The Living Lie
Chapter Two: Two Masks
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News coverage of the Shinjuku attack carried on into the next day, as more information was made available. It all culminated when Viceroy Clovis made another public announcement, once more denouncing terrorism with heartfelt words of sorrow.
"These terrorists, who were in possession of a deadly weapon, have been thoroughly dealt with, and an investigation into the origin of this threat has already begun." As the prince continued, Lelouch tuned out the broadcast, a scowl on his features. As unsettling as that may seem, the origin of the threat seemed obvious to him. Eleven terrorists based in the ghettos weren't capable of developing chemical weapons. It was certainly possible they were obtained from outside the country, and that was likely the story Clovis would spin. But Lelouch was more inclined to believe such a weapon was Britannian from the start. His thoughts began to drift to his own fiasco that day, and wild conjecture linked the two events together. Was it possible they had a run in with those terrorists as they were stealing the gas? The likelihood was slim, but it made enough sense that it couldn't be ruled out. He supposed it was good then that he let them be. One way or another, he would have wound up dead along with them. Still, he had to wonder just what his brother was doing developing illegal weaponry. That alone was unsettling, thinking of what he planned to with such a devastating power. Those were the actions of a Clovis he no longer knew.
"Hey, pay attention!" A soft whack on his head tore Lelouch from those gruesome thoughts. "If you stop working we'll never get it done!"
He let out a loud sigh in response, taking in the ridiculous amount of paperwork Milly left undone the past month. "I don't think anything I do will get it done, Milly."
"Nonsense! When it comes to budgeting none are better than you!" The president proclaimed.
"You know it would have been nice if you reminded us about this mess a day ago. " Shirley complained.
"I would have to say a day later, then we'd have given up." Rivalz suggested with a sly look in his friend's direction
"Good idea, we can still do that." Lelouch agreed.
"Guts!" Milly interrupted with her latest motivational attempt.
"You trying that guts spell again?." Rivalz groaned.
"Yup! I want you people to start putting your all into this! " She exclaimed, pointing a finger at Lelouch.
"I don't think your magic's gonna help here." He told her
"Actually, It has me going, Madam Prez!" Shirley spoke up, raising her hand.
"Supple and willing, I like it." The blonde replied with a mischievous grin.
"I train hard in the gymnastics club." The girl said, flexing her arm.
"That's not what I meant."
"Don't tease her like that, Milly." Lelouch berated her, feeling a lot more like an older brother to a second troublemaking sister. Like it was back when they lived in the Aries Villa. Simpler times when his only worries were the antics of those two.
"You're a ten." The girl pressed on regardless. "From what I've seen in the women's locker room anyway. You're filling out in all the right places."
"W-what are you talking about you perv?!" Shirley shrieked, covering her chest and her face reddened.
"Enough of that." Lelouch interjected. "We'll never get this done if you keep distracting everyone, madam president."
"Oh look at you being the responsible one." Milly teased. "But I guess you're right. Hop to it people!"
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Kallen thought she had already cried the last of her tears when Naoto died. Turns out she was horribly wrong. She lost track of time, holed up in her room drying herself out time and again. Everything she cared about was gone now, she had nothing left. Staring blankly at the ceiling of her room, she wondered if there was even a reason she survived. What purpose did her life now serve, and what purpose did the deaths of everyone she knew even mean?
The girl was vaguely aware of the soft knocking on her door, and like every other time she chose to ignore it. After a few moments it would go away again, and leave her be once more.
"Mistress Kallen?" She faintly heard through the locked door. "Are you feeling ill, should I call a doctor?"
It was her. Of course it would be her. Why in the hell was she still here?! All at once the overwhelming sorrow ignited into a burning rage. Kallen flew to the door, ripping it open to reveal the stunned face of her 'mother'.
"GO AWAY!" She screamed, voice dry and hoarse.
"M-mistress?" The woman spluttered.
"Why are you still here?!" Kallen raged on. "There is nothing for you here!"
Unable to hold in her anger in front of such a pitiful sight, she deflated back to her miserable self. "Just leave."
