Ashford Academy, so this place is still standing after all these years.' As Lelouch was looking from it afar he saw the house that he and Nunnally had lived in for about six years, as he continued looking at the buildings he saw a bunch of kids playing. The four of them there seemed to be playing tag until a female entered his view and to his surprise, it was Mrs. Villetta.
"Finally got you, enough running its time to go and see your father and everyone else."
"But mummm, I want to keep playing!" The little child cried out, Mrs. Villietta quickly picked up the child and started to walk the other direction. Turning her head to towards the front she saw a man wearing a hat dressed in white from head to toe, the man noticing her gaze turned the other direction and started to walk out of view. Not thinking too much of it turning her attention back to the child who was trying to wriggle free, the boy had almost done it however, he was quickly clamped tightly under her arm.
Approximately 7 pm
Kallen had arrived where most of the core founders of the black knights would hang out, a bar called "Knights Bar". Tamaki wanted to show that he had been part of the black knights (although he was terrible at being a pilot). After the threat had subsided Tamaki wanted to lead a simple life and being a bartender he thought would be a great idea, listening to the tales of other members who had been in the black knights and hearing their stories.
Kallen turning off her bike, she took off her helmet and carrying it under her arm. As she got to the door she noticed a sign on it "Reserved for tonight". Opening the door several people were talking among themselves. Kallen could see were Minami, Villetta, Ohgi, Kent, Chiba and Tohdoh and the three children Akari and Hisa Tohdoh and Chiba's children and Makoto Villetta and Ohgi's son.
The children seeing the stranger all called out "Aunt Kallen!", the three of them stampeded towards her, Kallen kneeing down and giving them all a big hug "How are you doing?" Kallen responding, "Good" the three replied.
"Oh hi, Kallen you made it for once." Ohgi waving his hand
"Yea, it wasn't such a busy day at work so I don't feel dead tired."
"Come sit down and have a drink." Ohgi pointed at the open chair, Kallen walking towards the chair and sat down.
"Doesn't the PM have business to attend to with everything going on?"
"I've done all I can for the time being it's up to the military and the queen to handle the rest, I'm only requested for damage control."
"Kallen I guess you're going to be getting into a knightmare soon again." Said Tohdoh, Kallen nodding and pouring herself a drink and gulping it down quickly.
"Geezzzz Kallen slow down, good beer is taken in small sips not skulling it." Tamaki bringing over another pitcher of beer, "If work was that bad maybe you should come and work here instead, I have a sexy waitress outfit that would fit your figure well." Tamaki smiled
"Not in your life Tamaki, I'm not wearing the slutty waitress outfit that you have got stored. Besides I like what I wear for work."
"The one time you would get someone to work in the outfit would have to be the dumbest person alive." Chiba adding
"Oh come on I'm sure the brave and strong Tohdoh would like it." Tamaki winking at Tohdoh, Chiba hearing this slapping Tamaki over the head, Tamaki said "ow" rubbing his head as was everyone laughing.
Kallen still quite, she wanted to tell them but she had decided it would be better tomorrow, Kallen had poured herself some more beer, Ohgi noticing Kallen being quite turning to her.
"Kallen, you ok? You're usually laughing at the stupid stuff Tamaki does, is something wrong?"
"Its just been a busy day Ohgi nothing to worrying about, although I did see some strange looking tourists in front of the cafe. Two people, one wearing white with a white hat and a female wearing some kind of red and golden dress that covered whole entire body and her eyes, I have never seen such strange color eyes before." Kallen lying about the details
"I saw someone like that today before I had left to come here; I had finally chased down Makoto while he was playing with his friends. He was in front of the gates looking at the school, he seemed to be looking for something, however, when he saw me looking at him he turned and kept walking. Maybe he was taking a stroll or looking at some of the sites, but there's not much area to look at aside from Nunnaly's old house."
Kallen was shocked that the same figure in white had appeared in front of the school, 'Could it be Lelouch re-tracing his steps to figure where everything is', Kallen downing another glass of beer.
"Geez Kallen calm down that's the third glass in 10minutes, you must have had one hell of a day if you're drinking that quickly." Tamaki trying to take the glass away, Kallen was not letting go of it.
Just a little after 10pm
Kallen had been listening to Tohdoh and Ohgi about war strategies and forces that would be available if it really did come to a full-scale assault, Tohdoh seemed he was very confident about the abilities of the next-gen Black Knights. Ohgi was explaining about Britannia's military forces and a rough number of what Japan had as well. Kallen had been drinking most of the night and was drunk, the kids were sound asleep huddled in a corner. After finishing up the last round of drinks everyone said their farewells. Ohgi had offered Kallen a drive her home but she refused, as it was only a 20-minute walk home, leaving her keys and helmet at Tamaki to look after them.
Kallen stumbled out of the bar taking her keys and started to wobble home, she had been drinking to forget the man's eyes. Kallen had been only walking for 10 minutes when the amount of alcohol was starting to take over; ducking into an alleyway she threw up. On the other side of the street, two or three people had been observing her knowing that she was drunk.
"Hey, there lady you need any help?" Kallen trying to respond, holding up her hand and shaking it in a gesture that she didn't need any help.
