I do not own Code Geass.
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PLEASE REVIEW SO I CAN KNOW WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE, AND SO I CAN GET IDEAS ON HOW TO IMPROVE!! IT'S VERY IMPORTANT!
I really apologize for chapter 9; it was rushed, and I made it way too short. I just wanted to get it out quickly, but now I know that I've made a big mistake. Please don't stop reading the story and don't stop reviewing just because of that chapter! I won't try to rush things again, so please forgive me!!!
"...This Zero guy is obviously up to something..."
"...Maybe he killed Jeremiah as a way to keep him from spilling a certain piece of information..."
"...Just what the hell is going on..."
"...I have my suspicions about Inspector Lamperouge, too..."
"...We need to stop this bastard at all costs..."
As Shirley and Tohdoh continued to speak amongst themselves about the case, Kaname and Rolo both sat in silence. After having finished his meal, the young boy was now staring out the window, watching cars pass by at high speeds along the freeway. Kaname tried to understand the words flowing from Tohdoh's jabbering lips, but for some reason, he just couldn't bring himself to take it all in.
Suddenly, Tohdoh stood up, and announced, "I'll be right back...need to use the bathroom..."
"Me too..." murmured a small voice, and Kaname realized it had came from Rolo. His voice was devoid of tone, and rather plain. Staring at the two of them as they walked off, Kaname noticed something; Rolo was rather short for his age. Running his hands through his hair with a sigh, Kaname turned his gaze onto Shirley, who was taking a sip of coffee.
"...Is something wrong, Officer Kaname?" Shirley asked when she noticed him staring.
"No," Kaname replied, shaking his head, "I was just wondering...you said you had a personal reason for joining this case...what was it?"
"...That's my own business, Officer Kaname," Shirley said sharply.
"I understand that, it's just...if I could know why you wish to be doing this, to find this mysterious Zero, I could...feel like I could trust you more. You don't have to tell me, I won't force you, it's just...I guess I'm that kind of guy...I apologize if I'm making you uncomfortable..."
Shirley sighed, and placed her cup on her plate. Clasping her hands tightly around it, she closed her eyes and stated, "If it'll make you feel more comfortable working with me, then I will tell you without hesitation. I'm doing this...for Kallen Stadtfeld, whose murder is the very basis of these crimes..."
Kaname nodded, and he felt as if he had expected this answer to come from her.
"We were...very close. I was always there to support her, and she was always there to support me. Milly is our friend, too, but I think that Kallen and I...we had something special...she's the one who inspired me to take my job in the police force...I wanted to be strong and independent, like her...but I think that in the end, I was always dependent on her words and actions to help me get through the day..."
Shirley opened her eyes, and they shimmered in the sunlight like glass beads. For a single moment, Kaname almost felt like grabbing her and kissing her right then and there, to help her rid herself of the sorrows she held, but he immediately cursed himself for thinking such a thing. The last thing he would ever dare to do is cheat on his beloved wife, who he now hoped had made it back home safely.
"...So that's your reason, huh? To avenge your friend's death..." Kaname muttered to himself.
"How about you, Officer Kaname?" Shirley asked, waiting for Kaname to fulfill his promise.
Snapping back to reality, Kaname glanced down into his own coffee cup, and felt as if he could be swallowed up into the inky-black darkness. Picking up a spoon, he spun it around in a circular motion within the cup, watching as the liquid twist and turned. "I want to do this...for a reason similar to yours. I want to avenge Officer Jeremiah's death...he was my friend, and he was a good man...that's my reason..."
Shirley smirked. "You're a very 'righteous' man, aren't you, Officer Kaname...?"
Kaname ignored her statement, and then asked, "What about that Rolo kid? I'm really confused on how he can be of any use to us...I mean, isn't he just a kid?"
"Yes, he is a kid," Shirley explained, "But also an amazing sharp-shooter. He was able to best an entire police force at a shooting range, and using only ten bullets. When we rescued him and many other child-soldiers, he was given a choice: to either be taken to an orphanage where he will hopefully one day be adopted. Or, he could become an anti-terrorist weapon for our country..."
