Disclaimer: I don't own anything belonging to Code: Geass or Naruto.
"About this Special Administrative Zone of Japan, there are some unpleasant rumors about Princess Euphemia."
"It must due to the Kamine Island matter. You think she contacted Zero there?"
"I suspect there's a connection there that goes all the way to the top."
"No connection. The Viceroy wasn't only one asking what was going on."
"But in any case our connection with them is need to be-"
"Right. We'll have to sever ties with them at once."
The doors to the room opened and in walked Dalton and General Bartley. "I'm afraid it's too late."
The administrators gasped as they spun around, facing Dalton with shock and slight fear.
"All the evidence has already been gathered Vice-Minister. Namely the profiteering bribes." Dalton explained with a grin.
"I appreciate this, General Dalton. With this we can finally sweep away the parasites that were sucking Prince Clovis dry." Bartley narrowed his eyes at the ministers. "There are more rats than expected and all of them confused by Euphemia's special zone."
The mobile base moved into the center of the station with Euphemia and Suzaku watching the construction of the Special Zone.
"Over two thousand people have applied to join the Japan Special Zone and the way things look that number is only going to grow." Suzaku stated.
"Thanks to you, Suzaku." Euphemia turned and faced her knight. "Because of what you represent to the Japanese people everyone is rallying. They believe in what we are doing here."
Suzaku turned away with a smile. "No you're giving me too much credit. It must due to your proclamation, Princess. I am truly thankful for this, I really am."
"Just as I am thankful to you." Euphemia looked at Suzaku. "And I'm hopeful that you'll help in everything that is to come."
Suzaku quickly saluted his princess. "Yes your-"
"Not like that." Euphemia cut him off, slightly annoyed.
Suzaku dropped the salute, smiling sheepishly. "Yes."
Euphemia giggled.
" Euphy truly is amazing, isn't she? Now the terrorist groups in Area Eleven will lose their popular support and fall apart. Public order will be stabilized. " Schneizel said to his younger sister Cornelia, who was not at all happy with the plans her younger sister made.
"I personally oppose this." Cornelia stated.
" But since you understand the situation you've sent Dalton as an adviser did you not? " Schneizel asked knowingly.
"To ensure puplic policy stays on track. It's a matter a Viceroy would obviously take." Cornelia answered smoothly.
" Hm. Did you approve her plans as the Viceroy or as her older sister? " Schneziel asked amusedly.
Cornelia didn't answer but it didn't matter.
" There is another matter. The fact that one of Zero's knights came forward with possible information regarding Lelouch and Nunnally. "
Cornelia flinched. "What about it?"
" Euphy personally invited Zero to meet with her at the Special Zone. Perhaps this also her way of asking him what happened to our siblings. "
"We can't believe that Zero would ever give them to us." Cornelia protested heatedly.
" Perhaps not but it is worth looking into. "
"I must say this a rather unexpected move from Princess Euphemia and best of all it was done in a way that completely neutralizes Zero. If we refuse we would end up alienating the Japanese, the very people we are sworn to protect and lose their support which of course Zero needs if he intends to make Tokyo an independent nation." Rakshata said amusedly as she looked at the TV that was showing a recording of Euphemia's announcement.
She looked at the laptop as Nunnally and Sayoko's faces appeared on it, both of them in Nunnally's room.
"Well, well, the exiled princess herself graces me with her presence." Rakshata commented with a grin.
" Rakshata-san, have you seen Master Lelouch, Naruto, or Lady C.C.? " Sayoko asked, getting straight to the point.
"I'm afraid not. Naruto and C.C. cut their vision off from me and who knows where little Zero went? I imagine he was a little upset by this turn of events." Rakshata sat back on her red couch.
" You do not believe my brother will support this Special Administrative Zone? " Nunnally asked, naturally worried for her brother.
"Knowing him he is most likely annoyed as this plan effectively cripples and destroys his plans for rebellion against the empire." Rakshata said, sounding like it was as plain as reporting the weather. "I would check with the Black Knight base and see if they are there."
" Understood. " Sayoko said before ending the call.
"Lelouch…" Nunnally sadly whispered, looking out the window. "Where did you go? Are you not happy that sister Euphy is trying to end this?"
"I am sure he is fine, Lady Nunnally." Sayoko leaned down, placing a hand on Nunnally's shoulder. "He has protection, even if we can't see it."
Nunnally didn't answer as she was too busy looking out the window, as if hoping her eyes would see him walking up to the clubhouse. She knew he was upset, even angry that Euphy had effectively destroyed him as a terrorist against Britannia. A small part of her was even upset as she wanted the Emperor to suffer for blinding and crippling her but she couldn't let herself show these feelings.
