CHAPTER 25!!!
I am in an exceptionally good mood, because Ireland just beat france in Rugby!!!!!! HELL YEA!!!!!!!
AND SO, THE WEEKLY NOTICES!!!
1: Infinate Freedom: omg, that makes so much sense! the gawain is the enemy of lancelot!!!!!
2:Emolollipop: yea, i luv this part too!!! i really wanted amaya to get with suzaku during it, but due to future plans for the story...i couldn't!!! i was frustrated to put it nicely!!!!
3:AJ1ri: aw, thanks!!! i hope no1 was too angry though....lol
4: Elviol vi Yogyakarta: i know, itstarted off at around 2000 words a chapter, and rose and rose, so the longest chapter now is 10000!!!!!
5:Hyrulian Hero Akai: i know, there was no fluff, a little in this one, more to follow, i promise!!!
6:ani-sand: i know!!! like i said to emolollipop, i really wanted then to meet, but plans stopped me from making it so!!! im sorry!!!!!!
7:Princesa de la Luna: nope...is it gd? should i watch it?
8: Draketh: i know that C.C is taking a bit of the backseat, but she will become more important, as will jinx, over time, promise! thanks nd i hope u continue to read this story!
9:REDZERCAREBEAR: WHOOOOOOOOOOOO, ireland beat france babz!! she's in cambodia now people!!! she is soooo lucky!!!!!
10:Blaid: will there be an R2? if people are interested!
AND NOW THE CHAPTER FOLKS!!!
Amaya took a deep breath as she glanced at the television screen, she and Lelouch/Zero having just returned little over 2 hours ago, only to find that the old Kururugi Administration, which fled to the Chinese Federation upon defeat...was returning, with Chinese backing, having occupied the Fukuoka Base in Kyoshu.
Her eyes narrowed slightly at the sight of the Sawasaki Atushi, the Chief Cabinet Minister of the Kururugi Administration. As she remembered, it was he who decided to flee to China, taking the former members of the Administration with him, leaving Japan defenseless at it's most desperate time.
She clenched her fists as she recalled that it was directly after he fled, that her Grandfather declared they would continue to fight, with or without them.
And now, seven years later, they return, bringing a storm behind them.
Amaya clenched her jaw slightly as the news showed a clip of the speech they broadcast live to the Britannian forces.
"We hereby declare the resurrection of Japan, as a lawful, independent and Sovereign nation!" Sawasaki announced, standing tall before a force of Chinese Knightmares, his eyes narrowed in determination, as Amaya held gazes with it via the television screen.
After this, the news reader began speaking, talking over the rest of his speech,
"Atushi Sawasaki, Leader of the forces that have occupied the Fukuoka Military Base, was Chief Cabinet Minister of the Kururugi Administration in the former nation of Japan." the news reader explained, highlighting the word former, as though to confirm this to both the Britannian Settlers and Eleven Natives.
"After the war, he fled to the Chinese Federation, but is apparently making his move now in response to the recent civil unrest, caused by Zero." as the newsreader announced this, a cold tension fell upon the room, silent apart from the news reader who continued, as a picture of Zero came upon the screen with the question below typed out,
WHAT IS THE BLACK KNIGHTS AND ZERO CONNECTION?
"Whether the Black Knights have played a roll in these unfolding events is still under investigation."
"We're not part of it!" Tamaki snapped loudly from where he was sitting, clenching his jaw as he announced this. Lelouch, Amaya saw as she glanced around at him, sighed irritably as he asked,
"What does Kyoto say about it?" Amaya shrugged as she replied lowly,
"They had no idea this was happening. They were only just told of his unilateral claims to the Sakuradite Mining Rights..." she sighed as she remembered the frantic phone call as soon as she boarded the submarine, from Kirihara. She glanced again at the screen, at the image of Sawasaki before stating simply,
"This one's a slippery character. He's trying to make his move just as ours has begun. To claim our success as his own." she added, glancing at 'Zero' as she said this, who folded his arms in thought.
"This is true..." he murmurred quietly, as Kallen turned to him, stating softly,
"Zero, it's our move...What are we going to do?"
Lloyd raised an eyebrow slightly, adjusting his glasses as he watched a news report on the recent events, aboard the Avalon.
"Sawasaki's group was working in conjunction with a Terrorist organisation in the Kyushu. After cutting off vehicle access from Honshu and Skikoku, and with support from Chinese Federation forces from the Liau Dong Military District, they are expanding their occupation around Fukuoka, Nagasaki and Oita. According to General Tsau, the Chinese Federation is providing Humanitarian support, and is not acting-"
At this point, Lloyd's concentration drifted to Cecile, who just entered the control base in the Avalon, a nervous look on her face.
"So...How's Suzaku doing?" he asked casually, crossing his arms as he turned to face her. She tensed as she replied quietly,
"He says that he'll do whatever the mission demands." she nswered shortly, as Lloyd gave a short nod in response.
"I see..." as he mused on this, Cecile glanced up at him again.
"And Prince Schneizel? Where is he?" Lloyd released a sigh, clossing his eyes momentarily as he reported simply, turning back to the monitor,
"In the Tokyow Settlement. Got there after his run in with Suzaku." he paused momentarily before adding lowly, "Avalon doesn't have it's Commander right now, so we have to finish this up if we want to counter the Gefijun Disturber."
Suzaku remained silent as he finally found a moment to himself, sitting on the ground after training, silently staring at the only physical remnant of his past life.
