hey Everyone!
Welcome to chapter 12! The longest chapter i have some far have written up! I would have posted it sooner, but with the long break over last weekend i kind of waited. Id almost thought i'd put up a chapter for April fools day with some silly content (but didn't, thought it would be to cruel)
More importantly! This fanfic has hit a massive milestone, its gone over the 100,000 word mark! Which is a large milestone for myself has a first time writer!
And Thank you my reader's for helping me this far!
Reviews :
Persona of the people: I thank thee for the suggestion, it wasn't harsh at all, it was a good suggestion, and ya know what, i kind of agreed with ya. The only really hard part, was to figure out how to punish C.C. Because you know this is modern day society that doesn't happen at all. I hope the restrictions i have added in this case, would be appropriate retribution.
Chapter 12: Storm
The Old Aquarium
14/7 – 9:45 pm
C.C stirred from her sleep, rubbing her eyes as she opened them adjusting to the dim light. She looked around only to find she was in a bed, so looked around the bed to find that she was the only one there. Between her arms was a pillow, she felt with the side of her face as she rubbed it a few times. 'This scent it's his...so this means I'm still home'. She lifelessly fell back onto the bed, rubbing the spare pillow again her cheek. "So I see you're finally up." C.C rolled on the bed facing the voice where it had come from. There standing in the dim light unable to see his face was the familiar outline, the name she had fallen in love with, Lelouch. "I didn't sleep that long." C.C said as she sat up on the bed.
"You have been sleeping since we got back.." As Lelouch walked out of the dim lit light, "Well…that's because I missed this bed…..it was so lonely." C.C said defensively
Lelouch could only sigh at the cute face his wife was making, "However…I'm really cross at you C.C." C.C heard the change of tone in his voice; it wasn't the normal refined voice, it sounded more like an emperor or king. Lelouch having disappeared, was now coming back into the view; she could hear the sound of a chair being dragged across the carpet floor. Lelouch pulled up the chair and sat down.
"Of all the stupid things you have done, this has to be the most reckless thing you have ever done. Even the stuff you did back then, while I was at school does not compare to what you have done. Why would you do something so reckless, you scared me half to death allowing yourself to get caught, after my specific instructions to stay indoors until they gave up the search!" Lelouch slammed in hand which was now curled up in a fist, "As well as scaring Anya half to death! Do you know how guilty and worried she felt?!" Lelouch letting out a huff, "And what happened if you had woken up on a ship, somewhere in the middle of the ocean! Then what!?"
C.C eyes widened, she in her five years of being married to Lelouch he had never, ever raised his voice at her, not even the time they were in UAE she had removed the headscarf to try a different hat. He had told her off, but never in a manner like this. She could well the truly stand up to Lelouch, but from some strange reason, she didn't have the energy or the strength to stand up to him.
"So what have you got to say for yourself?" C.C shook her head as she tried to focus once more on her husband. She got up from the bed only wearing once of his shirts and sat on top of his lap, embracing him. Lelouch looking at his wife defenseless manner embraced her, "You are the only person who has kept me focused this entire time. But this time C.C I really did almost lose you….you know?" Lelouch started to stroke his wife's hair
"Yes, I know…" C.C finally speaking up, "However I have to step in when my husband does something foolish or still recovering from something. I want to be useful and I can be useful, I am not some kind of maiden who waits for her prince to came and rescue the day. I am strong and I can hold my own ground. I went out because we had no leads on Ares or anything to go on. I now know so many things and what he plans to do. I just wanted to feel useful."
"C.C, not ever once I have thought you of being dead weight, you too, are an important person in this plan to beat Ares." Lelouch trying to reassure C.C, "You may have done a good job getting into Ares business. But I still upset at you and your antics."
"Very well I believe you, but try your best not to scare me like that during the UFN meeting it breaks my heart whenever I see you like that." C.C stomach rumbled and she had slept for more of the afternoon. Shegot off her lap and went over to the computer that was set up, "Now time to get some pizza, Lelouch could you go and pick it up, I'm sure I've been put on house arrest like the time in England."
"Very well C.C.." Lelouch sighed, 'We have a serious talk and now all she wants is pizza, how typical of my wife.'
"Huh…" C.C looked at the screen and once more at the credit card number," why is it declined? The card was working fine a few days ago.." C.C tried a few more times however it still said declined. She then turned to who husband who was still sitting down. "I guess you had something to do with this didn't you?" C.C waving the card
Lelouch sighed, "Consider this part of your punishment." He saw C.C get up and walk over to a pile of bags that were nearby, "The money and the other cards have been moved as well, I'd be surprised if you could find the spot." C.C looked at Lelouch with a grumpy look on her face and she walked straight up to her husband and sat once more on her lap. "Could I please have some money to buy some pizza?" asking grouchily
"C.C it's almost ten pm I'm not going to get you pizza at this hour if you want something I'll cook something for you instead…while I'll do that I'll tell you what I had to go through to get you safe and the risks I had to back to save your behind."
/flashback
The three of them got out of the car, they all saw the forces that were surrounding the warehouse where supposedly Ares base of operations was as well as C.C.
"Dammit." Lelouch cursed as he looked around the scene, "There's too many of them now. The Black Knights, Britannia, and the Japanese. What mess as has C.C gotten herself into this time. She's made this ten times worse than anything."
Lelouch could only look in disbelief, what he could see there was no opening what so ever between the police lines, "Jeremiah could you go quickly go check the warehouses and see if there's anything we can use?"
"Of course your highness, I'll be back in a few minutes." Jeremiah hurried off towards the other warehouses.
"R.R….do you think C.C will be ok?" He turned to Anya who was very worried, "Maybe I should have stood my ground and said no to C.C. I'm sorry R.R…this…this is my entire fault." Anya looked down, with the look of disappointment.
"It wasn't your fault, don't beat yourself up about it." Lelouch patting her shoulder, "C.C can be demanding at times, even I have trouble dealing with her at time due to her carefree nature. You should have seen her during my attack in Britannia, she would somehow always manage to escape my sight and then finding her in the most stupidest of places." Lelouch trying to comfort Anya and her mistake.
Five minutes later Jeremiah had come back, "Your Highness." Jeremiah whispered in Lelouch's ear, "I have found something that might help, they haven't cleared all the area's surrounding the docs. Five warehouses down there are workers unloading what seem to be backpacks, there also seem to be school children there on an excursion of some sort. I don't know if it's a guided tour or something else."
"What kind of backpacks are they moving?" Asked Lelouch, "It's those new backpacks that I and Anya have seen, the ones with the animal symbol on it, they are for…what was ti again..." Jeremiah trying to remember the brand name or what company sold them
"They are backpacks that are meant to help with back problems, schools have been switching to them because they have found they have more cushioning and padding on them." Said, Anya,
Both Jeremiah and Lelouch looked at Anya, with a look of surprise on their faces, Anya looked at the two men, "Because I think they look cute…." Anya looked down towards the ground and said it softly. They both looked to one another; they didn't know what to say to Anya's cute expression on her face.
"That might be of some use to us…Jeremiah, how many people could you roughly see?"
Jeremiah thought hard, "I don't know your highness.. I could say easily up to hundred people."
"Then that will have to do…..come you two follow me." Jeremiah and Anya followed quickly behind Lelouch to see what he would come up with.
