Hey readers welcome to 2018!
Hopefully your January is been great so far!
Otherwise enjoy the long waited chapter!
Chapter 10: Trying to Help
12/7
Lelouch yawned as he woke up from his sleep, after yesterday's escape he had been dead tired. The green Geass had an unusual effect on Lelouch where he would need a large amount of sleep; he didn't really know why it was just counted as an after effect. After rubbing his eyes he looked to his side, where he saw his wife, C.C sleeping comfortably next to him. She had hung up her clothes near a chair and was wearing a white shirt, one of his most likely. Her head on his chest, one of her arms on his stomach and the other going above his head.
He started to slightly move C.C so he could get up, after moving she ended up letting out a moan as she cuddled onto a pillow. Lelouch stretching his legs, started to walk around the long-forgotten aquarium. He wandered through the creepy empty displays and the area where the roof would come off for outside shows. He kept wandering around when he came to the kitchen. Lelouch took one of his fingers and slid it across the bench to see how dusty it was. To his surprise, it wasn't that bad. He looked towards the fridge and found a written note on it.
Good morning your highness, me, Anya and C.C thought it might be an idea to clean up some of the appliances around. We have also stocked the fridge to meet miss C.C demands, enjoy!
-Jeremiah
"Well, I guess I better make her something then." Lelouch opened the massive fridge, to see what he could find. To his surprise, the fridge looked almost full to the brim, "How much food did they get?! I guess we will be staying here for a while, so I guess its fine. Now what to make her…" Lelouch looked through the fridge to see what he could find, 'Ah yes this will do just fine.'
C.C stirred from her slumber, as she began to sniff the air, finding the scent of food being cooked, 'Something smells nice, and it's nearby as well.' Opening her eyes wanting to find her lover, but instead, she was lying on a pillow, with a small pool of drool on it. She wiped her mouth as she moved sitting on the bed stretching, 'Where did he go that silly boy and why isn't he here, he should be resting!' Rubbing her eyes as she again sniffed the air. Slowly getting out of bed and walked sleepily towards where the smell was coming from. Following her nose and turned the corner she saw Lelouch in the kitchen area, she watched him run all over the kitchen. She wandered slowly, till she got to the counter, with her tippy toes she leaned over.
"I thought I requested pizza for breakfast?" said smirking; Lelouch looked to see her face leaning over the counter, "Not on my watch you're not, you can have it for lunch and dinner but not breakfast." Lelouch waving the spatula in his hand like some chef telling off one of his cooks.
"And good morning to you to, sleep well?" He leaned over and kissed her, C.C accepting the kiss, moving her hands around Lelouch's head to hold the position of the kiss, she broke it, "I'm feeling a lot better now after that kiss", smiling. C.C came around the back and hugged Lelouch from behind resting her chin on his shoulder.
She watched him putting things into the pan, flipping them over and moving the pan so nothing would stick. Lelouch noticed the usually joyful and full of energy C.C, just leaning on him, he noticed her arms wrapped around his stomach. "What's wrong?" Lelouch finally giving in and asking the million dollar question. With his free hand, started to rub the back of her head, "You weren't next to me when I woke up this morning, you should be resting. I would forgive you if you didn't cook anything for me today." Kissing his cheek, Lelouch felt the soft lips.
"I was awake and wanted to get up and move around and I started to get hungry, so I made breakfast for you as well." 'She must be worried about me.' "Breakfast is almost ready, could you see if there's any clean cutlery around?" C.C nodded, she turned and start to look at the cupboards on the opposite side. She bent over, her behind was sticking out, her underwear was only covering one of her bum cheeks. 'This girl can't even dress properly', Lelouch then turned around and adjusted her underwear, as he did so without her noticing, however, he accidentally groped her perfect behind.
C.C yelped and she had felt the feel, Lelouch at turned around quickly, plating the food. "What was that for?!" C.C crossed her arms and tapping her foot.
"I adjusted your underwear.", Lelouch said with a straight face, "Ohhhh? What about the feel then?" quizzed C.C as she raised an eyebrow towards him
Lelouch said nothing and turned around holding two plates of breakfast, "Breakfast is ready." C.C huffed at the response and got the cutlery she was looking for. Both sitting down they ate peacefully, untill C.C started scoffing her food down like it was going to be taken from here, Lelouch on the other hand just sighed.
After washing up, C.C and Lelouch had found themselves back in bed, Lelouch yawned once more signalling it was time to sleep again.
"Still tired?" C.C moved to being on top on Lelouch, tilting her head up to see her lover's eyes. Lelouch stroked her forehead, using his finger; followed her code symbol outline.
"I'm afraid so, I don't think I'll be fun today, you to should get some rest. I think we might be here for a few days seeing there's manhunt for you. And please don't go outside whatever you do."
'I'll be fine Lelouch you don't need to keep worrying about me, worry about yourself for once.'
"Yes Lelouch", she moved off Lelouch going for one of the bags she had with her, it was a book, she thought it would be interesting to read. She had gone back to the bed only to find that Lelouch's eyes were already starting to droop. She got on top of him once more and kissed him, "Sleep tight Lelouch and don't let the bed bugs bite." Lelouch let out a small shy smile; however, C.C was still very worried about her partner.
Nunnally's Palace
"Nunnally…Nunnally…" Sayoko was shaking Nunnally gentle trying to wake her up. After yesterday's excitement, she had worn herself out. So she decided to push all her meetings back by an hour or two so she could recover. After exploring yesterday's tunnels there had been no clues left from the people who had saved Nunnally and the UFN members. Sayoko was also annoyed that she couldn't find any signs of forced entry.
"Lelouch..don't..go…" Nunnally spoke softly, Sayoko hearing this stopped and waited for a minute or two before she tried again, 'She must be having a dream about her brother.'
Shaking Nunnally again, "Nunnally…Nunnally", this time around Nunnally woke up, rubbing her eyes as she yawned. Blinking a couple of times she could see Sayoko sitting on the bed.
"What time is it?" Nunnally sitting up, still rubbing her eyes. "It's 9 o'clock in the morning, your highness." Nunnally blinked a couple of times; it hadn't registered with her first of what Sayoko had said.
"It's 9! Why didn't you wake me up earlier Sayoko, I've got meetings today." Nunnally started to undress, Sayoko stopped her from ripping the nightgown as she put it back on her.
"I've pushed back your meetings back by an hour. I think it would be appropriate seeing as the excitement from yesterday's adventure." Sayoko now removing the nightgown slowly
After having a quick breakfast, Nunnally was being wheeled to her first meeting of the day, it was a meeting with several high ranking officers of the Britannian army. After Ares daring attempt of the assassination, Britannia could no longer stay in the shadows. And that they now needed to take action with or without the consent of the UFN.
The meeting would take place at the Britannia embassy, where they could safely have a meeting in private. As the got to one of the door's an announcer walked it first, "All rise!" Nunnally heard the number of people standing up.
The doors opened and Nunnally was wheeled in, she could see there was at least 10 people, most of them being high ranking military officers including Rafius Donald. He tipped his hat as Nunnally was wheeled to her spot.
"You may sit, please." The ten people all sat down at once all looking towards Nunnally, as she was given a cup of tea.
"Now could we please get this started, I'm sorry for pushing back a meeting an hour or so. Its been a little hard for me if you can understand these past few days."