His father's pocket watch, an antique now, it had belonged to his Grandfather before him...and now it was Suzaku's.
After the occupation, he had spent countless nights just staring at the face, which ticked softly at every second, announcing another second, minute, hour, day passed.
And he stared at it again, as he thought of the mornings proceedings...the feeling of making his way to Euphemia's office, the heavy feeling in his chest, clutching the badge of Knighthood, symbolising he was a chosen champion of Britannia, chosen by the Third Princess herself to protect her...
Suzaku remained silent as he quietly held out his badge, the meaning in his actions quite clear. He glanced to the floor as Euphemia stared at him in shock, not taking the badge.
"...I've dishonored you...I'm unworthy to be your Knight." he stated softly, glancing upwards finally to meet her confused, hurt eyes, causing his chest to tighten in pain.
"...If this is about you disobeying orders, my brother Schneizel said it was an unusual situation, and you shouldn't be blamed for it." she tried to assure him, causing Suzaku to take a short breath ebfore continuing,
"I can' forgive myself...Please..." he continued to hold out the badge, as Euphemia stared at him again, before asking softly, pleadingly,
"Has Knighthood become a burden for you? Something that troubles you?" her voice trembled slightly as she asked this, her hand on her chest shaking ever so blushed as he quickly shook his head, stating quickly,
"No, I'm grateful for it." Euphemia's mouth opened slightly as she asked pleadingly, begging for a reason,
"Then why?" Suzaku's forest green eyes travelled to the floor again, as silence washed over them for a few moments, before Suzaku declared quietly, still looking at the floor,
"...I've remembered something." Euphemia blinked as she drew up in surprise, curiosity sparkling in her eyes as Suzaku continued lowly,
"I..." Suzaku clenched his fists as he finally delcared aloud, glancing up at Euphemia,
"I killed my own father..." as theses words left his lips, he saw Euphemias mouth open softly in shock, her eyes glancing at him with almost...sympathy, as she connected the dots of Kururugi Genbu's death.
"I was never punished..." Suzaku announced shakily, "I just lived on, like nothing happened!" he closed his eyes momentarily as he looked up at her again, his voice becoming louder as he concluded,
"And now, I'm being protected again! While soldiers die and Elevens suffer! I'm unscaved!" with this said, he moved forward, gently placing the winged badge into her left hand, gently closing her fingers around it, glancing up at her pain filled eyes as he declared, wit an air of finality,
"A person like me doesn't deserve this..."
Euphemia's eyes burned as, alone, she looked down at the winged badge, held gently, as though it were made of glass, in her palms.
"...You don't deserve this...?" she whispered, her words echoing around the room, as she felt tears well in her eyes, as she clutched the badge to her chest tightly, before uttering to herself,
"...Then I don't ether..."
Euphemia paused as the memory of her and Amaya's conversation yesterday, from when they were searching for fruit, flew through her mind...
Euphemia beamed at Amaya as they walked, Amaya grinning as she pointed above them. Euphemia glanced up, giving a squeal and a clap as she saw a clump of small, tropical Japanese bananas in a tall tree.
"Lucks on our side!" Amaya grinned as she placed one foot onto the tree, reaching up to grab a branch to climb up. Euphemia nodded, as she reached to. Amaya's eyes widened in amusement as she paused, sighing,
"It's as Lulu says, Euphie. No manual labor for little Princess Euphiemia!" she winked as she shook her head, and her finger in scolding. Euphimia frowned, crossing her eyes as she responded,
"Lulu doesn't have to know, Amaya! Come on, I haven't been able to do anything like this since forever!" as she said this, her eyes widened pleadingly, her lower lips trembling. Amaya rolled her eyes as she nodded.
"Come on up then, Euphie!" Euphemia nodded determinedly, kicking off her high heeled shoes to begin to climb the tree, grabbing Amaya's extended hand to give her a boost.
"So," Amaya began as they climbed, "...You know Suzaku?" Euphemia glanced at Amaya, nodding slightly, as she struggled to heave herself higher.
"What do you think of my dear cousin, then?" Amaya persisted, easily gaining more height. Euphemia blinked in surprise.
"What do I...think?" she repeated, pausing in her climbing. Amaya nodded, her emerald green eyes sparkling in curiosity as she saw the blush build in the Princess's cheeks. "I...I don't know..."
"He's..." Euphemia struggled for words as she pulled herself up a little more. "He's courageous." she finally decided, gasping as she took a moment to catch her breath. To Euphemia's fear, Amaya's eyebrow raised, signifying she believed there was more to what Euphemia thought, and would pursue this.
"Courageous?" she repeated, pausing in thought, glancing at Euphemia for a moment before slowly adding, "I don't know...certainly, with his continuous determination with cats, of course...but why would you say that, Euphie?" Euphemia gasped as she climbed another branch, stating,
"He's my Knight! He protects me, he puts his life on the line nearly every day for my sake!" she didn't stop to think , momentarily forgetting Amaya's presence as she continued,
"Oh, and he's so proud! And so serious, yet so much fun! He's kind, considerate, and he never, ever gives up! Oh, Amaya, he's..." she drew off as her eyes widened, seeing Amaya smile slightly at her, as Euphemia glanced down, seeing she had climbed quite a long way up. Slowly she dragged her eyes back up to Amaya, who announced softly,
"Euphemia...I think you do know what you think of Suzaku." as she finished this, she quickly tore the banana bunch off the tree, holding it as she began to climb down.