Lelouch, Jeremiah, and Anya had entered the back of the warehouse, having to Geass a few of the guards just so they could slip through. The warehouse they had entered was a storage or sorting distribution point. The place wasn't crawling with guards, just workers, supervisors and of course school children. The three of them were hiding behind one of the crates, three of them watching their moments.
"Your Highness, how will this help get C.C out of her situation?" Asked Jeremiah curiously, he knew Lelouch was a genius, but even he thought this would be impossible
"Jeremiah, did you bring your pistol with you, by any chance?" Jeremiah looked at Lelouch and gave him a strange look on his face, Jeremiah felt his body for the weapon, "Yes I do your highness, I bought a spare one in case, why? Did you forget to bring one with you?"
"No I did, give your spare one to Anya." Jeremiah did so without complaint handing the weapon to Anya
"Your Highness, what are we planning to do here?"
"Follow my lead." Lelouch got up around the crate, Jeremiah and Anya looking to one another before following Lelouch.
The workers and everyone else had stopped working, so the kids could ask them questions about the factory or the process. As they started taking questions, Lelouch lifted up his gun and fired a few shots into the air. Everyone else jumped at the sound of gunfire and turned to see where the shots were coming from. People screamed as the saw the three gunmen; a few of the workers ran towards them trying to protect the kids, however, they were defeated by Jeremiah in a quick fashion.
Several minutes later they rounded up everyone who was in the factory, while that was taking place Anya had returned from disabling the security cameras and erasing any trace of them. Jeremiah predictions had been correct, there were roughly one hundred people in the factory.
"What do you want, you scum?!" Lelouch turned his attention to the person who had shouted the comment; he was wearing a suit, Lelouch, assuming that he was the person in charge. Lelouch saw the children weeping as well as others crying, some saying there final prayers.
"Fear not, none of you are going to die so just sit down and take a few minutes."
"Then what are you planning to do with us, if your not going killing us?! You do know that the police a nearby, it sur-"
"They are being preoccupied with something else more, important for the time being, no one is coming to save you."
"R.R may I have a moment of your time?" Lelouch turned to Jeremiah and walked over to him, "Lelouch what are you planning to do with all these people?" Jeremiah whispered into his ear, "I don't think they will be any use to us in the short term, so what is there purpose?"
"Have the police said when they are moving in?" Jeremiah put something into his ear and after a minute or two Jeremiah pulled it out again, "thirty minutes, they are currently checking who owns that warehouse and how they are getting power into the building." Lelouch turned back to the crowd they had gathered up. He walked to the front of the room and raised his gun, pulling the trigger trying to get everyone's attention.
"Ladies and gentleman I have a job for you." The crowd gave him a funny look, Lelouch took is cap off, showing off his entire face including his Geass eyes.
The crowd gasped with horror as they noticed the mans eyes, "Those eyes… are the same ones what everyone saw during the UFN attack, something called Geass." Someone said from the crowd, Lelouch was surprised at the comment thinking everyone would recognize his face and who he was, but no one seemed to remember him.
"Obey my orders!" Lelouch shouted and a few seconds later, "Yes your highness." The crowd responding in sync, "Please take a backpack from this place and head off in separate directions into the city. School children please stay together as one group with your teachers or assistants. And in exactly one and half hours, put the backpacks into the bin and forget this event ever happened!"
So everyone got up and took a backpack and head off outside into the city, Lelouch watched one by one as they each took a backpack and left the warehouse. After five minutes the warehouse was completely empty, only leaving Lelouch, Anya, and Jeremiah inside.
"Your Highness, if I may ask so boldly why did you do that to them…just to carry around backpacks?" inquired Jeremiah, he was somewhat interested in what his Highness had planned.
"A reason to let us go free." As Lelouch put his cap back on, "It gives me a chance when I get C.C out to escape, I will tell them what I've done and they will have a choice. Once C.C is safe, I know we will be met with resistance so in order to avoid that I will give them a choice. Let us leave and they day, if course it will be a bluff but they wont know yet. Suzaku will also been used as a chip. Of course all that will depend on the second person who takes command after Suzaku is captured. If it's a Britannia commander he will assume will ask for the release of Suzaku and he will be our bargaining chip. If it's a Japanese commander, the children will be the barging chip to get out and Suzaku will be left in the warehouse.
Your job Anya will be informing me who you think will be second in command after Suzaku goes in. If your unable to do so, I'll use both barging chips." Anya nodding at the job she needed to do.
Jeremiah was stunned at Lelouch's thinking, "That's a genius play your highness, getting an option ready for either a Japanese or Britannian commander who's helping with the operation. And I think you will be correct about Suzaku's dilemma, wanting to redeem himself after the failure of the first capture. But your highness how do you plan to get into the group, that will be going into the building with Suzaku?" he asked
"That is what we are going to do now, Anya could you please go to the car and be on standby, it might be awhile. But you will know when to come pick us up."
"Yes Lelouch, and please just make sure C.C is safe." Lelouch rubbed Anya's head, "Don't worry Anya, she will be fine…I'll make sure of it." Muttering the last part, "Come on Jeremiah we need to move." Lelouch walked out of the warehouse, adjusting his cap as Jeremiah walked very quickly behind him.
As Lelouch and Jeremiah made their way back to where the police and other forces were set up, they turned a corner only to find a police line at been set up between one of the gaps between the warehouses.
"Your Highness I suggest we find another route this way will get us nowhere. I suggest we use your Geass to cross the gap and see what's on the other side. "
"It would be the same situation on the other side, where everyone else would be including the media being stationed."
"As you wish your highness, so how to we proceed? I suggest Geassing them and taking their clothes and both of us infiltrating the group that meant to be going in." As Jeremiah looked around the corner, trying to determine the best way of interacting with the police officers.
"You are not going Jeremiah." Lelouch moved his cap, adjusting his hair so the guards would not be able to see his eyes until the last second. Jeremiah looked at Lelouch, with a look of surprise, "I beg your pardon, your highness? I thought we would both go in. I can't stand the thought if something happens to you. What do you think would happen if the public or your sister saw you?! There would be bigger consequences. I insist your highness, let me come with you." Pleaded Jeremiah as Lelouch got himself organized. He saw a small case the Lelouch had pulled out of his pocket. Jeremiah saw Lelouch opening the case and looked what was inside. There he saw a small circle shape chip of some sort, he saw Lelouch pushing the middle button and placing it just below the larynx.
"Testing." Jeremiah jumped at the sound of the robotic voice as Lelouch spoke. "Your job Jeremiah will be to go inside the warehouse and see if you can gather any important documents they might have. Maps, data, usb hardware, anything that might help us with his planning or his funds."
"As you wish your highness…I pray you good luck to get C.C out, whereever she may be." Jeremiah sighed and as he moved his hoodie over his head. "After you, your highness."
Both of them got up and went around the corner, the six officers saw them, "Please go back, there is an operation going on here, all civilians must be at least 100 meters away from here." Said one of the officers.
Lelouch lifted up his head, "You are all now under my command!" The six police officers, "Yes your highness!" As they stood up straight, feet together. "Jeremiah go see if you can find an entrance or make one if you must."
"As you wish your highness, I shall be off then." Jeremiah went past the police line and wandered off.
"Now as for you lot." Looking at each of them trying to decide which uniform to take, after mulling over it for a second, "You there second from the right, take off all your clothes and your police gear and wear mine, the rest of you stand attention." The guard and Lelouch started to strip, swapping clothes.
