Flashback

Kallen Kozūki held herself upright, her back firm and straight as she led her group towards Tokyo tower. Ever since Shinjuku, she had been wondering about the other men they had encountered, the ones that had saved Nagisa and had found C.C. She was very interested in hearing from them, as C.C's notes were as ever vague, and yet led her to wonder who she was talking about. They approached the ruined building from the front, strolling past the Sakura trees littering the perimeter, spreading pure air through their lungs.

"Stop there!"

Thus began their deliberation, as she sent Nagisa over to the obstinate pair, before they conversed, Kallen thanking them for their help before an accented Japanese voice reached across the park, asking what it was they hoped to achieve. Surprised by this turn in the discussion, she snapped back, stating the obvious "We want freedom, we want Britannia out!"

The reply of the man, who Nagisa indicated was the Britannian, was rude at best, questioning what they thought was so different about them as a group that would take down Britannia, to which she responded "We have the backing of Japan. People don't know it can be done. In a few successes, we can grow!"

They argued back and forth, before the Britannian declared "What do you imagine happens? Britannia implements harsher Military police, resulting in their continued mistreatment and misery. If you wish to engage in a race to the bottom at the expense of those you supposedly wish to protect, I must seriously question your motives."

Kallen could only reel. No, no this was wrong, she knew it. The Britannians were here for resources, and if those resources could not be obtained due to a revolution, they would surely cow! Even if it meant the Britannians would harshen their policies, it would show the people their true face! This man was clearly a coward, akin to the Six Houses of Kyoto and their bureaucratic nonsense attempts to democratically restore Japan. She sneered, asking half sarcastically "Well what would you rather do?"

"Good question, you're learning."

Kallen paused now used to the man's insolent tone but still surprised by his confidence. She was now paying serious attention, as the man continued "So, let's reexamine. What motivates people? People like to have a better lot in life, more opportunity, and more representation. Your plan centres on retaking your country for your country's own sake, which is why it is of limited scope and ambition. People will not join you unless you make them a better offer."

Hanging on every word, his lecture rocketed through her skull, focusing on key terms such as the country's own sake, and ambition. Beyond all sense, she saw the reason in his words. Japan needed to mean something, a progression towards a better state of life, a liberation from the injustice of Britannia. It was on her, yes, on her, to show them that. The people would not rise under the nation of Japan for the nation itself. They needed to be shown that justice was as yet undelivered, that Britannia owed a debt to the dignity of humanity. To this effect, if nobody else would, why not her? Up to this point, she had thought of herself as a cell in the resistance, a cog in the resistance in line with standard terrorist thinking, however, emboldened by the Britannians talk of ambition, she could only wonder what was the issue with taking some damn responsibility? She didn't interrupt, as the man continued.

"You claim you fight the enemy on your terms. This is not true. You are fighting an enemy at their full industrial and economic capacity, while not addressing the people you seek to represent. Fighting them on your terms would be reducing their capacity to address your threat to your level. The epitome of martial excellence isn't winning every battle, but winning without fighting, and so we must do all we can to level that playing field before making overt moves. This is why you will never win. You went with the standard, guerrilla terror tactics. You lack ambition, imagination, and any semblance of audacity, the cornerstones of revolution. I intend to destroy their economy and leave them no choice but to submit. I will make Schneizel El Britannia himself bow in submission without firing a shot!"

Breathless and shocked by the tour de force, she stood back. He was wrong in his conclusion that violence could never work; it had lost them the country and it could get it back. But this confidence, this sheer indifference to opposition was that leadership that would win them Japan, under the flag of justice.

Bringing her team back she could barely speak as she whispered "It's your choice." with not an ounce of a lie. She was herself troubled. If she was this mixed, her team deserved the chance to follow their ideals. In her present, uninspired state, she didn't deserve to keep them.

That would change.

BANG

The JLF fighter clutched his left breast in shock, falling back over the deal he had commandeered as Kallen Kozūki, donning her Zero outfit, walked with a determined step into the heart of the Kawaguchi Convention centre. Reloading her sidearm, she pressed on, as her subordinates, her Black Knights, worked to clear the floor.