"Come on pretty thing sometimes you just need a hand." The first guy licking his lips as the three started to cross the street
"My, what a beauty he have here, those massive tits of hers, man this one is going to be fun to play with." Saying the second man
"And by the end of our fun, she won't remember what happened only smelling of garbage, cum, and beer so glad we didn't go to that house, a free meal is better than a paid one." Commenting the third one
'On no don't tell me there going to rape me, these streets are usually safe at this time of night.'
"I ndot want azny trouble gyus, I'm fine jucst a little sick", Kallen trying to move her legs but they wouldn't move only falling down on her knees.
"My isn't this excellent service already going on her knees, I bag first dips." The first guy saying pushing her to the ground making sure her back was on the ground.
"No fair last time this happened you had the first, I want to fuck her first." The second pushing the first
"Calm down ya fucking shit, otherwise you will be seeing stars first and no pussy." The first raising his fist.
"Geez calm down you two there are three of us and she has three holes each of us can get a turn." The third trying to calm the other two down
Kallen only getting bits and pieces sounding like the three there arguing who should get the first shot, Kallen still being a virgin didn't like the situation "please don't dgo anythineg tvo me." Kallen spluttering out.
The three of them stopped arguing and came closer to towards Kallen grinning, the three already pulling down their zippers, Kallen was in a panic she couldn't move and slowly she was starting to black out. Two of the men had restrained her arms that they there flaying while the third holding down her legs spreading them. Kallen started to cry knowing that she, a famous Knightmare pilot was about to be raped.
"That's enough!" The three men turned around to see who it was, pulling up their zippers, Kallen was also trying to see who it was but her vision was fading, there under the street lamp was a man wearing white from head to toe.
"Oi, the fuck do you want."
"Yea fuck off we were just about to have some fun with the little lady over here, nothing more to see here."
"I think you have had more than enough excitement for tonight." The man in white, removing the piece of cloth that covered his lower face.
"What the fuck are you going to do, there's three of us and only one of you."
The man in white raising his head his eyes being fully exposed "I command you to leave this place and return home where you will forget about the events of today."
"Come on skinny, chucks lets go home there's nothing to do here."
"Yea lets go to my place and play some video games." The three of them walking away from Kallen.
Kallen was trying to figure out what was going on, her senses started to fade. The man now walking towards her, crossing the street to where she lay. Bending down and lifting up her back to make sure she was ok and looked into her eyes, Kallen's vision slowly losing focus got a glimpse of the man's face.
"Lel..ouuuu..chhh" a tear running down her face. Lelouch moved his hand to catch the tear and wiping it away, "Hello Kallen it's been awhile since I last saw you, don't worry I'll take you home." Kallen hearing those words finally passed out; 'Finally', Lelouch laying her back down on the ground. Searching for her wallet, finding it he opened looking at the driver's license he scanned it finding her current address. Lelouch typing the address in his phone and place her wallet back in her pants pocket. Lifting up her body and placing her on his back in a piggyback position standing up, making sure his hands weren't in any place it shouldn't be and started to walk in the darkness to Kallen's house.
As Lelouch kept walking through the darkness, the only light being the street lamps, the piece of cloth that covered his lower face/nose swaying as he moved. Kallen now 22/23 had grown her hair out a bit longer reaching the base of her neck, her hair not being in its uncombed state or the red sweatband that was around her head but instead it being straight like she had it in school.
Kazumi Kōzuki had been nervously waiting for her daughter to return, it was already 10:45 pm. Kallen had let her known earlier that she was going to be seeing some of her old friends for a drink or two, however she was still worried.
'What if she got into an accident? What if she was caught by the police for being a drunk driver. What if she has been kidnapped what if she had been ra-'
*Knock Knock*
Her concentration was broken by the sound of someone knocking.
"Coming." Kazumi quickly running to the door, she started to open the door, "You had me worried sick Kallen, at least tell me you're going to be this late or next time ask me to pic-", She stopped as she fully opened the door noticing the man in white with a hat and noticing Kallen on his back, the man looked up at her face. Kazumi taking a few seconds looking at the man's face in her disbelief stood the very man who had died five years at her doorstep, "Your…your... Leeeeelouch Vi Brit-."
"I command you to go back and sit down for the time being before I call you for other instructions."
"Yes, your highness." Kazumi walked back to where the sofa was and sat down. Lelouch came inside and closing the door behind him. He looked through the small house trying to find Kallen's room. After opening the third door of the tiny house Lelouch found her bedroom. Her bedroom was only a small space a desk, chair, a bed, a small bedside table, a tv at the other end of the bed and what seemed to be a picture wall.
Lelouch placed Kallen gently down on the bed trying not to disrupt her sleep, however, Lelouch came to another dilemma. 'Now what should I do about her clothes should I take them off or leave them on? No, if I do that and C.C finds out I will not hear the end of it.' Lelouch leaving Kallen as she was and went looking for a bucket. After looking for 5 minutes he found one and placed it next to her bed, tilting Kallen's head to the side of the edge of the bed.
Lelouch finishing up went to the place where he had found the picture board; turning on her desk lamp he inspected the pictures. Most of the pictures seemed to be old some of them being from school, The Black Knights, Milly's graduation as well as hers, the weddings of Ohgi and Tohdoh in her bridesmaid dress. As he kept scanning the photos he came across one, it was a picture of the student council including Shirley and Nunnally all smiling including her.