"And I'm happy for you."
Euphemia paused as her eyes widened in realization, her mouth opening slightly as Amaya continued down.
Only after Amaya had reached the bottom, did she call up to Euphemia to hurry, did she dare move to climb down.
Euphemia took a deep breath as she reached the door of Schneizel's office, pausing as she momentarily listened in on their conversation.
"Martial Law is not necessary." Schneizel declared calmly. "Such measures would only upset and frighten people." There was a moments pause before he came to a decision.
"Contact EU Foreign Minister Glendolphi...Oh, and put a call into the Toromo Embassy in Cambodia." there was a pause before Darlton stepped in,
"Prince Schneizel, using the Toromo Agency could be of-" at this, Euphemia made her entrance, clenching her fists, the door hissed open, as she took a deep rbeath before immediatly walking in, greeting urgently,
"Prime Minister!" Schneizel blinked as he took her in, calmly asking,
"Yes, Euphie? Anything wrong?" Euphemia paused before Schneizel as she asked strongly,
"Is there anything I can do to help?" she took a deep breath before continuing, "I'm the Sub-Viceroy of Area Eleven, I should be assisting you!" as she stated this, ready to accept whatever work Schneiel decreed, however, all he did was smile gently, before simply saying,
"Thank you. Just your offer to help me is more then enough." Euphemia's eyes widened as she took a step forward, pleading,
"But I-" she paused as Darlton announced quietly from where he stood,
"The Viceroy gave strict orders that you not be entagled in this matter, Princess." Euphemia blinked as she stated in shock,
"She did...?" Euphemia's fists clenched as she continued, rage blossoming in her chest, "Just because I chose my Knight without her consent...?" at this, Darlton blinked in surprise, quickly calming the matter by correcting himself,
"Oh no, that's not correct. I think even the Kururugi matter-" at this, Schneizel interrupted, turning back to her calmly, as always, asking softly,
"Please understand, Euphie. Cornelia can't take any chances now, the situation is too treacherous." Euphemia froze, her eyes wide as she whispered,
"You mean...?" Schenizel ignored this, turning back to Darlton as he quickly changed the subject,
"Darlton, concerning the matter we were discussing, I know someone who has a way in with them, so I will ask for help." Darlton gave a curt nod as he promptly answered,
"Yes, Your Highness."
Suzaku glanced at the screen towards Cecile, as the new parts were added to the Lancelot.
"That's really amazing!" she exclaimed as she examined his score on the simulator. "You got a perfect rating on the float simulator!" Suzaku smiled wanly as he replied quietly,
"Thank you." there was a moment of silence, before Cecile broke it again, asking softly,
"Tell me...why did you want to give up being a Knight, Suzaku?" Suzaku blinked at the question, taking a deep breath before he answered gently,
"Well...Because...Princess Euphemia still approves of me. Even as I am now." Suzaku allowed a small smile travel across his lips as he continued, "So if I've caused her any trouble..." Suzaku's smile slowly slipped away as he took another deep breath.
"If I brought her dishonor, or shame, I had a feeling that she would end up..." Suzaku paused as he continued, clenching his fists as he declared softly,
"Hating herself."
'A figure head...' the words echoed around Euphemia's head as she stood before a large portrait of her brother, Clovis La Britannia, in his Memorial Museum of Art.
'That's all I was from the start...I knew that...' Euphemia confirmed to herself dutifully, 'But I thought if I gave my best effort, maybe I could make some differance.' Euphemia's hands, in front of her stomach tightened as she whispered in her mind in a silent prayer to her brother,
'Forgive me, Clovis...I met Zero face to face, but I didn't avenge your death.' Euphemia shook slightly at these words, continuing to stare up at the beautiful picture of her brother. 'I have to think of some way to save Lelouch and Nunnally, not to mention Amaya...' Euphemia's hands tightened as she asked the one question on her mind,
'...But how? I don't have the kind of power that my sister has...I'm not like her or Schneizel!' Euphemia's eyes fell slightly as she continued, 'No matter where I go, I'm just a burden...I act selfishly, though I don't mean to!'
Euphemia bit her lip slightly as she admitted silently,
'I chose my Knight against my sister's advice...' Euphemia felt tears pool in her eyes as she lifted her hands to her chest, whispering aloud, her words echoing around the Museum,
"And now he has reseigned..."
Amaya stood in silence along with the rest of the Black Knights after Lelouch/Zero declared his plan to the Black Knights.
"...So you're saying..." Tamaki uttered aloud, Lelouch calmly repeating, arms crossed,
"We're not going to collaberate with Sawasaki. He is not idependant." he paused before Amaya added,
"He is, in all respects, a mere puppet of the Chinese."
"...But he's fighting for Japan!" Minami argued, furrowing his eyebrows in thought, as Lelouch promptly responded,
"We'd get a new name, and a new master, but nothing would change." Lelouch paused before concluding darkly, "His Japan...is a sham."
"Yeah..." Asahina looked up in amusement, stating, "So what you're really saying is..."
"When Britannia strikes back...we play dead!?" Senba finished, an eyebrow raised in disgust, as Diethard stepped forward.
"Zero, prehaps you'd better clarify what our real mission is...?" he prompted, followed by Ohgi, who turned to him questionably along with Tohdoh.
"Yeah, he's right." Ohgi agreed, "Even leaving aside the Sawasaki matter, what is our mid term goal on this?" Lelouch answered simply ans easily.
