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Code Geass: Rei of the Revolution

Chapter 35: Revelations II

"So all this time… you thought your mother was dead, only for her to pretty much cheat death at his own game." Naoto said. "All while leaving you and your sister to fend for yourselves…"

"Yes… that is the unfortunate truth that I tell you now." Lelouch said. "But even so… we can't turn back. We never had that option to begin with, now did we?"

"Hey! You said it yourself! The past can go fuck itself!" Tamaki said. "Besides! It's not like anyone said we could turn back at all!"

"Tamaki, I don't think that's the deal here." Naoto said. "The fact that all of this happened thanks to one grand deception is kinda tragic when you think about it."

"And now we know why Britannia was conquering other nations: to get a hold on all these 'Thought Elevators' all over the world." Todoh said. "We can't let them use the Thought Elevators. We have to destroy them one by one."

"Well we know where one of them is, but what about the rest?" Yoshida said. "Hell, we don't know how many of them are there."

"Well, that's something we'll have to find out for ourselves." Ohgi said.

"Still… What do we do now is the question." Asahina said. "I mean, the only path we have is straight ahead."

"Yes, we can't turn back. We have nowhere else to go." Katase said. "All we can do is move forward."

"Until then… we have a long way to go." Inoue said.

'That's right…' Lelouch thought. 'I can't turn back.'

"Do we continue fighting against the Britannian Empire? At this point, we can handle one Knight of the Round, we have enough pilots with that kind of skill level." Naoto said. "But I don't think fighting all of them would be a smart idea."

"As long as we don't fight Bismarck Waldstein, we'll be fine." Todoh said.

"Then that's what we'll do." Lelouch said. "As it stands, if all of the Knights of the Round come to Area 11, our chances are slim or nonexistent. We can't afford to take on Bismarck Waldstein."

"Then what the hell do we do with the traitor then?" Tamaki asked.

"Well we could just let him go. Killing him now would only encourage the people in the Ghettos to side against us." Diethard said. "Do we tell the people about what happened to Genbu Kururugi or-?"

"No. Suzaku's already gotten himself into enough trouble for now." Lelouch said. "Besides… I think he needs more help from people he can trust than people he knows are his enemies."

"Do we just let him go?" Naoto asked.

"He won't join us, so we may have no other choice." Lelouch said. "We have everything we need from the Lancelot and unless it's creator wishes to stay with us, we may have to let him go too."

"So that's it…" Naoto said. "In that case, we should prepare to send them up."

"Right then…" Lelouch said. "But before we send him up, I think I need to have a word with him."

"Go on then." Naoto said. "You got time, don't you?"

Lelouch got up and left the room. There was a heavy silence in the room.

"Huh, a power that could make a person do as instructed without fail and down to the letter." Naoto said. "And he never used it on any of us except for Kallen."

"Well you heard what he said. We'd know if he had used it on us if we had seen him at some point and wouldn't remember anything before, during, and after we are under that power's influence." Ohgi said. "Kallen is the only one who was under its influence when he… found her out without her knowing about it."

Kallen's cheeks blushed red as she pouted.

"How the hell was I supposed to know he was in the damn truck?" Kallen asked.

"Yeah, how did you miss him?" Naoto asked. "Unless you knew, but didn't feel like it wouldn't matter because that would be too distracting to just find him, oh I don't know, in a corner."

"Bite me."

"Nonetheless, should he really be using that kind of power?" Shirley asked. "I mean… he could easily…"

"He probably knows that by now." Naoto said. "But he doesn't have a reason to do that. That and he's gotten to know us all better by now. He's no different from the kid in that regard."

"Huh?" Shirley asked.

"If you haven't noticed, to him, we're basically the only people he can rely on." Naoto said. "He needs our support as much as we need his. That's the truth of the matter."

"Huh…" Shirley said. "I never thought of it that way."

"In any case…"


Elsewhere

"So that's it then, you're letting me go? Just like that?" Suzaku asked.

Suzaku was too tired to feel anything at this point. He just stared at Lelouch.