'So she still clings to this old thing.' Lelouch looking at the picture he was disrupted by the vibration of his phone taking it out and noticed the phone caller ID, 'C.C' answering the phone.
"Is everything alright C.C?" Lelouch asked quietly
"Everything is fine I'm just wondering if you're coming back home? Or are you having too much fun with Kallen?"
Tsking at the comment "I'm finishing up here; there was an unforeseeable event that I needed to stop." Lelouch explaining what had happened and where he was now.
"Ohh my Lelouch, that's not a good habit taking advantage of a drunken woman who had feelings for you, shame on you." C.C teasingly saying
"You know I would never do anything to another woman, you ARE my wife, after all, have a little faith in your husband."
"I just have to remember never to get myself drunk, otherwise who knows what terrible things you could do to me."
"My dear witch I would never take advantage of you that way and I don't think I've never seen you drunk let alone drinking."
"And you won't, when you come home make sure you are quiet." Hanging up the phone, after finishing up making sure Kallen would be ok he sat on her bed, 'Well at least you won't remember how you got here or seeing my face, now to deal with her mother.'
"Lelouch?" Lelouch froze for a second and looked at Kallen still sleeping.
'For a second there I thought she had woken up, I better get out of here quickly'
Closing the door and walking out of the room, Lelouch went towards her mother,"Are you ready for the next set of instructions" Kazumi looking at Lelouch in her Geassed state
"Yes your Highness"
"If Kallen asks how she got home, you will tell her that a friend from work saw her struggling from where she had been drinking, picked her up and took her home where you helped Kallen get into bed. " Kazumi nodding her head, Lelouch quickly ducking outside before the Geass effect wore off.
Kazumi returning to her normal senses looking around, 'Now what was I doing again… oh yes, Kallen!' Kazumi walked over to her room hoping she was home; she opened the door seeing a sound asleep Kallen lying on the bed still with her clothes on.
'That's odd I didn't hear her come in. Sigh Kallen is going to have a massive headache tomorrow, oh and look at the time I should be going to bed as well I have a job interview tomorrow!' closing the door.
It took Lelouch almost an hour to get home by foot as he entered the hotel room trying to be quiet as possible. Lelouch removing his hat and robe and changing into his sleepwear, opening the curtains to see a bit of the moonlight, his phone rang, opening the balcony door and went outside and answered his phone.
"Hello?" Lelouch asking
"Your Highness its Jeremiah, sorry to disturb you this late of hour. I just wanted to inform you that we will be arriving tomorrow or the day after, we have dumped the knightmares in a secure location."
"No worries Jeremiah, the plans have already been set in motion, the UFN meeting is set from a few days from now, assuming it's being held at the same place five years ago. I shall be seeing you and Anya shortly then, good night Jeremiah."
"Good night your highness."
Lelouch hanging up and getting back inside, closing the curtains he quickly hurried to bed, going under the covers and snuggling onto C.C.
4 Days Before the meeting
"Ohhh my head" as Kallen groaned waking up, "My head is killing me, how much did I have to drink last night" rubbing her head, feeling a sudden urge from her stomach she leaned over spewing into the bucket that had somehow been placed there. Kallen spewing a few more times as she grabbed a tissue wiping her mouth, sitting up on her bed as she looked around to see where she was.
'Why am I in my room, the last thing I remember was walking home from the bar. Man, I think I drank too much, I must have been plastered while trying to get home.'
She heard a knock on the door, "Kallen you awake?"
"Yea I am mum come in." Kazumi came in the room looking at the state of her daughter, waking up from her slumber.
"You had me worried sick from last night, even I don't remember when you came home last night. And that smell, please make sure to empty the contents of that bucket!" holding her nose
"Mom how did I get home?" asking her mum
"A friend from work saw you struggling from where you had been drinking, picked you up and took you home where I helped you get into bed." Kallen accepting the response, got up and started to remove her work clothes and emptying the contents of the bucket. Back to her room, she didn't work on Saturdays seeing she had the day off. Her mother had run off because of the phone that started to ring, however she wasn't prepared for what came next.
"Your Highness!" Kazumi shirking "What can I do for you, your highness? Oh, you want to speak to Kallen because she wasn't answering her phone, give me a second ill pass it onto her."
Kazumi walking quickly to Kallen's room her hand covering the mouthpiece of the phone.
"Kallen Kōzuki the empress is on the phone and she wants to speak to you!" handing over the phone to Kallen.
"Hi Nunnally, what can I do for you?" groggily saying
"I just wanted you to tell you the time for the meeting, you weren't answering your mobile so I had to ring the home phone, the meeting is at 2 pm three hours from now."
"Thanks, Nunnally, wait… three hours from now?!" Kallen looking at the clock it was already 11 am.
"Yep see you then Kallen" hanging up on her and giving the phone back to her mum.
3 hours later
Kallen had arrived at Nunnally's home, going to the guard station and showed her ID card, the guard radioing in something and after a couple of minutes the gate opened and allowed Kallen in. She walked to the front door and rang the doorbell, a second later the door opened Sayoko standing at the entrance.
