The Demon and the Red Moon
Spinzaku disclaimer: If you don't put the disclaimer on your chapter until you finished writing it, Spinzaku comes up behind you and beats your face in with your keybldxl,sl,xczxcz,lxc
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Chapter 19
Lelouch scowled at his computer. The pool was dark save the lights in the water and the moon above. Playing on his computer was Euphemia gave her speech. Lelouch frowned and clicked replay, not for the first time this night.
The prince was stunned from his contemplation by the sound of splashing. C had performed a cannon ball from the lowest dive board. The green-haired witch emerged from the water near Lelouch.
"Troubled?" C asked mockingly. Lelouch scowled further and looked back to his computer screen. "So stubborn," the witch added, bored.
"I don't need comments from an immortal witch," Lelouch replied tartly. The witch in question began to float along, facing the sky.
"You could just use your Geass," C commented flatly. She gave an inhale as a thought struck her. "Or are you worried that you'll become like Mao the more you use it?"
"This situation is political. A wing that I never considered when I planned this rebellion," Lelouch replied harshly. "Geass is a gunshot, the timing has to be perfect in a political assassination."
"So you can't just get Euphemia to do a heel-turn so suddenly or it would raise suspicions," C stated, interpreting Lelouch's thoughts. "And if she dies, she becomes a martyr."
"That's the blunt way of putting it, but yes," Lelouch replied. He put a hand to his face, still thinking. (She's identified the root of why the resistance groups gain popularity and severed it at the root.) Lelouch frowned dismally at the thought. (Even the military seems to be backing off.)
"You've been staring at that video for the past several days," C stated, her tone almost complaining. "Is Zero going to do nothing?"
"The recruitment for the Black Knights has declined even with Tohdoh's aid," Lelouch noted angrily. "I can't make a move as Zero until this is overcome." C rose from the pool with a splashing sound. Lelouch looked up at the witch again.
"Does that include with lover girl?" Lelouch's eyes bulged angrily at the mention of Kallen.
"Don't joke about that," Lelouch ordered.
"You know the smell still hasn't washed out of the sheets of my bed," C complained. Lelouch almost snarled, face hardening.
"I washed those sheets plenty of times, and it is my bed," he replied matter-of-factly.
"I keep telling you to get your own," C retorted. Lelouch huffed from his nose and shut his laptop noisily, standing to leave.
"We're leaving," the prince declared.
"I'm not done swimming," C replied.
"Too bad," Lelouch retorted, brokering no argument.
The witch gave a frustrated sound and followed in her bathing suit.
Lelouch grit his teeth as the lime-colored enigma stripped her bathing suit from her body as the pair walked back to the student council building across the grass. C gave a sigh of pleasure as the wind picked up. Lelouch gave a growl, concentrating on not looking.
"You're not looking?" C asked, in her usual bored tone.
"No," Lelouch answered.
"A shame, I did shave very closely this afternoon," C noted. "Which reminds me you need another razer." Lelouch almost reacted, closing his eyes in anger and rolling his jaw in his head, angrily. "Or are you saving your eyes only for Kallen?" Lelouch put a hand to massage his brow.
"Lelouch?" The prince didn't look at the witch to answer. "Give me your shirt, I'm getting chilly." Lelouch set his face firm and continued walking.
"You have a bathing suit," he reminded.
0.0.0
Jeremiah wiped blood from his mouth as he moved into the lab. Alice merely watched him, her face passive. The disgraced cyborg finally sat down in the chair provided and various technicians began to plug wires into him.
"The coward escaped, he did," Jeremiah wheezed. "My body started to break down before I could return." Alice didn't step forward.
"You lungs aren't adjusted to the changes," one technician noted. "You'll have to take it easy for the next few days." Alice frowned.
"You did well enough," Alice declared. "I can handle Zero."
"I'm not done yet, not done yet," Jeremiah declared angrily.
"My master wants results," Alice declared. Jeremiah raised an eyebrow then coughed violently.
"In the mean time, ready my Grachus," she ordered one of the technicians.
0.0.0
Darlton entered the Viceroy's council chamber. He had a tablet in hand, a passive frown on his rugged face. Guilford and Euphemia saw him and waited. Cornelia had not lifted her face in three days, scowling seemingly perpetually.