Not yet.
Kallen for the life of her didn't expect Euphemia to actually to go through with it but now that she did it was causing a little bit a problem within the Black Knights with even a few of their own deciding to leave and join the Special Zone.
"The situation is serious. Not only are we losing supporters, some of her own members have applied to join the Special Zone." Todoh said, sitting on the couch with his arms folded.
"Unlike the Black Knights there is no risk in signing for the Japan Special Zone." Deithard stated.
"Besides when you compare the pedigree princess with the mysterious unknown man behind a mask it's obvious which one sends more appeal." Rakshata said amusedly as she looked around.
"There's a rumor that Kyoto is cooperating with them too."
"What's up with that?!" Tamaki exclaimed.
"They're offering equality, that's what."
"Equality my ass! Don't just accept their word for it!" Kallen stepped in.
"I agree but unless we decide how to respond to this quickly…"
Ohgi closed his eyes in thought as he remembered what the woman he was looking after said. ' You want to apply to the Special Zone. '
' Because there it won't make any difference to who is a Britannian and who is an Eleven. '
Ohgi opened his eyes. "Listen, if it works like Euphemia's proposal then it wouldn't be wrong for the Black Knights to support this, right?"
"Yeah sure. Like Britannians would ever offer such a promise." Tamaki said dully.
"I think we should support the Zone. It doesn't condradict what Zero said, does it?" Ohgi asked.
'Does it, Ohgi?' Kallen thought.
"First off if we accept peace on their terms we'll be forced to disarm." Chiba stated.
"That is a problem isn't it?" Rakshata asked rhetorically, waving her pipe in the air casually.
"We would also get swallowed up in their regime and lose our independence." Todoh said in agreement.
"On the other hand if we don't support then we're against equality and freedom." Diethard pointed out.
"Then let's support it." Ohgi said.
"What? Without any guarantees in place?" Diethard asked rhetorically.
"But we can't ignore it either."
"And we can't predict how long it will last."
Everyone looked to the doors as they opened up and let in Zero's knights.
"Seizan, Shinryoku." Kallen said with a hopeful tone in her voice. "Any word from Zero?"
"At the moment Zero is waiting to see how this will play through but in the meantime we thought we'd check in on you all." Seizan answered as the doors closed. "As I can imagine, you all sound divided over the issue."
"Does Zero plan to support the zone?" Ohgi asked.
"You sound hopeful, Ohgi. Is there something you'd like to tell us?" Shinyroku asked, slowly walking past everyone towards Ohgi who looked slightly nervous.
"Uh… No. There's nothing important anyways." Ohgi quickly said, sweating slightly at the glare Kallen shot at him.
"Euphemia made this announcement of her own volition but she couldn't have done it without first ensuring it was approved. Now obviously Cornelia would never approve the zone so it means that Euphemia went over her sister's head." Shinryoku said, looking to everyone in the room. "The only person able to approve aside from the Emperor himself without facing repercussion would be her brother, Schneizel el Britannia."
"Why would he approve it?" Kallen asked.
"Simple, it effectively cripples any resistance and boxes us into a corner where we lose the support of the people either way." Shinryoku leaned against the table. "However at the same time Euphemia is making a horrible mistake."
"A mistake?" Ohgi asked. "I don't understand. Doesn't this benefit us?"
"Do you think the Britannians who live in the settlement will accept those they see as mere vagabonds now becoming equal to them with names and a place to be themseleves without repercussions? Mistreating Japanese in Area Eleven is a way of life for them and to see it taken away from them by their own princess would be unacceptable in their eyes." Shinryoku asked slowly and condescendingly to Ohgi. "This will lead them to treating Japanese citizens, even honorary Britannians even harsher than before and the Japanese who believe they now have the rights they have been hoping for in the zone will surely want to fight for it. And what do you think will happen then?"
"The Britannians will see it as the Japanese turning the zone into a front to assault them." Todoh answered, catching on to what the two knights were saying.
"Exactly." Seizan nodded. "Those are in power are naturally afraid to give it up and soon enough someone, Japanese or Britannian, will do something stupid and then the shit will really hit the fan. Britannia will lobby for the zone to be decommissioned and the Japanese inside to be put on trial for any crimes the Britannians can think of. It may take a week, it may take a month, a year, or even two days but this is the likeliest outcome, even Zero predicted something like Euphemia's special zone and considered it to be a temporary solution at best."
"So what do we do?" Kallen asked.