"Hello, Kallen everyone is waiting for you in the conference room allow me to show you where the room is." Following Sayoko
After five minutes they had arrived at the door. Opening she saw Nunnally, Oghi, Kent, Minami, Tohdoh, Suzaku, Cornelia, Chiba, Kaguya and Tamaki, Kallen noticing that some of them were still feeling a little drunk from last night.
"So this is what you were worried about?" Ohgi asking
"Yea…sorry for not saying anything last night." Replying Kallen
"Don't worry Kallen you must have had your reason for not telling us although I am interested why we are all here," said Tohdoh
"So Kallen would you please inform us why we have all gathered here and the urgency of this meeting?" asked Nunnally
'Now or never Kallen…' taking her seat and pouring herself a glass of water.
"There was something that happened yesterday while I was at work, something that doesn't make sense or why now of all of the times." The rest of them looking at Kallen trying to figure out what could have caused Kallen to be worried.
'Come on Kallen you can do this'
"Yesterday at work there two strange looking tourists who had looked in the window and ran off as soon as they saw my face, I didn't understand it. The man was wearing a white robe, while the female, on the other hand, looked to be wearing a red and yellow dress with a headscarf. Villette said something yesterday about a man dressed in white and wearing a white hat standing outside the school before she came to the bar."
'Oh yes, the people at Euphy's stature yesterday' , Nunnally reminding herself.
"I went to visit Lelouch's grave dropping off some fresh flowers, after talking to him the woman's eyes it finally hit me. I woman's eyes were golden the same as..C.C ones…"
Everyone looked at Kallen with their eyes wide open the thought of C.C, being back was a terrible thought "C.C hasn't been seen in years, how could you know it was her Kallen?" asked Nunnally
"The man next to her, his eyes well…they were Geass and the only person to ever has Geass was L-"
"Lelouch" Nunnally cut in, Nunnally put her hands over her mouth, "Does that mean the other day the man and woman with her golden eyes could have been C.C? And then the man was L-"
"He's dead Nunnally," Suzaku said coldly, "While Lelouch did have Geass we all know he's lying in his coffin and it's been like that for a number of years. In most cases it's another person with Geass, it explains what happened yesterday with the shooter, he wasn't acting by himself, he was being controlled."
"Is that why you asked for the video footage then Suzaku?" asked Cornelia, Suzaku nodded in agreement.
Tohdoh looked at Ohgi, he was sitting, his hands were clasped next to his nose thinking. "Kallen, was C.C close to Lelouch romantically? Did she have any feelings for him or the other way around? We knew she lived in Lelouch's room, but you were closest towards both of them, were there any hints?"
"They were so cold to one another when I was around, but there were times where I wasn't around, so I can't give you an answer about it."
"Ok, let's assume that C.C did have feelings for Lelouch, if that's the case then is possible C.C heard about the terror attacks and has decided that she has a chance to take us out. She would align herself with Ares and strike a deal, help them in any way possible for the chance of killing us. Nunnally, I don't know how far C.C will go, but it's also possible that she might come after you to as well."
Nunnally looked at Ohgi horrified, 'She would never do such a thing, I haven't done anything wrong… except for standing against Lelouch, but back then I didn't know what was going on.' She thought
"Then we must act swiftly to remove the people in white. We should arrest them so that they don't cause issues to us and the rest of the world. The Geass user might be hard to handle but I'm sure we could find a way to do it."
"No", Everyone turned to Nunnally with surprised looks on their faces, "In my eyes, they have done nothing wrong with or without Geass. There is no proof that they were there during the incident the other day. Second, you can't arrest someone just because of their eye colour, sure it may be the same as C.C. The dress that Kallen is referring to by the sounds of it was a sari, which is a dress that Indian women wear, some have to cover up due to religion needs. You cannot be going around arresting people,because of what they wear and what eye colour they have."
"Lady Kayuga, don't you agree in this situation?" Everyone else looked at Kayuga hoping she wouldn't agree.
"I'm sorry all but I have to side with Nunnally this time, she's correct we don't have any proof and I'm sure the police won't agree with it." Stating her opinion, everyone else aside from Kallen and Nunnally had a disappointed look on them.
"But if what Ohgi is right? What if C.C does align herself with Ares and his plan to overtake the country. We still only know very little about Ares origins and that fact that he's a right-wing Britannia, who thinks that Britannia should be on top. We can not turn a blind eye this." Tohdoh slamming the end of his sword on the floor a couple of times.
"He's right Nunnally, what if something does happen during the UFN meeting. What if C.C has already made contact with Ares and is planning something for the meeting. Please change your mind Nunnally for your safety at least!" Suzaku pleading to Nunnally, 'I need her to change her mind, damn it Kallen why did you have to bring this news up now of all times.'
"No", Nunnally looking at Suzaku with a stern look on her face, "If C.C wanted to do something with that man, she would have done it yesterday while me and Sayoko were out. I simply will not believe that C.C is here to help with Ares and his cause."
"You are being too Naïve Nunnally, don't let your heart or your feelings rule over your head." Snapping back coldly at Nunnally.