Not even allowing the woman to respond, Kallen weakly closed the door on her. She slid down it, falling to the ground.
"Why am I still here?" She wailed. Everything was falling apart around her, the last thing she needed was that woman painfully reminding her of the thing she wanted more than anything else. Why couldn't she protect anything she wanted?
"Kallen? Kallen are you in there?"
Oh, now she was trying to pester her? Rising to her feet, she yanked the door open once more. "What the hell do you-"
Her rising fury cut short when she saw the expression of her stepmother. She was actually wearing a face of concern. And was that pity?
"Kallen, you… are you… Listen, whatever happened, just go to school, forget all about it, put it behind you." The lady Stadtfeld offered. At any other time Kallen would have yelled her away by now, but today she didn't have the heart. And the look she was giving her...it didn't suit her. Deep down she believed the woman was just trying to finally whip her troublesome stepdaughter into shape, but all the same. "I know that's not what you want to hear, but it's for the best."
Kallen gave a pitiful nod, nudging the door closed once more without a word. The girl shambled to her bed, flopping onto it's oversized mattress. Maybe she was right, it was what Ohgi wanted after all. But how could she just forget it all? Forget them? It was bad enough when she lost Naoto, but even then she had an outlet, a way to honor his memory that gave her life purpose. What meaning was there in living a lie at that school, pretending to be something she wasn't, living for something she hated?
Still, she would continue living whatever life was given to her. refusing that would be an insult to all those who gave up theirs. Maybe in time, she would find a reason behind their sacrifice.
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"The president is just a dirty old man on the inside, sullying the meeting with beet dirty mind." Shirley vented as they walked into a classroom.
Rivalz laughed at her discomfort, more than used to their president's behaviour. "Well hey, at least we got the budget balanced."
Lelouch trailed behind them, listening to the banter of his friends with a wistful smile. When they got into the room he found a group of students were watching footage taken from Shinjuku. "Check out those dead elevens!" One of them pointed, causing his lips to fall into a scowl. What did these brats know of death, pointing and laughing at the spectacle of massacre? Poison gas? Those were bullet wounds desecrating the bodies of innocent civilians with the misfortune of being labeled a number. Who did his brother think he was fooling?
These idiots, apparently.
"Is something the matter Lulu?" Shirley asked, seeing his expression.
He quickly schooled his features before shaking his head. "No, it's nothing." He replied, turning away from the sight. He'd seen more than enough death in his life.
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"You asked to see me, your highness?" Jeremiah Gottwald addressed the prince as he entered the young man's office.
"Gottwald, yes I have an important task for you regarding the Shinjuku incident." Clovis replied, looking up from some sort of work on his desk. "Look at this."
He presented Jeremiah with photographs of a young woman with long green hair and amber eyes. "I want you to find her and bring her to me, dead or alive it doesn't matter, you'll likely find out why."
Confused by that last remark, he examined the photos. "This girl is related to Shinjuku?" He asked. She didn't look like an eleven.
"She is what they stole from me. She is...unique, it's difficult to explain without seeing for yourself. Her biological functions were being studied in secret, and none other can replicate what she does." He explained, hesitant to reveal too much. "I want her back. She couldn't have escaped the country yet, do whatever is necessary to hunt her down."
Jeremiah pocketed the photos. "It will be done, my prince." A manhunt was one thing, but just what in the hell had he been pulled in to? Human experimentation might have been looked down on, but it wasn't bad enough to utilize chemical weapons as a cover up. What the prince was implying, refusing to outright tell him…
He hoped this woman was gone for good. But he was certain that was an outcome the Viceroy would not accept.
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A few days had passed, and the atrocities that had taken place in the ghettos had already been wiped from the memories of the students at Ashford. Lelouch himself had tried to forget about it, though the idea of his brother investing in weapons made for butchering elevens was never far from his thoughts. He had since stopped trying to make sense of it, but the uneasiness would remain for some time.
His returned to class as if none of it ever happened, the way such events always played out. Nothing changed, and everyone moved on without batting an eye. There was however, one thing out of place as he examined the students getting ready for the day.