"No one would expect you to get here so quickly, it been a trying time for all of us." Rafius opening a briefcase pulling out a handful of documents. He handed them to one of the waiting-maids as she brought them over. "After Ares announcement close to two months ago, there has been a large increase in leavers or in some cases deserters. After having a war abruptly cut and being put to peacekeeping duties they have become sick and tired of it."
The maid who had been carrying the papers put them in front of Nunnally, "They don't understand do they? What war can do to people, their countries, their homes, and their future." Nunnally sighed
"And with it, we believe that Ares with the new members they will eventually start invading. They have already declared that Japan will be the starting point. A prince no less who wants his spot on the throne back. And to follow him of all people." Rafius said it coldly but realizing who else was in the room, "I'm sorry your highness I d-." trying to apologize quickly
"It's ok Rafius….. I know you didn't mean it, please continue." Saying it with a small smile
Rafius cleared this throat and started to talk again, "I've spoken to the defensive minister and Commander Velcris and they have both agreed that we can no longer sit on the sidelines. We must take action as well. Which mean your highness-."
"We will have to start building weapons again doesn't it?"
Rafius… nodded, "I'm afraid so, we Britannia can't just sit and do nothing and I would like you to open a few military factories. We have already gained approval from the UFN and in addition Japan as offered that we use one of their large factories to help with the building process. General Talapin will be able to give more information."
"Your Highness if I may?" Nunnally nodded her head and watched the General got up and pulled out a USB stick and plugged it into the table. A hologram showed up in the middle of the table everyone being able to see everything.
"Your Majesty, we have asked both the UFN and in addition the Japanese to help us fight this new threat. We estimate roughly forty to fifty thousand people who have joined Ares proclamation of war. And that's not with the members that have already joined, but we are also scared about the Knightmares they have created.
We don't know how many they have nor have many they have left to build let alone what generation they are. As you know from the peace treaties between the EU and Chinese federation and Britannia we disassembled a large portion of our forces to make way for building equipment and recycled them for other uses. Then we did the same with the weapons and transformed them to into other tools that may be of use.."
As the general started to explain other aspects, Nunnally felt sick to her stomach, she was going to have to go against everything that Lelouch had paved the way for the future. And yet in front of her then ten men were ready to go to war. She didn't how long they had been planning, but it had seemed to be in the works for a while. Nunnally hugged her stomach as she remembered the time when Lelouch was carrying her walking through the fields of dead people. Him and Suzaku and sheltered her from everything lying when they could and couldn't see.
Sayoko had seen Nunnally and so did Rafiu the way she clutching her stomach her face was turning a little pale. General Taplian was about to start talking again when Rafius raised his voice.
"That's enough now General, I think we have heard enough." Waving his hand, Sayoko and grabbed Nunnally a glass of water, which she drank very quickly. She gave a small nod to Rafius who had saved her.
"So General how many numbers are will looking all up?" Asked Nunnally as she gave the empty cup to Sayoko who had gone back to refill it again
"Well if we tally everything up it would be about 2 million and with the reverses it would be higher."
"Finance minister, could you please give your report." Rafius raised his hand and the vice finance minister Geoff Clangford started to talk, allowing Nunnally to compose herself.
Location unknown, South China Sea
Ares was clueless, stunned, and furious, he was pacing up and down his room. He had been watching the UFN meeting, everything was going to plan, they had stormed the meeting, all lined up, Enyalios pointing the gun barrel at her highness the rest ready to badly injure them…But nothing happened. Enyalios was attempting to pull the trigger, however, nothing happened, he pointed the gun at the wall and the gun went off. Back to her highness and the gun wouldn't go off. He had been screaming, shouting at the TV for them to do something but they did nothing and instead, they ran like dogs with there tails between their legs.
And then there was the man's eye's, he had never seen a pair like that before. The only thing the Britannia had released was that it was classified information. Ares had the idea that this, was Britannia's new weapon, but his spies inside knew nothing about it. The only thing that had given him was that there were meetings that her highness was going to.
"What the hell am I going to do now?" slumping back down into his chair, "They are going to string me alive in the next meeting", rolling his thumbs in the circle above one another. "I don't have a choice, at this rate I will look like a laughing stock." Ares hands on his mask as he looked out the window from his seat.
"Ares! Ares!" Volk dashed into the room giving Ares a fright.
"What do you want Volk!" bellowed Ares
"The air carrier is just docking", Volk trying to get his breath back, "They started to request medical support as soon as they got in range, the medical staff is waiting for them."
Ares got up and walked out of the room towards the air carrier, Volk was behind him, trying to keep up with him.
As they approached the ship Ares was waiting for them, wanting to hear what the hell had happened, from the time they entered as interrupted the meeting and after running away. The back entrance opened as the medical staff rushed inside. The first few people didn't seem so bad some were limping, some needing a shoulder or hopping on one leg.
The next ten people were worse, they had cuts all over the bodies, their clothes ripped like there had been attacked by dogs, blood was everywhere, all over their clothes as well as the bandages that covered most of their limbs. Some were in slings and some were in wheelchairs being carted down the ramp.
The last five were the critically injured ones; they were being carted by stretchers. The men on those had bruises and cuts some deep and some light all over their bodies. These trained and somewhat fearless men and be beaten to an inch of their life. Some had been bandaged all away around there bodies. Ares could only look in horror of what these men and women had become. Enyalios was the last one to come out. His knee was bent the other direction, with a bandage over one of his eyes and his entire top part of his head.
"Enyalios!" Ares shouting his he came down the ramp, with a crutch under one arm. Ares walked next to him and took the other shoulder. "What happened?!" Ares adjusted him to the right height to help him.
"I am sorry Ares we have failed you", Enyalios was coughing as he spoke, "It was just after we had failed to do something that you requested. We were met with some kind of resistance, they were not normal. One of them was a girl and the other was a…." Enyalios had a small shake, "A cyborg."
/Flashback
The two figures in white after being hailed with bullets started to sprint towards them. "Everyone show them that we are not afraid and that we the ones that bring the fear!"
"ARRGHHH" the rest of them shouted, some charging, some bringing their pistols out. Enyalios was trying to rally the troops the best he could but even he was somewhat scared, 'What am I going to do! What am I going to do!' He stood there as the first few people engaged the people dressed in white, "I know, that gun!' As Enyalios went into the ship.
Jeremiah decided that he would use his fists, 'Lelouch told me not to kill them but only hurt them'. The first person ran up, throwing a right hook, Jeremiah dodged the hook, only to return one of his own to the man's lower stomach. The soldier felt the blow, but continued on. Throwing lefts and rights, which he was dodging. The man changing his tactics, spun his leg around aiming for Jeremiah's head. He blocked it, grabbing the leg and throwing him to a nearby tree. But he got up again, Jeremiah surprised at the man's determination. Another one coming up behind Jeremiah with a long knife, as the soldier swung diagonally, Jeremiah summoning one of his hidden blades and blocked it.
The soldier who Jeremiah had thrown was now coming from the other side who was holding his knife as well. Jeremiah summoned his other blade and blocked it. Moving his blades up, putting the men off balance, spinning around and cutting the men two or three times in the stomach and upper chest. Both men reeled in pain, the body armor that they were wearing and no resistance, the blade and had gone right through it. They stood up, the sound of gunfire echoed again, Jeremiah blocking the bullets with the two blades. His robes were already full of bullet holes, 'By the looks of it I'm going to have to get another one.' He turned towards Anya who seemed to have a bit better of a time at dealing with them.