Nunnally looked at Suzaku with unhappy or an angry look on her face, "Feelings?! Don't let your feelings rule over your head?! Do I have to remind you what you became after Euphy's death! You became fixated on revenge on killing Lelouch and yet you don't even know the truth of what happened!" shouting at him.
"Nunnally that's enough." Cornelia grabbing Nunnally's hand
"No sister, Suzaku needs to be shown the error in his ways. Ever since after Lelouch's and Euphy's death he has become this cold, heartless and distant person. Even I don't know him anymore! And then there's your guilty conscience that looms over you because what you did to Lel-",Nunnally clasped her hands over her mouth to stop herself from spilling any more information.
"What do you mean "what he did to Lelouch"?" Asked Kallen curiously, Nunnally placed her hands in her lap and looked down.
"Suzaku…I think it's time to tell them the truth, I don't think I can hold it in much longer." Nunnally looking to Suzaku
"Do what you wish Nunnally, it doesn't concern me anymore." Suzaku stood up and left the room slamming the door.
"Nunnally? What truth?" Cornelia looking at her younger sister and not as the Empress.
" Suzaku told me a few days after my brother's death. The peace we did have is in fact based apon a lie."
"A lie?" asked Ohgi
"You see Lelouch's death… Was actually his idea.."
"Nunnally explain yourself." Cornelia had an annoyed and concerned look on her face
"Maybe a little back story is needed…"
/flashback
"C.C, are you going, too?"
"You want to, at least smile when you die right?"
"What do you two plan to do now? You rejected Charles's plan. You chose reality and the forward march of time. But.."
"That's right. You murdered Euphy Lelouch." Suzaku holding up his sword
"And so?" Lelouch replied
"That doesn't concern me and your foolish thoughts about my sister."
"You..you have some nerve to say that in front of my face Lelouch. Look at the world! Look at the state it's in now! The millions you have killed! The millions of people, who you have left homeless! The countries that you have destroyed!"
"You're the one who brought the world into ruin, destroyed everything that was in your path and you had the audacity to start this revolution. You now need to pay the price for it, for a wish that Nunnally had "a kinder and gentler world to help people and their problems. To need to turn that wish, into reality."
Lelouch walking away from Suzaku's gaze and went to C.C, holding his out his hand for her. She grabbed his opened hand and used it to lift herself up for the floor.
"Hmph, my death to atone for my sins, that's an interesting concept don't you think C.C?" C.C looked at Lelouch saying nothing, looking away from his face
"Well then if I do need to go down that path then you will have to play a part it in as well."
"If it's to save the world then I will play whatever part you will need me to play, even if it makes me the villain in the end."
/flashback end
"That's all that Suzaku told me.."
'You mean Lelouch did all of this for you Nunnally, the entire hatred toward Britannia was because you wish for a better world', Cornelia thought to herself.
Ohgi slumped back into the chair his hands in his head, "So you mean to tell me that our entire peace is because Lelouch made himself a martyr so we could have peace?! And that Suzaku forced him to think of a way to save the world?! And the reason why he wanted to conquer the world was to bring it together was to stop the fighting?"
"So we betrayed him in the end although he was fighting for a good cause goddam it." Tamaki shouting slamming his fist on the table, "I knew it, we should have trusted him in the end.. and then we would have been living in luxury!"
Chiba smacked him over the head, "You idiot, you betrayed him as well, don't start changing sides now! And even with what we did what do you think the outcome would have been." Chiba looked to her husband Tohdoh who had become deathly quiet over the matter.
"Tamaki is right Chiba we betrayed him, at the crucial turning point of the rebellion, who knows what could have happened in the end. Maybe Lelouch could have revealed himself at the last minute and taking the throne from himself. We saw him as an enemy and nothing else, maybe it might have been different if he told us the truth. But by then there is also a chance we would have betrayed him as well."
"If I have known earlier i…i…. might have been able to stop him, but I didn't know what his plans where. If I had known this earlier I might have told them my only wish was to be with him. But I think Lelouch was too far down the path for revenge against our father. I shouldn't have told him that stupid wish."
"It's not your fault Nunnally, I can understand why Lelouch did what he had to do, but never in a million years Lelouch would blame you."
Ohgi stood up from his chair with his hands over his face, "So if this gets out that Lelouch wanted to unite the world to make it a better place, we would be made to look like the bad guys-."
"And another rebellion would happen, but this time it would be the entire of Britannia against us and Ares would become a more powerful force." Said Tohdoh, "Because we thought what Lelouch was doing was wrong, but if the media spins this."
"Our reputation would be ruined as "Knights of justice" and would be seen as traitors, trying to ruin the peace. Because we didn't know what would happen after Lelouch took over and in the two months he had done a lot of good things for the world in that time." said Kayuga
'So this is the real reason why Lelouch, you pushed me away, telling me to live. You wanted me to have a chance living a peaceful life instead of one with war and hatred to one another', Kallen thinking to her self
"And C.C knows this as well... If she tells Ares and the Ares tells the world, the people might side with him and the cause that Lelouch fought for." Said Kayuga
"I think that's enough for today we all need to get our heads around this. This conversation does not leave this room." Said Cornelia
And with that, the meeting had concluded everyone else had left aside from Kallen, Nunnally, and Sayoko.
"Your very brave Nunnally for holding all that in. I don't think I would have lasted 6 months holding that much weight."