"To make Tokyo an independant nation." Amaya felt a soft smile tug at her lips as he repeated the plan he had explained only a few minutes before the meeting.
Meanwhile, the room turned into an uproar of questions and disbelief, as Ohgi jumped right back in,
"Wait a minute!" he pleaded, "No matter how much the Black Knights have expanded-"
"Our enemy is an Empire which controls one third of the world!" Chiba added, her eyes wide as Tamaki agreed,
"We can't pull that off alone!" Amaya's eyes narrowed as Lelouch stepped forward, commanding attention by declaring,
"Then answer me this! Are you just going to sit back and wait for somebody else to defeat Britannia? Who?" silence fell upon the room as Lelouch paused a moment to let this sink in, a chilliness settling in the room.
"You think if you wait long enough, someday, the right chance will finally come?" he demanded of them, before adding coldly,
"Don't be naive! If we don't stand up ourselves, that 'someday' will never come!"
Euphemia remained lost in her thoughts as she was driven down the pathway towards the exit of the museum.
"Princess Euphemia!" She paused at hearing her name being yelled out, as the car suddenly stopped, and Euphemia glanced upwards to see what was happening, pausing as she took in what was occurring.
Giards were surrounding a teenage girl who tried to run towards her car, holding her on the ground for safety as orders were yelled into communicators, more guards sprinting over as the girl continued to cry out.
Euphemia stared at the girl momentarily, feeling somewhat familiar with her...she gasped as she recalled her.
"The girl from the Hotel Jacking!" she gasped, leaning forward, clarifying it was the girl...Nina, if she remembered correctly. The girl who got into a fight with Amaya, and with the JLF guards.
"Stop it!" she commanded as she exited the car promptly, calling all attention to herself as silence fell. Euphemia took a deep breath before continuing,
"That girl is a personal friend of mine!"
Suzaku took a deep breath as he entered the Lancelot, the weather having cleared up, and permitted safe enough to attack. All he had to do, was get Sawasaki. After that, the Chinese would have to reason to be there, and would be forced to return.
"Are we sending up a mirage?" Suzaku asked, a small amount of excitment building at the prospect of using the newest parts of his Lancelot.
"We'll be fine in this position." Cecile assured, as the Avalon blocked yet another direct hit by the enemy using their energy shields, however, giving the enemy the idea that it had been destroyed due to the remaining cloud coverage.
"Major Kururugi, I'm laying out the mission plan for final verification." Cecile announced, as Suzaku nodded his head in agreement, his screen lighting up with a map of the battlefield.
"This ship will breach the enemy's front line from high altitude and move directly to the launch point. The advanced weapon system, Z01 Lancelot, using the float unit, will attack the enemy headquarters at Fukuoka Base. " she paused before adding cautiously, "The float unit consumes energy fast, so pay attention to your operation time."
Suzaku took a deep breath as he stared at the deploying runway, leading into the dark sky, placing the Lancelot in position as he declared,
"Yes, My Lord."
"Lancelot Unit, now launching!"
"LAUNCH!" Suzaku confirmed, pushing the Lancelot to full speed.
Sawasaki narrowed his eyes as he stared at the screen, as it was announced,
"The enemy ship seems to have launched a bomber...but it's moving faster then a fighter plane!" Sawasaki froze as someone else announced,
"I have picture!" as the image was flashed up on screen, the whole room took an intake of breath. For it was a knightmare...but no ordinary knightmare...for it was flying.
"A knightmare..." he gasped in disbelief, as General Tsau added, horrified,
"It's not being transported, it's just flying on it's own!" Sawasaki's eyes widened as he gasped in disbelief,
"That weapons report that we recieved, could this be it?" General Tsao gasped as he responded with,
"You mean that novelty weapon?" Sawasaki's eyes narrowed again as something else floated into his mind.
"But then...the pilot is..."
Suzaku gritted his teeth as he expertly dodged all missiles aimed at him, veering to the right as he aimed his own slash harken against a helicopter aiming at him as well, sending him and five more after him, like a dominos.
Suzaku narrowed jis eyes as he flew over a mountain, and his eyes locking hith his target.
"There it is." he confirmed to himself, "the enemy headquarters." he paused momentarily as another helicopter flew out of nowhere, as Suzaku quickly brought it down in flames. His eyes followed it's descent for a moment, before something on his screen caught his attention.
"An open channel?" he gasped, as someone appeared on his top screen. His eyes widened, and his mouth opened slightly as the man began to speak calmly.
"This is Minister Sawasaki." he saw a smirk twitch on his face as he continued, "Is that prime Minister Kururugi's son in the pilot's seat?"
Suzaku's eyes narrowed as his fists clenched as he spoke, his pulse picking up in anger as the man nodded in understanding at Suzaku's non-existant response.
"I see." he commented before adding, "I didn't know he had a son like you."
