-x Chapter 17 x-
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Previously on Gundam Freedom: Richard. . .
"Suzaku, Richard." Euphie asked after exploring. "Can you take me to one more place please?"
Suzaku turned around and mock-bowed to Euphie as Richard just rolled his eyes. "Your wish is my command milady where to?" He asks her.
"Take me to Shinjuku." Euphie said surprising both Suzaku and Richard as his eyes wide in shock. "Suzaku please escort me there."
"But it's dangerous." Suzaku said remembering that the New Romalian Empire was still there.
"I don't care. . ." Euphie said. ". . . I want to see what happened there myself."
Three of them looked at each other for a few seconds before Suzaku sighed. "Alright." He said knowing that she wouldn't budge on the matter.
"Can't decline the lady's wish." Richard said it as he sigh while he walk along with Suzaku and Euphie to the Romalian-controlled territory, Shinjuku.
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Romalian-controlled territory Shinjuku
Twenty-five shuttles and fifteen drop-pods began to descend with Windam mobile suits following behind them. The shuttles landed the platform doors opens as troops from Romalia and shinobis/samurais from Pandora walks out the ships.
The shinobis/kunoichis from major villages: Konoha, Suna, Kiri, Kumo, Iwa, Uzu; minor villages: Hoshi, Taki, Ame (who now swore allegiance to Romalia), Nadeshiko Village, Yuki (who now swore allegiance to Koyuki Kazahana), and the newly Fuma Shinobi Village on Ta no Kuni.
The samurai with chakra armor upgrades from Tetsu no Kuni, Hi no Kuni, Kaminari no Kuni, Kaze no Kuni, Tsuchi no Kuni, Mizu no Kuni, Uzu no Kuni, Haru no Kuni, Ta no Kuni, Oni no Kuni, Na no Kuni, and Tori no Kuni.
The "Allied Coalition of Pandora" was form after they watch the broadcast on Earth which the Britannians massacres the Japanese people in Shinjuku Ghetto, it really enrages them. An emergency meeting was called at the Kage Summit, where daimyos and kages from major and minor countries/hidden villages to discuss that they should make an alliance to the New Romalian Empire and join their war against the Holy Britannian Empire. As the final discussion, the Samurai General Mifune suggests that Daisuke Uzumaki to become "Supreme Leader of the Coalition" which the other kages agreed. A forehead protector with the kanji "Shinobi" (忍) on it.
Empress Sindel along with her daughetrs and their bodyguards arrive as well. She look at damages which the Britannians done, as she (Sindel), Kitana, Mileena, Skarlet, and Jade shed tears of sadness to the fallen, where they'll attend the funeral service. The members of Knights of Heaven arrive including Hinata, Aki, Jo, Akiko, and Negi which they left a shadow clones on the academy so the members of the Student Council won't suspect. The knights wore their uniforms with red capes behind, hood on, and lastly wearing (ANBU) masks.
Negi wore the owl-mask, Valerian wore the wolf-mask, Raynor wore the skull-mask, Akiko wore the viper-mask, Hinata wore the tiger-mask, Aki wore the crow-mask, and Jo wore the cheshire cat-mask. (A/N: Think the mask of Cheshire from Young Justice)
Lelouch, Nunnally, and lastly Sayoko arrive and they met the members of Shinjuku Resistance Force including Kallen and Ohgi which he/she began a serious questions to him of what he did in during the Battle of Shinjuku and Ashford Academy. As Lulu answers all the questions; he wanted to his sister for a peaceful world, investigating the death of his mother, and fighting against his father's corrupted empire. The result one-by-one the members of the resistance began accepts him to part of the good fight.
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Shinjuku Ghetto
Suzaku, Richard, and Euphie, three of them were looking at one of the damage areas within Shinjuku.
"The Shinjuku Ghetto. . ." Suzaku said as he looked at the wrecked area ". . . ruined again. . . the residents were even starting to return too." He finished as he look at the area in confusion. "That's strange. . ."he said
"What's strange?" Euphie asks.
"I was expecting to see memorials around here but I don't see any at all." Suzaku said.
"That is really strange?" Richard pretending to be confuse as he acts looking around then he heard voices.
"Man, they didn't use R-G's on the Elevens I figured they wouldn't." A voice said behind Suzaku, Richard, and Euphie. When three of them looked at the source they saw two students taking pictures of the battle field. One of them had a bandana on while the other one had blue hair.