Anya was spinning her staff around, which she had built from the parts that Lelouch had sent to her over the years. It was a 240cm pink staff; it was composed of titanium with a hidden feature or two. The first feature is that it could act as an electric baton that either end that could produce an electric current like a teaser and the second feature was a little special. It was something like Lelouch's "ultimate defense" which could stop a number of bullets before it would deactivate either from switching it on and off or the battery is depleted.
The first attacker, went after her with fists, as she got close with fists ready, Anya parried the punch with the staff, bashing it away, she would then twirl it, having one end of the staff driving it into the persons stomach, she then spun it around her neck and hitting the girl on the head falling down in a heap.
Anya then took her first steps, she ran towards the group of soldiers, using her staff as in extension, she firmly planted the staff in the ground, using the momentum. She launched herself into a mid-air kick, using one of the soldiers she had kicked in the chest as a landing pad. She tasered him, she then turned her attention to their other five around her. She started to hit the five soldiers with either end of the staff. Hitting their chests, lower stomach, and their legs. After all of them staggering she active the teaser function and shocked them all on quick successions, the five falling lifelessly into a heap.
"Anya watch out!" Jeremiah yelled, she quickly faced forward, seeing that several had raised their guns at her. Anya quickly flipping the switches on her staff the shield came up, as the bullets hit the shield there momentum was stopped and quickly fell to the ground. The soldiers all looking surprised at the result. Anya turned the two switches off, "I'm ok Lord J!"
'This is getting annoying.' Jeremiah beating the next couple soldiers, Jeremiah had turned again to see Anya fending off the next lot, Jeremiah was impressed on how she was moving, he had taught her for the past five years and was impressed with the results. It felt weird for her not being able to pilot a Knightmare and was often bored at times. Her he had least taught her how to defend herself, it also helped to fend off people trying to steal their oranges.
"Everyone move!" Jeremiah looked up only to see Enyalios placing something at the start of the entrance ramp. He went behind what seems to be a large gun.
Enyalios started to press various buttons, flipping three switches, the gun started to make a loud purring sound. Keeping the eye of the meter in kept looking up and back down again. Jeremiah had noticed what he was doing.
"Protect the cannon at all costs!" Jeremiah wasn't going to go easy anymore, he charged at the few protecting the gun, using his blade he started to cut through the group showing no mercy trying to stop the oddly shaped gun.
"Come on..come on.." muttering nervously, he heard a ping and pointed the weapon at Anya.
"Anya move!" roared Jeremiah, The gun went off a large buzz sound went through the air, Any jumped out of the way of the projectile. The projectile and gone through several large trees and went as far as 200m before the stopped. The ground was scorched in a straight line where the projectile had traveled.
Jeremiah charged up the ramp, "Noooo!" cried Enyalios, Jeremiah stabbed one of the components, the weapon let off a hissing sound as sparks started to emerge from the gun, before can could move the weapon let off a discharge, sending Enyalios flying to the back of the air carrier. Jeremiah looked out from the top of the ramp and saw that everyone had been badly beaten or knocked out cold.
He went to back and looked for Enyalios.
Enyalios rubbed his head, his body ached from head to toe. He clasped his hands over his ears, they were ringing and noticed the blood coming from them. Cowering, "Please...please don't kill me!" begging Enyalios looking at the figure in white uniform that was filled with bullet holes, towering over him.
"Don't worry I'm not planning to kill you, just sending a message. If Ares thinks that he can start a war and get away with it, he is very wrong. And my master will put a stop to it, the message and the shooting was a warning."
Enyalios noticed that the figure in white had taken his right leg and lifted it and, with his strength, pushed the knee in the other direction. Enyalios roared in pain and started to swear in every he knew in English and his native tongue.
Jeremiah walked outed and went towards Anya, "Let's get out of here we have done what we needed to do." Anya nodded and both ran to where the car was parked.
/flashback end
"A cyborg?!" looking at Enyalios shocked, 'Could that be Britannia's secret weapon?!'
"No it wasn't from Britannia, he said he served another master. He was the one behind the shooting and the message that was on the news a few days ago. I don't know who he is, but it's an independent force. I'm sorry Ares I have failed you.." Enyalios looking sad, turning his face away disappointed
"No my son you did what you could, we didn't expect this, he also allied himself with Zero whoever it is." Ares trying to comfort the unit commander, patting his uninjured shoulder
Enyalios turned towards Ares with a small smile on his face, as he accepted Ares words, "The guns were useless as well Ares, we didn't know what happened, it was like we couldn't pull the triggers on the members, we couldn't kill or injure anyone."
"Shhhh my son you have done your best I do not blame you for it all." Silencing him once more urging one of the medics to assist him
Enyalios was then carried off to the medical bay by medical staff who had arrived to help the next lot of people.
Ares watch helplessly as the soldiers who had joined his cause were being carted to the medical bay. Ares clenched his fists, 'Dam those people in white and their masters! I will make sure they will pay dearly for this, I will spill their blood in righteous revenge.'
"Ares? …..Ares?" Volk nervously poked Ares, it was like poking a sleeping bear, he could see that under his mask he was mad, he was scared that Ares would slash out at him. Ares unclench his fits as he regained his senses.
"Yes, Volk, what is it?" turning to his oldest friend, "The members are calling for you Ares. They wish to have a meeting and update you on the situation at hand." Volk showed Ares the message, sighing he went back towards his room and hear the update from them.
Ares entered the secret room and sat down, a dial pad came up and type in the calling number, after a brief second or so, seven screens came down. Unable to see their faces, the six men, and one woman, sitting down waiting for Ares to start.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the circle what can I do for you on this day?" Ares opening, he was scared that they were going to chew him out about the "failure" of the job.
"You have done well Ares", one of them said, "Britannia has decided to open its factories again. The Queen signed the decree no longer than an hour ago. She has the backing from Japan, The UFN, and the Black Knights in order to defend its lands and Japan."
"Now its only a matter of time before the decision to look towards opening others, we must push the schedule forward, Naladrak, Masamba, Ingolfsson, Simions, King, and Lefurgey are your Knightmares and forces ready to be deployed?
"Ja"
"Oui"
"Da"
"Yes"
"Yes"
"Já"
Ares blinked a couple of times, he couldn't believe what they were telling him, a sudden rush of anger overcame Ares. "Now hang on a FUCKING second." Ares slammed his fist on the table, the table he'd slammed his fist on made a small "crack" sound. "I thank you for considering the fact and you guys want to push up the schedule, however, there's a small problem with that.
"And that would be?" The women asked
"Two things, one is the fact that they won't be so scared anymore, after the event of the UFN meeting, where might I add that we couldn't pull the bloody trigger. Were you weapons properly tested? Secondly, a new player has entered the game. These people in "white" that seem to be interfering with our plans." Ares annoyed at the whole situation
"What about the girl with green hair, C.C? She might be a vital asset for your cause Ares, she should know everything about Britannia and the Black Knights like the back of her hand. You don't know what a woman will do for the person they loved and cherished." Ares noticed that the woman didn't seem to care much about his opinion
"You sound like you know from experience?" Ares looked at the woman and smirked, "Miss Kuma Kirihara?"
"How…..How… Did you know it was me?" The light came on, there she sat, a woman in her late thirties. She had long black hair that was tied up in a cone bun with loose bits of black hair, two green eyes that looked like emeralds, she had a bit of a more mature complexion compared to her cousin Kaguya. Her lips were pink covered with a thin line of pink lipstick, and the shy evil looking smile. She was wearing a white shirt showing her well-endowed chest, with a dark green jacket.