"Despite our takeover of the Mt. Fuji site," Darlton announced, unenthusiastically, "we have not been able to find or capture any Black Knights or associates. Further more," he winced for his princess. "Even terrorist groups not loyal to the Black Knights have not made any significant attacks since Princess Euphemia's...announcement."
"That's no guarantee that the barbarians are going along with her plan," Cornelia noted defensively. "Rome wasn't built in a day."
"Still," Euphemia noted. "It seems to be a good start for our relationship with the Japanese people." Cornelia almost interjected about calling them numbers. But Euphie would simply correct her again with perfect sweetness.
"Coddling our enemy with sugar words," Cornelia commented, disgusted. "These savages only deserve the lash or the sword for daring to raise arms against Britannia."
"Also," Darlton added, tentatively, "we've had a 39 percent increase in citizenship applications from the elev...Japanese."
"Still," came a new voice. Cornelia and Euphemia rose as one and turned to see the voice coming from behind them. The blonde visitor entered dressed in his usual outfit as Britannian Prime Minister. "You should have at least consulted with me first, Euphemia."
"Schneizel," Euphemia noted, joyous yet wary. "Why are you here?"
"Father sent me," Schneizel began. Cornelia winced, a hand going to her gun-sword by instinct. "He believes Lelouch and Nunnally actually survived and asked me to try to find them if so." Euphemia gave an almost-wince and tried to make her face impassive. Schneizel's eyes shifted imperceptibly.
"Little sister," Schneizel said, his soft voice betraying curiosity, "do you know something of Lelouch and Nunnally?"
"I..." Euphemia could only stutter.
"When you asked me about Marianne," Cornelia commented, understanding dawning on her austere features. "You weren't just asking for your personal edification, were you?" A light went on in the second princess's head. "The Asheford Academy."
0.0.0
The next day Lelouch was sitting on a bench in the shopping mall. Kallen had demanded that he accompany her to the mall to get his mind off the current predicament. Lelouch had refused adamantly before the rest of the student council. Which was why he was now shopping with Kallen, because he had attempted to play the strong man around Nunnally and Milly. The two of which had booted him out of the academy grounds to go on a date with Kallen.
(Perhaps I should consider reading a book on female psychology to try and avoid pitfalls like this,) Lelouch thought to himself as he held Kallen's purse. Kallen emerged from the dressing rooms, wearing a blue dress, a yellow shirt lowered the hang around her arms, and walked up to Lelouch.
"What do you think?" she asked quickly. Lelouch sighed.
"You look beautiful," he said, not for the first, fruitless, time. Kallen looked down at attire and walked to stand in front of a mirror.
"Okay this is actually cute," Kallen noted.
"I've said that about every outfit you've tried," Lelouch noted, annoyed.
"And I thank you for your opinion," Kallen replied cheerfully, heading back to the dressing room. "A few more left to try."
"I'm getting hungry," Lelouch commented, still annoyed.
"It's only 3 o'clock!" Kallen shouted as she ducked into the dressing room.
"I know, we didn't have lunch," Lelouch commented. To himself. He frowned as he had an uncomfortable reminder of dragging himself through a dessicated war zone. Lelouch breathed slowly to ease his stress. He didn't need another episode.
"Why don't we try the book store?" Lelouch called out. Kallen didn't answer, seemingly focused on yet another outfit that Lelouch could not give his opinion on. The store's dressing room attendant didn't even look up at Lelouch. Lelouch scowled and began an experiment on the swing momentum with Kallen's purse just to distract himself.
(Perhaps if I tell her the next outfit makes her look like a harpy she'd finally stop,) Lelouch thought to himself with a smirk. He scowled and looked to the side. (Probably have to deal with some nasty consequences though.) Lelouch debated whether it was even worth a try.
Lelouch was almost overjoyed when his phone rang to distract him. He saw the caller ID telling him that Euphemia was calling. Euphemia who thought Lelouch was Zero. Euphie who was ruining the Black Rebellion for the exile. Lelouch's eyes narrowed as he opened the phone, adopting his school-boy tone of speech.
