Chapter 8: A Bride in the Vermillion Forbidden City
Me: Okay, I know, I know, I'm late updating. For those of you wondering why, I was stuck under a mountain of homework. *Pile of homework collapses on me*
Sakura L.B.: Now that was a laugh
Me: *emerges from pile of homework* I didn't mean it literally!
Sakura L.B.: We know, we know
Me: What can I say, Junior Year is a nightmare
Sakura L.B.: Why? Taking Chemistry like I did?
Me: No, Physics. My chemistry teacher last year made the course a nightmare.
Sakura L.B.: *snickers* Knightmare, nightmare.
Me: Not puny.
Sakura L.B.: Sorry, couldn't resist.
Me: That much I got, but for now, you mind doing the disclaimer?
Sakura L.B.: Why should I?
Me: Otherwise in the next chapter I'll make you lose a Shadow Duel.
Sakura L.B.: *Gulp* Okay, I got ya. sakuraphoenix does not own Code Geass or Yu-Gi-Oh 5D's.
Me: Now if I did a few things. One, I would've made Yusei and Akiza confess for crying out loud! Two, Rolo and Lelouch wouldn't have died. And three, I'd be living in Japan.
Sakura L.B.: Now enjoy!
The Chinese Federation, an alliance of nations hosting the largest population on the planet. We made the arrangements with the High Eunuchs to seek refuge here after fleeing Japan. On the man-made island of Horai, where we sought refuge.
"We've finished picking out staff leader candidates. Should we reassign them to the Ikaruga for now?" asked Diethard
"Yes. That leaves us with the municipal leaders." Said Zero
"Correct. Let's work with the intelligence section and get that set up. Now then, if you'll excuse me." Said Diethard before walking out
"Are you two sure we can depend on Diethard? He acts on his own, like what he did with Sayoko." Said Kallen
"On the contrary, he's easy to read. In that man's mind, he's trying to turn Zero and Black Rose into a symbol of god and goddess. From there you can guess what actions he'll take. Besides, he has a useful talent for manipulating information." I said
"Sakura, may I speak with you?" asked Kalin
"Asking her out on a date are we?" asked C.C.
"No way!" Kalin and I exclaimed in unison
"You harmonized." Teased C.C.
"Shut up witch." I said before Kalin and I walked into a more private room adjacent to the one we were just in
"Seriously, she needs to learn her place." Said Kalin
"Give her some pizza, and she'll shut up." I said
"You sound like you know her well." Said Kalin
"Hey, she was the one who gave me and Lelouch our Geass contract after all." I said
"Sakura, why did you come back. Last time I saw you, you were a mess." Said Kalin
"I guess… I took someone's advice." I said with a playful smile.
"Master Zero! Mistress Black Rose! Please come to the Ikaruga, hurry! We've got trouble!" exclaimed Kaguya
"Trouble?" I wondered
"Wonder what it is. The Knightmares late or something?" asked Kalin
"No, it's more serious. I know that tone." I said.
On the Ikaruga…
"What? A…a political marriage?" I exclaimed outraged
"Yes. I received an invitation to the wedding through the Sumeragi Conglomerate. The bride to be is the empress, icon of the Chinese Federation. I'm her good friend and she wants me to attend." Said Kaguya
"The groom is to be the First Prince of Britannia." Said Tohdoh
"Then when they call Odysseus…" started Rakshata
"It's too soon to activate the plan we set up. I didn't expect that the High Eunuchs would…" started Diethard
"No. This is a Britannian plot." Said Zero
"What do we do under the circumstance?" asked Ogi
"It's the worst possible situation." I said
And to think we were planning on getting the girl before they had the chance to! Charles Zi Britannia, you are so dead.
"Oh, why worry about it? It's not as if we're involved with Britannia anymore." Said Tamaki
"What?" wondered Kallen
"We've been kicked out, have you forgotten?" asked Tamaki
"Um, but they haven't exonerated us of our crimes, have they?" asked a lavender haired girl
"However, a political marriage…" started a black haired girl
"There's always the possibility that the Chinese Federation might attack us." Said an orange haired girl
"And what then? The Black Knights are wrapped up and given as a wedding present?" asked Tamaki
"Actually, that's an apt way to put it." Said Kaguya
"You're sure developing a useless ability there." Mocked C.C.