"Oh please, I have my sources and you and have your sources" Smiled Ares, "While the others are money issues, your issue a bit more personal than others? Correct?"
Kuma said nothing as she just nodded. She was the woman that had taken over her grandfather's industry. After the release of Japan, business boomed for her and she grew very powerful. Her cousin was the previous female head of Kirihara's. But after the war, she decided to act as the head speaker of the UFN and assisting the Black Knights. So Kuma decided to take up the roll. She blamed Kaguya for the death of her grandfather the last head of the Kirihara clan, after the SAZ incident.
She just wanted revenge on Kaguya as well as the Black Knights for abandoning her grandfather and the other important leads of the Kyōto House.
"But enough from me, are you truly sure about moving up the plan?"
"Yes we are, the other members will be sending their stock soon, combined with the 30,000 we have made, one hundred twenty thousand gen 11 Knightmares and equipment for the other 80,000. However we will be sending a small portion to help "set alight" the main spark," Kuma said, "This enables us to test what their forces are like.
We will also be sending the "Zeus" prototype with them, it should also provide an excellent test as well, Ares I believe you have seen the ship schematics?"
"Yes I have, when will the ship arrive?"
"Shortly, we will be providing technicians which will be around one hundred and you will supplying the rest, any issues Ares?"
"No." grumpy nodding
"Don't be so annoyed Ares, soon you will have your time, once our factories are open we will do everything we agreed to do."
And with that, the several people disappeared from the screen leaving Ares by himself. Ares took off his helmet and placed it on the table, he moved over to the liquor cabinet and got himself a drink, sitting down with a drink in his hand, he brushed his finger against the stitched up sections of his face.
"All I wanted to do was reclaim the throne and get back where I wanted to be, nothing more nothing less. No, I have these seven idiots, ordering me like I'm some kind of dog wanting to get a treat every now and then.
Japan would be the starting point, it wasn't because the Empress was there, it was because they are still recovering from war. The Empress is just a bonus piece for me to get, if she moves, it won't matter I'll get her at some stage and then take my rightful spot."
Ares moved the half-empty glass against another line of stitches, one that was going over his forehead. The cold liquor felt nice against the line of stitches that hurt, not every single line of stitches ached but the one against his forehead did. Ares sighed taking another zip before placing it back to his forehead.
Someone knocked on the inner door, "Its Volk, Ares can I come in?"
"Come in Volk, I've got my helmet off for the time being, do you remember the last time you saw my face?" Volk came in, Ares face always gave him the creeps, however, he had to man up and not show fear.
"Are you stitches aching again Ares? Maybe you should get them redone? Its been close to twenty years since the accident. So what did they say in the end? Where they happy? Sad?"
Ares looked up at that Volk, he too had taken off his helmet, Ares could see his gentle yet smooth old face, his purple eyes and his short golden length hair that went down to his neck. Volk's helmet and horns sticking up and a visor protecting his eyes. He was the only person aside from Vanessa who had stayed with him for many, many years. He and she were the only two people who helped Ares get back to his spot on the throne after ten years of fighting for land.
"They were happy funny enough, apparently she signed a deal to open two up major Knightmares/army factories up for us. But I'm still uneasy about there plans, "Zeus" is meant to be coming here. But I have a grave feeling they are only sending men to their graves, instead of for filling my objective. I feel like I'm a puppet and they are the puppeteer and my men are like children, watching and waiting for me to move my strings while I wait for there's."
Volk sat down and looked at Ares, he had been through hell and now he was being controlled, which Volk knew Ares hated.
Old Aquarium, Tokyo
Jeremiah and Anya had arrived that the base just after 1 pm, as they entered the main living space they saw a cute site. Lelouch was still sleeping; C.C was lying on top of his stomach sleeping away. They stood there for a minute or two to simply enjoy the peace between the two. Between the two they had been through a lot, they both wondered if they too had peaceful moments like this.
As the started to turn around and go to a different section of the place, "Where do think you two are going?", both of them turned around to see the C.C was now sitting on the bed stretching, they both could see she was only wearing a shirt. "We didn't want to disturb you; the two of you looked so peaceful. So we were going to wait." Replied Jeremiah
"What time is it?" asked C.C, hearing a stomach growling in agony as C.C rubbed it. "It's just after 1 pm C.C.", C.C looked to Lelouch and remembered his words, 'Don't go out for the time being.', C.C got out of bed and quickly found a pair of pants and a green neckless, as well as a yellow hair wig.
"Well, I'm hungry and I don't think sleeping beauty is going to be waking up anytime soon. He might need at least another two days of sleep before he's back to 100%. Anya let's get some lunch and Jeremiah you can watch over him for a bit."
"Miss C.C are you sure that's ok? They have increased their numbers and now the Black Knights are on patrol again. Wouldn't it be wise to wait a day or two? We could get you lunch if you want to-."
"I'll be fine Jeremiah", cutting Jeremiah off," I have Anya to look after me right?" Anya didn't say anything she just nodded her head in agreement, she didn't want to get into an argument and then having to take sides. It was better that she said nothing.
"Very Well…." Jeremiah said uneasily, "Please just make sure you take your phone with you Miss C.C, I'd hate to feel guilty if we didn't have some way of contacting you if Lelouch wakes up or something bad happens over the news while you're out."
C.C rolled her eyes and grabbed her phone off the bedside table, grabbing Lelouch's wallet she and Anya both left. Jeremiah, on the other hand, picked up a chair and sat on Lelouch's side and started to read one of the books that had been placed out on the floor, grabbing it, he started to read.
C.C and Anya had made their way to one of the nearest food courts they could find, C.C finding Pizza Hut dragged Anya into it. As C.C ordered she and Anya sat down and after an awaked silence Anya start the conversation. "C.C you sure its ok to be out to the public like this?" Anya whispered to C.C over the table.
"It will be fine Anya you have nothing to worry about, R.R may think not, but I've been looking after myself for a very time long. Although…..". C.C stopped to take a pause, as she looked at her ring and looked back at Anya, "I wish he would let me help him more. That's one thing that has annoyed me in the past week. We promised in our vows and before we came back that we would help one another.
And we haven't, you see what happens, R.R becomes like his old self. He needs to become more open like to talk to me when hes worried and to depend on me a bit more…" Anya could see the annoyed or sad look on her face.
"Is this why you have gone out today? To help him a little more, to find more information about Ares? And have I been dragged along for the ride?" quizzed Anya
"Maybe…..", C.C giving her a small but cheeky smile, Anya sighed and looked at C.C, "Fine, ill help you as so long as we get back before Lelouch wakes up, otherwise he might chew me out for not bringing you back."
"Let me deal with him when the time comes, Lelouch's bark isn't that bad." C.C's pizza came, she thanked the waiter and start to tuck in, Anya could see that C.C was very much enjoying her pizza and evening letting Anya have a slice.
After C.C had lunch both of them decided they would nose around trying to find information on Ares firstborn, going through books, using Anya credentials to get into a Britannian secured database they still couldn't find anything. Giving up they decided they would explore the shops, both of them were trying on clothes, makeup and other girly things that C.C wanted to do.
C.C had explained to Anya that she never left his room while he was trying to defeat Britannia and freeing Japan. So she missed out on a tone of things to do in Tokyo, Anya knew a little about Japan and the shops, she wasn't unable to go out because of being a knight of the rounds.