"Euphie?" he answered into the phone.
"Lelouch," a non-Euphemia sounding voice replied. A male voice.
"He is alive," Cornelia declared, stunned.
No.
This could not be happening.
"I'm sorry, who is this?" Lelouch asked, making his voice into the carefree school-boy. If he could make them believe he was the wrong Lelouch, there was still a chance.
"Lelouch, I'm calling from the Asheford Academy," Euphemia finally declared. "With Cornelia and Schneizel. I had to take them. Nunnally is here with us."
(Nunnally!) He had to protect his little sister. If his little sister were dragged back to Pendragon he wouldn't be able to stop the Imperial Family from taking advantage of her. He rose and hung up the phone quickly. (Euphemia you traitor!) he angrily thought to himself.
"Kallen we need to leave now!"
0.0.0
Suzaku rose as the three members of the Royal Family started toward Nunnally.
"Brother Schneizel?" Nunnally asked aloud, worry marring her features. Cornelia began to move toward Nunnally. The japanese knight thought back in an instant of Lelouch speaking of his family and desire to spare Nunnally from said family. Lelouch, Suzaku's first friend. Suzaku ran between Cornelia and Lelouch's sister.
"Please stop!" Suzaku said loudly, standing firm before the second princess.
"Kururugi how dare you!" Cornelia started angrily, recoiling with surprise.
"I apologize, but Lelouch didn't want to return to the Royal Family, and he didn't want Nunnally to be used by the Britannian Nobility there."
"We're not going to use her," Cornelia railed. Euphemia frowned and looked between her older sister and younger one, protected by the man she chose as her knight.
"Lelouch wanted her to have nothing to do with you," Suzaku replied, dutifully. "I apologize Princess, but as Lelouch's friend..." he winced, sensing his career in danger. Suzaku could not back down here. "But as Lelouch's friend I will protect Nunnally from anyone who threatens her happiness!"
Rivalz and Nina could only sit back stunned. Milly stood and ran over to stand beside Suzaku, face firm.
"Lelouch said that whoever hurt Nunnally and their mother must have been from the Imperial Family. Nunnally would be in more danger there," Milly added, her voice strong.
"I appreciate your concern," Schneizel commented soothingly. "But I assure you Nunnally is in no danger with us, her family." Suzaku made his hands into fists, but kept them at his side. "Please, let us take Nunnally. I'll explain it to Lelouch that Nunnally's in no danger. We will protect her."
Suzaku faltered. (It's true, Nunnally's family is more than just Lelouch. How do I know if keeping Nunnally safe from them is really what's best? And if I'm wrong I could be destroying my hope to save the Japanese people from within Britannia.) Suzaku blinked from his thoughts as Nunnally wrapped a hand around his arm. He glanced over his shoulder to see Nunnally have an almost fearful expression. Suzaku faced back against the prince.
"Even so!" Suzaku declared. "I won't move unless Lelouch himself tells me to!"
Cornelia drew her gun-sword and aimed at Suzaku's heart.
"Move," she ordered.
Cornelia was stunned when Euphemia put herself between Cornelia and Suzaku.
"Euphemia get out of the way," Cornelia ordered.
"No." Euphemia declared. "You may be right, we may be the best ones to provide for Nunnally. But Lelouch wouldn't want this," Schneizel frowned sadly as Euphie spoke. "It's not up to us to decide where Nunnally belongs. If she and Lelouch want us to leave them alone then we should!"
Schneizel put his satin-gloved hand on Cornelia's shoulder. Cornelia met Schneizel's gaze and lowered her sword with a frown.
0.0.0
Cecile bit into one of her sandwiches and instantly frowned, registering the flavor. (The wasabi was probably the wrong choice,) the scientist admitted to herself. Cecile was distracted from her lunch outside of the Academy wall when a large shadow passed overhead.
Cecile looked up to examine the sky. She cocked her head, not entirely certain of what she was seeing in the sky above the Asheford Academy.
"Lloyd," Cecile called. The sociopath in the white coat emerged from the Lancelot's trailer and jumped at the large white ship floating on air.