"Yes. That's right. I have no reason to hold onto you or the Lancelot longer than I should." Lelouch said. "Euphie would be heartbroken if she thought you were dead."

"Stop trying to cheer me up." Suzaku said. "There's no way she would want a man who murdered his own father as her knight."

"She wouldn't let that convince her that you aren't up to the task of being her knight." Lelouch said.

Suzaku furrowed his brows.

"That's not funny." Suzaku said.

"I know. I meant it as though she would be serious about keeping you around." Lelouch said.

Lelouch looked at his friend with worry.

"Suzaku, I know things haven't been easy for you, but I'm sure you'll redeem yourself in another way." Lelouch said. "You'll know what I mean once you find it for yourself."

"And how is that supposed to help me?"

"You'll know. You'll know when you find it." Lelouch said before turning away. "Goodbye Suzaku, and we'll meet again. I'm certain of that."

Suzaku was at a loss for words and perhaps at a loss for thought.

"Huh… eight years and he still looks very much the same." Lloyd said.


Later…

The Avalon picked up Suzaku, Lloyd, and the Lancelot all on the surface of the water. They got the two back on board. Waiting for them in the hangar was Euphemia, Cecile, and Schneizel.

"A lot has happened since you were gone. I trust that the Black Knights haven't taken anything out of the Lancelot." Schneizel said.

"No sir." Lloyd said. "Nothing at all."

"Say… where's Hodges?" Suzaku asked.

"Oh… he's been put off the active duty roster due to fatigue." Schneizel said. "He was very anxious to find you so I had him pulled. I'll have him reinstated after he's gotten some R&R."

"Oh… I see." Suzaku said.


Back on the Sub…

"Was it really ok to just… let him go? Even when you know—"

"It was obvious that he was going to be my enemy from day one." Lelouch said. "I can't change that. But… I can at least let him find some form of redemption somewhere. Just as long as he doesn't find it on the field of battle."

"Huh…" Ohgi said. "And the kid?"

"Rei? What about him?" Lelouch asked.

"W-Well… something came up and…" Ohgi said. "Look, don't get the wrong idea, but he might actually be dating someone."

"At his age? The only girls I could think of right off the bat is either Nina or Neha. Kagari? I don't know. He hasn't met her for that long. Nina is pretty obvious as far as how terrible she is hiding it. Neha practically built his Knightmare and helps to maintain and improve it for his sake." Lelouch said. "It's either those three or—"

"Actually… it's your sister he might be dating." Ohgi said.

"Oh." Lelouch said. "I… see what you mean…"

He couldn't help but shake his fist mildly.

"N-Not that I'm saying he's got a strange affinity to girls that are… you know…" Ohgi said. "What I'm saying is—"

"No no. You don't have to. I got the picture." Lelouch said. "I'm not mad about it. In fact I'm just fine."

"Are you… sure about that?" Ohgi asked.

"Yes." Lelouch said. "So… when can we expect to arrive in Tokyo again?"

"I suppose we'll be back in Tokyo in less than… a week from now." Ohgi said. "Why do you ask?"

Lelouch took a deep breath.


"You love her?!" The Yamato kids exclaimed.

"Y-Yeah… is that a big deal?" Rei asked.

"Uh hell yeah it is! She's Britannian Royalty!" Akihiro said.

"Ex-Royalty." Aya said.

"Whatever!" Akihiro said.

"It's a bit too sudden." Koji said.

"Also, if she loses a hair, her brother could kill you." Ren said.

"And that's coming from Ren of all people!" Kai said. "And he would care less about these things!"

"But…"

"What I want to know is why you're in love with her to begin with!" Aya said.

"Jealous sweetheart?" Koji asked with a smug smile.

She pulled out her sword.

"What was that, punk?"

"Actually, it's more than that…" Rei said. "There's also Lalah…"

"The Indian girl who goes to your school?" Kai asked.

"Yeah." Rei said. "But should I confess to both?"

"Better idea, don't do either." Aya said.