C.C had noticed that Anya's tone had changed from when the last meet she was still talking on that same monologue tone. But now her tone was a lot of happier and a lot more normal than before.
Opposite side of the street in an unmarked van
"Man how much longer is this going to be?! Ares has got us on a wild goose chase, I mean there are millions of people in Toyko and she he wants us to find this "woman". It's like a bloody needle in a haystack"
"Yea but its all for a good cause, ya know? I mean his mistress is still alive, so she has to help us right? Wanting to get revenge and everything."
"Yea I don't know about that, women can be fickle things, they want one thing and then they want another thing."
"Ohh do you have experience in this?"
"Nooo, just heard it from a friend."
The two men were interrupted by someone banging on the window separating the driver's side. One of the men pulled the sliding window," What do you want?"
"Isn't your time to get the coffee?" the driver pointing his finger on the watch. The other man just sighed, "I suppose it is… same as usual or different?"
"Same please."
As one of them opened the van door and scanners and computer senses went off, the man closed the van door and went over to his buddy who was looking at the live video feed. They both could see two women with shopping bags, one had pink shoulder length hair and was wearing a t-shirt and jeans, the other had yellow hair, yellow eyes and was also wearing a low cut top that was green and blue jeans.
Both men looked at the monitor and saw that the woman with yellow hair was a 95% match to the picture the machine had been fed.
"Well I'll be damned, she really is here."
"Hang on its only 95% accurate." The man pointing to the screen and the picture they were given.
"It should be all right, oi Mav we have a match get ready for pick up." The two men got out of the man and headed towards the women with yellow hair.
Anya had gone to the bathroom and had told C.C to wait for a minute, she had left all her bags with C.C. She was on her phone when she noticed the two men coming towards her. They seemed nothing special, both in their late 20's, military-style haircuts and wearing mostly black. The two men had crossed the street and were looking at her.
'Maybe they are trying to pick me up and with Anya as well? This should be interesting, they are not that bad looking but still the haircut….' Thought C.C, she didn't have such a bad taste of men, but then again she had married a man who had taken over the world and started a war. The two men were only a meter away from her, C.C looked up from her phone, pretending to text.
"Can I help you?" C.C leaned back on the wall, arching her chest out, trying to appeal to the two men, moving one of her feet up against the wall. The two men look dumbfounded and one of them almost took the bait, C.C having her phone in one hand.
"The war god wishes to talk to the demon's wife." One of the men said, C.C froze, she had just realized that they weren't trying to pick her up, they were trying to get her to meet Ares. C.C gulped and looked up, 'How…How did the find me, I should be impossible to find me…It doesn't matter this is a chance to get closer to Ares and what he's planned to do.'
"Not so loud you fools, they don't know I'm here yet, do you want me to get caught!?" C.C raised her eyebrow at the two men while trying to get into character. The two men gulped and both said "sorry" to her.
"He wishes to speak with the demons mistress and to ask for assistance, and in return to help you what you desire."
'So that's what his game is, he properly wants me to help him with taking over Japan seeing as I have gone through it once and wants to ask me questions about the campaign. I need to get a message.'
"Alright, ill come and meeting this so-called war god and to hear him out." C.C closed the phone and dropped it into one of the bags, she was then escorted by the two men across the street to the van that was there.
Anya had just come out of the bathroom and turned the corner, "C.C I'm back …." However C.C wasn't there, instead so looked over and saw C.C being put into the van with two people in it. She sat down and saw in horror one of the men injecting her with something, C.C noticing this looked across the street and saw Anya with a sad and a face that said "help me", the van door closed and sped off.
Anya gulped and looked at the bags, 'He's going to kill me!' Anya saw something blinking in one of the bags and it was C.C's phone opening it, she read the note.
'Lelouch doesn't be so mad, I'm doing this to help you, you have become too stubborn and not using me to help you. I should be back in a few days and to see what Ares wants of me.'
-C.C
"He's going to kill me! I better contact Jere."
Lelouch yawned as he woke again for the second time today. Jeremiah who had been sitting near the bed reading, noticed Lelouch stirring from his slumber.
"Good afternoon your highness"
"Afternoon Jeremiah", Lelouch said drowsily, opening and rubbing his eyes, trying to adjust to the afternoon light. He looked around but couldn't see C.C anywhere, "Where's C.C Jeremiah?"
"C.C went out to lunch with Anya, I think she was hungry and stepped out for a bit. Although…it has been close to and two and half hours since they had left. I'm sure they will be back soon your highness." Jeremiah placing the book down back on the free spot on the near table.
'That girl, thinking she can do as she pleases while she being hunted, of all the reckless things.' Lelouch huffed at what Jeremiah said, "What time is it?"
"4:30 pm your highness", Jeremiah phone rang, "Ahh its Anya, ill let her know to tell C.C that are awake."
"Hello Anya, Lelouch as woken up, are you on your way home?" for the next couple of minutes Anya would tell Jeremiah what had happened, Lelouch looking at Jeremiah's face turn from his usual state to a look of shock and horror. "Are you s-s-s-sure Anya?" stuttering Jeremiah, Lelouch looked over to Jeremiah and walked over to him and took the phone out of grasp before Jeremiah could react, as Lelouch held the phone next to his ear about to say something.
"He's going to kill me, Jere! If he finds out C.C was kidnapped he's going to kill me." Lelouch looked at Jeremiah who gulped at the sight of Lelouch. Lelouch's face had changed, eyebrows burrow together, his eyes were not the calm purple, but looked like a vulture who was about to kill its prey.
"Youuuuuu what!" Lelouch shouted through the phone,"I told her to stay indoors and not to go outside and to stay here!"
"I'm sorry R.R I didn't mean to, I just went to the bathroom, we have been shopping and getting something else to eat and.."
"And what else!" snapped before Anya could finish
"Your Highness, give Anya a break it's not her fault." Jeremiah standing up putting his hands up, "I sure she will come home." Lelouch had put it on speaker so Jeremiah could hear
"She said she wanted to help you since you know you have been pretty stubborn about the whole UFN meeting. She thought she was being underutilized and she could have done more. She was so cross at you and she decided that we conduct our own investigation….."
Lelouch threw the phone to Jeremiah who was shocked at what the two women had been up. Lelouch trying to quell his rage and his displeasement with his wife, he sat on a chair and covered his face with his hands, "Goddam it C.C!" Lelouch slammed the table whit all his might, "I tell you why I didn't want her out, because its stuff like this that she does, I give her a little room to roam free and do whatever she wants as long as it was within the boundaries. And yet she decides to do this! We are in enemy territory currently, with now the Black Knights actively looking for her. If she gets caught it will be one hell of a mess to get her out of it.
That stupid, stupid girl! When I get my hands on her she is going to get an ear full of me", he turned to Jeremiah who was a little shaken at Lelouch anger, "Anya you better get yourself back here this instant."
And with that the phone hung up, Lelouch pulled out a chair and placed his hands on his head, "That stupid little girl!" Jeremiah could understand what he was going through.
Jeremiah took a deep breath and asked nervously, "Your Highness if I may ask why are you so against C.C from helping? Even I in all my military planning, during the UFN meeting there were some better solutions."
"Are you saying my judgment was off Jeremiah Gottwald? That I should have looked at other alternatives aside from the path I went down?"