"Thank you, Kallen, it means a lot to me and now it feels like I can breathe again, but still scared at the same time. Kallen, do you think that Geass user was Lelouch?" Kallen didn't know what to say she wanted to say yes but at the same time, she wanted to say no.
"I don't know Nunnally I never saw his face only his eyes, but I don't think it would be so bad if it was him.. I mean sure it would cause a lot of problems for both of them but at the same time I wish it wasn't true." Kallen choosing her words carefully
"Thank you, Kallen, I hope it was C.C and she does come to the memorial, I think it would be nice still to ask her these questions." Nunnally smiled as she asked Sayoko to be wheeled back to her room.
That same day Lelouch and C.C were going to meet Jeremiah and Anya, it had been five years since they had last seen them. C.C and Lelouch entered the old aquarium and saw both of them. Jeremiah still looked the same, wearing slightly more laid back clothes rather than his usual attire which he had retired. Anya, on the other hand, had really grown up being close to 19. Instead of long hair she now had two short shoulder height ponytails comfortably; she was at shoulder height to Jeremiah. She was wearing a white summer dress, her bra straps showing.
"Your highness it's great to see you again, you haven't aged a bit hahaha." Jeremiah walking and shaking Lelouch's hand. "And I hope Lelouch has been looking after Mrs.C.C."
"Jeremiah you don't need to call me your highness anymore, I did die remember and I lost that title, Lelouch is fine Jeremiah but if you can't help it, you can still call me Highness."
"As for Lelouch he hasn't been too bad looking after me, we have had our differences but we still manage around it, how's the orange picking business going?" C.C asked
"It's been going well, we have had to hire a bit more staff to help around, it was great when you two were around, but after you left we struggled. So we employed a couple of homeless or travellers to help with the farm. We just hope they don't do anything terrible while we are away. Have you got any pictures of your trip C.C? It must have been wonderful to travel all over the world." Said Anya
"We did have a came-."
"I've got heaps", C.C cutting in, Lelouch look at her with a funny expression of 'we do?' C.C smiled devilishly at Lelouch as Lelouch gulped nervously "We do?"
"Yes Lelouch we do, when we got to Russia I bought a camera; all the photos are on a hard drive in one of the sacs. I even made sure I have the ones from Iraq." Lelouch gulped at the thought of what happened in Iraq.
"What happened in Iraq?" Asked Anya
"Maybe later Anya, even I think you would laugh at the pictures, you should have seen Lelouch's face when he put it on." Smiling back at Lelouch 'I need to destroy that images when I get a chance' Lelouch thought to himself.
"Your Highness, how did the two of you get to Japan in the end? You said you traveled via a container ship and if I remember correctly you don't like traveling by boat because it makes you sea sick."
"It was fine."
"it was terrible." Both C.C and Lelouch saying at the same time and then looking at one another, Jeremiah could only sigh at the two of them as Anya just smiled.
"Your Highness about the "message" and "shooting" yesterday I don't suppose you had anything to do with it?"
"Yes it was me, I know I may have sparked a light but it was a warning. I think the UFN meeting Ares will strike next. The reason I returned to Japan is so that I can stop someone that I created."
"That's very noble Lelouch coming back to stop this fanatic who believes the old way of Britannia. I agree this world doesn't need any more bloodshed, Britannia has split enough blood as it is."
"We also recently ran into Nunnally the other day looking at Euphy's grave, although Lelouch didn't turn around, I must say she has grown up." Said C.C
"Yes, I've talked to her and seen her a couple of times, after Lelouch's death I supported her for a while but she had all her sisters as well as Sayoko."
"Thank you, Jeremiah, for doing that, I really appreciate it."
"No worries your highness, I'm only doing my job. I guess you would like to attend the UFN meeting, your highness?"
"Yes that is correct Jeremiah, are you able to get me close to Nunnally somehow?"
"I may be able to pull that off, ill have to look into my contacts and see if I can arrange anything.
"Another thing your highness I know you still have your Geass. But due to its limitations, but how do you expect to say anything without the public recognizing your voice if there is an attack? And how do you plan to escape after the meeting?"
Lelouch smiling and said, " As for escaping it should not be that hard, under the school, there are a bunch of underground tunnels. They were mainly for the use if we were ever caught we would be able to escape quickly. I'll make sure tomorrow that the tunnels are still in order and layout markers so I will be able to find them. As for my Geass, the game has changed Jeremiah, those two out of the three limitations don't hinder me anymore, there is a slight drawback to it but it's worth it in the end." Jeremiah was stunned to hear that.
"C.C"
"Yes, Lelouch?"
"I need your assistance with my other eye if you could please." C.C walked over to Lelouch, her hand covering his left eye.
"Geass was once known as the power of the king, however, most don't know if Geass goes further than its usual state. Because in most cases the person has been killed or turned into a code bearer, but in this case, it's very different." C.C removed her hand, Lelouch, blinking a couple of times before the eye adjusted itself. Jeremiah and Anya looked at the eyed both gasping of the colour of the eye, the different colour compared to the other eye, you could say now that he really did look like a demon king. After a few seconds, Lelouch blinked, his eye again returning it to its normal Geass state.