After a few minutes Lelouch was in full police uniform, he adjusted the black face mask making sure it covered his mask, he then put the black tinted goggles on, ' right all done now to find the squad of officers.' Lelouch turned to one of them, "Which officers are the ones that are going?" he asked
"To the far right of the compound, a green tent is where they are setting/gearing up, they are meant to be going in the next twenty minutes, your highness." ' hat doesn't leave me much time, dammit.' "Thanks for the information now go back to your normal posts, oh and allow the gentlemen who was with me to pass through."
"Yes, sir!" The all lifelessly said and the regained their positions and stood like nothing had happened. Lelouch entered the massive area looking for the green tent, he was amazed at the resources they had out to play. He looked to his left and saw his dear old friend barking out orders, 'I knew you would come Suzaku, so are so predictable, but that's good for me, at least I know who I'm dealing with now and not some unknown commander.'
Lelouch kept walking, he found the green tent he was looking for, making sure no one else was around, he entered the tent.
He noticed there were fifteen men in total, one of the noticing him, "Oi what are you doing here? The section is off limits to most personel. State your business, before we remove you from here."
"Sorry, sir. I have more orders from the queen's knight, I'm sorry for interfering. But he said to deliver this info quickly." Lied Lelouch
"Fine, fine, no worries officer. Men, we have more orders from her highnesses knight, everyone gather around." They all gathered around in an oval shape around Lelouch, waiting for their orders.
He removed his goggles, "You are now under my command." Quickly before they noticed his eyes
"Yes, sir!" They all said to Lelouch, he sighed a breath of relief, 'one step closer to her now.' "One of you please remove your uniform and switch with mine." The guard did what he was told and after a few minutes, Lelouch was in a bulkier uniform the ones that the JDSF wore. "You there go back to the police control line facing the water."
"Yes sir!" the replacement guard left the tent and walked towards where he was told, "Now as the rest of you, please follow any normal instructions of the person in charge of the operation. Once C.C as revealed herself, you will stop following my orders once 10 minutes is up and I get into a white car."
"Yes, sir!" they all said in unison.
10 minutes later
"Attention!" all the officers including Lelouch all stood up straight as a high ranking officer came into the tent, "Right all of you follow me, you will be following Sir Kururugi of the infiltration of an Ares base." They all followed the officer through the cut off area, to what seemed like a makeshift barricade, fifth teen meters away from the main door.
'This is going to kick up a storm once this finishes, even the media are here as well.' Lelouch thought has he turned his head to see everyone. Lelouch saw the person he hated and cherished the most. 'Suzaku..'
"Gather up everyone!" said Suzaku, "Do today's object will be to infiltrate this warehouse behind me, it has been confirmed that this is one of Ares safe houses so to speak. We don't know whats in there or who will be inside. Deadly force has been authorized, so safety's off once we get inside. Our main objective aside from infiltration will be to apprehended Cera Kingsley, she is to be taken alive..if possible."
'Damit, dammit, dammit, C.C I hope the hell you're in there, don't try to pull anything stupid.'
/flashback end
C.C was surprised, "You went through all of that just to get me back?" C.C asked as she ate what Lelouch had prepared for her
"Yepo, it wasn't easy, even I thought I would get caught at one point. But I managed somehow to get you back. You really are troublesome you know that right?"
"hmmmhuh" C.C said and she continued to scoff down her food, savouring every bit of it, "Whats our next plan?" she asked
"Depending what information you share with us tomorrow when Jeremiah and Anya come."
14/7 – 10 pm
Kallen was walking home after the long meeting she had had with Ohgi and the others, the fact that C.C had popped out of nowhere and being found in one of Ares's hideouts. There had been lengthy discussions on how she had managed to sneak her way into Japan, let alone wandering the world, with one thing on her mind, revenge. Everyone was still panicking that there were now two Geass users in the same place, one fighting for the safety of the world and one is against it. Kallen had raised the point several times that they needed to make contact with Zero, but they were adamant about it.
The whole issue when Zero first unmasked himself, there was a massive fight pinning the Japanese and Britannia's. No one wanted something like that again, that's why they were afraid of Zero although they wanted his help.
There was another issue that was discussed without Nunnally, however, Cornelia was there. If Ares did attack, there would be a city-wide evacuation of Tokyo, if given enough warning. They didn't want to take any chances when Ares attacked, they wanted to make sure they could reduce casualties.
Kallen unlocked the front door, "Mom I'm home." She shouted out, closing the door behind her, "Welcome back dear, did everything go ok? I know with the C.C stuff it must be madness at the palace."
Kallen nodded in agreement," Mom I have a question for you….. if was someone close to you and they died and…. you a chance of taking revenge would you take that chance?" Kallen asked, she had never been in love before; she had a crush or thing for Lelouch but nothing else.
"Is this about the C.C girl and Lelouch? What she said over the news this afternoon?" Kallen nodded while sitting on the couch next to her mother, "Love can be a fickle thing my dear, sometimes when you are close to someone special and you lose them, it can drive a person to do many unreasonable things…it's like any other love story, a person they love dies, they get revenge, however, it doesn't punish their thirst, but it's not that simple is it this time around isn't?"
"No…its not, it's a lot more complicated then it seems, what C.C said about getting revenge. We could have won, but then everyone found out about Lelouch's power, his Geass…everyone thought that they had been Geassed. I knew the truth and they thought they were being controlled, then with Oghi coming in with his now wife, it turned everyone's opinion upside down. I would have stuck by Lelouch however… I asked him what I was to him, he just told me I was a pawn and that I needed to live after I left."
"That boy really meant something to you didn't he?" Her mother consoling her, "Yea he did, he did so many things for us and that's why I'm more or less looking after Nunnally because was she's lonely. She even calls me her older sister from time to time because of the time I've spent with her."
"Yes I know Kallen, you are a very good soul, if your brother and father were here, they would be proud as well. " her mother sighed, "In order to change C.C's mind you must convince her the revenge is something she will not be satisfied with. And that once she gets her revenge she will feel empty and nothing will even bring her loved one back. It will be hard since she has been this grudge for quite a time."
Kallen nodded as she cuddled onto her mother, "I wish the world would come to peace and accept it." She sighed, "Mother there's also one thing I want you to do for me." Kallen looked to her mother, with somewhat of a worried look on her face, "In most cases, the fighting will start again, that's why I'm asking you to leave and take what you can carry. There will be a city-wide evacuation and I want you to get out first before there's a panic." Kallen could see her mother looking around what they called home, it wasn't much, but it still meant something for them, Kallen could have easily bought a better place after working and the payment she got from fighting.
"So its come to that has it." she asked stroking her daughter's red hair, "Lucky we don't have much to pack, I will get some boxes and start to move them, but what about you dear?"
"I'm going to have to stay, im one of the best Knightmare pilots the Black Knights have, so I won't be coming with you." Kallen could see the worried look in her mother eyes.
"Ok my dear, I will pray for your safe return, could you get some moving boxes tomorrow? I think I can still drive, although it's been more than seven years since I last driven, is there anywhere I should be going?"
"Ummm, there is a house I bought a place in Okaya, it should be safe, hopefully, we can stop Ares before anything else happens."
"Wow! When did you by that? And that Area is nowhere near cheap."
"I wanted a place where I would relax, I've been renting it to people when they want to get away from everything. A home away from home you could say."
Prime minister's residence
14/7 – 10:30 pm
"I'm not leaving, I'm staying here and fighting! This is my home as much as yours!" Violetta shouted at the top of her lungs, "I was a lord who fought in wars as well, I'm not backing down."