Jeremiah gulped, "Yes…. there may be one of two small details that could have been more..what's the word for it…less forgiving to your health." Jeremiah nervously saying, Lelouch was now in a very foul mood and he didn't want to get his wraith
Lelouch leaned back in his chair and sighed, "Do you know why I don't want to get C.C involved with this mess and why I've tried to keep her out of the loop."
"No I don't your highness; I may think that you have a perfect explanation I…"
"Its because I don't want her to suffer anymore", Lelouch stood up and walked towards one of the windows, Jeremiah a little interested.
"When I mean suffer I mean she doesn't have to run or to be scared anymore. I saw her, in her past, she was always running or hiding from someone or something. I'm the one who's meant to protect her from those things or people that are after her. I want to protect that smile of hers, that she may never feel lonely or sad.
But she goes ahead and does recklessly and I scared that I'm going to lose her and I don't want to lose her at all."
Jeremiah could see his prince's determination, he wanted to protect her like a husband should and the vows that he said were no different.
"You're highness, may it be good that you are doing those things to protect her, but it doesn't explain your stubbornness. This is not your burden anymore to carry you both have to carry it, you are a married couple, couples share their problems that they may overcome it."
"But this entire thing is my fault Jeremiah, someone, as we speak, is trying to follow my footsteps to take over the world. The burden I carried for almost two years, the people I killed and the friendships I destroyed. And now someone has decided to take up that role and try and do the same thing again, all because everyone thought I was doing because I was a child of that nothing good for all father of mine."
"Lelouch no one could have seen this coming, Charles first born coming back wanting to do what his father wanted, achieving world domination. While at the same time wanting the throne, but the thing I still don't get why Japan? Sure it was the starting point, he should have invaded one of the smaller countries and then continued on. And why hasn't he mounted a full-scale assault, or started on the outskirts."
"Because he's being smart about it."
"How so your highness?"
"Out of all the lands to attack, Japan is the weakest. Because it has been ripped by war three to four times, its economy is not so strong, people are still recovering and the government was only formed recently. The only reason they are surviving is the funds that Britannia is giving them to stay afloat. And the reason why want C.C is because she was there for most of the planning for taking over Japan. So she will have extensive knowledge of the campaign, important points as well as what numbers were used.
I still don't understand how he's getting all of those resources from, someone else must be pulling the strings behind them. But that doesn't matter for the moment, for the time being, C.C is more important. He's also testing something else which I'm not sure of yet, only time will tell."
A little while later Anya came back huffing and puffing out of breath, "I'm back, sorry for the delay."
"Welcome back Anya you have some explaining to do…" Lelouch tapping his foot, Jeremiah was behind him, signaling that he had calmed down.
"C.C thought it would be a good idea and go outside to see whats happening, so she could help you so she wouldn't feel so useless."
"I know that, but that doesn't mean she doesn't become so reckless. Anya, did you see the van and plates?"
"I don't remember sorry Lelouch."
"Then afraid I have no other choice, I'm sorry what I'm about to do Anya. Jeremiah, could you active your Geass canceller? I'm going to have to use Geass on Anya, her subconscious memory might remember."
"Your Highness are you sure?"
"Do, it." Anya said firmly, "I should have been keeping a closer eye on her when we were out, its partly my fault."
"Jeremiah if you would please use your canceller."
Jeremiah did what he was told and activated it and a few seconds the white cover closed once more.
Lelouch looked directly at Anya and spoke, "I commanded you to tell me what the men looked like, how many there were and a description of a van."
"Yes your highness." said Anya, "The two men were in there late 20's, both having military-style haircuts, both wearing black, eye color green and brown. There were at least two escorting C.C and another as the driver. The van was black and had the plate 879 M5k, they had injected C.C with something."
After a second or two Anya reverted back to her normal self, "Did it work?" clasping her hand together and looking at Lelouch.
"Yes it did Anya, thank you very much and sorry for having to Geass you."
"It's all good Lelouch, I should have kept a closer eye on her."
"It's not your fault Anya, that witch can be tricky at times. Although its somewhat a good thing, she will be able to see what Ares is up to and want he wants from her. I can only guess its to do with the plan of he will take over Japan and the world, if he ever gets that far." Lelouch went to one of the bags and got out a set of clothing.
"Tomorrow we will go look for that witch, I need to get myself ready."
"Your Highness are you sure that's a wise idea? Going outside?"
"Don't underestimate me, Jeremiah, I can still blend with the public without getting spotted. And even if I do, they might not recognize me straight away."
The New Japanese Parliament Building
Ohgi nervously walked through the new parliament building, towards the ministers chambers. To talk about the events that happened yesterday and the actions that they would take in order to solve this problem. Ohgi opened the door and saw that he was the last one to arrive, Tohdoh, Suzaku, and Kagyua. The defensive minister Yashima Genjo, the minister of finance Mitsui Kyushichi, the minister of public affairs Hara Kuniko, minister of transportation Aoi Goro, minister of environment Asano Yukinaga, the minister of international affairs Kinjo Kii and the deputy minister Miyara Ninsei.
Ohgi nervously sat down at the head of the table, grabbing out a few papers and a pen as he organized them in order.
"Good afternoon everyone." Ohgi breaking the ice as the other members stared at him with a hint of unsettlement and annoyance.
"Good morning Prime minister." The other responded with a hint of expressionless in their voices.
"I guess to start things off is the fact that another Zero has appeared during yesterday's meeting, I know this is unsettling news. However, as always we will overcome and continue forward."
"Well, at least this time it isn't a traitor, unlike last time." As the minister of public affairs, Hara Kuniko looked towards Suzaku, adjusting her glasses, "The public as already become unsettled so to speak. They fear with this Zero around, they think that history will repeat it's self once more."
"I personally think that Zero is here to help and not to cause a ruckus. I think the public may look to Zero as someone who will defend the peace like Suzaku did, before the incident..." Ohgi commenting
"That may true, however, the image of Zero was a doubled edge sword so to speak, in the past, he protected those but also inspired racial hate or discrimination and now that he's back. That feeling could spark again with the people. Remember what happened a few years after the fall of the emperor, the people of Japan didn't want Britannia here anymore. And then adding fuel to the fire we allowed her highness to stay here as part of "relationship building".
"Those were some dark days we had, but in the end, we were able to explain to the people why this had happened, I mean her Highness is practically Japanese seeing she spent most of her life here." Said Kaguya.
"Yes, I know that Miss Chairwoman, we allowed her highness to stay here due to the "strained" relationship between us and Britannia. On the agreement that Zero would become the bridge between our two countries, however, that bridge burned very quickly only after three years." Looking again at Suzaku.
"I did my job as I was meant to do it, nothing more and nothing less. I couldn't help it that the police were not happy, accusing me of "doing their jobs for them". As for the people, I was only there to make sure the transition of peace went smoothly." Spat out Suzaku
"No doubt about it, however, the people noticed that you were favoring her highness and Britannia more and more. Although you may a quelled the racial riots and discrimination, but the people of Japan noticed that a Japanese was favoring the Britannian side. Whenever there was an incident between the Japanese and the Britannian civilians, you always favoured their side instead of the Japanese."
Suzaku hearing that slammed his fist on the table, "They were doing nothing wrong, the Japanese people were the ones who were starting the fights. The Britannian's agreed that they didn't want to fight, they just wanted to live like normal people. Sure there were some outliners, but her highness dealt with those people."