"Hey, look. . ." The blue hair boy said. ". . . those are marks from hummer rounds get a clear shot of it."
"Say cheese. . ." The bandana boy said as he took the photo. "Got it ok me next." He said not caring about what happened to the people here. This made Euphie sad. Just then Tamaki and two other people entered the area. When Tamaki saw what they were doing, he ran up to them and knocked the camera out of his hand.
"Get out of here, you Britannian bastards!" Tamaki said scaring the two boys.
"Ah." Euphie said scared of the situation as Richard stand in front of her in protection.
"Stay here, Richard, watch Euphie." Suzaku said as he ran towards the situation as Richard nodded.
"How dare a lowly Eleven speak to. . ." The boy in the bandana said before being interrupted by Tamaki.
"Don't call me an Eleven. . . I'm Japanese!" Tamaki yelled as the bandana boy began to back away.
"Wrong. . ." The other boy said ". . . you seem to forget you people lost. You're nothing but a beaten dog."
Tamaki clenched his fist in anger. "You racist pig." He said ready for a fight.
"Stop it, please no violence!" Suzaku said as he ran towards two groups.
"Stay out of this!" Tamaki yelled as he backhanded Suzaku making the sunglasses on his face off.
"What the?" Someone said as everyone was shocked to see a Japanese person. "Oh, it's just an Honorary Britannian."
"Ha, this guy's nothing more than a slave." Tamaki said as he looked at Suzaku while Suzaku looked at him. "Big deal, you're an Honorary Britannian. Nobody cares. You sold your pride, your people, your soul, yet you call yourself Japanese." He said as Suzaku's eyes widened.
"No your wrong. . . I-" Suzaku said before being interrupted by Tamaki.
"I am not wrong, you stinking Britannian lapdog!" Tamaki roared as he prepared to punch Suzaku and Suzaku prepared to intercept the attack but before either of them made a move someone appeared out of nowhere grabbing both Tamaki's and Suzaku's arm.
"That's enough! Ya Fools!" The person who grabbed them said. When the other's looked to see who the person was, they saw a man with dark skin and a muscular build, as well as white hair and a goatee. On his right shoulder, he has a tattoo of the kanji for "iron" (鉄, tetsu), which is the Iron Armour Seal that was used to seal Gyūki into him, and on his left cheek, he has a tattoo of a bull's horn. His top lip also has a slightly darker hue than his bottom one. wears oval shaped sunglasses and a white-coloured forehead protector. He also has his village's standard one-strap-over-one-shoulder flak jacket, and a long, red rope belt tied around his waist, the standard Kumo hand and shin guards, shinobi sandals, and a white scarf around his neck. That man is Killer Bee, adoptive brother of Ay, the Fourth Raikage of Kumo, as he grabs Tamaki's and Suzaku's arm with no problem.
He's not alone as three ACP shinobis; Samui, Karui, and Omoi, and six Romalian shinobis showed up as Euphemia, the bandanna boy, the glass boy, and Richard (whose acting) were tensed of the appearance of the shinobis.
"Y-your. . ." Tamaki said shocked to see one of the shinobis of Allied Coalition of Pandora here.
Bee nodded his head as he let both Tamaki's and Suzaku's hands go. Bee then looked at the Tamaki and the two other members of the resistance. "I've been ask by Ohgi for looking you, the service is about to start so you better hurry."
Tamaki nodded his head "Right, come on guys." He said as both he and the others left but not before Tamaki muttered "Traitor." Under his breath as the three of them left.
Bee then turned to the two Ashford Academy students. "You two beat it!" He yelled.
"How dare. . ." The student in the bandana said before being interrupted by Kumo shinobi.
"Beat it now, ya fools!" Bee roared as the two students ran away scared for their lives as they the image of Gyuki, the Eight-Tailed Ox behind him. He then turned to see that Suzaku, Euphie, and Richard, as he recognize him during the Battle of Konoha, were looking at him. Bee looks at Richard's lips as he made a silence whisper to him 'act natural'.
"Who are you?" Suzaku asked.
Bee studied the two people in front of them. Because Bee and other shinobis of the ACP were briefly given information by their Romalian allies, he recognized the two people in front of him. The boy was Suzaku Kururugi, the son of the late Prime Minister Genbu Kururugi and the girl was Princess Euphemia li Britannia, Third Princess of Britannia and sister to Cornelia.