Ohgi had asked his wife to leave with their son before war broke out. "Please dear, I'm only thinking whats best for you and our son. You are both important to me and I don't want to lose you both. If my life is lost, I still have two people who can carry on my legacy."
"What about Tohdoh and his wife Chiba?" Is she leaving Tohdoh behind and running with their two children?"
"No…" Tohdoh said in defeat, "But –",
"But nothing! If they are fighting then so am I, I'm a proud Japanese and Britannian who will fight for my country and my son in hope of a better future."
"My dear you haven't driven a Knightmare in several years, what makes you think that you will be able to pilot one again, with the same standard?!"
"Never underestimate me Ohgi, and you should know that by now! And we have to support our husbands, there's nothing wrong if I go to battle as well, I was in the pursuit team, along with several other good lords who were good at pilotis."
"Mommy…daddy…" Both of them turned to see who had said their names, their little son was standing in the doorway, holding what seemed to be one of his toys with a maid behind him.
"I'm so sorry, I could not put him to sleep, he wanted something to drink, so I brought him here, I wasn't too sure to do." Said the maid bowing her head, "It seems I have come at a bad time, I'll escort him back to bed."
"No its alright I've got him." Violette went over to her son Makoto. The black haired, tanned skin, that reflected her skin tone and the blue pajamas he wore, she picked him up, the five-year-old yawned as she picked him up. The child fell quickly back asleep in his mother arms, gently rocking him.
"Husband this is not over, this is a tactical retreat." Trying her best to shout while whispering, "I am coming to fight if you like it or not. If not for Japans sake then for his sake a well."
"Mommy…why where you and daddy fighting." The little child said sleepily, his eyes dropping as he woke up again, "Mommy and daddy were having a discussion, nothing for you to worry about, its way past your bedtime. And if you don't fall asleep soon, no TV for you in the morning." As she carried the child back to his room.
Ohgi collapsed on the sofa, his arms stretched across the top of the sofa, he looked at the frame that stood on the small table, the three of them all smiling. He rubbed his weary eyebrows, contemplating what to do with his wife.
"This is getting too much for me…maybe I shouldn't have decided to become the PM of Japan... too many problems have arisen in these five years. No one said the job was going to easy, but if someone told me another war was about to start, I would have left it for the next generation," Ohgi sighed, "I should be getting ready for bed….tomorrow is going to be another long day. Aside from what the ministers said, I'm glad Zero is back and helping us. Zero is able to do things that we can't do, he cuts through the red tape. But none of us what the same thing to happen again. At least the public Is not in an outroar and actually supports Zero."
15/7
The Aquarium
Lelouch was the first one to wake up again; he let out a yawn, as he looked towards his left. His wife C.C had again slept in a funny position, Lelouch didn't mind, however, he was always afraid that if he moved her she would get upset. C.C had currently wrapped her arms around Lelouch's stomach, like hugging a teddy bear, her head currently resting on one of his arms. He could feel his wife's breath in his ear, as well as her warm unclothed body against his.
Lelouch laid there hoping she moved, she didn't, he was stuck fast. As he began to adjust C.C so he could escape, C.C moaned. Lelouch froze as he heard, after a second or two, he moved again, able to undo C.C's grip she had on him. "What do you think you're doing?" Lelouch froze and turned to his left, he saw her curious, half wake golden eyes, looking up at him while he had her arms in the air.
"Errrr…I was trying to get up, but you had me in your clutches. So I was trying to move them without waking you up.." Lelouch after becoming caught, rested her arms on his stomach and he lay down once more. C.c moved a bit closer, kissing him on the cheek as she re-armed herself on to Lelouch, "You will never escape my clutches, not as long as you next to me." She said sleeply
"I never want to escape your clutches, my dear witch." As Lelouch caressed her long green hair, "But do enlighten me…who's going to make you breakfast, if I'm in your clutches?" Lelouch gave a smirk to C.C, who pondered for a second or two about the question Lelouch had asked her. She detached her self from Lelouch rolling up the blanket with her body as she faced the other way. "Just this once, I'll allow you to escape my clutches, however next time you won't be so lucky." C.C let out a small giggle, like some villain figuring out a new plan. Lelouch smiled as he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
Getting up and putting some clothes on he went to the kitchen to make something for the villain.
While making breakfast, two more figures appeared, Jeremiah and Anya had entered, "Morning your highness, how are you and Miss C.C ferrying?" As he leaned over the counter
"She's fine, she still in bed, I was only able to escape after I poised the question of 'who will make breakfast?' she seemed to let go very quickly. Would you and Anya like breakfast as well?"
"Well is he highness if offering, how could we not refuse! Right Anya?" Anya nodded her head to Jeremiah question, Lelouch got to work for two more servings for them.
"C.C! Breakfast is ready and please put some clothes on, we have guests!" Lelouch shouted over the table top, C.C dragged herself to the table, where Lelouch plattered the food, it was a mix of Japanese and English cuisine. The three of them drooling at the site of the food, as they began to eat away at the lavish breakfast Lelouch had cooked up.
After several minutes of just eating, they had finished off the breakfast, all of them complimented Lelouch and his cooking skills. As they put the plates and everything else into the dishwasher, it was finally time to get down to business.
"Jeremiah what did you find yesterday, before we ask C.C what she found on her little adventure…." Jeremiah grabbing something that was hanging from a chair, opening the top bit up revealing a piece of paper. Jeremiah unfolded it and spread it across.
"I believe it's a blueprint, your highness, although I can't figure out the life of me what it could be used for, I know it's a ship of some kind, but I thought you might been able to to deduct something from it." Lelouch leaned over inspecting the blueprint, as Jeremiah had suggested it was a blueprint of a large ship. As the sketch indicated it was roughly 300 meters long and about 50 wide. The blueprint showed marked areas. Some of these points said, "energy storage, "cooling", "water pump", "electrical output." Lelouch still scanning the notes, noticed at the back of the ship seemed to be some kind of exit/entrance.
Lelouch scanned once more at the outline and noticing the long cylinder shape pipe sticking out from the haul of the ship, it was a rough sketch of something. "I don't have a clue on what its meant to be for, its some kind of cooling system, for the ship, but what the cylinder shape is that's sticking out from the haul, I have no idea."
"It's a weapon…" Jeremiah and Lelouch looked to C.C who had spoken, "It's a weapon that Ares intends to use as his main way of getting what he wants, the world."
"C.C could you please elaborate a bit more of when you mean by a weapon?"
"Very well here's what happened."
/flashback
"That's all the campaign points I can remember Ares, off the top of my head. It's been awhile since that day."
"Yes, yes I can understand, I will incorporate those into our planning of what you have given us. I can see this will be a very, very fun." C.C could see the smug look on Ares' face and she told him everything she knew.
"But how do you plan to take over Japan, with let alone three forces and maybe even more backing Japan?"
"Ahh! You see the Knightmares were a bit tricky to make…you see, the 99th emperor blew out, Mt Fuji which was seventy percent of the world's Sakuradite distributor. Over the years sakuradite price skyrocketed and now the only military and police forces have access to it instead of the wider community. So we had to develop a brand new energy source thanks to our genius scientists and inventive thinkers. Electricity has been the source of energy that has powered many things, so why not power Knightmares in it. And while running tests we had some very interesting results and how well static electricity can power a Knightmare.