"That's what you think how-"
"However nothing." Cutting off the public affairs minister, "Out of all the cases against the Japanese and Britannia with racial discrimination, the Japanese were the aggressive party. Her highness only raised those complaints when I raised the issue with her. She only stepped in when she thought it was necessary. Why not ask your foreign minister about the complaints that the Britannian civilians made to her highness?"
"I saw those complaints and asked the Prime Minister to take action and had given him a solution however he never followed through with it, he too was almost removed from his position after he agreed with her highness."
"I was doing what I thought was right for everyone who lived in Japan, those people who moved from Britannian lands to Japan wanted to start a new life. Most of them were fine with living with one another, it was only royals and viceroys who thought of the Japanese as "lesser creatures". Her highness helped this country and its people with improving the living and health standards. Unlike many years ago after when Britannia just tossed us away and made it a primary Britannian land."
"We are getting off topic here, we are here to talk about who the new Zero, not old grudges of what happened in the past…that was painful enough as it was and we don't need to go down that path again." Chimed in Tohdoh.
/Flashback
Few days before the incident…
Suzaku huffed and puffed as he continued to walk through the palace that belonged to Nunnally. He had enough of this. After three years he had enough played the part of Zero, he had promised to Lelouch he would carry on the mantle as zero and to protect the world from the threat of conflict ever again. Most countries had been living without any issue; however, Japan was ready to start a war all over again. After the downfall of Lelouch, Japan had allowed Britannia to live in their country after the peace treaty was made. They allowed the 100th Empress to stay because she had told the ministers that her home was Japan, she had lived here since she was seven and loved it here. So they allowed her and her people to live in Japan.
In the first two years, there was so much construction work around Japan; there was a low unemployment rate. Britannia and other countries had been supplying Japan with materials or order to rebuild its self from the ground up. After two years with the technology they had been given, they had rebuilt a large portion of the affected areas. However once other jobs started to open up in other sectors there was another problem, was that a number of business had been employing non-Japanese people to help with everything, only a small portion of them was actually employed because of their skills, which made the rest of the Japanese people feel uneasy.
A way to combat this is that the government started to help people re-skill and with the assistance of Britannia, many jobs were opened and a lot of people had been re-skilled in order to enter the workforce again. However, there was still a large unemployment percentage and so some expressed their opinion that the non-Japanese people should be fired from their jobs so that the Japanese people could once again start working to make their country better.
With the movement denied, telling them it would put a strain on the "treaty". A lot of people were not happy about this and so they decided on how they would remove people from Japan to reclaim their jobs.
In the following six months the Japanese people had been going on rally's, throwing racial insults, fights, bullying and other many terrible things that the Japanese people did to the large majority of Britannian's and non-Japanese. Once the government had enough they asked Zero, for his help in keeping the peace. And so with Zero, lead a task force in order to combat this, the Japanese police played a small part because under the signed treaty Zero and the Black Knights would be the ones to look after this issue.
Over the coming months, Zero and the Black Knights had arrested many people. However, the Japanese people were not impressed, with Zero being Japanese's citizen arresting his own people.
Zero showed a cold shoulder to these people and explained that he was working on both sides to protect the Britannian's and the Japanese, but that did not see it that way. Instead, they saw him being one-sided and so they nicknamed "The dog of Britannia" was made as an insult to Zero. So with the raging radicals, the Japanese people started to call out Zero and how he was a nuisance rather than helping the situation, with that happening Ohgi didn't know what to do.
He wanted to ask Zero to leave however it would make look he was favoring certain individuals instead of the greater community and therefore, possibly sparking a much deadlier outburst. And Suzaku who was playing Zero was slowly starting to enough of everything.
Suzaku opened the back doors making sure no one was around as he charged up to Nunnally where she seemed to be admiring her garden.
"I can't do it anymore Nunnally, they are screaming for my head to be taken off!" As he shouted at Nunnally, who was enjoying the peace and quiet jumped in her chair by the surprised shout, waking her from her nap.
"Suzaku please don't scare me like that, I don't like it when people sneak up on me and then shout at me."
"Sorry Nunnally, I just want this to stop, the fighting, the outbursts, and the name calling. I can't stand this anymore. They think that I'm a loyal dog who only serves Britannia. I have tried my best to hold back, but I'm scared that I will get forceful with people."
Suzaku took the Zero helmet off and looked at it while he stood in front on Nunnally. "This symbol was meant to represent freedom and peace. And I have done that, however, the Japanese people see it in another way. They think I am playing favorites, but this hasn't been the case, they are the ones who have been starting the fights, the rallies, it's almost like a war zone out there.
The Britannian's are too scared to go outside, to enjoy the peace and Ohgi have no backbone in him. I thought he would have become a great leader; however, he's being played by his ministers. Which make me sick to my stomach." Suzaku wanted to smash the helmet and was about to as well, but Nunnally and her quick wit grabbed the helmet and gripped it tightly pushing it against her chest.
Suzaku looked at her funny, as she turned the helmet to face her. She looked at it, the small smile that appeared on her face. She hugged it once more and placed it on the table that the tea was on. She looked towards Suzaku and used her hands to signal him to put his head on her lap. Suzaku did so and kneeled on the tile floor, grabbing her dress as the first few tears started to come out.
"I can't bear it anymore Nunnally, I want to quit, I don't know how Lelouch could have carried this burden for so long and not feel the after effects of it. I promise…..no I swore to him that I would carry it until the end of my time. But even I am losing hope that I won't be will able to carry that promise. Ohhhh Nunnally what do I do!" He buried his head further into Nunnally's dress sulking like a little child
She looked towards the helmet and stared at it, she then turned to Suzaku and started to move her hand through his short brown hair. "This mask carries a heavy burden doesn't it Suzaku? This single piece of plastic holds a large amount of responsibility. When someone wears it and to see what it can do to a person's wellbeing. You saw what happened to Lelouch didn't you Suzaku, we saw him turn him into something that he shouldn't have become, a monster.
A monster who would start a warpath, he'd kill anything that he didn't like in his path, just to reach his own goal. And in the end, it had cost him his life." She spoke in a calming and gentle tone, trying to calm down the frustrated Suzaku who had broken down in front of her.
After a couple of minutes of crying Suzaku finally stopped, Nunnally hated to see him like this, it was like something was sucking the life out of him, trying to pull him down into the deep end like it had done with Lelouch.
"Maybe…Maybe its time to retire then Suzaku, maybe the world doesn't need Zero anymore. Your presence enough has quelled most of the world down and the threat of war is non-existent. We have done a great job, and I'm sure Lelouch were ever he may be, heaven or hell he would be smiling."
"That's NOT your choice Nunnally! I swore to Lelouch that I would carry this burden, to make sure the world would become a better place. And in my eyes it hasn't, people still unable get along with one another, a war almost starting again just because Japanese people aren't getting jobs. And the government, don't get me started on them, I thought Ohgi would be a great leader but instead, he's been put on a lead." Suzaku said coldly as he turned his head to the side allowing Nunnally to pat him.
"That's not very nice Suzaku." Nunnally said surprised, "Ohgi has done many good things for this country and its getting better, of course, there is going to be some pushback. We were lucky that they even let us stay, I thought they were going to kick us out and I was ready, but I didn't want to leave this behind, my friends….and of course, I would be leaving Lelouch behind as well.
But…but…but.. I don't want to see you like this, I can see your suffering and every time I see you, it makes my heart ache more and more. I want this role, not to be one that condemns you to eternal sadness. I…I…Don't want to lose you as well, I don't want to lose another person who I cared about." Nunnally's voice trembled as she said the last line.