"The names Bee, Killer. . ." Bee said ". . . I know who you are, Suzaku Kururugi, son of the late Prime Minister Genbu Kururugi . . . I don't know your name." Bee tilting his head as he pretends that he didn't know Richard since he didn't want to blew his cover. "It's Richard, Richard Walker." He acknowledge as he looks at Euphemia. ". . . and I already know who you are. . ." Bee along with the shinobis bowed respectfully. "Euphemia li Britannia, Third Princess of the Holy Britannian Empire." He finish as three of them shocked which Richard acted.
Suzaku and Richard looked at Euphie. "Euphie. . . you're. . ." Suzaku asked shocked as Richard finished as he acts. ". . . a princess?" Euphie nodded her head. Suzaku then turned back to the ACP shinobi. "What do you mean funeral service. . . what funeral service?"
Bee look at the other shinobis, he gesture them 'return back to base' as they shunshin back in swirling leaves while he turned around preparing to walk away. "I don't have to answer questions to someone who betrays his country."
Suzaku for some reason snapped at this comment and charged Bee. "I'm not a traitor!" He roared as he prepared to punch Jay, but Jay grabbed his arm and twisted bring Suzaku to the ground.
"Yes, you are, ya fool. . ." Bee said. ". . . it's just like he said you are a traitor to your country no matter what you say."
"Ouch." Richard mentally chuckle.
"Please stop!" Euphie said as she step in not liking the violence.
Bee got off of Suzaku. "Since the lady asked nicely, I'll do it and as to 'what service were holding' it's a funeral service to all those that died in the battle." He finished as he prepared to leave.
"Wait!" Euphie yelled making Bee stop. "Can we please go with you?"
Bee turned his head towards toward Euphie. "Why?" He asks the question to the Pink Princess.
"I want to pay my respects, . . ." Euphie said as tears appeared in her eyes. ". . . they didn't have to die. . . it was because of what of my brother, Clovis, has done, we, Britannians, did that they had to suffer."
Bee just looked at her for a few seconds before turning his head and began to walk. "Alright, fine. . ." He sighs and said. ". . . but you have to stay with me." He finished as he began to leave with Suzaku and Euphie following right behind him. Richard reach his pocket and pick his cellphone pretending that he's talking.
"Sorry, Euphie, Suzaku, something urgent. . ." Richard turn around as Euphemia calls him. "Will I ever see you again, Richard?" He gently grabbed her hand and placed a gentle kiss on it, which made Euphemia blush like a tomato. Suzaku was gaping like a fish of what he seen and Killer Bee was rapping that 'the Pink Princess got shot'.
"Yes, we'll see each other again, Your Highness." Richard handsomely smile and he walk far. In a matter of minutes, as he walks far away from them, he shunshin in swirling leaves then he appears to his fellow knight members with his uniform and he wore the dragon-mask.
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Bee, Euphie, and, Suzaku stopped a few feet away from where the service was taking place. Euphie and Suzaku were shocked to see all these people and the Romalians including with unknown faction at the service.
"Look at all these people." Euphie said as she saw all the people.
"Well, stay here. . ." Bee said ". . . we wouldn't want to anger the Japanese people with an honorary Britannian, nor a Britannian princess." He finished as he noticed Shion, the newly High Priestess begin to talk with a microphone in her hand. "Looks like the show is about to begin. . ." He said.
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"Hello everyone. . ." Shion said as she looked out to the crowd. ". . . as you all know during the Battle of Shinjuku, many innocent people died. Each of these people was loved by many from friends to families to lovers. Even though they are gone now, they are now in a better place in which each and every one of you will be able to see in the future." She said as the crowed began to nod toward her. "To honor all the lives that were lost here, here is a song that I will sing to them." She finished as she nodded toward the Pandoran musicians began to play their musical instruments.
(Enter: Trinity Blood soundtrack - Requiem ~ Inori)
"Midareyuku subete no mono" (There is no end to be found in this world.) Shion sang as everyone present was surprised that the song was sung in their native Japanese language. Unaware of them, they were being watched by Diethard Ried along with the Hi-TV cameraman that broadcast the entire world. The Japanese from abroad in Europia United and Chinese Federation, the Japanese Liberation Front at Narita Mountain, including the people of the Holy Britannian Empire were enchanted by melody voice of Shion.
"owari ha kono yo ni ha nai" (Sleep, my beloved.)
"nemuritamae itoshii hito" (Your life goes on.)
"sono inochi tsudzuite yuku" (You were born, and you lived.)
"anata ha umare soshite ikita" (You were born, and you lived.)