So once the testing was done, most of us thought about putting it into a weapon and so the prototype Zeus was created. Using electricity and friction it powers the electrical charge and once it hits its peak. It will fire a beam of direct energy. And as for flying craft they will be carrying a new weapon someone called, electromagnetism. It powers up a projectile and fires it at high speeds; it can even crack the luminous shield for the current generation of air carries.
Once the tests are achieved, we will begin our invasion, we will prepare drop ships carrying these electromagnetism weapons and using gravity hurl the bombs onto Japan and deliver a payload. It will be glorious! The Japanese won't know what hit them.
Once we get our hooks into Japan, the advanced Knightmares will rip up everything in its path, it will be glorious!"
"And what about those civilians then? Will you be mass murdering them as well?"
"I would never to that, I would give them a chance to surrender, I won't be an absolute tyrant, ill be like the 99th emperor still being a fair and gentle ruler while at the same time leading with an iron fist!"
/flashback end
Jeremiah and Lelouch slumped back into their chairs, unable to comprehend what C.c had told them, "They found another energy source aside from Sakuradite and they have weaponized it?! Using electricity?! This is brand news to me… whoever is backing Ares must have very deep pockets or have lots of supporters from somewhere to support this large cause…but I cannot imagine the life of me who would benefit from this war… Your Highness, what do you make of this?"
Lelouch who had been silent, he around stood up and moved towards the free window, "They won't stand a chance, if Ares really have made those weapons; the world will become his in only a matter of years. Instead of taking decades and decades it will only take him years. My path was very quick only because it was in the prime of Knightmares and weapons."
"So your highness, how do you plan to fight him and his weapons?"
"We fight fire with fire, one doomsday weapon with another doomsday weapon." Lelouch smiled from ear to ear
Jeremiah, Anya, and C.C looked at one another cluelessly and they could only see Lelouch smile, that creepy grin whenever he had an idea or something had gone very well. "Stop grinning like that he creeps me out." Said C.C sighing at Lelouch, Lelouch quickly changed back to his normal smile.
"Your Highness..how are we going to find another doomsday weapon to fight it? There was no way the four of us would be able to stop this weapon. And to have another doomsday at hand was just not possible."
"There's a bunker in Tokyo we will have to unearth, it's holding many things that I placed there right under Suzaku's nose during those final months after he pretended to die. I made sure that you Jeremiah, and C.C would have access to it and you are both holding the keys to it."
Jeremiah blinked a couple of times unable to understand what his highness was saying, "But how do you know it's not been unearthed?"
"Jeremiah you might not have known this but…I implanted something in your cybernetic interface without you knowing, it's an alarm system." Jeremiah blinked a couple of times. "You gave me something?"
"Yes. I haven't messed with your programming or anything like that, it was just an added feature that some people added during your maintenance work, they were Geassed so no one would know about it. And as for C.C, the ring I gave you in that letter is a key for that place." C.C looked the wedding ring that Lelouch had given her after he died. He had reused it when they actually got married on that day in December.
"There was something else in the suitcase I gave you, it's a GPS. It would activate if someone try to open the bunker with force. I think it might be time to show you where. Jeremiah, could you please get the car ready."
A little while later, the four of them found themselves at the lower part of the docks. It had been abounded for many years, where the homeless mostly squatted. The government had no plans it fixing it. Was more of a "blind spot" for Tokyo, to where everything would be forgotten. For where they were, they had a perfect view of the sea and the upper docks. After waking five minutes they came to a rundown looking warehouse. It was like all the others around, old, rusting and deserted.
Lelouch went the door and feeling around he found the panel he was looking for, applying pressure to the pressure point. Something flipped out, from what everyone could see it was a retinal scanner, "Jeremiah if you could please look into the scanner with your Geass eye." Jeremiah did and so and lean into it. A red light scanned the eye and after a few seconds there was a "click!" Everyone heard the bolts of the door unlocking. Lelouch tugged on the door, pulling the door. The three of them went inside, with Lelouch closing the door as he was the last person. He slammed the door shut, and after a few seconds, the lights automatically came on.
"Wow" was the only thing Jeremiah could say, there standing in the middle of the warehouse were two Knightmares, "So this is where you were hiding it, your highness…I would have never guessed it would be here. And even miss C.C 's Knightmare is here as well." Standing next to Lelouch Knightmare the Shinkiro was C.C pink Knightmare that she had only piloted once.
"So you fixed it up?" As C.C stroked her Knightmares foot, admiring it. "Yes, I did." Said Lelouch, "I even made some improvements on it as well. But this is not we want." Lelouch walked to the other end of the warehouse where another door stood. Instead of having a pop out scanner there was a small hole in the wall and around it where several circles.
"C.C, place your ring with the emerald inside the hole." C.C clenched her fist and placed the emerald inside of it. After a few seconds, the second door clicked open. C.C turned to Lelouch, "Whats in my wedding ring Lelouch...I want an explanation.."
"Inside the ring, there's a code so to speak embedded inside the emerald, the laser scanner reads the code inside the ring and opens the door. It took me awhile to figure out how to get it inside. But I managed somehow." Lelouch went inside first and flicked on a light switch. Lelouch and everyone else followed down what seemed to be an endless about of steps, after reaching the bottom, all three of them were amazed.
"This is incredible your highness, how is there such a large living space underneath here?! It must have taken weeks to prepare." They looked around, the saw amphibious Knightmares, batterers, weapons, a crane, what looked like some kind of trap door and in the corner was a white sheet covering something.
"Well I won't lie, it took close to two months to get this organized. I thought it wasn't going to get done before the end of it all." Lelouch voice echoed through the hidden space
"Your Highness..this is incredible…id never thought you would go in such a detail, under all of our noses…how did no one ask any questions about this?"
"I Geassed them, so no one would remember building this place. Its roughly two hundred meters under sea level. And no can find this place at all, its powered off the grid."
"What's under the cloth your highness? That's in the corner?" Jeremiah inspected it and removed the cloth. Everyone covered their eyes as the bright pink fluorescent lighting illuminated the semi-dark room, the blinked a couple of times before their eyes adjusted. There stood around twenty different sized cylinders, the smallest ones only being a meter to a meter and a half and tallest ones being around two and a half meters. "Your Highness..what are these.." Jeremiah looked closely at them looking at the pink looking liquid that could be seen, C.C and Anya also had a look at them.
"Weaponised F.L.E.I.J.A warheads." Jeremiah turned to Lelouch, "The first doomsday weapons ever made by Nina and perfected by me."
"Your highness…." Jeremiah was shocked, "I thought they all had been destroyed after they sent that weapon into space…"
"They did, in the end, it was meant to be like that…..however with Suzaku no longer around, I could work on the protocol if the world did descend into chaos. Someone would be able to stop them permanently. Someone was able to figure out from Nina's notes how to weaponized them and change the amount of Sakuradite affecting the payload. The smaller ones have a range of 1-3 kilometres while the large ones can go at least 20 kilometres."
Jeremiah gulped and so did Anya, "What is madness where are you planning behind my back?" C.C asked Lelouch, "In all your time, why did you never tell me about this "project" of yours?"