"And that's how I will beat Ares and his foolish game."
"Both of you might possibly have to play a part in this as well, for the time being, could you both get something like I have. As for you Jeremiah you will need to buy a mask to cover that face oh yours. Anya, did you get the parts I sent you over the years and have you built it?"
"Yes, I did Lelouch; it's in the car with some of our stuff, I have also bought a couple of spare batteries as well for the staff."
"Your Highness, I must ask, seeing as you might have to go back into combat what about C.C and your Knightmare's? I know for a while that Nunnally and the black knights were looking for it, I would have hidden any evidence but I found nothing, I hope it hasn't been stolen."
"If someone had found it then the alarm would have gone off and you and C.C would have been notified about it so I know they are still safe." Lelouch smiling
Jeremiah and C.C looked at one another trying to figure out how they would have known about the breach. "In the same place where the Knightmares are there is also a bunker filled with lots of various weapons in case war started again. It's so C.C could access them if she wanted to make a statement or stop the war altogether if there was one."
C.C looked at Lelouch surprised, "Oh yes I gave you everything you needed when I sent you away from the palace before the plan went into action, I hope you didn't throw them out." Lelouch smiled as for once he had gotten one up on C.C.
Somewhere in the South China Sea
Ares was looking through the footage from two days ago, he was beyond mad, he was fuming. The fact in last week he had lost two good men although one was scared and one being a madman.
"Whoever this person is, not only made a mockery of me but has also pissed me off." Ares slammed his fist on the desk.
"I swear to the demon king himself I will exact my revenge on Britannia and this person. But the more important question is what did he use to mind control him, I can understand that Britannia might have that technology. But so far none of my spies have seen anything relating to that technology. But that doesn't matter for the moment, stay focused Ares the priority is the UFN meeting, where the hell hasn't Volk arrived it." Ares slamming his fist once more on the desk. !hearing a knock on the door Ares yelled enter.
Volk came rushing inside so Ares wouldn't blow any more fuses or break any more tables.
"It's about damn time Volk! Are those the papers that General Milkian said would arrive?" Volk nodded and quickly handed over the papers to Ares to inspect. Ares flipping through the pages laying them on the desk as he, went through them. Everyone, so far he had agreed with, however the last person Ares wasn't sure. Ares looking up at Volk and asked "Are sure Milkian wanted this guy to lead the squad? Compared to everyone else in terms of straight A loonies this guy has to be the worst of them."
"Milkian said for this type of operation he thought it would be a great idea." The man in question was called Zenarious Kepoulcha, he was part of a Russian black ops unit that served under Britannia. He had a spotless record when it came to the fields of assassination, sabotage and everything in between; the one problem was that he was a certified nut job. He enjoyed the rush of torturing or breaking men till they were nothing. The one thing he hated most was injuring women; Ares didn't know the story behind it something about morals.
"As well as his odd jobs, he lived for the rush of killing, part of the reason he retired was that of this tendency to "ignore the rules". During a mission, he had decided instead of only assassinating the target he killed everyone else innocent or back of the targets detail."
Ares looked over the papers once more and turned to Volk and then turned around looking at the outside world. "And if this doesn't go well, I can expect that the employers won't be too happy about this. I'm meant to bring fear and war and so far it's only been minor terror attacks and I warned them. Small terror attacks won't do anything to speed up the process what they need to do is lets us make a statement to the world say "You are next!" and no one is safe from the god of war!"
"Ares" Volk stating the talk again "We agreed on this way only to scare everyone but to slowly get the gears moving for them. Kepoulcha knows what he has to do and has been explained this many times. I can assure you this will be a success."
"I hope you don't disappoint me Volk otherwise I'll be either replacing you or taking over the rest of the ops entirely from here on out. By the way is that new equipment going to be ready for the meeting?"
"I have been assured that the next-gen stealth gear has been tested and is ready to use. The Britannian's won't know what hit them during the UFN meeting or the other great powers. As for the guns they also have been tested and are ready to be used as well, the Russian is already wanting to get his hands on them."
"Your dismissed Volk, please let me know when they are going to be deployed so I can have a word with them."
"Before I leave Ares another interesting bit of information popped up just before. One of our spies noticed and the meeting between her highness the Black Knight and the UFN leader. The meeting seemed not to last long however as they were coming out her highness was seemed to be on the verge of crying. The other members seemed to be annoyed at something or someone, that's all the information I have for the moment"
Volk bowed and left the room, Ares sat back down again looking at the squad leader sighing 'that this will either work or truly fail.' Ares also raising an eyebrow to the fact there had been a secret meeting, however, some words popped into his head. 'You may think that you are smart but I know your every move, from here on out'. Ares shaking the thought out of his head as he looked back at his computer.
3 days before the meeting
It was Sunday, Lelouch had left early that morning leaving a note where C.C could find it. His mission was to see if the tunnels under Ashford Academy where still usable and to see if anything had been disturbed. Half an hour later after taking the train, he arrived at the school, both gates being closed Lelouch went a back way he had created for sneaking in. Quickly dashing around the side he looked for the hedge that he could crawl under and access the grounds. Finding it went through the hole and onto the open field.