Euphemia's eyes wandered from the flames of her fireplace, before which she sat, towards her guest, Nina, as she continued hesitantly,
"And then...when you saved me, Princess Euphemia..." she shook her head as she stated quickly, "I'll never forget it, you looked like some kind of Goddess...like you were bathed in radient light..." Euphemia paused at her words, an eyebrow raising slightly at that, as Nina suddenly gasped,
"Oh, forgive me! I should have thanked you for these change of clothes you gave me!" she apologised, her bespectaled eyes going to the floor as she tucked her knees under her. Euphemia smiled as she shook her head, exclaiming,
"Oh, don't worry about that, Nina." she paused as her eyes once again drifted the the flames, stating softly, "Besides, I'm not all the wonderful person you think I am..." Euphemia's eyes fell as she stated gently, "I'm no good compared to my brother and sister..." her eyes went back to Nina as she gasped suddenly,
"No, that's not true!" Nina's eyes were wide in disbelief as she continued, "How can you say that about yourself...?" Nina's eyes fell to her lap as she continued quietly, her hands nervously clenching in front of her chest,
"There's not one good thing baout me, really, nothing at all!" her voice shook as she continued, "My parents are ordinary...I'm not the least bit pretty...And there's just nothing special about me!" Euphemia slowly shook her head as she gently declared,
"That's wrong Nina. I think you are a very cute girl." Nina glanced up with a gasp before quickly lowering her eyes again.
"I'm not really good for anything...not at all!" she added s she slowly shook her head in denial of the compliment. Euphemia's mouth opened slightly as a sudden thought ranthrough her mind.
'She hates herself...' Euphemia's own eyes lowered as she added, 'But...so do I..."
"I guess I understand..." Nina admitted suddenly, before continuing, "But Suzaku makes me uneasy..." Euphemia's eyes snapped alert as she gasped to herself,
'That's it! Suzaku feels badly too!' Nina looked up again as she quickly pleaded,
"So please, oh please, don't say that you're no good, Princess Euphemia, I beg of you! Because..." Nina's eyes lowered again as she whispered,
"Because...I need you...I need you're goodness..." Euphemia allowed a smile cross over her face as she announced gently,
"Thank you so much, Nina..." Nina glanced up again as Euphemia continued gently, "I'm glad I got to know you." Nina's eues widened as Euphemia declared, with a warm feeling,
"You've really helped me understand!"
"This has nothing to do with my father!" Suzaku snapped defiantly as he dodged another missile. "I came here to put an end to this fighting! I will accept your surrender." he continued as he began his landing near the Base. There was a pause before Sawasaki rconcluded lowly,
"You want to rob Japan of it's dream of freedom?" Suzaku clenched his jaw as he touched the ground, stating,
"Freedom has to come the right way! Not like this!" Sawasaki frowned as he snapped,
"You will act out of selfishness? It's justice without ideology!" Suzaku frowned as he snapped back desperately,
"No, you're wrong! That's not what I-" he paused as suddenly he was hit on the side, his Varis knocked from his grip, destroyed.
"My Varis..." he began, glancing up and narrowing his eyes at the weapon that hit him. "Those are Chinese Federation Gang Lou's!" he paused as he half heard the man chuckle, before declaring to someone near him,
"He allowed me to distract him...he still has much to learn..."
Euphemia did not pause as she once again that day, hurried to Schneizel's office, hurrying through the door as Darlton and Schneizel stared in surprise at her.
"Euphie?" he asked in surprise, raising an eyebrow delicately at her as she paused before his desk, putting her hands together pleadingly as she asked in an equally pleading voice,
"Schneizel, may I have access to a private communication line?"
Suzaku cursed as he attempted to shield himself from the onslaught of bullets with his right arm and energy shield, glancing to the right and seeing an alley between two buildings. Instantly, he ducked into it...but not fast enough, he realized, as his float system was blasted off.
Suzaku's eyes widened as he almost instantly saw his energy power go into red zone.
"My energy filler!" he cursed again, as he connected through to Cecile and Lloyd, listening in briefly to their conversation.
"Are you kidding?! They blasted off the float?!" Lloyd cried as Cecile immediately declared,
"The Avalon has to strike at the base!" Suzakus ehart picked up as Lloyd cried out again, panicked,
"NO! The shield doesn't completely surround us! One direct hit and we'll go down in flames!" there was a tension filled silence as Cecile instead commanded to Suzaku,
"Suzaku, reroot all power to combat and calm systems!" Suzaku nodded as he did this, stating,
"Got it!" as immediately, the lighting in the Lancelot went to a low red light to save energy, his other weapons lowering as well. He glanced upwards again as Sawasaki began speaking,
"You had better surrender, Suzaku. Since you're Prime Minister Kururugi's son, I guarantee that you will be very well treated, my boy." Suzaku clenched his jaw at that, his fists clenching at the words, 'my boy'.
"I decline! If I use my father's name for this, I'd never forgive myself!" he spat, his eyes narrowing at Sawasaki on the screen. "This is between you and me!"
At this, Sawasaki sighed, his eyes narrowing as he declared,
"I see...You're very much my father's son." Suzaku narrowed his eyes even more as he continued coldly, "As foolish and stubborn as he was." Suzaku's heart picked up as he decided to ignore the comment, instead surveying the surounding Knightmares.
He paused however, as he heard a familiar call.
"Suzaku Kururugi!" Suzaku's eyes widened as he stared at the screen in surprise, gasping,
"Princess Euphemia!"
Euphemaia stared at Suzaku on the screen, trembling slightly, alone in an empty communications room.
"Suzaku, the truth is, you and I..." Euphemia paused as she struggled for words. "That is..." Suzaku glanced away as he threw himself back into battle, gasping,
"Sorry," as he threw up his sword, before chrging forwards, "but right now-" Euphemia ignored this as she continued to struggle for words.
"You see..." Euphemia closed her eyes momentarily as she thought of what Amaya had said to her.