"She's got a fair point. Your first girl is an exiled princess and we're working for the man who just killed his own half-brother and possibly made life for her older half-sister a complete hell in a basket if you count the fact that you murdered one of her closest friends and threw Area 11 into chaos." Koji said. "If she found out, she'd be pretty upset and might even dump you first chance she gets. You'd be lucky that she wouldn't rat you out if she wanted to on the sidelines. Then there's your Indian girlfriend."

"We're not dating."

"But you said she had a boyfriend, and if you're sure he's Durandal, she might as well rat you out first chance she gets." Koji said.

"But…" Rei said.

"Look, just don't jump the gun, ok?" Kai asked.


"So they know…"

"Yes Marianne, they know." C.C. said. "At least he's a bit comfortable knowing that you haven't died completely, and hopefully, you might have at least one chance to make this all up to him."

"But… How can I now C.C.? All this time, he believed I was dead and because of that… How am I supposed to look him in the eyes again and tell him that I was sorry for—?"

"Marianne, I don't see why you have to prattle about this." C.C. said. "I'm sure he understands what it's like to keep himself hidden from others, especially from family members and friends with only a few exceptions."

"And… the Black Knights… they… they trust my son, yes?" Marianne asked. "They wouldn't—"

"Well Todoh has known him for well over 8 years since he came to Japan as hostages, so he's checked out. The former Japan Liberation Front members seem ok with him since Katase has them on a leash. The former resistance cell members seem pretty straightforwardly loyal. Everyone else is… well, they can't let him go at all at this point." C.C. said. "So as far as I'm concerned, he's good."

"I see…" Marianne said. "And the boy… you say he's in love with my sweet Nunnally?"

C.C. furrowed her brow.

"Yes… why are you asking?" C.C. asked. "I swear if this is about you wanting to be a grandmother again—"

"Is it wrong to ask for grandchildren?" Marianne asked. "I mean, at my age, I should be expecting grandchildren in about a few years from now."

Her mind became silent.


Elsewhere…

"Rude…" a pink haired girl said. "Oh well… I guess time will tell…"


Avalon

Suzaku went to Rai's room, only to find the man he knows as his best friend to be curled in a ball, muttering to himself. He felt something was wrong.

"Rai? Are you—?"

"AGH!" Rai yelled before falling out of his bed.

He got back up to his feet.

"O-Oh… Suzaku… it's you again…" Rai said. "I'm sorry… I… I just… I'm just tense is all…"

He could see that his friend was tense. Perhaps more tense that he lets on. His hands constantly shake. His eyes seemed to dart in a few directions, not making eye contact with his eyes, he was sweating. He could tell something was wrong.

"Right… you're just tense." Suzaku said. "I'll be checking on you later, goodbye."

"Goodbye." Rai said.

Suzaku left. He couldn't help but think that something was off.


A Week Later…

"N-Nunnally?" Rei asked.

"Yes, she wanted to see you by the chapel at night." Sayoko said. "I think today might be the Blue Moon day..."

"Blue Moon day?" Rei asked.

"It's a very special phenomenon." Sayoko said. "At one point in time, the moon turns blue."

"And what's so important about that?" Rei asked.

"Well… from what I heard. You confess your love to someone under the moon in that church." Sayoko said. "And that's all there is to it."

'That's not much to go on…' Rei thought. "Sure…"


At Night…

He went into the church to find Nunnally. She seemed anxious.

"Hey there, Nunnally." Rei said.

"R-Rei…" Nunnallly said. "I… I want to say something."

'Is… is she… is she going to confess?' Rei thought.

"I… Ive been lying to you ever since we first met…" Nunnally said.

"Huh?" Rei asked in surprise.

"The thing is… my mother was murdered by gunmen." Nunnally said. "And that is because my mother was married to the Emperor… making me a princess."

His heart sank. He had already known of this through Lelouch.

"Nunnally vi Britannia…" Rei said.

"Yes… that is my real name." Nunnally said. "And I… I… I love you, Rei."

It made his heart sink even faster and deep into his stomach.