"Oh," he noted, stunned. "Seems they perfected the float system for high-mass objects," Lloyd noted, still somewhat stunned. Lloyd saw Guilford's purple Knightmare lowering down by its slash harkens. Accompanied by a large black Knightmare floating down.
"Lloyd is that-" Cecile began.
"The Gawain?" Lloyd finished. "I thought that was a purely a theoretical concept!"
"Is it more advanced than Lancelot?" Cecile asked, having never heard of the new Knightmare.
"No, it's a sixth generation design, but it was abandoned when the energy problems and cost were calculated. But if they've fixed the problems, I have no idea what its capable of!
"A integrated float system, particle weaponry, advanced electro-reactive armor. Tl;dr," Lloyd finished, setting his hands on his hips. "It's a Zeong." Cecile scowled at Lloyd.
"You know I don't watch that show!" Cecile growled.
0.0.0
Lelouch quickly threw his white jacket off his body as he and Kallen entered the Black Knights vehicle. Ripping the same-colored tie from his neck, Lelouch began to undo the buttons on his light shirt. Kallen put a firm hand on Lelouch's back.
"Don't panic," she ordered the prince. Lelouch breathed and calmed himself. She was right, he was no good to Nunnally out of control.
"Round up everyone that can be here the fastest," Lelouch ordered.
"Even Tamaki?" Kallen asked, worried.
"Even Tamaki," Lelouch confirmed. Kallen felt a chill. If Lelouch was willing to trust Tamaki at a moment like this Lelouch was more worried than Kallen had thought.
As soon as Kallen had left, dressed in the uniform, Lelouch had quickly switched to his Zero costume. Lelouch donned the mask of Zero. But the prince still felt like Lelouch, panicked, out of control afraid. It was Nunnally.
0.0.0
"I'll go with you," came Nunnally's voice. Suzaku twisted his head around in shock. "I don't want anyone to be hurt because of me."
"Nunnally," Suzaku breathed. The princess rolled her chair forward, forcing Suzaku to get out of her way. Euphemia placed a hand on Nunnally's shoulder, stopping her.
"You don't have to do this, Nunnally," Euphie declared. "Your big brother didn't want to let you be used by father or anyone else."
"I know," Nunnally commented, her voice tender. "But if you and Suzaku get in trouble... No. I won't have anyone's lives ruined because of me."
"That's very wise Nunnally," Schneizel complimented. Euphie looked up to see that her brother was completely sincere.
"Brother Schneizel," Nunnally asked, hope lightening her voice. "Will you promise that Suzaku and Milly won't get in trouble for this? And Euphemia as well?"
Schneizel's perfect mouth opened slightly in surprise. Then he smiled again.
"Of course, Nunnally."
"Nunna," Milly protested, still shocked.
This time Nunnally continued to roll forward in her chair. Euphemia stepped aside, eyes down. Cornelia didn't look at her younger sister, disappointed. Schneizel placed a light hand touch on Nunnally's arm as the crippled princess headed toward the door, then stopped in the doorway.
"Milly," Nunnally called. When the blonde responded, she added, "please tell Lelouch that I love him. And that I made this choice myself."
Milly didn't respond, still heart broken to see the young princess leaving. How would she tell Lelouch that she'd stood by as the Prime Minister of Britannia stole Lelouch's little sister?
"I'll tell Lelouch," Suzaku promised, downtrodden.
0.0.0
Lelouch's eyes nearly popped out of his skull when he got into visual range of the Asheford Academy. A white floating battleship was sitting in the air above the Academy. He had 8 Knightmares, all Burais, excepting Kallen's Guren. None were equipped with a rocket launcher or cannon mount. Lelouch quickly zoomed in on the Academy.
There were a number of students wandering around, mostly gawking at the sky. Then Lelouch noticed a helicopter, and going towards it was a pink oval-shaped object on wheels. Nunnally's chair!
'Zero,' came Ohgi's voice over the radio. 'This is just a school.'
"Engage the enemy B-1," Lelouch ordered angrily. He pushed his control reins forward hard. The Burai almost flew forward on its land spinners.
Ohgi didn't move, uncertain. Why would the Royal Family be at a school? And didn't Zero attack the JLF for this very thing?