After walking he finally stood in front of the house where he and Nunnally had used while at school. 'This place hasn't changed a bit, the flowers still seemed to be maintained maybe Milly and Nunnally have been looking after the place' , Heading towards the front door, he went the right side, lifting up a garden gnome grabbing the key that was hidden inside the boot. Lelouch opened the door, a light breezed entered as well, blowing the specs of dust all over the place, Lelouch closed the door once more. He inspected the rooms one by one trying to remember the memories that he still clung on to.
'I wonder if that's still there.' Lelouch walking up to his old room. Opening the door, 'This room had not changed, everything seemed to be in the same spot.' Going towards his bed he moved it, shoving the bed to the side. Lifting up the trap door and looked inside it, a large rectangular suitcase, pulling it out and moving the wheels with the numbers from 0-9. After getting the right code the lock clicked and opened. 'Just as I thought it's still here with the gun'. Lelouch brought it downstairs placing it next to the door.
Heading towards the staircase he looked at it, pressing a couple of panels of wood trying to find the pressure point, something clicked. A door had popped out, Lelouch pushing it sideways, finding the light switch he turned it on the lights showing the ramp that lead down to a massive metal door that stood there.
Lelouch reached the looked at the door, swiping the keypad he pushed the pin in the door making a sound and its opening. Lelouch turned the handle of the door and entered what seemed like a maze of metal. 'Right now one of these tunnels should lead to that meeting hallway, the other if I remember one was a bunker, a getaway car and the last one being another exit.' Taking out a flashlight and a roll of fluoro strips he started to make his way through the tunnel.
After an hour or two looking through the dark, he found what he was looking for. He pressed the up button the elevator doors opened, the doors closed and after a couple of seconds, the doors opened once more. Pushing the wooden slide door he arrived at the hallway leading to the meeting door. Stepping into the hallway and entered the meeting doors, Lelouch stepped inside noticing the chairs and tables and the two speaker podiums. Lelouch looked up seeing if there were seats or walkways above the area but there wasn't.
Lelouch looked around and stepped to the podium where he stood once declaring that he would destroy the world, smiling under his mask he went to the elevator and went back down closing the false door behind him.
Lelouch looked at his watch it was close to 1 pm 'C.C must be awake by now, I better go grab a pizza before she starts bothering me about the deal we made again.' Lelouch looked at his phone trying to see where the closest pizza hut was, it was in a mall. He started to walk through one of the malls his head down only looking up to make sure he wasn't running into someone or anything. At the end of this mall was pizza hut, only being a 15minute walk from the house, 'this is where in C.C ordered her pizza from while she was living in my bedroom'.
A short time later he had arrived back at the hotel room, swiping his card opening the door "I'm home", called out placing his hat on the hook behind the door.
"Welcome home Lelouch", replied C.C. Lelouch walked to the main area where he saw C.C sprawled out on the bed, only wearing a towel still being wet from having a shower.
"Why don't you put any clothes on?" Questioned Lelouch
"Maybe I wanted to surprise my husband? Maybe I was waiting for my forbidden lover to arrive so he could ravish me." C.C playfully teasing Lelouch with a smile or her face as she moved her hands down her body.
"If that's the case then I won't be giving you this pizza I got for you." Pushing the pizza in front of her face. C.C seeing this lunged at the pizza Lelouch quickly moving it out of her reach.
"Now what do you say witch?" holding the pizza behind his back, C.C got on her knees and slid herself over Lelouch's robe, still being wet Lelouch felt the drops of water falling on his robe. Her body was in full view, she slowly moved her arms around passed Lelouch's neck until she was only a few inches away from his face, he could feel her breath. C.C quickly moving in for the kill, kissing Lelouch while her arms attempting to grab the pizza behind his back, having obtained the pizza she quickly drew back starting to eat the pizza.
"What are you watching?" Lelouch asking while removing his robe, gloves and eating his own pizza.
"I'm watching the leaders of the UFN, meeting Nunnally and co on the airplane strip; she's shaking their hands and greeting them one by one."
"I see", said Lelouch sadly, slumped on the other side of the bed, C.C had noticed his sad tone turned and put her pizza down. Moving over to Lelouch she draped her body over his back, her chin resting on her lover's shoulder.
"Whats wrong Lelouch? You're not usually this worried, you're worried about Nunnally?"
"I'm just scared C.C." Lelouch sighed
"After a reading a few articles about my sister she seems to have inherited something for Cornelia while looking after her. Seems the "not afraid of anything or will stand up for what I believe", a way of thinking she has inherited. Not that I don't mind but not being afraid of anything can be a dangerous trait to have. And we still don't know what else Ares wants to achieve from attacking the UFN, it may be to make a statement but something else is driving this attack."
C.C could see Lelouch was thinking hard, in the years he hadn't needed to worry about such matters, he had been "out of the game" so to speak.
C.C moved behind Lelouch, moving the pizza box from his hands. C.C then moved Lelouch laying him on the bed, Lelouch saw her naked body staring at it intently. C.C turned off the T.V. She started undoing the first couple of buttons on his shirt as she looked into Lelouch's eyes and said in a caring voice.
"For the time being let this witch help her dear king wash away all his fears and thoughts so he can think clearly once more." Giving him a deep and playful kiss, doing her duty as a wife and witch.