"I did all this because it needed to be done, I knew that something would go wrong. Not everything can have happy ending C.C. I knew when I died there would be peace, and I expected it to stay that way. However, there is always the question of "what if"? And I didn't want to become underprepared for that situation. Hence why I made this bunker. And a reason for me not telling you…I don't have one." Lelouch said blandly to C.C
"Fine every well I'll forgive this time," C.C responded
"So if it is really coming by boat, Britannia needs to be warned. C.C Did Ares even mentioned when he would bring this weapon to light?"
"The 18th I think he said."
"That doesn't give us much time, C.C could you go warn Kallen, I sure should would go straight away to Nunnally and Ohgi. We know at least where she works…"
"Very well… let's go Any-."
"Jeremiah you go with C.C." Lelouch cut off C.C before she could finish, C.C was about to open her mouth protest, "I don't want you dragging Anya in a torublsim situation like what happened last time. Jeremiah is more equipped to deal with certain situations."
"Very well your highness, I shall keep a watch on Miss C.C and her enemies." Jeremiah bowed and walked ahead, C.C turned her head and followed Jeremiah.
Nunnally's Palace
Nunnally was troubled, after C.C declaring that she was here to exact her revenge she had cried for hours on end yesterday. That night she kept tossing and turning unable to keep her mind at peace, it was clear now to her after all this time that C.C had fallen in love with Lelouch. Something must have happened in the final two months for the Zero Requiem had gone off. Suzaku was also surprised.
Nunnally wheeled by Sayoko to breakfast decided to stop while wheeling her to breakfast, "Sayoko what's wrong?" Nunnally asked worriedly as Sayoko bent down to face the 19-year-old
Sayoko wiped the fresh formed tears that were stating to form, "The tears will ruin your make up Nunnally, you look tired, flushed and has been through a lot of stress. If people see you like this, they will think that you are relapsing and that they will force you to return to the United States. I know you want to stay here and I'll do everything in my power. But even I'm starting to think that you need to return to the mainland."
Sayoko moved away from Nunnally and started pushing her again, "Do I look that bad Sayoko?"
"There's no sugar-coating it Nunnally, you don't look well."
"Ahh, I see." Said Nunnally disappointed, she had tried to muster everything she could, however, she wasn't going to get a lucky break. She had slept in this morning so Nunnally was only having breakfast close to 11 am. Sayoko and removed all her meetings for the day so she could recover, she wasn't in the right state of mind to get ready for a fight.
The doors opened for Nunnally as she entered the main dining hall, there sitting close to her spot was her sister Cornelia. She saw Nunnally coming to and stood up for her, "Sister you don't need to stand up for me, we are sisters after all." Cornelia reluctantly sat down going back to her book, "You are the queen Nunnally even us should stand up for such a figure."
As Nunnally got to her spot Sayoko disappeared leaving the two alone, "Nunnally I'm really worried about you. And the rest of the royal family is as well…could you please consider coming back home if it is for a small amount of time. I promise you will get the first flight to Japan after this mess.." Cornelia closed her book and moved over with her chair to Nunnally, she rested Nunnaly's head against her shoulder, stroking her arm.
"But sister I can'y just get up and leave…I would be leaving everyone else behind..including Lelouch which I don't want to do…he did so much for us.." Nunnally let out a long drawn tried sigh
"I know he was precious to you Nunnally, but it's not safe here for you….no one will be upset if you leave. We can still support Japan and the rest of the world from the mainland. And everyone would be happy to see you again. And it would take a load off your extended family as well as the ministers of Britannia. So please reconsider your position here Nunnally." Urging Nunnally, to change her mind, she knew she had plenty of friends here and her blood brother dying here as well.
"I'm unsure sister…I really don't know what to do…after C.C speech, I don't feel myself anymore. Sayoko had to put make up for me this morning just to hide the state I've been in. And it doesn't help with Lelouch's memorial soon, I don't think I'll be able to cope.." Nunnally buried herself into her Cornelia's jacket, Cornelia carefully picked her up, her head still buried, and move over to the sofa, burring her face into her chest, while her disabled legs just hung there. Cornelia didn't want her to relapse. If she did and become ill she would have to forfeit and would have to be temporary replaced, by someone else.
Then if she was seen as unfit, a new king/queen would be elected and crowned the 101st emperor or empress. And then the backstabbing or the favouritism or even worse, Ares to force himself as king. As she gently rocked Nunnally, Sayoko at came out of the kitchen with a tray of food, she saw the two sitting peacefully. Cornelia looked once more at Nunnally and noticed she had fallen asleep.
"She's fallen asleep Sayoko, I'll take her back to her room, I might even take a nap for myself." Cornelia proceeded to lift her little sister up, and to walk back to her room. Sayoko bowed as they walked past, she could see Nunnally was sleeping peacefully now, 'All this stress has made her fall asleep, which is good seeing she needs it.'
Cornelia had arrived at Nunnally's room, opening the doors carefully, with the young queen in her arms, she gently laid her down on the bed, still wearing her clothes. She could see Nunnally's face was had an uneasy expression on her face. Cornelia, removed her jacket and boots and proceeded to lie next to Nunnally, moving her arm underneath her neck and cuddling next to her.
Japan, Tokyo, storage facility No3
Suzaku looked at the crate that was being carefully lowered to the groud, the four-meter box stood there proudly. "Open it." Called Suzaku, the staff did so, the four sides falling, showing the white Knightmare that had been packaged, the Lancelot. "Welcome back buddy.." he eyed it up and down making sure that it had no damage as well as admiring it. "He seems to be in ok shape…it just looks a little dusty…. maybe I should take it for a spin."
"Ohhhhhhhh, my precious baby! It's so good to see you again!" Suzaku turned around to see where the voice had come from, there standing in the entrance bay was Lloyd and to the left of him was his wife Cicle. Lloyd rushed up to, "Oh my precious baby…have the Britannian's been looking after you well." Lloyd pattered the Knightmare
"Lloyd, at least say hi to Suzaku first before you hug your Knightmare!" shouted Cicle nervously to Lloyd, "Hello Suzaku…it's been awhile….. you're looking well, despite recent events.."
"Oh, hello Suzaku! I didn't see you there! You haven't changed one bit, still keeping that boyish haircut!"
Suzaku smiled at her and Lloyd, "It's great to see you again Cicle and Llyod, but how come you're here and not back in the United States? I thought you were living the life, back at the lab you guys were working in?"
"We were but however, we thought we-."
"It was boring over there nothing exciting happening over there…nothing to build…nothing to invent. But once we heard the Ares problem we thought it might be interesting again, so we decided to take our leave." Lloyd cut in letting out a sigh in the process
"He was fired because of misconduct in the lab, you were lucky that we contacted to come here again." Cicle sighed, her right hand rubbing her forehead
"I cant help it, if I fried the power in the entire building, making the research go bad! I was onto something! I had almost figured out a new way to power a Knightmare!" Lloyd shouting back at his wife, "Those buffoons had no flair in them, I didn't want to become lifeless creature! I wanted to create something!" Like a child throwing a tantrum
"Lloyd! Attitude!" shouted Cicle, "We are back in the military! You have to act professional!" Suzaku just laughed at the two, both of them turning to Suzaku
"I have missed you guys so much." He went over to the quarrying couple and hugged them both, "I'm glad to see you guys again."
"Likewise." They both said. No one had expected Lloyd and Cicle, to become a couple, let alone getting married. Milly's engagement to Lloyd had been cancelled, Lloyd had done something that he shouldn't have which may or may not have upset Milly's grandfather and therefore the engagement getting cancelled. And in an unlikely event, Cicle having an opportunity expressed her feelings to Lloyd which came to a shock for everyone. Suzaku thought they were a good couple, the wild and untamed man-child now had a mother like a figure as a wife, looking after his every move most of the time.