"Euphemia...I think you do know what you think of Suzaku."
Euphemia opened her eyes again, staring at Suzaku as her heart picked up, as she clenched her fists determindly, suddenly delcaring,
"I hereby command you to love me!" Suzaku gave a curt nod at this, stating,
"Right!" and then it seemed to sink in. Suzaku's eye's widened as they turned back to her in shock, allowing a small gasp to float through him, as he even still managed to remain in the battle. Euphemia trembled as she continued, trying hard not to shake,
"And in return, I will love you! Forever!" Suzaku seemed to tremble as he whispered, shocked,
"Princess Euphemia..." Euphemia shook her head as she suddenly blurted all the things she had kept bottled up.
"Suzaku, I love your stubbornness and your kindness and your strength!" she smiled as she continued, strength running through her, "Your sad eyes, your clumsiness, and the way you have trouble with cats! I love everything about you!" Euphemia stared pleadingly at him as he glanced at her again from the battle.
"So please, don't hate yourself!" Suzaku stared at her in shock, as Euphemia began to shake in anticipation. Finally, he allowed a small smile appear on his face, as he shakily commented,
"It seems I've made you even more worried then I did before..." he smiled, as he managed to take down 5 frames at once with his slash harken. "You really are..." he struggled for words as Euphemia leaned forward, waiting for his words.
"Everything you do is impulsive! When we first met, when you told me you were a princess, when you selected my school, when you made me a Knight, always!" Euphemia nodded, her eyes smiling as she saw a brightness in Suzaku's own forest green eyes she had never seen before.
"Yes, they were all sudden! That's because..." she agreed as she continued, shocked at her own words, "I suddenly realized..."
"But then," Suzaku continued where she left off, seemingly in a daze as he continued to charge through the battle, yet having this conversation, "it's that spur of the moment feeling that's opened so many doors for me!" he paused as he smiled up at Euphemia, as he uttered two simple words.
"Thank you..."
Suzaku closed his eyes momentarily before looking up into the light, violet-blue eyes of the woman he loved.
"Princess, can I make one final request?" he asked suddenly, as Euphemia blinked in surprise at his question.
"Final?" she repeated, her voice wavering as she gazed at him. Suzaku did not respond to that, only continued strongly,
"If something happens to me...Whatever it is...Please don't blame yourself." he pleaded as he suddenly jumped between two buildings, zooming haf way up it, using the Lancelot's feet to keep him in place as he sped down the way as he continued,
"Destroy all the records and erase every trace...So no one knows what happened to me." his eyes closed as he thought of Lelouch and Nunnally, and the Student council as he came to the end of the buildings, flying momentarily through the air befre landing before more Knightmares.
"I don't want my friends to be sad." he declared softly, as he saw he was surrounded completly by the Knightmares. "Just tell them I transferred schools...or, make up some story." he pleaded, as he tried to engage the energy shield on the Lancelot's wrists, which flashed momentarily before disapearring. Euphemia's eyes widened as she began to realize what was happening.
"Suzaku..." she pleaded, "Don't tell me you're..." Suzaku closed his eyes momentarily before nodding.
"Yes..." he stated softly. "The Knightmare's out of energy." he shook as he continued, as though nothing was wrong,
"P, and please say goodbye to Cecile and Lloyd and Prince Schneizel for me..." Suzaku released a sigh before he announced calmly,
"...I was stubborn all the way to the end..."
At this, Euphemia reared back in shock, her eyes wide in horror as she suddenly screamed,
"Don't die, Suzaku! You've got to live!" at she screamed this, something strange happened. He felt something trigger in him, as he sat alert, staring ahead as his muscles tightened.
"W-What the...?" he gasped, as suddenly two red beams surrounded him, covering all the Chinese Knightmares, destroying them instantly as the beams made a perfect circle.
Suzaku's eyes widened as he turned to it's source, a large, strong looking, Knightmare. It was a jet black, with golden edges, and what shocked Suzaku, was that it too, had a float system.
So ehter the Britannians made another, or...it was someone who stole the beginning of the technology of it. And suddenly, Suzaku knew who it was. For just underneath the Knightmare, was a familiar blue frame...which also had a float system.
"Zero..." Suzaku whispered lowly.
Inside the Gawain, Lelouch raised an eyebrow at Suzaku below them, as C.C, who controlled the piloting while he controlled the defences and weapons.
"I see..." C.C announced from in front of him, raising an eyebrow of interest. "So the famous white Knightmare is named Lancelot." C.C smirked as she added, "And he's fighting as recklessly as ever."
Lelouch gave a curt nod, holding his face in his hand as he exlclaimed,
"Yes. But this time he seems to be following someone else's plan." Lelouch narrowed his eyes as he added, "They sent a single fighter in to try to disrupt the main force..." he paused as he concluded darkly,
"Even if he fails, Cornelia can move right in." Lelouch clenched his jaw as thoughts ran through his head.
'Schneizel...' he growled, 'Is he behind this idea?' He asked, as he glanced to his right, seeing various armed helicopters making their way towars him.
"These people are in my way," he sighed as Amaya came on the screen, still masked.
"Shall I take care of them?" she smirked, with a raised eyebrow. "Or are you just going to-" s she said this, Lelouch used the new, developed hadron canon, to hit them, sending them tumbling to the ground in flames.
"Or that." Amaya sighed as Lelouch smirked at her.