"Well, that's obvious isn't it?" Seizen asked, a grin possibly forming from the sound of his voice. "The simplest solution now is we wait."
"We wait?" Tamaki asked looking as surprised as the people around him.
"Remember, Tamaki-san our purpose is not to make war with Britannia even if it is the goal many of you signed on for. What is our goal?" Seizan asked looking around the room. "Remember closely why the Black Knights exist."
Kallen's eyes widened. "To… protect the innocent."
"Exactly!" Seizan pointed at Kallen. "Exactly! To protect the innocent, Japanese or Britannian! Those were Zero's words at Lake Kawaguchi and it hasn't changed. Only the battlefield has now changed. If and when the Zone fails the Japanese will need us to protect them again and we will be there, waiting and watching."
"Hell yeah!" Tamaki stood up with a grin on his face. "Sounds like a plan to me!"
Todoh nodded. "Very well. I assume this is Zero's plan."
"It will be the plan for now. We wait for the right time before we make a move." Shinryoku stood up. "We use this opportunity to plan and perhaps even set up a base in the zone to monitor for when the time is right."
"A sound move." Deithard said with a smile. "From what I see Zero values your input greatly."
"Zero is a Master of Miracles… We are the ones who keep him alive to make these miracles." Shinryoku said cheekily.
"So we just wait for something that may never happen?" Ohgi said skeptically. "How are you so sure it will fall apart?"
"Human… Nature." Shinyroku looked at Ohgi. "And Britannia's own history speaks for itself."
"Sorry about having you drop me off like this." Lelouch put the helmet back into the side-seat of Rivalz's motorcycle.
"Hey, you helped me go shopping after all." Rivalz happily replied, waving off Lelouch's apology. "Besides, I heard you were going to meet up with Shirley."
"She might need me to go shopping too." Lelouch took his goggles off. "Britannians shouldn't be worried just because of the special zone starting up."
"Oh yeah. I think you're right about that." Rivalz replied, not really caring much about the Special Zone. "Anyway you better make up with Shirley pretty soon buddy."
"I DON'T CARE ABOUT YOUR SPECIAL ZONE!" The two looked over and saw a Britannian noble beating down a young boy, obviously Japanese with his cane. "I DON'T CARE ABOUT SUPPORT! I'D SOONER DIE THAN SIGN THAT!"
"It's a nobleman. A shining example of class." Rivalz commented.
"You think you're equal to us now? The lower classes should simply obey their betters without any backtalk." The noble spat.
"There it is." Lelouch declared as he slowly walked over. "That's the true nature of the Sub-Viceroy's benevolence."
"What do you want?" The noble asked.
"Doesn't it feel good to look down from above? It is rather like being a god." Lelouch stated as the nobleman's driver stepped forward.
"Hold it, school boy. Just back off." The drive put hand on Lelouch's shoulder.
Lelouch looked up at him as his Geass activated. "I think you should go home right now."
The man's eyes flashed red. "Yeah, okay I will. I better get going."
"Uh? What did you say to him?" The nobleman rushed after his driver. "Come back at once."
"What's wrong, Sir Noble?" Lelouch turned around, calling out the nobleman's attention. "Confusing borrowed power with your own ability is a huge mistake you know. Garbage like you should simply die and be thrown out-" Lelouch stopped as his felt his left eye flare up.
Luckily Rivalz stepped in. "All right everyone, let's break this up. Mister why don't you apologize? What do you say?"
"Aplogize?! You insolent whelp!" The nobleman shouted.
"Go away!" Lelouch declared, managing to deactivate his Geass. 'Am I losing control of my Geass? I need to check with Naruto and C.C. I can't be losing control. Not this soon.'
As the nobleman walked away in anger Shirley watched everything happened from above. 'Lulu, what's the matter with you? You help that Eleven but you talk to Princess Euphemia. Lulu, what are you hiding from me?'
Kirihara didn't have to wait long before Britannia sent some big strong armed thug to come and talk to him about selling what was left of Mount Fuji.
"DAC or rather Kyoto as it is known to other terrorists. Tomorrow, after the ceremony why don't you dissolve your group and leave Mount Fuji. We can talk about a legal agreement if you hand over the mining operations to us peacefully." Dalton stated to Kirihara who did not answer. "Of course that will mean the end of your support to the Black Knights. Whether Zero comes tomorrow or not, doesn't matter. With this, that man's downfall is assured."
"You think your Geass is acting up?" C.C. hugged her Cheese-kun close to her as she sat on the bed she and Naruto shared while Naruto was sitting cross-legged on the floor with his arms crossed.
"I felt it earlier today." Lelouch scowled. "It's too soon for me to be losing control isn't it?"