Surrounded by a small group of girls was a redheaded student Lelouch hardly ever saw. Kallen Stadtfeld, one of the many noble children that attended this school. She was apparently sickly enough that she frequently missed long stretches of class, not appearing for weeks or months without a word. Seeing her finally coming to class wasn't so surprising by itself, simply warranting a raised eyebrow or two before moving on. Today however the noble girl caught Lelouch's attention more than anyone else had. Maybe it was his keenly adapted ability to read others, but one look at her placid face immediately told him he was looking at a well crafted mask. It was however, her eyes that drew him in. Those eyes were ones he knew very well, after all he saw them every time he looked into the mirror. Her eyes were the same as his: they had witnessed death.
"What's up buddy, see something you like? You got a thing for her don't you?" Rivalz asked, throwing his arm around him with a knowing grin.
Lelouch brushed his friend off. "Nothing like that. Just thinking this is a rare occurrence is all. She hasn't been to class at all since this term started."
"They say she's sick or something. She barely showed up for class last year too." His friend explained, running with his preconceived conclusion. "Still her grades are at the top of the class. And she's a Stadtfeld, so she's well bred and rolling in cash. Man, you sure know how to pick 'em."
"I told you it's not like that." He insisted, rolling his eyes. Still, his interest had been piqued. She wasn't like this before, he was certain. Though he could always tell, whether there was any truth to it or not, that girl's demeanor was a facade. But the look in her eyes, as if they were barely veiled void of despair. That hollowness in her voice wasn't her health, it was the result of someone who lost everything that mattered to them.
Shaking his head, he turned away before anyone caught on to his staring.
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Kallen felt like she was drowning. All the utter bullshit around her, these damned idiots milling about as if nothing happened. Some of them even laughed at the slaughter of her friends. Claiming they set off the poison gas? There were bullet wounds on the bodies for god's sake! Ignorant, belligerent sheep of a people. It was too soon, she couldn't do this, surrounded by the group of girls who pretended to be 'friends' with her. They didn't know a goddamn thing about her. Not one of them could see just how much she was suffering, the agony she was going through. No, they just made it worse every second.
She sat in a field for lunch, listening to their drivel while trying not to rip their hair out. Or hers, depending on how self-deprecating she felt. It was more than she could handle, Kallen debated whether she should feign a relapse and just go home again. But of course that meant she would have to actually go home. There was no longer anywhere else she could run off to.
"Look out, it's a bee!"
"Run Kallen!" The squeals of her friends warned of her of the approaching bug. And while the other girls fled as fast as they could, she simply trotted away from danger with little care. However, it seemed the tiny menace had taken to singling her out.
"What's a bee doing here?" She muttered eyeing the insect as it buzzed nearer. Wasps were a rarity here, especially in the middle of the settlement. As it inched closer to her face, Kallen lashed out. The back of her hand collided squarely against her target, sending it straight to the ground. She watched its death throes with a satisfied glare. "God I hate this." She spat out, seconds before realizing she had a witness to her insecticide. A boy she had no name to stood in front of her, examining the corpse of her fallen prey. His face was blank, with no expression save a raised eyebrow directed at her.
"Can I...help you?" She tentatively asked, worried that the boy saw her act out of character.
In an instant, his face morphed into a disarming smile that could enrapture any of her friends without any more effort. "Sorry to bother you, you're Kallen Stadtfeld right?" The charming student asked her. "I'm Lelouch Lamperouge, the vice-president of the student council."
Oh, she had heard of him. Insanely popular with all the girls, a veritable 'ice prince' who was both charismatic and friendly yet distanced himself from his loyal fan club.
"I understand that you'll be attending class more often right? You've been absent for quite some time."
Yeah, like you're one to talk. She had also heard he nearly rivaled her in his absences from class, doing god knows what. "Yeah, I've been feeling a lot better so…" She trailed off. What was she doing explaining herself to him anyway?