"kibou no uta tsutaeru nda ne" (You will tell the song of hope, won't you?)
"towa ni" (For eternity.)
Shion sang as Pandoran musicians did a small duet with their instruments. The spirits from the fallen appears to their love ones, the spirit of the husband appears to the wife and the daughter as , the spirit of the mother appears to the children, the spirit of wife appears to the husband, the spirits of the young couple appears to the family, and finally the spirits of Nagata and Naoto to the resistance members as they shed tears including Kallen. People of the world can't believe including Charles that they're seeing ghosts from the dead like some sort of 'magic'.
"sasagetamae kono namida" (Offer up these tears,)
"anatanaru ai no kotoba" (The words of a new love.)
"arigatou yume no shifuku no hibi" (Thank you, days of bliss within my dreams.)
"kono basho de deaeta koto" (I thank the fact that we met here.)
"towa ni" (For eternity.)
Shion sang as Pandoran musicians played in an ending finish ending the beautiful song. The spirits of fallen waving to their love a farewell as they ascended to the heavenly light appears including Naoto and Nagata as well.
(End song)
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When the song ended, everyone was in silence over the beautiful song. That silence ended when someone began to clap. The person who was clapping was Tamaki; he was clapping with tears in his eyes at how beautiful the song was. Following his example, everyone in Shinjuku began to clap at the song in praise towards Shion.
"Thank you everyone." Shion said as she bows to the crowd. She finished as everyone broke out to get ready for barricade/fortifying Shinjuku for the next battle.
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Meanwhile, with Suzaku, Euphie, and Bee, all three of them had tears in their eyes after the song ended.
"T-that was a beautiful song." Euphie said as she wiped the tears out of her eyes.
Bee then proceeded to walk towards the crowd of the Japanese people. "You two better hurry and get back home before someone worries about you." He said as both Suzaku and Euphie nodded their heads and made their way out. "Oh, and one more thing." Bee said making Suzaku and Euphie stop in their tracks "If Ryzer see you on the battlefield, he won't hesitate to shoot you, pilot of the Lancelot." He finished shocking Suzaku.
'How does he know that I pilot the Lancelot and that man Ryzer?' Suzaku thought as he watched Killer Bee leave. Just then the R&D transport truck approached them.
"Suzaku. . ." Cecile said as she exited the passenger seat ". . . we just got orders from Acting Viceroy Jeremiah, all military units are supposed to return to base." She finished as Suzaku nodded his head and turn to Euphie.
"Need a lift?" Suzaku asked as Euphie nodded her head.
"We can't bring your girlfriend with us." Lloyd said from the driver's seat.
"She's Princess Euphemia Britannia Lloyd." Suzaku said.
"Well, that changes everything. . ." Lloyd said as he looked at all of the mobile suits. ". . . I would sure like to see what makes those Knightmares tick." He finished as he drove off back towards the base.
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With Richard/Ryzer and the other members of Knights of Heaven were attach of Shion's song. Lelouch like all the others had tears in his eyes at how beautiful the song was.
"What a beautiful song, . . ." Nunnally said as she wiped the tears from her closed eyes ". . . the person who sang it must be really good."
Lelouch wiped the tears out of his eyes. "Yeah, Nunnally, . . ." He said. ". . . she really is good."
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At the Britannian royal airport, Euphemia, Jeremiah, Villeta and Kewell were waiting for the arrival for their sister/viceroy to arrive. Just then a jet came into view and landed on the runway. From the jet, two men exited one was a burly man with brown hair, black eyes, and scar on his face. The other man was slender who had light blue eyes and black hair and was wearing glasses. Both of these men were wearing a special uniform at represented Cornelia's forces. These two men were Andreas Darlton and Gilbert G.P. Guilford, two of Cornelia's most trusted man. After they both got off the plane, a woman with dark pink and indigo eyes exited the plane. She was wearing the same type of uniform like Darlton and Guilford except it was more regal like royal robs. This woman was Cornelia li Britannia, older sister to Euphemia li Britannia.
"Good evening, sister/Your Highness." Euphie, Jeremiah, Villeta and Kewell said in unison as they bowed respectfully towards Cornelia.
"Good evening. . ." Cornelia said. The "Goddess of Victory" a moniker by her people of Britannia and "Witch of Britannia" a moniker by her enemies has arrive on Area 11/Japan.
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A/N: I'll continue the next chapter.
Tune in next time on Gundam Freedom: Richard! HAIL ROMALIA! And Merry Christmas everyone!