"You have not used it enough for it to be evolving beyond your control." C.C.'s yellow eyes faded away, showing her Rinnegan that allowed her to see the power of Lelouch's Geass. "Yes, it is much stronger than it should be at this point."
"It's because of those ruins on Kamine Island isn't it?" Lelouch questioned. "You said those ruins had a special connection with Geass. What are they?"
"I already told you." C.C. replied.
"You only said what they could be but I believe you know what they really are." Lelouch stated.
C.C. fell onto her back. "And does it really matter? Right now you have other matters."
"Like sealing up that Geass to keep it from going out of control." Naruto stood up. "Now we should get started and have this all done before the big event tomorrow."
Lelouch frowned but relented. "Very well."
"Oh and we better get Kallen." Naruto said as he held up a brush. "We wouldn't want her losing control of her Geass either."
Kallen sighed as she stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around her body. It was a trying day with everyone up in arms over the Special Administration Zone of Japan and even after Naruto helped calm everyone down emotions were still high. She knew she had to be ready for tomorrow and decided to turn in early for tonight.
She opened the door to get into her nice and cozy bed…
Only to find C.C. sitting on her bed, fiddling with a pink book with a lock on it. "Oh, hey Kallen."
"GAH!" Kallen's jaw dropped, barely managing to keep her towel on. "What are you doing?! And is that-PUT THAT DOWN NOW!"
"Oh, is there something personal on this?" C.C. asked casually, like she wasn't violating Kallen's privacy.
Which is exactly what she was doing.
"YOUR DAMN RIGHT IT'S PERSONAL NOW PUT IT DOWN!" Kallen shouted as the door opened.
"I got some tea and cookies." Naruto said as he walked in but stopped as Kallen spun around, her grip on her towel slipping away. "Oh!" Blushing Naruto quickly turned away. "Sorry!"
"Why, Naruto are you still so shy? You know I'm okay with it if you have a few thoughts about other girls." C.C. grinned sinisterly and Kallen hastily moved to cover herself. "You mean to tell me we're not here to ask Kallen to have a threesome with us?"
"WHAT?!" Kallen shouted in complete shock, embarrassment, and a little rage at being intruded upon like this.
"I'm just going to step out now." Naruto quickly slipped out of the room. 'Good thing I put up sound proof seals. If Cera keeps pissing Kallen off the entire neighborhood might wake up to a warzone.'
"Are you sure? She's a pretty little thing and you've seen her naked before." C.C. held a hand to her mouth.
Naruto wisely closed the door as Kallen faced C.C. with her Geass flaring in her left eye. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?!"
"Oh, Naruto wanted to check on you and make sure your Geass wasn't acting up out of your control." C.C. said simply.
"Huh?" Kallen mumbled as her Geass deactivated.
After C.C. explained things Kallen took the chance to dress herself in a simply shirt and shorts and let Naruto back in who was pretty nervous about being the outlet for Kallen's wrath considering C.C. enjoyed riling the red haired pilot up. Naruto wondered if his father had a thing for violent red heads when he was dating his mother and shook his head of those thoughts.
Now wasn't the time for such thoughts.
"So, why are you worried about my Geass?" Kallen asked, glaring at C.C. and making sure the green haired didn't try and steal her diary.
"Lelouch said his Geass activated for an instant today and believes it's starting to evolve beyond his control." Naruto explained. "We wanted to know if you went through anything similar."
"As I far as I know my Geass hasn't done anything yet. I haven't used it for a while." Kallen answered, frowning in concern. "Naruto, about what you said…"
"Hm?" Naruto tilted his head.
"Do you really believe that the zone will fall apart?" Kallen questioned.
"Hmm… Well, it might not fall apart so fast but even if it does get the go ahead there are a lot of Britannian nobles unhappy about it. Your step-mother I think ranks as one of them." Naruto scratched his cheek.
Kallen frowned. "No surprise there."
"So instead of deciding on what to do even though the Black Knights will lose support no matter what choice we make we simply bear with it for now." Naruto shrugged. "Think of it as a small vacation, Kallen and you don't have to worry about so many people being hurt. You can even enjoy being Japanese in the zone for a while."
"And Lelouch?" Kallen asked curiously. "Did he agree to this?"
"Ah…." Naruto trailed off, looking very awkward now.
"What he's saying that we never talked to Lelouch about it yet." C.C. clarified in a bored tone. "And to be honest about it Lulu wasn't in a talking mood about it."
"So he never agreed to your idea? What will he do?" Kallen asked.