"Becoming restless?" he sighed as she smirked back, responding with a sigh,
"Let's just finish this now."
With a nod, both frames began to descend, making their way to the frozen Lancelot.
Amaya frowned as she saw the Lancelot not moving.
"Something's wrong with Suzaku's frame." she announced as they neared him, Lelouch, on the screen raising an eyebrow.
"What's wrong with it?" Amaya furrowed her brow as she diagnosed,
"It's probably out of energy..." Lelouch paused as he stared at her.
"...Will you take advantage of this?" Amaya's mouth opened slightly as she stared at the frame, as suddenly Euphemia swept through her mind...
'She loves him...' she whispered to herself, 'I...I can't do that to her...'
"Of course not." she answered promptly, clenching her fists as she continued, "To strike a defenseless frame is the same as cheating!"
Lelouch stared at her a moment longer, before nodding slowly. "...Very well, Amaya. I applaud you for your compassion." Amaya shoo her head as they neared him, correcting,
"It's not compassion...I...." she struggled for words. "I promised I'd give my cousin more time..." she finally decided as they landed. Lelouch did not reply, as he became Zero once more.
"Kururugi," he asked, "Is the Lancelot still operational?" The Shinkiro knelt as he asked this, as Suzaku whispered darkly,
"Zero...I thought so..."
"I presume your energy has run out?" Amaya asked fluidly, as she reached for her spare, kept always on her Knightmare.
"An energy filler?" Suzaku asked, shock evident in her voice.
"We're going to take out the enemy command centre." Lelouch declared, as he did not take it. "What will you do?"
Suzaku did not respond, as Amaya continued to hold it out.
"Come, Suzaku..." she found herself declaring almost softly to him. "...You must have something more to fight for...To live for..."
There was a moments pause, before Suzaku gently replied,
"...I do..." as he held out the Lancelot's arm usng the last bit of energy, Amaya smiling gently as he took the filler.
"And you will never get your wish, Zero." he added, "I will hit them first." Amaya felt warmth spread across her chest as he took it.
However, she paused as suddenly, she glanced at her screen.
"An open channel?" she raised an eyebrow at this, as suddenly, Sawasaki himself appeared on the screen, a determined smile on his face.
"Fujiwara-sama." he greeted with a nod of respect. Amaya narrowed her eyes as she coldly responded,
"Sawasak-san." he nodded as he continued,
"Have you come to hep us take back our Japan?" her eyes narrowed again as she responded with a curt,
"And become another province of the Chinese Federation? I think not, Sawasaki." Sawasaki paused as he shook his head.
"Oh no, Fujiwara-sama, we will not be part of the Chinese Federation...however, I must then ask why you are here...Is it to take out the Lancelot?"
Amaya frowned as she replied only with,
"No. Although me and Kururugi Suzaku disagree on many things...on this we fight for the same goal." Sawasaki narrowed his own eyes as he asked cautiously,
"Which is?"
"Your end." Sawasaki's eyes widened as he gasped,
"We fight for Japan!" Amaya smirked as Suzaku finsihed putting his energy filler in, pausing as he continued, "A Japan you will play a great part in!"
Amaya rolled her eyes as she glanced at him again.
"I refuse to play a great part in your Fake Japan." and with that, she cut communications.
Lelouch rolled his eyes as a few minutes later, Sawasaki communicated by radio to him, as he denied visual.
"Zero, shouldn't we be fighting together, as comrades?" he asked, "Don't you care about Japan?" Lelouch sighed ,as he coldly responded,
"The Black Knights stand against anyone who uses violence for their own selfish end." he smirked as he heard gasp on the other end, as he blasted through a wall.
"Selfish? We are doing this for Japan!" he argued, as Suzaku cut in,
"Sawasaki, if this is for Japan, then why did you run away to the Chinese Federation?" there was a sill moment as Sawasaki struggled for an answer. "You should have stayed. For everyone's sake."
"You're still a child!" he snapped as they blasted down the hallway together, led by Lelouch, and Amaya above the land bound Lancelot.
"Well, we children know that all you did was abandon Japan to save your own life!" Amaya snapped, "We are the ones fighting to right your wrongs!"
'A joint operation...' Rakshata smiled as she watched the battle unfold, proud of her just fixed together float systems.
'Gawain...Roiyaru Kakumi...'
Lloyd stood still as he watched the three Knightmares work together, fighting through near all the forces, and apparently doing it with ease.
'Lancelot...'
Euphemia smiled inside the empty communications room, clutching her knight badge to her chest, watching the battle with a pride no one else could know...
For she was the only one in the entire world who knew what this truly meant.
"So Suzaku...and Lelouch and Amaya are..."
Cornelia's eyes widened as she destroyed another enemy frame, Gilbert having just given her the news.
"What? Zero and his Lady?" she gasped as he repeated,
"Yes, They saved Kururugi!" Cornelia narrpwed her eyes in thought as she murmured,
"Fighting on our side? What the hell is he thinking?"
Diethard grinned as he stated, astonished,
"So his tactic was to bring the Gawain and Roiyaru in, alone, to get past the Britannians!" he shook his head as he exclaimed, "That was brillient!"
Kallen sighed dejectivly as she stated,
"Maybe, but the Guren MKII could have acted as a shield for them..." Kallen clenched her fists as she was painfully reminded of Suzaku knowing who she was.
