Chapter 9: Vicious Cabaret
Third Person
A little while later
Zero announced his goal for the Black Knights as 'Knights of Justice". Little did they know, V was watching them on the other side of the river. He approached the railings to see Milly. He decides to call her.
Milly's POV
I got a phone call from an anonymous user. I answered it hesitantly and said "Hello?" On the other side was V! He replied "How is my lady doing this lovely evening? Better yet, tell me later. I will visit you later. Say tomorrow." It suddenly tapped out.
I sighed heavily as I laid on the rubber life raft waiting to be picked up from the water.
Tomorrow
After the Hotel Incident I was constantly being hounded. I honestly couldn't take being locked up in the school any longer so I took one of the underground passages and snuck out. I was wearing stuff that would make me inconspicuous such as sunglasses, clothes that regular people wear, etc. I decided to go to the park but felt I was being watched. I turned around but found nothing. I turned back when I saw V in front of me. I jumped back in surprise before asking "So... What are you doing here anyways?"
He replied "I am glad you are okay, my lady." He then bowed before me and took my hand and pecked it with his mask. I instantly recoiled away and said angrily "What's the big idea, huh? Why do you want to fight Britannia." He sighed heavily. He was quiet for a while. As if debating on what to say. He eventually said "Follow me."
He then blindfolded me. I felt we were being taken underground as I felt cooler. Then I felt warmth once again. He said "You may take off your blinds now." I took it off and saw that we are in the ghettos. He said "Do not worry. We are going on a simple tour. That is all." I nodded as I walked beside him. I asked "Why are you out in the open though? Aren't you afraid of the Britannian military?" He laughed as he said "The vile villainous vultures that are the Britannian government may try to vanquish this vermin from existence. However, this virtuous vaudevillian can vanish as a mere spectre while the vigilant hounds search in vain."
He stepped in front of me, cape waving in the wind. He replied simply "No. I am not afraid. For my plan has yet to flourish in these choking conditions that threaten to snuff out its existence." But I insisted "But what is your plan?" V said quietly "Choice. I wish to give the vox populi a choice. To step out of the dark cave and into the light. For if one may see all, but the others will resent him. To free all the people, no man must harbor any judgement for ignorance because they have all seen what is truth." I replied "Well, that is surely noble, but..." He finished "But it is merely a naive fantasy that can never be accomplished by a man alone, right?"
I replied "Well, yes. How can one man change an entire empire. It is impossible. You will die before you can start." V hallowed. I frowned and crossed my arms. He stopped once he calm down and said "Why yes! I will die." He leaned in close to me and continued "But while as the man can fail, the idea is immortal. Therefore, I am IMMORTAL." He continued to walk around the neighbourhood while I followed him. I began thinking on what he said.
It bothered me to say the least. What is he trying to do? Is he going to get himself a protege to replace him? To become like him? But most importantly, why? For now, he was just walking around the ghettos. All I could see were the former great cities of Japan, a smoking mess. There was nothing much left but rubble. I then suddenly hit V's back. I stood back and looked at V's still body.
I raised my eyebrows for a second before looking in front of him. We were at the coast. I didn't notice until now that the sun has set quite a bit. So now, the sea's green-blue hue compliments the bright red-orange sun light. V sighed heavily as he said "It is beautiful, is it not? The brilliance of the mixtures of colours bring about a soothing feel that many lack to appreciate these trying days."
I couldn't help but agree with him. Before, I was just so heavily focused on other things that I lost touch with nature's beauty itself. Now, well. I just feel like I have all the time in the world. We watched the brilliant colours clash suntil nightfall. V said "Let us take you home." In which I replied "I couldn't help but agree with you."
A few days later
Third Person
Cornelia is making her way to the reconstruction site of the palace. Ever since its destructions, construction crews are working overtime to finish it. Cornelia paused to stare at the palace. Apparently, she looked at the schematics and so far, it appears that the palace would receive far more upgrades than its predecessor. She smirked a bit before saying "Come now Gilford. Let us return back to base." Gilford responded robotically "Yes, milady."
Meanwhile, many blocks away…
V is looking up at the justice department of Britannia. He cheers out "Hello, dear lady. A lovely evening, is it not? Forgive me for intruding. Perhaps you were intending to take a stroll. Perhaps you were merely enjoying the view. No matter. I thought that it was time we had a little chat, you and I."
He chuckled a bit before continuing "Ahh… I was forgetting that we are not properly introduced. I do not have a name. You can call me V." He began introducing himself "Madam Justice...This is V. V...This is Madam Justice. Hello, Madam Justice….Good evening, V."
"There. Now that we know each other. Actually, I've been a fan of yours for quite some time. Oh, I know what you're thinking...The poor boy has a crush on me...An adolescent infatuation...I beg your pardon, madam. It isn't like that at all...I've long admired you. Albeit only from a distance. I used to stare at you from the streets below when I was a child. I'd say, to my father, 'Who is that lady?' And he'd say, "That's madam justice.' And I'd say, 'Isn't she pretty?'.
V paces around "Please don't think it was merely physical. I know you're not that sort of girl. No, I loved you as a person. As an Ideal. That was a long time ago. I'm afraid there's someone else now… What? V! For shame! You have betrayed me for some Harlot, some vain and pouting hussy with painted lips and a knowing smile! I, Madam? I beg to Differ! It was your infidelity that drive me to her arms."
He points at the statue "Ah-ha! That surprised you didn't it? You thought I didn't know about your little fling. But I do. I know everything! Frankly, I wasn't surprised when I found out. You always did have an eye for a man in uniform. Uniform? why, I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about. It was always you, V. You were the only one...Liar! Slut! Whore! Deny that you let him have his way with you, him with his coat-of-arms and titles of nobility!"
V stopped pacing around and stopped "Well? Cat got your tongue? I thought as much. Very well. So you stand revealed at last. You are no longer my justice. You are his justice now. You have bedded another. Well, two can play at that game! Sob...choke. Wh-who is she V? What is her name? She has taught me that justice is meaningless without freedom. She is honest. She makes no promises and breaks none. Unlike you, Jezebel."
V strolls around a bit more, pondering "I used to wonder why you could never look me in the eye. Now I know." He then laid a heart-shaped chocolate box at the feet of Madam Justice. A final goodbye gift. He bowed and said "So goodbye dear lady. I would be saddened by our parting even now, save that you are no longer the woman that I once loved."
V begins walking away from her. Slowly, and without looking back. Once V saw that she was a good distance away from her. A distance on which he can see her body, but not her face, the building erupted into flames and soot as the coming explosion sent her to the ground. She toppled from the high building of the Justice department before finally breaking apart.
Sirens sounded, people screamed as paramedics and firemen came into secure the situation. With one last adieu, V calmly replied "The flames of freedom. How lovely. How just. Ahh, my precious anarchy...O beauty 'til now I never knew thee."