"I see. Well, if you ever need help with anything, you're more than welcome to stop by the student council room at any time." He offered her with that soft smile. "Our president might not be as useful, but anyone else would be more than happy to help."
"Oh, thank you." She quietly replied, unsure of the purpose to his offer. Britannians were all the same. Doubtless he had some ulterior motive. She had never spoken to him once before, so where was this coming from?
"I believe we have classes together as well. So feel free to ask me anything as well."
And that was all he had to say. Lelouch Lamperouge left her without attempting to get anything out of her, or even pry into the incident of her bee murder. She eyed him a little while longer, before putting him out of her mind. Like she needed help from some Britannian pretty boy.
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Lelouch sat peacefully at the table of the council room, listening to the rhythmic tapping of keys as the other present member sat dutifully at her computer. On occasion, he would take a peek at Nina's research, it really was an incredible theory. As intelligent as he liked to believe he was, he didn't hold a candle to the shy girl when it came to physics or other scientific fields of study. It was enjoyable to listen to her go on about her ideas that delved into the realm of science fiction. Had he the ability to provide her with whatever she needed, he really wondered how far she could go. and what she could accomplish.
He himself had long since completed what work Milly left for him, and he sent the rest of them home far sooner. Nunnally was out with Sayoko for her medical exam this week, so he was in no hurry back home.
"Well um, I'm going to head home now Lelouch." Nina said to him, her bag filled with notes in hand. "See you tomorrow."
Lelouch waved her off, finding he was now alone. He opened the laptop before him, looking through current news headlines. It had been two weeks since the incident in Shinjuku now, and he found it odd how quickly the event was censored. Any official report was classified, and all information was completely suppressed. The area itself was even still under quarantine, the military allowing no one in or out. Why Clovis found this to be a special case, he could hardly guess. Whatever those terrorists got themselves involved in, be it poison gas or whatever that was a cover for, it was clearly a much bigger issue than what was presented on the surface. The teen let out a frustrated sigh, trying to make sense of his brother's actions. Really, he shouldn't even bother.
"Oh, good you're still here." He heard, looking up to see Milly had returned, dragging in with her...Kallen? "I have someone to introduce you to."
"No need Milly, I've already met Kallen before." He replied, eying the redheads' distressed expression to try to get a read on what was going on. "What's this about?"
Pushing the helpless girl forward, the president grinned. "Kallen here has managed to slip under the radar for quite some time now, and has yet to join any clubs at school. And as you know, all students are required to join at least one club. So I have decided to recruit her to the student council!"
"I...see." Was all he could come up with, surmising this was a very one sided agreement.
"I've already cleared it with my grandfather, so everything is good to go!" The blonde declared, nodding vigorously.
"Don't I get a say in this?" Kallen asked weakly, and Lelouch was sure that was directed at him, since the hundred times she'd probably already refused Milly went unheard.
"I'm afraid not." He smiled apologetically. "It is true that club participation is mandatory. And well, the student council might be the best fit for you...considering your condition."
"My thoughts exactly!" Milly revealed. Though he was sure she revelled at the chance to snatch up another minion to do her bidding. Most everyone was already well integrated in their own activities at this point in the year, and Ashford didn't get many transfers. "So since you two seem to be acquainted, I'll let you handle things from here." Pushing Kallen forward, she rushed out of the room alarmingly fast, ignoring all protests as she did. Kallen for her part looked like she might just bolt herself.
"Well, this isn't exactly what I had in mind when I told you that you could stop by, but…" He scratched the back of his neck, sighing at the irresponsibility of that girl. "It's really not as bad as you might think. Why don't I at least explain things to you, and we'll go from there?"
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Hopefully this chapter gives a better perspective as to where the story will be going. I'll say it now, while giving the spotlight to Shirley might seem appropriate for this kind of plot, I've been leaning more towards Kallen here. While she might be more frequently used, her character provides more opportunity and dynamic than Shirley does. I feel I can get more out of her with her background and motivations than anyone else available. That said, I might leave it up to whoever you all think is best. After all they could both work, albeit with very different angles, whichever seems like it might be more interesting.