Chapter 35 : Meeting in the rubble.
Tokyo, 10:45 pm
The metropolis, once the capital of Japan and then the personal domain of the former emperor Lelouch, was now reduced to a vast pile of rubble, totally depopulated, with the exception of the Gremory family and their acquaintances. In the midst of this post-apocalyptic scenario, Issei, Sirzechs and Kiba moved.
"It makes an impression to think that this was once a big city ..." The red affirmed, looking at the buildings that remained standing, although in ruins.
"Why are we here?" The blonde asked.
"We've been locked up in that dungeon for weeks ... And I need to be outdoors or I'll be claustrophobic."
The brown snorted.
"We could move to some other city ... Why stay in that kind of bunker?" He asked himself.
"Because it's the safest place, that's why. As long as the alien aviation continues to pound the cities it is dangerous to go there. By the way, how are things with my sister? "
"Who?"
"Like who? Rias, your girlfriend! "
"Ah ... Very well."
"Glad to hear it."
Issei looked away.
Damn ... If he finds out that I betray her with their mother, he wouldn't be so happy. Even if Venelana claims the opposite I cannot be totally sure.
He think.
At one point they found themselves walking in front of what was left of the New National Center of the Arts, a modern art museum inaugurated about a decade earlier by Lelouch himself, on the site of the old one (destroyed during the British invasion of 2010).
"Shit…"
"What is it, Sirzechs?" Kiba asked.
"I was there a month ago, before the invasion began."
"Me too ... But there wasn't much. Many Japanese works of art were destroyed in the 2010s because of the war and the British occupation. The rest was destroyed by order of Lelouch ... Paintings, sculptures, historical texts ... Everything. The former emperor seemed determined to eradicate Japanese culture. "Kiba stated.
"Why is that?" Issei asked.
"Did you forget that he was betrayed by his followers when he was wearing Zero's mask?"
"Yes and then?"
"They had come to terms with Schneizel: Zero's life in exchange for Japan's independence. In revenge, he decided to destroy it, figuratively speaking. To destroy its culture, its tradition, to destroy symbolic places like the gold pavilion in Kyoto or the castle of Himeji. "
"A rancorous type ..."
"I would be too if my comrades betrayed me."
"Stop where you are!" A voice boomed.
The trio turned to face five people: a boy with short black hair and brown eyes, another with short gray hair and brown eyes, and three very prosperous girls (a blonde with long hair, brown eyes; one with long purple hair and blue eyes and one with long brown hair and red eyes). The first two brandished a Benelli M4 Super 90 rifle and a Springfield M1A1 Super Match respectively, the third a M92 pistol and a katana at the side, the other two were unarmed. Immediately Kiba, Issei and Sirzechs raised their hands.
"Are you a British?" Asked the raven-haired, turned to red.
"Exactly, but my friends are Japanese."
"I see this ... Where do you come from?"
"From an underground shelter, we can't tell you anything else."
"Like us…"
"As you?"
"Yes, my friends and I live in a bomb shelter. By the way, who are you? "
"Sirzechs Gremory and they are Issei Hyoudou and Yuuto Kiba."
"I am Takashi Komuro and they are Hisashi Igou, Rei Miyamoto, Saeko Busujima and Shizuka Marikawa."
"Nice to meet you."
"Pleasure is ours. Our refuge is near here, why don't you stop at least for tonight? "
"Do you trust them, Takashi-kun?" Saeko asked suspiciously.
Rei tugged her on the back of her neck.
"Don't call him that, slut! He is my boyfriend!"
"But what a boyfriend! Just because you've had sex a couple of times? Don't put your head up! "
"You don't even have one!"
"This is not true! We did it three days ago! "
"Ah, is that so?"
"Yes, it is!"
"Filthy bitch ..."
She grabbed her by the hair and began to tug, and Saeko unsheathed her katana in response.
"Now stop it! This is no time to argue! "Hisashi intervened.
"To me they look like good people ... Also because the Gremory family is one of the richest in the empire."
"Sirzechs?"
"What is it, Kiba?"
"Do you trust them to go with them? They are armed! "
"I know. But the Ashford institute (or at least the underground below it) is far from here. Early tomorrow, as soon as the sun rises, we will return. "
"Ok ..." the blond nodded, unconvinced.
The group set off.
Weiswolf, 4:00 pm
Ajatar was walking down a corridor, immersed in her thoughts.
Everyone is calm because Gerel's armies lose ground ... However the goddess is not yet defeated, and if I know her well she will do anything to crush human resistance. Maybe I'll have to take the field personally to fight it, hoping it's not stronger than me.
Suddenly she came across a group of girls moving in the opposite direction.
"Good afternoon." The lower one greeted her with blonde hair.
"To you ... You are Katyusha, right?"
"Yup. You are Avatar instead. "
"Ajatar."
"My mother told me about you. She says you are some kind of goddess." Miho stated.
"To call myself a divinity is perhaps excessive ... I consider myself more a guardian."
"Guardian of what?"
"Of space-time."
"Interesting."
"Yeah…"
Who would have thought that one day I would find myself again in contact with people? The last ones were Leila and Smilas, 13 years ago ...
"Well, now we have to go. See you later."
"See you later."