'Ohgi, are we going in?' Tamaki asked over the radio.
'No,' Ohgi ordered. 'Hold back, we don't want to hurt innocent people.'
Zero didn't notice his primary forces not following behind him. His mind was tunneled on the single thought to save Nunnally from his family. Kallen raced behind her prince, ignoring Ohgi and the others sitting back.
Lelouch noticed the purple Gloucester and the standing black Knightmare too slow.
'The Black Knights!' came Guilford's shout. The spear of the empire set his lance into a jousting position, pushing his Gloucester forward almost purely by instinct.
"Out of my way!" Lelouch ordered as the purple knight charged, leveling its weapon at Zero's burai with a charge. Lelouch saw but didn't react as the red flash flew past him.
Kallen pushed the golden lance up and away from her before stabbing with her knife. Guilford reacted by launching his slash harken, deflecting Kallen's thrust. Lelouch raced past in his signature Burai. Guilford tried to turn but Kallen quickly began to attack with her silver claw.
'One got through your highness!' Guilford had time to shout the warning before he could only focus on the the red Knightmare before him.
0.0.0
C was almost glad of the chaos happening. As she walked calmly towards the standing black Knightmare, she wasn't noticed in the slightest. She had been fairly put out. Having just received a Canadian bacon and jalapeƱo pizza, she had been sorely frustrated when sensing Lelouch's reason for living slipping away from him.
She got within a foot of a Britannian soldier in full gear before he noticed her. And she'd been almost fully nude too. Were she younger she'd probably feel angry at her femininity drawing so little attention right now. She rammed her fist in the soldier's face plate, knocking him out cold. C felt her hand break in the vicious impact, making her wince for a second.
(That hurts,) C complained to herself. She hadn't actually had to punch someone in years. The pain was so unfamiliar in this moment.
The witch calmly continued her path toward the black Knightmare. The pilot was standing beside it, seemingly caught between their fight-or-flight instinct. C sighed and walked up and placed her hand on the pilot's shoulder.
She focused and felt the burn of the mark on her forehead lighting up. The pilot gave a masculine scream and fell over. C wasn't sure they hadn't died of fright or were merely catatonic. She didn't really care. She put her bare foot in the stirrup and raised herself up to the cockpit of the black Knightmare.
"Shut up, Marianne," the witch muttered to herself. Now was not the time.
0.0.0
"Nunnally," Schneizel ordered. "Get behind me." Nunnally had just enough time to be guided behind the second prince when the leading black Knightmare, adorned with a set of golden horns on its head, rolled to a stop before Schneizel and leveled its rifle at the prince.
'Hand the princess over to me now,' shouted a synthesized voice from the Knightmare.
"You'll have to kill me first, Zero," Schneizel declared calmly. Schneizel was almost shocked from his confidant stand when Nunnally put a worried hand around his own.
Inside his Burai Lelouch saw it and felt his heart breaking. For a moment he thought to give up his sister. His first, best reason for living. If only for a moment...was all that was needed for a Sutherland to drop down from the ship above and shoot its rifle into Lelouch's Burai. The Britannian shot the closest leg off. Lelouch began to feel the Burai to fall forward. If he fell onto Nunnaly...
Lelouch moved on instinct, pushing his reins forward. As ordered the Burai's arm shot up to press its empty hand on the Academy's outside wall, stopping it from falling. When the fall stopped, Lelouch exhaled as he looked down to see Nunnally safe. He looked up to see where his hand was located.
The Burai's hand had broken the window to the student council room. Lelouch saw the scared faces of Rivalz, Nina, Milly, Suzaku, and Euphemia. The one who had betrayed him. Lelouch's eyes narrowed in anger. He raised the Burai's other arm with the rifle and aimed.
Lelouch was knocked sideways as the Sutherland knocked his Burai onto its side, kicking his Knightmare's rifle aside.
(I can still use my Geass to get Nunnally,) Lelouch realized. The terrorist engaged the hatch and began to climb free.
Suzaku jumped from the student council window, landing beside Nunnally.
Lelouch's left eye felt like it was burning with his Geass behind it, ready to light up.