She had first heard of the kidnappings from Nagisa, before she made the connection between the incident and her friends trapped in the building. Deciding that this would be the ideal time to unveil her Knights of Justice to the world, after all, what more just a cause than the liberation of civilians? Opposing the JLF would also raise her profile, being such a surprising move for a Nationalist. It would show Zero was truly a just adjudicator.

And of course, the deed itself would raise their profile, recognising that Cornelia would not go forth, and agreeing to do it themselves. With that they were in, and immediately enacted justice, swift and true, on the terrorists occupying the building. She had determined this offshoot of the JLF, likely led by former Lieutenant Colonel Kusakabe, were acceptable targets to take the fall. They had gone below what was morally acceptable, breaching any conceived rules of war and targeting innocent civilians with wanton carelessness, and even throwing them off a building.

It wasn't as if she couldn't understand. Back when she was just working in a cell, she had thought she would do anything to help the cause of Japan, including to Britannian civilians if necessary. Why not? Surely, they must all be complicit in this collective atrocity?

But she came to realise that, with the lens of justice, this way of thinking was wrong. Why did Milly, Lelouch, the Britannian beneath the Sakura tree, deserve collective punishment? The issue lay with those in power, and those without were as much oppressed as Japanese. In this way, Kusakabe was as unjust as his opponents, which would not stand.

A point made eloquently as she made her announced entrance into the room, sending a man ahead before she stepped inside, in shock at the scene.

First, Kusakabe, standing opposite the door to greet her. She frankly did not care for him, and ignored him as she sighted the second item, Lelouch Lamperouge, standing ten o'clock to her with a face lit up by silent fury, as his disdain oozed over towards her. She paused, wondering what the hell he was doing here, as she spied Suzaku, and a Princess of Britannia.

Her first instinct was to joke at the improbability of the situation, however she suppressed her emotion and thought, as Kusakabe began with "Peace, peace friends! We are all friends of Japan here! Yuaikai, and…"

"That depends heavily on your definition of friend."

Kallen said nothing, working out what this meant in her head. Lelouch being referred in the same breath as the Labour Movement was self explanatory, however the fact that said Labour Movement shared ideals with a pair of Britannian and Japanese teenage rebels she had met under the Sakura tree was not realised until moments later. She had had her suspicions since they had first met due to Lelouch's familiar voice, however this confirmed it. Lelouch was the man beneath the tree.

Once she realised the significance of Lelouch and Suzaku's presence, she took a new view of the situation, acknowledging but ignoring their personal connection, as she observed their back and forth.

Look! We have good fortunes! We can use the Princess-"

"Bastard!"

In spite of her earlier confusion, the situation was now clear to Kallen, who looked on. Lelouch, her inspiration in spirit, was defending the Princess sister of the Viceroy from Kusakabe, likely based on their ideas of pacifism.

"Have you lost your minds? Don't tell me you've become sentimental, Lelouch. Honestly. This is war, we must accept any cost-"

If this were several months ago, Kallen would likely be on Kusakabe's side. No, she thought, she would likely be behind him, serving facelessly with little thought. A cell, both literally and figuratively, however things had changed. Kusakabe would fail for the same reason Kallen in her earlier state would fail, if on a broader scale. Ultimately, while she had once thought that all could be sacrificed towards the cause of Japan, she had outgrown that naivety.

"Kusakabe, this development is indicative of the issues that lie at the base and heart of your conceited ideas, combining self destructive honour with utter cowardice. Hiding behind Princesses, while claiming to be the rightful military leader? Your place is not on the front lines, it is in The Hague, you unjust mongrel!"

Naivety had no place in rebellion. To that, she had Lelouch to thank, however even now she worried over what might happen if he proved an inconvenience.

Many thanks to Patjeeson, MMBrowsing, MorTheDivineBeing, LoganaranoTheBritannian, Titanfire999, GTHC, and CrimsonHeresy for reviewing this arc!