Lloyd didn't know how to respond, to having someone confess to him, he didn't care of it much. However his family did care and when the opportunity knocked, for the most unlikely person to get confessed to they jumped at it. Lloyd didn't really care as his nature suggested, but now he had someone who he could talk to in his talk, without having to simplify or change the words. So they married about a year or two later, again Lloyd not caring about the wedding or anything about that. But Suzaku knew that somewhere in Lloyd he had enjoyed it, though he didn't show an emotion at all.
"But who asked you guys to come here? I mean if I'd known id come and see you guys at the airport."
"It was me Suzaku." Everyone turned to see who it was, it was Sayoko, "With this, I thought we should get all the help we could get, there are still a few people missing, but hopefully they will show up."
"Ahh ok, does that mean Anya and Jeremiah will come as well?"
"Well…im not too sure about those two, I contacted the farm, however, one of the farm hands said that they have been gone almost a week….They didn't tell them where they were going, I have tried there phoes but no response which I thought was odd."
"I wouldn't worry about it too much, I'm sure Anya will come through when it counts, how's it hanging Suzaku?"
"Hey Gino, it's been awhile." Strolling in like he owned the place was Gino Weinburg, one of the knights of rounds who had enjoyed his retirement, wearing jeans and a Hawaiian shirt nad hands in his pockets.
"Its good to see you again Gino." Suzaku shock his hand and then Gino going for a bear hug. "Its been awhile, I finally get to come out of retirement, it's not like much was happening, at least I get to fly my Tristian. Ares men won't stand a chance against us, hey Suzaku? They will be running with their tails between their legs hahaha. Is Kallen still working at the usual place?" asked Gino
"Yes, she is, however, I wouldn't push her buttons, she's already in a mood."
"That girl is always in a mood, hahaha, that's one of the things I love about her." Gino wrapping his arm around Suzaku shoulder. "Cicle, Lloyd is good to see you again, as well as Sayoko. How's her highness doing?"
"She…" Sayoko was hesitant to say anything, "Shes with Cornelia at the moment, there having a bit of family time so to speak."
"Ah, so not going to well then…well send her my regards would you." Sayoko bowed to the suggestion, "Well Suzaku, I'll go a catch up for you later, I've got a fiery redhead to go say hi too, I wonder if she's missed me at all." Suzaku rolled his eyes at the comment, 'I'd be careful Gino…'
Downtown Tokyo
Kallen sighed as she brought two plates to the dishwasher, after C.C's and the unknown man's threat, people had been seen to have taken a shock from it all. So business was a little slow. Kallen was still trying to get over the fact that C.C had joined Ares and declaring her intentions in public.
"Kallen..you feeling ok?" Kallen turned to see one of the other waitresses, Kana who had worked here longer then she
"I'm alright Kana…im just trying to get my head around everything. It hasn't been easy for any of us.."
"How's her highness doing?" whispered Kana
Kana had been a great friend to Kallen, however, she couldn't display secrets like that, even if she was a close friend, "I'm sorry Kana…I can't tell you, you know how it is with royalty and stuff."
"I understand Kallen if you need someone to talk to him here for you…...Are you going to go and fight? When Ares comes?" Kallen nodded, "Well please be careful Kallen, I still want you to come back and all, or are a close friend of mine…."
"Of course Kana." Kallen hugged Kana, "I'll come back to you guys, this is like my third family so to speak." Kallen saw Kana's smile, the 27-year-old, half Japanese half Britannian woman.
"Yo, can I get some service around here?" shouted someone
Kallen knowing the voice, "tisk, you have got to be kidding me…why is he here of all places." Kallen snarled, "And at my work of all places."
"Who? Is it that boy, who keeps asking you on a date? The cute tall looking one?"
Kallen rolled her eyes after Kana called him "cute", "Yea that cockroach who doesn't give up…why the hell is he here." Kallen gritted her teeth, the thought of him being here, let alone in Japan, "I'll go deal with him…"
"You know Kallen you should really give him a chance…I mean he's a knight of the rounds, and he's really cute, you will never know when you will find your next catch."
"If he was the last male on earth, I'd rather die than mate with him."
Kallen left the kitchen and went to go to the one person she hated before any of the other staff had to deal with him.
Gino was currently looking at the menu, he understood some Japanese but not everything, "Wait… what was this word again errr.." As Gino tried decrypting the menu, there was an English translation, but he wanted to try for himself and not cheat.
"Hello customer, are you ready to order?" Gino looked up and saw the girl he was looking for Kallen, "Yo, hey Kallen how are you doing?" Gino put his legs up on the table and winked at her casually, "I see you're still working here, how's business going?" As he looked around the empty looking establishment
Kallen forcing a smile that was crooked, "Could you please refrain putting your feet or legs on the table…cockroach." Kallen murmuring the last bit about being a cockroach
"Oh sorry.." Gino moved his long legs off the table, "I'd like to have the pineapple pizza and cola thanks."
"Is there anything else you might like to have?" asked Kallen
"Ummm, yea there is, could I have your number?" asked Gino casually, Kallen's snapped her pen in half, Kallen really trying to restrain herself from punting Gino in the face, "Harassment is not allowed here, if you do not obey the rules, I will have to ask you to leave." Kallen snarled
"Oh sorry, my mistake." Gino casually speaking, "It's just I like fiery redheads, just like yourself." Gino again saying without a care in the world, 'I want to tear him apart!' Kallen screaming internally
"Thank you very much for your order." But before Kallen could leave, "Kallen do you have some time after work to talk?"
Kallen stop mid pace and turned around, "Why?" she asked him coldly, "Just to chat? Is it that bad, if I just want to chat?" Gino asked curiously, "Fine." Kallen sighed, "I get work after five, ill meet you in the back of parking." Kallen waltzed off, knowing that Gino was smiling, ear to ear.
5:05pm
Gino was currently waiting in the employee car park, waiting for Kallen to finish her work. He saw the red bike assuming it was Kallen's, he was looking at the detail, whistling every now and then. The door slammed open, Gino looked to see who it was and not to his surprise it was Kallen wearing a red protective jumpsuit with a helmet in one hand.
"What do you want Gino?" Kallen said angrily, "Pestering me is one thing, following me is another thing, but now stalking me?! I should ask for you to be arrested."
"That's no way to treat a fellow that likes you, geez Kallen. Otherwise, with that attitude you will never get a boyfriend, well aside from me of course, hahaha" Gino walked over to Kallen, she had walked closer to her bike near a brick wall, it was parked near one of the walls. However before Kallen could get to her bike, Gino blocked her, his arm extending against the brick wall, "I wanted to know if you're doing ok?"
"Are you serious?" Kallen looked at him angrily, "You're ASKING me if I'm ok?!" Kallen's emotions had been running high after the mess Ares had created, Zero coming back, the guard with Geass, Lelouch's memorial coming soon, Nunnally almost relapsing and crying about the fact that C.C had sided with Ares or the fact that a war was about to begin.
Kallen felt a surge of emotion going through her, a tear started to run down her cheek, Gino noticing this moved his hand a caught one of the tears, Kallen noticing his hand on her face, she retaliated, slapping him over the face. "You really want to KNOW HOW I FEEL?!" Kallen's lips quivering, Gino rubbed his cheek where Kallen had slapped him.