Suzaku used his crouching landing position to break into a sprint, eyes wide and alert.
Lelouch stood from the wreck of his Knightmare and engaged the slide mechanism.
Suzaku began to jump, moving his hips to begin his twisting movement.
(This is it,) Lelouch told himself.
Lelouch's head whipped back as Suzaku's kick landed in the middle of the prince's helmet. The prince felt air and sun on his face as he fell backward, the world spinning. Lelouch's breath, normally hitting his face inside his mask, didn't brush across his face, expelled from his body as he landed square on his back. Darkness filled the edges of Lelouch's vision.
Zero's helmet hit the ground a few feet away.
Suzaku spun to deliver a finishing punch before Zero could recover.
Lelouch saw Suzaku's face turning towards him.
He froze.
He froze.
Suzaku stared at Lelouch's face.
"Suzaku," Lelouch could only say, his left eye burning pink with Geass.
Suzaku didn't move. He didn't even trust himself to actually answer. Speaking it would mean it was real. Suzaku heard a click and looked up, to his left. The Sutherland's pilot had exited and had his pistol aimed at Lelouch. He fired. Suzaku reacted by instinct.
The knight threw himself onto the prince. Suzaku screamed as the bullet ripped through him. Lelouch screamed as the bullet that had hit Suzaku hit him in the left shoulder. Lelouch looked to his friend. His Geass came within a few inches of Suzaku's left eye. The light was disappearing from Suzaku's eye.
"Don't die," Lelouch ordered, desperately. His Geass pulsed, surging into Suzaku. Lelouch's pain made time seem so much slower. Suzaku fell from atop Lelouch onto the ground, eyes closed. Was he really dead? Was Suzaku really dead? The shock of loss filled Lelouch, his eyes wide.
Anger flooded Lelouch. (I won't lose anymore,) he declared in his mind. (I won't lose anyone ever again.) He rose slowly. His right eye felt like it was spasming and burning and being ripped apart. The prince was unfazed the pain. Lelouch didn't even look at Schneizel or Nunnally.
"You," Lelouch hissed at the nameless pilot. "How dare you." Lelouch was iridescent in his anger. Pure rage flowed through him. This wasn't fire, this was pure cold. Lelouch felt his Geass light up in his right eye, burning brightly to match the other. Lelouch raised an arm, copying the motion from Shinjuku.
The Britannian pilot pulled the trigger, landing a bullet squarely over Lelouch's heart.
Lelouch felt the impact through his bullet-proof vest and ignored it, forced to move a foot back to absorb the impact.
Schneizel was backing away, stunned and perturbed at the sight.
"I, Lelouch vi Britannia, command YOU," the last word was almost hissed in anger as Lelouch began to wave his arm. "DIE!" His Geass felt like it launched an explosion of energy into the pilot's eyes. Lelouch's eyes felt like they were on fire, tears beginning to burst forth from the pain. Lelouch embraced it, feeling the pure power of Geass flowing from him in exchange. Pain into Geass into pain.
(I understand,) Lelouch thought in that instant. (This is what power demands,) the raven realized. (This pain, this is what fuels my power. This is what Mao was unable to achieve, the power to bend the world to my will. And it cost me my only true friend.)
Lelouch watched the red rims of the pilot's eyes. Lelouch noted with exacting detail how the gun moved to the man's temple. He listened and watched with every iota of concentration during what happened next.
Lelouch reached up to brush his tears away with his bloody left hand, smearing Suzaku's blood across his face.
This was Geass. A deal with the devil, to lose one's closest loved ones in exchange for the power of god. Lelouch felt this power burning his eyes, and pain radiating in his heart. He hated it. He hated himself for using it.
(Abandon all hope, those who enter here,) Lelouch was reminded.
Euphemia and Milly walked up to the window, looking out of the broken room and gasped.
Lelouch was covered in blood in his black and gold costume, blood across his face like a mask, with two bright red eyes burning like flames.
'Lelouch,' came C's voice, amplified by a Knightmare. Lelouch looked to see the tall black Knightmare roll close to him and lower its open hand. 'We need to get you out of here.' Lelouch walked toward the Knightmare, shivering and cold. He scooped up his black helmet.