"We're in big trouble here! We're in no position to sit around and make jokes!" exclaimed Tamaki
"Which is why…" started Rakshata
"We're discussing the matter at this moment." Said Ogi
"Zero, Black Rose, the one behind this…" started Diethard
"Yes, there's another person. The one who overnight made this fiendish move in order to reverse their embittered relationship with the Chinese Federation." Said Zero
Which means only one thing, I usually hate parties, but this is one I would love to crash.
Later…
"Ms. Kaguya Sumeragi! Representative of the Sumeragi Conglomerate!" exclaimed a palace guard
You could imagine the gasps and stares that we received once Lelouch and I, in our masks of course, made our entrance into the banquet hall. However, we were surrounded by palace guards, but then; I caught a glimpse of Schneizel! So he was the puppet master pulling the strings! That little weasel! No wonder I didn't like the guy from back when I was living in the palace!
"Can we please stop quarreling now? Today is a day of celebration, is it not?" asked Schneizel
"But sir…" started one of the High Eunuchs
"Ms. Sumeragi, will you refrain from having Zero and Black Rose accompany you to the wedding tomorrow?" asked Schneizel
"I suppose, I don't have much of a choice, do I?" asked Kaguya
"If that is the wish of the Prime Minister of Britannia then withdraw!" exclaimed one of the High Eunuchs
The soldiers began to move away from us. And you're as watchful as ever I see Suzaku.
"Suzaku Kururugi, do you remember me? We're cousins you and I." said Kaguya
"Of course I do. We're the last remaining survivors of the six houses of Kyoko. Unless you count Sakura of course. Aren't we?" asked Kaguya
"Taizou Kirihara, Sakura, and the others supported terrorists. Nothing could've stayed their executions." Said Suzaku
"However, Sakura escaped, and this is different. Cousin, did you forget that Master Zero and Mistress Black Rose saved your life along with your life Yusei Fudo? Do you plan to execute someone you owe your life to?" asked Kaguya
"There's no comparison." Said Suzaku
"Oh how sad. It's a good thing we're not able to kill anybody with the words we say." Said Kaguya
"Prince Schneizel." Said Zero
"Huh?" wondered Schneizel
"Would you care for a game of chess, followed by a duel?" asked Zero
Is he serious?
"Patience my vessel." Said Allqu
'I know that! Not my fault I can't control my mood swings completely!" I exclaimed mentally
"Chess?" asked Schneizel
"If we win, we'd like to have Sir Kururugi and Sir Fudo. I want to give Sir Kururugi to you Kaguya." Said Zero
"Oh! That would be an absolutely marvelous present!" exclaimed Kaguya
"Enjoy your anticipation of it." Said Zero
And you perfectly well what I want to do to Fudo.
*Flashback*
"So let me get this straight. You're this person called a 'Dark Signer' who wants to destroy the world?" asked Lelouch
"Yeah, that's it in a nutshell. Now before you say anything, I know that the reason you became Zero is for Nunnally's sake. I became Black Rose for your sake Lelouch. I… I don't want to lose anyone else who means anything to me. Unfortunately, I owe a debt to my immortal, one I can only repay by doing his bidding." I said
"I see. And you're basically immortal?" asked Lelouch
"There are two ways I can die though. One, I lose a shadow duel, or two; I'm burned to a crisp, quite literally. So I'm close to immortal, not completely. I have a bone to pick with three people. Suzaku, Yusei, and our father. Because of my strong hatred, I was resurrected as a Dark Signer, and my Geass resistance has increased. I can't be affected by Geass anymore. Lelouch, I know that with this destiny I have, I'm a liability to your goal, but my goal hasn't changed, despite the new outlook I have." I said
"I see. Are there any other Dark Signers?" asked Lelouch
"Right now, there are five. Me, Kiryu, Roman, Devack, and a girl named Misty." I said
"They were Dark Signers?" exclaimed Lelouch
"Of course we had to keep it secret, but other than Kiryu, I know you can keep this secret. Yusei and the other Signers can't know that I'm a Dark Signer, for they think that I'm a Signer, on their side. Lelouch, my brother, you're one of the only people I can trust." I said
"Seeing that you're telling me this much, I can understand why." Said Lelouch
*End Flashback*
Not only that, but getting them out of here will allow us to us our Geass on the others.