"I… I didn't want you to get hurt because of me and my brother's past. My brother would not want me to have a romantic relationship with someone. It was too dangerous…" Nunnally said.

"Nunnally…" Rei said. "That's not fair."

"I—"

"That's not fair to yourself." Rei said. "To say things like that… you never once thought about why I miss my classes on days when the Black Knights make their move."

"Huh?" Nunnally muttered. "No… Rei… you… are you—?"

CLICK!

He froze up.

"I have found you at long last." A voice said, "The infamous White Beetle, it should I say the infamous White Flame of the Black Knights."

He turned to see a male in a Britannian military uniform and a visor over the male's face. The male took off his visor, revealing a pair of blue orbs.

"I am Claudio S. Darlton, and you, Eleven, killed my father, Andreas Darlton." He said.

He grit his teeth.

"Don't even try it. The place was already being watched." Claudio said.

Four other guns were being pointed at him.

"N-No…" Nunnally muttered. "You're lying… R-Rei would never do such a thing!"

"I am very sorry for this, your highness—I mean young lady, but I'm afraid he has done such a thing and I have proof of it." Claudio said. "Being absent on days like that of the Saitama Ghetto Ambush, the Battle of Narita, Yokosuka, and even those little stunts you pulled on a supply base and kidnapping Sir Kururugi. How do you account for those disappearances?"

Rei was silent.

"Rei… no… it's not true, is it? Are you—?"

"Not only that, but it is obvious that someone like Princess Euphemia of all people tried to get into school under the guise of a Britannian student who is obviously a half-blood of Eleven and Zilkhstani blood." Claudio said, "I'd understand her reasons for it, but for you, it seemed like the best cover you could get at the time."

"Rei… is this—?"

"Nunnally…" Rei said. "I… It's true… I… I am with the Black Knights."

Nunnally gasped.

"Can I shoot him now?"

"No David. We talked about this." Claudio said. "To kill him in this manner would do nothing to bring justice to our father and would bring no honor to the house of Darlton."

"Are you kidding me?! He murdered our father in cold blood! I'd say we put him on ice!" David said.

"No. It's as Claudio says, it wouldn't be worth it."

"Damnit Bart, why are you siding with him?!" David said.

"David…"

"Oh not you too Alfred! Are you actually getting soft right now?!" David said. "Edgar, you understand, don't you?!"

"David… we are not men of vengeance. We are Knights." Edgar said.

"But…" David said.

"Nunnally… I didn't want you to get involved in this." Rei said. "I was afraid you would get hurt… forgive me for lying to you."

"Oh shut up lover boy! It's over! Don't you dare try to sugarcoat all of this!" David said.

"David! Stand down!" Claudio said.

David did as ordered.

"We'll pretend this never happened, but only on the condition that you fight me and my brothers in combat." Claudio said. "As insurance, she'll be our hostage."

"Leave Nunnally out of this!" Rei said. "It's me that you want, isn't it?! If so, then leave her alone! She—!"

"We have no intention of harming her. But if you refuse, we'll just hand you over to the Viceroy and send her back to the homeland where she belongs." Claudio said. "Meet us in Shinjuku Ghetto 30 minutes from now, bring your personal Knightmare with you. Don't, and we'll know where to find you thanks to a transmitter in your uniform."

"You—!"

"Hold it! You know who I am, and clearly you know that means that I, Nunnally vi Britannia could command you to do as I—!"

"You're not a princess anymore. You can thank your brother for that." Claudio said. "We have no interest in him by the way, at least you can be assured of that."

"Y-You can't! You can't do this! Not to me or to him!" Nunnally said, bursting with tears coming out of her eyes. "Please… he… he doesn't… he shouldn't…"

"I'm sorry, but his actions warrant the death penalty." Claudio said. "So which is it? Are you going to accept or are you going to be a coward and run? Either way, death is already around your neck."


A/N: After the long wait, this fanfic gets an update.

A romantic moment ruined.

Yeah... got ya, didn't I?


Stay tuned!