"Probably something stupid like getting Euphemia to shoot him and become a martyr to the Black Knights." C.C. answered, spreading herself across Kallen's bed.
"What?!" Kallen spun around, looking at C.C. in alarm. "That's his plan?!"
"Kallen, calm down. We're keeping an eye on him." Naruto said, almost unable to believe he was trying to be the reasonable one between C.C.'s smartass attitude and Kallen's short temper.
This must be how Sakura felt when she kept in trying to break up the fights between him and Sasuke.
"We don't exactly know what Lelouch will be planning to do but we're not going to let him do anything stupid. We'll keep an eye on him." Naruto continued, seeing his words were helping to calm Kallen down. "Right now we need to make sure that neither your or his Geass goes out of control."
Kallen sighed and nodded. "Right. What do we do?"
"Kneel down on all fours and strip yourself. No bra or underwear either." C.C. said with a grin.
"No! You don't need to strip!" Naruto quickly said, seeing the anger build in Kallen's eyes. 'I really need to talk to Cera about this. She's going to get me killed one of these days.'
' I like her. She actually knows how to entertain me. ' Kurama laughed.
"Just turn around and I can draw the seal on the back of your neck." Naruto said, pulling out his brush.
"Just like that?" Kallen asked, not expecting it to be so simple.
"Well I could draw it on your forehead but it'd be easier to notice. At least on the back of your neck you can cover it up." Naruto shrugged. "So which is it? Forehead or back of neck?"
Kallen sighed. "Back of neck please."
"Okey-dokey!" Naruto smiled as Kallen turned around, pushing aside her hair covering the back of her neck.
The seal Naruto was applying to Kallen and had already applied to Lelouch was actually based off of the seal used by the Hyuuga clan on the branch family, only this one did not cause pain to the person who had the seal and it could be easily removed. It worked by detecting the energy associated with Geass reacting with the knowing consent of the person and applied a subtle pulse of chakra that would cancel out the Geass. This would ensure the Geass would not become permanently active unless Lelouch or Kallen knowingly wanted to activate their Geass.
"And… Seal!" Naruto made a hand sign, activating the seal which glowed for a second.
Kallen nearly jumped as she fell an almost unnoticeable shift through her but it didn't harm her in anyway.
"All right, done." Naruto said, pulling the brush away and stepped back to admire his handy work. "That wasn't so bad was it?"
"So this will keep my Geass from acting out?" Kallen asked, placing a hand on the back of her neck.
"It'll release a pulse that will cancel the Geass out. Basically the Geass works through your eyes which is connected to the brain meaning that the source of your Geass is embedded in your brain. The seal will sense the energy traveling from your brain to your eye when you activate it but the seal is designed to also sense when you knowingly or unknowingly activate it. The pulse will be subtle, too weak to cause brain damage but it will disrupt the energy as it travels to your eye and cancel it out." Naruto said, explaining carefully how the seal worked. "You'll be able to use your Geass simply by mentally activating it like always because the seal will cancel itself cancelling out energy of your Geass but when you want to deactivate it the seal will react to your command and it will continue to release that pulse to stop it."
"Well, at least I'll still be able to control it." Kallen sighed in relief. "I couldn't live with myself if my Geass went out of control and accidently killed someone."
"That's why you got us." Naruto stated as he sat down and drank some of the tea he brought up. "Now we're almost ready for tomorrow."
"But were you guys serious when Lelouch said he might do something to turn the zone in a battle field?" Kallen frowned.
Naruto sighed and decided to just come clean. "Truth be told, Kallen Lelouch is not at all happy about this special zone since Euphemia basically stripped him of the power he needs to make a stand against Britannia. There's no way he'll accept this zone as a good idea and believes that it will fall apart but he thinks he can control how it falls apart."
"By making himself into a martyr?" Kallen questioned.
"It's a dirty move but if Zero was suddenly shot by Princess Euphemia it would be a rallying cry for the Japanese to take up arms." Naruto answered.
"How can he do that? Is he really that to fight against the empire?" Kallen asked, just wondering how far Lelouch would go.
"Lelouch is not the type to give up, even in the face of possible defeat but when he's desperate he'll resort to anything he can come up baring endangering his little sister." C.C. spoke up. "This is war and he's already accepted the fact that people, innocent or not will die but he will work to ensure the battle is as controlled as he can make it without turning it into a slaughterhouse."
"Exactly. So what we need to do is keep it from happening since this would tarnish the Black Knights and I believe that his plan has been anticipated by the Geass Order or even worse the Emperor himself." Naruto stated. "Lelouch is too far emotionally affected to be reasoned with at this point. The question is will we have to do something or can Euphemia convince him to work with her?"