"It's not as though I could just go home, or back to school at this point..." Kallen crossed her arms as she continued angrily, "After all our battles, to be working with the Lancelot is just-"
"What is necessary here is not victory." Diethard interrupted, turning to face her, "The Black Knight's participation in this battle is an undeniable truth..." he smirked as he added, "Of course, it will never officially be reported, but the rumours will spread, and everyone will know what happened here." Diethard turned back to the screen as he continued,
"As Zero said, this will show the world exactly where we stand. Protecting the nation is our first commitment."
Sawasaki frowned as he lost himself in what they had said, as they found themselves forced to move to a different base, heading for the helicopter in a car.
"What's wrong with going to another country, then waiting for the right moment to strike?" he asked aloud, glancing at General Tsao. "That's an effective stratagy, isn't it?"
"We can set up a new line of defense at Kagoshima." General Tsao announced, as Sawasaki nodded.
"Right." he sighed, glancing at the man. "I appreciate your help." he added as they drove near the helicopter pad.
Sawasaki sighed in gratitute, however freezing as he glanced upwards, seeing the Lancelot leap from nowhere before them, the Roiyaru and Zero's Kngihtmare behind it.
"Sawasaki!" Kururugi delcared, as Zero added coolly,
"That's far enough." as Fujiwara-sama announced,
"Trying to escape again?"
Sawasaki's jaw dropped as he took them all in.
"I-Impossible..." he uttered, "They took the largest fortress in all of Kyushu, with hardly any effort!"
The next day, the news reported as usual, the events of what had happened.
"The Terrorism in the Kyushu block, led by an Anti-Government group were stopped by Princess Cornelia's sudden attack. Atushi Sawasaki, and four members of the former Japanese Government, were arrested."
"Over half the Chinese Federation's troops were captured as well. In response to this incident, Chinese Federation Leaders are asserting that this was an unautherised action by General Tsao, of the Liau Dong district, and they are requesting that all C.O.W's be released, in accordance to the Tibet Convention."
Suzaku slowly crissed his arm over his chest as he lowered his head in respect to Princess Euphemia, above the palace in the gardens, as he left the Avalon.
"Warrent Officer Kururugi, reporting for duty." he reported dutifully, raisng his head slightly, his eyes meeting the gaze of Euphemia's.
Euphemia smiled warmly, as she announced softly,
"Welcome back home...Suzaku."
At this, both fell into a silence, as a blush rose in both their cheeks. The silence was broken as they both began speaking at the same time,
"I-"
"I-"
Both paused and stared at eachother, before Euphemia began giggling again, behind her hand, a sound that made Suzaku's heart stop, as he began chuckling with her.
"Suzaku, I finally understand my heart!" Euphemia smiled up at him, pausing before adding, "It's not that I expect an ideal country, or perfect justice, or anything complicated like that." she paused again, Suzaku smiling gently as she continued,
"I just want to see people smiling...That's all." she looked up at suzaku as she continued, her pink hair flowing in the breeze as she stated softly, "The smiles of the people I love now...and the people I loved before as well."
Euphemia then took a step forward, holding something out to Suzaku in her hand, who stard at the object for a moment.
The winged badge of a Knight.
"Will you help me?" she asked, her eyes never leaving his. "Will you be my Knight?"
Suzaku paused a moment before looking up, smiling as he announced,
"I will." as he placed both his hands over her hand, which held the badge, as a gentle breeze blew softly over them.
Meanwhile, back at the Black Knight's headquarters, Amaya, Lelouch, C.C and Jinx were celebrating their victory with...
Pizza.
Jinx grinned as he offered the box to C.C, who narrowed er eyes as she yanked the box from him.
"No thank you?" he chided as he took out 3 bottles of Diet Coke, his own personal obsession, Amaya had come to realize. C.C simply glared at Jinx as she began eating, and Lelouch and Amaya turned to eachother.
"Well, that was an interesting victory." Lelouch sighed as he took a bote of pizza. Amaya nodded as she lay back, grinning. Lelouch glanced at her questionably, as she smiled up at him.
"What's wrong?" he asked as she sighed,
"Nothing...It's just..." she struggled to fins the words. "It's a good thing to know...that love does exist in war..." she fell silent after this, as Lelouch nodded.
"It is, isn't it?" he smiled quietly, as he lay down beside Amaya, releasing a breath.
"Thank you for not killing Suzaku." he sighed as Amaya chuckled.
"No problem." she grinned, as she sighed, "I don't know...I think I'm beginning to...understand him better." she explained, pausing before adding,
"After all, he is my cousin." Lelouch nodded, pausing before sitting up in shock.
"What?" Amaya asked as she sat up, Jinx, who had been trying to steal a slice of pizza from C.C, and C.C, who was defending her box glanced over, as Lelouch uttered, horrified,
"My best friend is in love with my sister..." Amaya chuckled, which turned to laughter, as Jinx chuckled with her, taking a swig of diet coke as C.C chuckled slightly too.
"Don't worry, Lelouch..." she managed to say after the laughter had passed. "At he's not touched Nunnally." Lelouch mock glared at her as he sighed,
"I suppose..." Amaya smiled as she patted his hand.
"There we are." she grinned as she winked at him, as Lelouch paused with her hand on his. "All better." she smiled as she turned back to get a diet coke, fighting Jinx for it, as Lelouch sat in shock...
Wondering why he had frozen.
Bit of fluff at the end, i think, with more to follow in the next few chapters!!!
so REVIEW IF U LIKE THIS STORY!!!