"I'll agree to your terms, however, I want you two to remove your mask and show your faces." Said Schneizel
"Agreed." I said
"What a fine evening of entertainment this has turned into." Said Schneizel
I carefully watched each and every move they made. I was confident that Lelouch was going to win, until Schneizel pulled a surprise on us. Did he want to lose? Then, Suzaku grabbed someone.
"Zero! Princess Euphemia will be avenged!" exclaimed a female
Was that Nina? Why is she holding a knife? Wait, this wouldn't have anything to do with the Special Zone fiasco last year, would it?
"Stop it Nina! Drop the knife!" exclaimed Suzaku
"Why are you stopping me? You of all people should understand that you were Princess Euphemia's knight! You're just an Eleven after all, aren't you?" exclaimed Nina
She got out of Suzaku's grip, but the Kallen managed to take the knife out of her hand.
"Why Kallen? You're half-Britannian and yet you choose to protect that monster." Said Nina
"No. That's incorrect, I'm Japanese Nina." Said Kallen
"No you're not. You're an Eleven. You're an Eleven and you pretended to be my friend! Give her back to me! Give back Princess Euphemia! I needed her! She was goddess to me!" exclaimed Nina
"Nina." Suzaku said softly
"Zero killed her!" exclaimed Nina
"Oh Nina." Kallen said softly
Nina. I almost didn't notice that Kallen picked up Nina's knife.
"I'm sorry, about everything. However…" started Kallen
She handed the knife to that Gino guy from the festival
"My profound apologies Zero, Black Rose. Let's put an end to our game here. Now that I've confirmed my suspicions, I'd like to remind the two of you not to attend the ceremony tomorrow, otherwise a game of chess or a duel won't save you next time." Said Schneizel
The next day…
"We ask this question! By the voice of heaven, the roar of the land, and the hearts of the people, how does this marriage represent the will of the Chinese Federation?" exclaimed Xingke
"Well, well, well, I certainly wasn't expecting this." I said to myself
"Xingke, have you lost your mind?" exclaimed one of the High Eunuchs
"Be silent Zhao Hao. In the name of my fellow countrymen, I challenge the legality of this wedding!" exclaimed Xingke
"Think we should make our move soon?" I asked
"Yes." Said Zero
"Xingke! Xingke! Xingke! Xingke! Xingke!" exclaimed the empress
"Are we ready?" asked Zero
"Yes." I said
"Xingke!" exclaimed the empress
We then made our entrance, by dropping one of the Britannian's flags amidst the commotion.
"We appreciate this Xingke. You've made it so much easier for us to make our move." I said
"Oh. Those two too?" asked Zhao Hao
"Zero, Black Rose, what is the meaning of this?" asked Xingke
"Don't move!" exclaimed Zero
He placed a gun on the Empress' head. We loaded that one with blanks just to be safe.
"I thought the Black Knights owed us for what we did at Area 11." Said Xingke
"Which is why we're ruining this wedding, exactly as you people wanted." I said
"The only thing is, we're taking the bride with us!" exclaimed Zero
"Xingke!" exclaimed the empress
"Your Majesty! You filthy scum!" exclaimed Xingke
"Oh are we?" I asked
Now we're the ones placing you in checkmate.
Okay, I know. It's that time where I come up with an excuse, but truth be told, I was busy lately. Anyhow, please review, and until next time, I'm sakuraphoenix, saying I heart you, signing off for now. Kan dao ni!