"Convince him to work with her?" Kallen repeated in confusion.
"Yeah. I mean Euphemia is his sister and I don't believe he'll threaten her into shooting him. So he'll likely use his Geass but perhaps Euphemia can get through that stubborn head." Naruto explained with a smile.
"How can you be so sure?"
"I have an inside source."
As she was getting ready for bed Nunnally suddenly sneezed and fell onto the mattress. "Oh dear. Could someone be talking about me at this late hour?"
"C.C. and I will be with him tomorrow as his personal knights so we'll keep an eye on him and wait and see what he will do." Naruto finished explaining the outline of his plan. "Just keep yourself ready but don't jump the gun too quickly."
Kallen sighed. "Fine, I'll play along. Just don't do anything crazy without telling me."
"As you wish." C.C. lied back and started pulling on the covers over Kallen's bed.
"What are you doing?" Kallen asked slowly while giving C.C. a glare that would even make Todoh sweat but C.C. didn't budge.
"Uh oh." Naruto whispered as he stepped back.
"Are you kicking us out after all we've done for you?" C.C. asked dumbly with a devious smile. "And here I thought we could have a sleepover. You, me, Naruto, this nice bed for us all."
"GET OUT!"
"I'm back." Lelouch said, adopting the smile he reserved for his sister and his sister alone.
"Oh hi, Lelouch. Welcome home." Nunnally smiled as she put down the book she had been reading. "Where's Shirley?"
"I'm sorry, Nunnally. She had to go visit her father at the last second." Lelouch answered as he unbuttoned his school uniform.
"Perhaps she's getting back at you. You have been a little chilly with her." Nunnally pointed out.
"You think so?" Lelouch asked, taking off the black top. "Then I guess I'll try to be nicer. Sayoko, would you bring us some tea please?"
Sayoko bowed. "Yes, as you wish my lord."
As Sayoko left to make some tea in the kitchen Lelouch placed the black uniform on the table and picked up a hangar.
Nunnally frowned. "I have the feeling you're worried about something, Lelouch."
"Huh?" Lelouch looked at Nunnally.
"Does it involve, Euphie?" Nunnally asked as Lelouch put the uniform top on the hangar. "It would be selfish to say I want to see her again. I'd like to, I admit it, but that would simply cause trouble for you both."
"You like Euphie, don't you?" Lelouch asked rhetorically.
"Yes, very much. The same way you like her." Nunnally answered, watching as Lelouch turned away.
"Yeah… I did like her." Lelouch whispered.
Nunnally frowned, sensing something wrong with Lelouch. 'Brother, why do you not let me in?'
" We're bringing live coverage from the stadium where the inaugural ceremony will be held for the Special Administrative Zone of Japan. The stadium is already packed full with Elevens-I mean Japanese. " The reporter quickly corrected herself. " And those unable to get in are gathered outside the stadium. "
" Lesley, do you think Zero will show up here? "
" No and we've heard nothing about it at this time. "
As the news of the Japan Special Administrative Zone spread across the world everyone had their own opinions.
"Ah, you think Zero will even show up?" A member of Executive Council of the Chinese Federation asked.
"I seriously doubt it. What do you think?"
"The data we have on the man is accurate and I don't believe he will either." A man in the European Union Council chamber answered.
Charles zi Britannia stood in the center of the Thought Elevator with his servants, watching the news through C's World to see the events transpiring in Japan.
Euphemia was barely paying attention to the millions of people waiting in the station that had been decorated with the flags of Britannia and Japan before it had been absorbed by the Empire. She should be happy that her plan for the Special Zone was approved but in reality there was one person she wanted to be here more than anyone in the world.
'Lelouch, where are you? Will you not come?' Euphemia thought in dismay.
"Princess Euphemia it is time."
Euphemia glanced over at Darlton and nodded. "Right."
Standing near the lines of chairs Nonnette silently watched Euphemia, deciding to come here to keep an eye on the event. She knew her eyes were not deceiving her when she saw Euphemia with an older version of Lelouch and Nunnally vi Britannia and she knew Euphemia did not tell her older sister about them being at the Ashford Academy. Whatever the reason was Nonnette was here under the excuse that she was watching Euphemia for Cornelia who refused to come to the ceremony, believing that Euphemia was being foolish and making them look weak in front of numbers and terrorists.
"Lady Nonnette?" Nonnette looked over her shoulder, seeing Rai standing behind her in his formal uniform. "Are you all right?"
Nonnette smiled reassuringly. "Oh I'm all right, my little knight. Just getting a little bored."