Suzaku lifted up his head and look Nunnally in her deep purple eyes, he hugged her and she hugged him back, catching the first few tears that erupted from her eyes, he wiped them away, "Maybe you are right Nunnally, maybe it is time for me to retire. But it's not even been four years since I became Zero. I promised I would play the part of Zero forever."
"Lelouch would have been very proud of you Suzaku, you have nothing to fear, I'm sure he would understand the position you are in. I know that you are very loyal down to the core, but I really don't want to see you suffer like this. And if you do retire, come and stay by my side, then we don't have to meet in secret like this." Nunnally stroking his hair again as Suzaku put his head on her lap, "I know it's been rough with you, but please look better after your health. Can't you tell Ohgi to amend the treaty to let the police help you instead of the Black Knights?"
"I doubt it would make any difference; even if the police were forced to help, I think there would be too many problems. The people might think that the police were helping that the Japanese government and in turn promised them their job security and if they didn't they, would be forced to leave the service. Which in turn would cause more issues, giving the rioters even more ammo to hate me."
Nunnally could see that Suzaku was in turmoil, so she did something that might cheer him up, the fairy tales the Lelouch used to tell her, she lifted up Suzaku head close to her own, she looked into the young Japanese man's eyes and stroked his face with her gentle touch, Suzaku feeling her touch, put his head on her soft hand. It was like comfort to him. Nunnally proceeded to take her other hand and put it on to his other cheek. Being able to fully control his face, she moved it close to his and kissed him. Suzaku eyes opened wide in shock as he felt the soft lips touch his, Nunnally held it there for a second or two before they broke. Suzaku looked at the young woman in front of him at the age of 17 and went for her lips again.
Nunnally accepted it and they started kissing one another, Nunnally pulled him tighter, Suzaku doing the same. Suzaku broke and went down to her neckline and kissed it a few times, Nunnally let out a small moan, as he continued down her neckline. He moved back up to her lips. They furiously kissed one another for a minute or two before Suzaku broke, he went in again, however, he was met by a finger on his lips. He looked at Nunnally, she was red in the face.
"Why Nunnally?" as he looked at her in a state of confusion, "Why did you kiss me? I hope that wasn't the first kiss I took from you. Lelouch would kill me if he was still alive, I know he pretty much promised me to you but…."
Nunnally was a little red in the face, "Yes, I remember that conversation very well Suzaku and I thought it might cheer you up, being kissed by a princess, don't most fairy tales have that ending? Is the princess kissing the brave knight after his valor of service? And don't you worry it wasn't my first kiss either."
"Oh, Nunnally." Suzaku hugged her even more than before, Nunnally did the same trying to comfort him, rocking him back and forth and humming something. Suzaku moved his head back to her lap as he laid there listening to Nunnally's voice.
And after a few minutes to sitting there in silence listening to the birds singing he spoke, "I think I will quit, if Japan doesn't need Zero anyone then I will hang up the mantle, and be by your side, Nunnally. I think Lelouch would want me to do that as well until I grow old."
Nunnally smiled as she heard that coming from him, "And I would be more than happy to have you Suzaku, my oldest friend in the world. But before you fully retire, could you try freeing my older brother if you could, I think if you told him he's no longer in service it might free him. I wonder why Lelouch would do that to him, for him to "always follow zero"."
"I think it was because he was scared that if he took over, he would make the world stagnant and never move forward. Controlling people with fear rather than the heart. Lelouch knew that you would be the only person who would push this world forward into a new era, an era of peace."
"Maybe… Who knows what my brother was thinking back then. So when will you step down?" she asked with her sweet voice
"I'll make an accouchement a week after the third year funeral for him."
"Yes thank you Suzaku." Nunnally kissed Suzaku on his forehead.
A week later after the 21/7 3 years after Lelouch death
Zero walked through the back onto the stage where a lone microphone sat, the Black Knights were present of hearing the announcement that Zero was going to make, no one knew why but everyone assumed it was to do with the issue of Japanese aggression on Britannia citizens.
"Citizens of Japan." As Suzaku started to speak, grabbing the podium with both hands. "It has come to my attention that in the past few years of peace, there has been some unsettlement between the people of Japan and Britannia.
A murmur rose from the crowd.
"It seems for the past two to three years the Japanese people have voiced their opinion about how they feel about Britannia living here after the deal was made between two countries after the fall of the 98th and 99th Emperor.
I have tried my best to try and keep the peace between the two so we don't have another war breaking out. But it seems that the Japanese people only see me as a traitorous bastard who only see me like a loyal dog to Britannia."
A large murmur started to arise through the crowd, Tohdoh looked a Zero with a strange look on his face. 'Zero what are you planning to do?! A leader should never say those words.'
"With the police saying hateful rumors about myself as well as the public only think I serve Britannia, only to see if Japan is ripe for the taking once more I have decided."
"That I will retire."
Cheers for the Japanese people started to cheer like was New Year 's Day, the other Britannian citizens started to cry a little knowing their life might become a bit harder.
Tohdoh stood up as well as the rest of the Black Knights all looking in confusion, "Tohdoh will be my replacement as the Black Knight's leader." Tohdoh was about to say something else, however, Zero took off his helmet, there was a gasp of shock throughout the crowd, Tohdoh and Kallen looked in shock to see who it was, Suzaku.
"You're alive?!" Screamed Kallen, she fell to the floor, that horrific shock could be seen on her face.
Suzaku faced Kallen who stood there in shock, "Yes I am, I never died in the end, Kallen. You did beat me though." Smirking at her, like he had won
Kallen only realizing now who had killed Lelouch in the end, "That means… you killed Lelouch… you killed your best friend?! What about Nunnally do you know the pain she will feel?!" Suzaku said nothing as his cheap smirked turned into a frown.
"Wait a second you're his son?! The old Prime Minister of Japan?!" shouted someone from the crowd
"Yes, I am," Suzaku said with confidence.
"Then why did you help the Britannia's settle here instead of on kicking them out. You of all people should know that Britannia doesn't belong here." People started to get rowdy in the crowd
"This is a free country people should be allowed to live anywhere, or have you forgotten the peace treaty that was signed and the laws that were created with it." Said Suzaku proudly
"That's right, not all of us, did hate Japan some of us wanted to start a new life here!" some said from the crowd
"Yea right, where were you when we needed help from Britannia military forces?!" There was an awaked silence from the Britannia's who were in the crowd
"We tried our best, otherwise we would have been called traitors!"
"That's right, trying to save your own skin."
"No its not?!"
"Is too."
The crowd started to get angrier with one another, there were insults being thrown around as well as racist insults.
"Calm down everyone," Suzaku tried using the voice of reason.
However, it was thrown out the window when someone threw the first punch. A massive brawl started between Japanese vs Britannian citizens.
The Black Knights and the world were looking at a large fist fight; Suzaku jumped down from the stage and tired separating two men from other another. The Black knights followed his lead as well as the riot police and other forces, however, Suzaku got punched and of course, him being an emotional person he punched back at a Japanese citizen.
The brawl had continued for a good hour before the fighting stopped, the Black Knights and Japanese police were able to stop the brawl however it was too late. That day there was a state of emergency, there had been at least 200,000 people and close to 150,000 people had been taken to the hospital from everything from bruises and to life threating injuries and even some deaths. It was a tragic event for both sides and after that, the rioting had died down. No one ever wanted to see something like that ever again.
/flashback end