"IM AT MY WITS END! I CANT STAND IT ANYMORE!" Kallen shouted at the top of her lungs, "With all that's happening, I can't take it anymore! By now my mother has left Tokyo and as moved to another location. There's a war about to start, Nunnally also most relapsed again and of course, C.C has sided with Ares of all people, just for the sake of love! I've…I've….had enough of all of this…" Kallen wiped the tears that were coming out, before Kallen could say something again, Gino with his tall figure, hugged Kallen, embracing her tightly as she started to cry.
"I thought this was the case..from what I've heard, out of anything, this has hit you the most. With C.C, Nunnally and everything else in between, it was bound to take its toll on you, hence why I asking the question." Gino said softly, as Kallen continued to cry.
"How embarrassing is this…being comforted by the person I hate the most out of everyone." Gino let out a chuckle, "There's the Kallen we all know." Teased Gino, "You know Kallen it's not good to keep this bottled up, you need to talk to someone."
"I do….. I talk to my mother about stuff.." Kallen still not giving in to Gino's hug
"Then how do you calm down then, to let it all out? Because from what I can see, these past few days you haven't done, whatever you need to do. How about you talk to me about it?"
"No," said Kallen coldly, 'Maybe I should go visit him?' "If you promise not to say anything, I'll take you where I go to vent."
"I'd won't say anything or laugh, promise." Gino let go of Kallen, pulling out her keys, she undid the compartment and pulled out a fold-able helmet, "Put this on and get on my bike, however. Don't you dare, wrap your arms around my waist or stomach, hold onto the bike. Or else." Kallen got on the bike and Gino followed, getting on the bike and holding on to the handles on the side of the second seat as the bike roared into life.
"A graveyard? You come and talk to the dead about your problems? That's really creepy Kallen." Kallen had driven Gino to where a graveyard was, he didn't understand why she would come here, "There's no one here to talk to..so why a graveyard?"
"You will soon find out." Kallen was already halfway up the hill and Gino quickly ran after her. Gino had noticed Kallen was sitting in front of a gravestone, near a tree as he caught up with her.
"So why this gravestone Kallen?" Gino walked closer to Kallen until he stood over her, he looked to the grave she as looking at. "You have got to be kidding….You talk to his grave? Seriously?!" The grave in question was Lelouch's grave, "You come here to chat with him..come on Kallen, really?!"
"Yes….Its the only person who I can talk to when no one else will understand…I know it's a bit one-sided. Nunnally does the same thing as well, she would come up and talk to Lelouch on hours on end. I think the longest she spent was close to four hours talking to him about her problems." Kallen sighed and she looked at the grave, Gino sighing as well.
"You really are weird Kallen, no wonder you don't have a boyfriend, but lucky you still have me to fall onto."
"If I had a choice between, you and a Lelouch, I'd pick Lelouch."
"That can be arranged, you know Kallen."
Kallen turned around and so did Gino, to where the voice had come from.
"C.C…." There standing behind them, dressed in black, with a black veil over her eyes was C.C, holding purple flowers, Kallen got up and walked towards C.C, 'Finally, I get a chance to talk to you.' However, she was blocked by Gino's arm.
"What are you doing here C.C?" Gino asked defensively while trying to restrain Kallen, "Let me go, Gino!" Kallen squirmed trying to get free
"I cant do that, remember she said she would go after the Black Knights safety last time I checked, your still part of that faction right?" Kallen looked at Gino, with a surprised look on her face as she turned back to C.C
"I'm here to give my loved one some flowers? Is it that bad if I do so?"
"No, it isn't." C.C moved closer to the gravestone, Gino moved Kallen as well, going off to the side, "But I'll have to arrest you after you drop those down, ya know."
"I don't think that would be a very good idea, seeing as I have someone waiting for me at the bottom of the hill." Said C.C, she laid the flowers down on the grave and said something quietly
"C.C…please don't do this.." begged Kallen, "Think of Nunnally and Lelouch's wish! By doing this it won't bring him back! It won't make you feel any better either, it will just make you feel nothing. I've gone through it before with my brother. So please C.C I beg of you don't go through with, this there's still time to change your mind." Pleaded Kallen
"I know you loved Lelouch…..and for a time I did as well, but this will not solve your lost feelings! Lelouch wouldn't want any of this, I'm sure he would have told you that, "this world would be for you as well". what Suzaku did was wrong as well, he manipulated Lelouch, we learned the truth from Nunnally."
After saying that C.C turned to Kallen, she noticed that C.C was somewhat surprised look on her face. "And I would have stayed with him as well…..but I didn't know what he was thinking at the time…but aside from that, help us to stop Ares and save what Lelouch wanted the world to be." Still, C.C said nothing through Kallen's pleading and explanation.
"I'm sorry Kallen I can't, I'm going to stick with this until the end, I'm not stopping if even you went on your knees and begged. I have to get revenge for the people who hurt him the most, Lelouch was mentally damaged, he'd lost too much in the end.
"Mentally damaged? What do you mean C.C?"
"He watched Shirley die slowly in front of him after Rolo killed her, he watched an uncontrollable Euphie, kill people and having to kill her, although it wasn't his fault. He watched helplessly as he thought Nunnally was blown up, as well as kidnapped right under his nose and then he was Geassed by his own father of all people."
"What?!" Kallen counldn't believe what C.C had told them, "You mean Lelouch didn't kill Shirley…it was Rolo? The person who was with the Black Knights for a short time."
"Yes Rolo grew Jealous of Shirley and decided to kill her, Shirley even told him that he didn't blame him which broke Lelouch even more."
"And.. his father had Geass as well?!" Kallen even more shocked, 'Is their entire family cursed with Geass?'
"Yes, it was Suzaku who dragged him to Charles after you left Lelouch for dead, Suzaku knew about Charles's Geass when he brought Lelouch, all because of Euphie's death, which wasn't his fault."
Kallen blinked and so did Gino, "What do you mean "wasn't his fault"?"
C.C stood quietly not uttering another word, she turned, "C.C what do you mean it wasn't Lelouch's fault about Euphie?! Could the SAZ massacre been avoided?!"
"Maybe another time I will tell you, of what truly happened between those two in the five minutes they were gone. But you need to be worried about other things, in three days a storm is coming and it will be unrelenting when it sweeps through, you better be ready." Kallen and Gino looked dumbfounded to one another trying to make sense of the entire situation at hand, as C.C walked off.
"This is too much for me.."Kallen slumped down to the ground, still looking at Lelouch's grave, "This is getting much for me…what should I do Gino?" Kallen looked up at him, the only person what was with her. He sat down next to her moving his arm around Kallen's opposite shoulder and pulling her in, "You fight it, and you keep fighting it till you have won…..never give up."
"Miss C.C was that ok to tell them that much?" Asked Jeremiah as C.C almost finished walking down to the bottom of the hill.
"It should be ok, I personally want to see Suzaku squirm and the same with the Black Knights. I still hold some resentment towards them, and Jeremiah were you listening in?" C.C raising an eyebrow towards Jeremiah.
Jeremiah opened the door for C.C as she got in, "I might have heard a few words here and there, I think it was an excellent speech, aside from you wanting them to squirm. But…will Lelouch allow you tell them what happened during that meeting?" Jeremiah closed the door and hopping into the driver's side, "I think it's about time they knew the truth. I think Lelouch would agree as well, some people still need some closure."