Rai blushed at being called her little knight which brought her some form entertainment. Unfortunately right now Nonnette had no time to play as she had a job to do here. So Nonnette silently watched as Euphemia prepared to address the crowd. As she stood up she looked over at the vacant chair between her and Darlton, the one that would have been for Zero if he had appeared.
The sound of gasps of shock caused Euphie to look up and to her surprise she saw Zero's personal Knightmare along with the two Knightmares that belonged to his knights flanking the Arashikage as it hovered over the stadium.
"Zero." Suzaku whispered, staring hard up at the masked terrorist as he stood on the Arashikage's shoulder.
"Zero?"
"Zero is here?!"
Euphemia smiled. "Oh he came after all!"
Darlton however was grinning for another reason. "You accept that you lost."
'What are you doing? I thought I would have to take your identity to the grave.' Kirihara thought. 'If people discover that Zero is a Britannian Prince it's all over. They'll mistake this for a farce planned by the empire. That would even cause the Special Administrative Zone to fall apart.'
" Your target is Zero. If he makes any suspicious moves kill him at once. "
"Yes my lord." The pilots all replied.
Euphy stepped forward and spread her arms out to welcome her new guests. "Zero, welcome to the Special Administrative Zone."
"Greetings Euphemia li Britannia. I wish to request an audience with you." Zero stated.
"Just with me?" Euphemia asked.
"Yes, with you alone."
The Student Council all watched the news with baited breath.
" Something major has happened here, ladies and gentlemen. Zero has just appeared out in the open! Under Princess Euphemia's direction he is moving towards the G1. "
"I'm afraid something is going to happen. We should have gone there like I thought." Cecile said, watching from Prince Schneziel's airship.
"What for?" Lloyd looked at Cecile with his usual grin. "It's not as if we had a choice in the matter. Everyone said if Lancelot was there waiting Zero wouldn't show."
The Arashikage along with Seizan and Shinryoku landed on the decorated red carpet and its pilots strolled up, while a security guard ran a metal detector on Zero.
But when he ran it on his knights he detected weapons. "Zero doesn't have any weapons your highness but these two are armed."
"Of course we are. We are Zero's bodyguards after all." C.C. retorted to the man. "Did you think we would come unarmed into a possible trap?"
"How dare you…"
"It's all right, they have a right to be suspicious." Euphemia replied and gestured to the G1. "Then this way please."
"Princess Euphemia, it's too dangerous to be alone with this man." Suzaku spoke up. "As your knight I request you allow me to accompany you for you safety."
Euphemia turned and smiled at Suzaku. "No, it's all right. Please just trust me Suzaku."
Suzaku could only watch in stunned silence as Euphemia continued to the G1 with Zero behind her. In the meantime Naruto was looking at the G1, his Rinnegan eyes active and he could see life signatures in the G1 even though Euphie had ordered it to be emptied for her meeting with Lelouch.
And among them two life signs were glowing red.
"Come on, how much longer are we supposed to hang around here?" Tamaki asked impatiently from his Glasgow.
"What? It's not enough that Zero instructed us to wait here?" Kallen retorted calmly, deciding to simply trust the three who were possible hostile territory.
"Yeah, whatever." Tamaki drawled, sitting lazily in his cockpit.
"First of all we have to confirm the empire's true intentions." Ohgi pointed out.
"Deputy Commander." Todoh called from his Glasgow.
"Uh, yes." Ohgi answered, slightly surprised to be hearing Todoh.
"Zero knows their real intentions. Isn't that why he told us to wait and hide in all four directions?" Todoh asked.
"A risky assumption." Ohgi replied.
"He's even got Diethard and Rakshata standing by with his own two knights with him. Zero is probably planning to assassinate Euphemia."
Kallen closed her eyes, hoping that was not the case. She had no love for Britannian Royalty but it's one thing to assassinate someone who might be innocent in the conflict.
Even though the cameras are off, you're still being extremely careful, aren't you?" Euphie asked as Lelouch turned off all the power in the G1.
"I have been in hiding for a long time due to a certain empire I'm afraid," Lelouch stated as he took off his mask. He took out a gun and pointed at his half-sister, even though he had been searched earlier. "This is a needle gun made from ceramic and bamboo. It can't be picked up on a metal detector."
"Lelouch, you would never shoot me, would you?" Euphie plainly asked, not looking the least bit alarmed by the gun.
"No." Lelouch answered, "I would never do that; you'll be doing the shooting Euphie."
"Huh?" Euphie was confused and a bit disturbed at what her half brother was saying.