"...An anti-terrorist weapon? A human weapon? This sounds completely ridiculous..." Kaname questioned.
"I'm not really allowed to talk much about it, but, yes...that is basically the case. He was the only one we gave that choice; all of the other children were immediately taken to psychiatric wards and orphanages without question. Due to his amazing abilities, however, we wanted him to make a choice. Naturally, we had expected him to request to live in an orphanage with the other children, but instead...he chose to become an anti-terrorist weapon. Of course, he is given full American citizenship, and unless the situation is dire, he is allowed to choose which missions he wants to accept. I had only become his 'tutor' recently, and he wanted to follow me through this entire case...he doesn't talk much, so I can't find out his real reasons for this..."
"When you say 'tutor'...you mean...his keeper, don't you?" Kaname grunted.
Shirley nodded. "Pretty much."
"God...sounds like a whole load of BS, if you ask me...you can't be serious..." sighed Kaname, rubbing his face with his hands.
"Well...it's the truth..."
"Geez...what the hell is wrong with this country nowadays?"
"You got me..."
"Hey, we're back!!" exclaimed a voice, and Kaname and Shirley glanced up; it was Inspector Tohdoh, and Rolo was standing quietly by his side.
"You two sure took a while," Shirley spoke up, moving out of the way so Rolo could take his seat.
"Well, I stayed behind to make sure the little guy didn't try to run off or anything, but he didn't, so it's fine." Tohdoh explained, sitting down at the table.
Rolo glanced over his shoulder towards the table behind them; the man in the coat was no longer there.
"By the way, I've come up with an idea on where to begin our investigation..." Tohdoh spoke up, his words quick and relentless.
"Oh? And where would that be?" Shirley asked, sipping her coffee casually.
"I believe the best place to start...would be at the homes of both Inspector Lamperouge and Officer Suzaku, the only two suspects we currently have so far..."
"Do you really think that will help us get any leads?" Shirley replied.
Tohdoh nodded. "I believe so, yes. You and Rolo can check out Inspector Lamperouge's house, and Officer Kaname and I will inspect Officer Suzaku's home for clues..."
Shirley shut her eyes, and furrowed her brow. "...Very well, if that is what you think is best...let's do it,"
As he climbed into a dark-green jeep, Rivalz Cardemonde could barely contain his glee. He pulled off his hat and tossed it into the backseat, where it landed on top of a Benelli M1014 shotgun, which gleamed in the rays of sunlight. He glanced in the rear-view mirror and stared at himself for a moment, his mouth wide open in a toothy grin. Reaching into his coat pocket, Rivalz unsheathed a small black walkie-talkie, which he held close to his lips as he held his finger over the side-button.
"Lelouch...I have obtained the information that Lord Zero requires..."
A calm, cold voice crackled to life on the other line. "Oh...? And what would that be...?"
"Three days from now...a ceremony for Jeremiah, the man that Lord Zero had judgement passed upon, will be held in city hall..."
"Ahh...the second verse in Lord Zero's scriptures...'A mass gathering, they will shed their tears for the one they lost, and a storm of death will then be brought down upon them'...that is where the massacre shall take place...very good, Rivalz..."
Rivalz practically glowed from having received such a compliment from one of Lord Zero's closest followers. "Y-You're welcome!! My body and soul belong to Lord Zero, and he shall control me as he pleases!!!"
"...You know what you have to do now, right, Rivalz?" Lelouch's voice asked, slightly snickering.
Rivalz nodded. "Yes...I must eliminate all those that may interfere..."
"Good...now get to it!!" And with that, he hung up.
Rivalz shoved the walkie-talkie back into his pocket, and watched in silence as four figures exited the diner: Kaname, Tohdoh, Shirley and Rolo.
'The woman and child...I shall eliminate them first...'