"This ceremony is being broadcast globally and the world is going to witness you, a Britannian princess, shoot Zero." Lelouch stated. "What do you think will happen next?"
"Rioting would break out, I imagine," Euphie answered.
"Right, Zero will become a martyr tricked into a deathtrap and instantly your popularity will crash to earth."
"What kind of nonsense are you saying? You should just help me rebuild Japan…"
"If you force it upon us from up high, then you're just as bad as Clovis was."
Euphie was taken back by what Lelouch was saying.
"All task at hand have been cleared. After hovering near death, Zero will be met with cheers when he makes a miraculously recovery because people don't give a damn about reason but nobody can resist miracles." Lelouch flipped the needle gun so the handle was facing Euphie and held it out to her. "Now take the gun.
"Huh?"
"There can only be one messiah you understand and when the people realize that you're a false one, they'll-"
"Stop it!" Euphim cut him off. "I will not listen to this anymore. I did not come here to listen to plans of me shooting my brother and causing more violence."
"Then stop giving me your pity!" Lelouch looked at his sister with a glare of contempt. "Stop giving me your charity!"
Euphie only looked concerned despite the argument.
"This is something I have to achieve on my own and so for that, I shall now stain your hands with blood Euphemia li Britannia!" Lelouch prepared to activate his Geass.
"That isn't my name, I renounced it!" Euphie announced passionately.
Lelouch deactivated his Geass in shock by Euphie's statement.
"There'll probably be a formal announcement issued by the homeland about it any day now, but I've given up my claim to the throne." Euphie continued.
"But why? It isn't because you accepted Zero, is it?" Lelouch asked, still shocked by what he had heard.
"Well of course, I had to pay the price for doing something so selfish, those are the consequences," Euphie answered with a smile.
"Yes, but it wasn't difficult to give that up, was it? And I suppose you did it for my sake." Lelouch said skeptically.
Euphie chuckled, "As conceited as you ever were but no, I did it for Nunnally.
'For Nunnally?' Lelouch thought with surprise.
Euphie turned around, her back now facing Lelouch. "She told me herself, 'all I want is to be with my brother and that's all that matters, I want nothing more'".
"For that petty reason?"
The third princess turned around, looking her half-brother in the eye. "That's right Lelouch, that's how I made up my mind. It made me stop and reflect what was truly important to me in life. Do you understand now? I'm not giving up anything that has significant meaning or real worth to me and you don't need to worry, I won't tell anyone about you."
Lelouch wasn't able to resist chuckling. "And Cornelia?"
"It's not like we'll never see each other again."
"Euphie, you are a fool, an amazing fool."
Euphie glared. "I know I'm as smart as you Lelouch, I've never been able to beat you in games or study, however-"
"However," Lelouch interrupted. "In your usual rash fashion, you've managed to win all of it. When I think of you, I don't visualize a Sub-Viceroy or a princess, I only see the plain little Euphie who you used to be."
"Then will you join plain little Euphie and help her?" Euphie asked as she extended her hand.
Lelouch considered the notion and saw the determination on Euphie's face, "You are… you are the worst opponent I have ever faced." Lelouch took Euphie's hand. "You win."
Euphie was a bit surprised.
"I'll amend my plans to help out your special zone." Lelouch said and that made Euphie very happy, "Ah, but not as your subordinate, all right?"
"All right." Euphie replied happily. "Though you haven't got very much faith in me, have you?"
"Hmm?"
"Did you honestly believe that by simply threatening me I would shoot you?"
"Oh no, you got it all wrong. When I really want people to follow my orders, they will not resist me, whether to shoot me, to grant pardon to Suzaku, or any order at all."
"Oh now you're being silly. Stop playing with me."
"I'm serious. For example if I told you to kill all the Japanese it wouldn't matter how you felt about it." Lelouch smirked.
" What a good idea, Lelouch! "
Both Euphie and Lelouch stiffened and turned around as the door opened and into the room poured men dressed in combat gear and wore masks and helmets while pointing rifles at the two.
" In fact, that is exactly what will happen! " The distorted voice laughed as a figure appeared at the door and walked into the room.
"Castor?" Euphie gasped but upon seeing who she thought to be her fellow royal member but his eyes… His eyes were more sinister looking, much too sinister to be the same eyes as Castor.
"Ah, that's right. We've never officially met but allow me to rectify that." He theatrically bowed to the two. "Pollux rui Britannia at your service, my dear siblings." He stood straight and grinned, his left eye flashing red with a familiar crest.
'Geass!' Lelouch's eyes widened in shock and horror.
"And now I have a task for you." Pollux said, grinning sinisterly. "Kill the Japanese."