"Lelouch!" came Nunnally's shout. Lelouch froze.
(If she stays close to me, she'll die too,) Lelouch realized. (I'm more dangerous than father ever was,) he thought to himself with loathing.
Lelouch walked away from Nunnally.
"Come back!" Nunnally shouted, tears welling from her closed eyes. "Please, I want to see you before you leave!" Nunnally couldn't hear Lelouch anymore. He was too far.
Lelouch stepped onto the open hand of the Knightmare and sat down. The Knightmare turned and began to roll away.
Inside the cockpit, C steered the Knightmare silently away from the Britannian settlement, heading towards Kallen.
"We need a place to hide," the witch informed the redhead by radio.
'I know a place,' Kallen declared and led the way with her Guren.
Inside the black Knightmare's golden palm, Lelouch stared into his helmet. His eyes ceased glowing and returned to their normal purple. Lelouch didn't feel relieved as the burning pain ceased. His heart felt so much worse.
"Suzaku!" Euphemia shouted, intensely worried. She quickly jumped out of the window as quickly as she could, not caring that her dress ripped on the window. She ran to the prone knight and knelt beside his bloody body. "Suzaku!" She looked to Schneizel. "Please get help!"
0.0.0
Kallen led Lelouch from the Black Knight headquarters, having secreted away the new machine and the Guren, into an abandoned apartment complex. Lelouch followed her numbly, not looking up from the bloody helmet in his hands, eyes down. He was silent the entire trip.
Even when they were seen, Kallen tried to keep Lelouch's face obscured, even though the Japanese probably wouldn't talk to the Britannians. Not in this ghetto.
"Where are we?" C had asked, following behind Lelouch.
"Naoto had an apartment here in Shinjuku," Kallen explained. She opened the door to the apartment and herded Lelouch and C inside.
The room had been nice once, perhaps was still slightly homely now, but its glory days were long gone. Still it wasn't dirty, just in disrepair. Lelouch walked numbly into the center of the kitchen and living room space and stood there, not looking up. Kallen frowned and locked the door and hooked the chain, then watched Lelouch. C sat down at the table and put her face in her hand with a sigh, laying her elbow on the table.
"How can you be so bored about Lelouch's sister being kidnapped?" Kallen asked angrily.
"I don't care about that," C explained. "I just need to keep Lelouch alive to fulfill his contract. After that I won't be around to help anyway." Kallen gritted her teeth at the apathy on display.
Kallen strode over and pulled Lelouch toward the bedroom and bathroom.
"Sit down," she ordered. Lelouch sat down on the edge of the bed, and Kallen went and checked the bathroom. Seething that is was still clean she tested the faucet for hot water and moved back out to the bedroom.
Lelouch was still shell shocked. He was even shivering. Kallen took a breath and exhaled it to calm herself. Lelouch didn't need loud noises right now.
"The shower probably still works," she declared softly. "If you need help-"
"Kallen," Lelouch finally said, his voice sounding haunted. "You need to leave."
"Wh-" Kallen shouted, then fixed her mistake and hissed "what?"
"I'm not safe to be around," Lelouch explained, not looking at her.
"You're in shock from the bullet," Kallen declared, firmly but not raising her voice. "You'll feel better after your shower." Lelouch didn't respond. Kallen winced. She walked over to stand just before Lelouch and grabbed a pillow from the bed. Setting it down, she lowered to her knees on the pillow to be face-to-face with the prince.
"Look at me," she ordered tenderly. Lelouch didn't look up, his face hardening. He was still covered in blood. He was a mess of crimson and black and purple and gold. In her pilot's suit, Kallen removed her gloves and used her bare pointer finger to lift Lelouch's chin.
The violet orbs that met her blue ones weren't the Lelouch she knew. His eyes were like the eyes of a broken man.
(This was what I looked like when Naoto died,) Kallen thought to herself, remembering. The prince's eyes were almost dead inside. Kallen leaned in closer to his face.
Her lips on his was just the barest touch of a kiss. Lelouch's mouth didn't respond to hers. Kallen kissed his unresponsive mouth again. He kissed her back. After locking their mouths together a moment longer, Kallen leaned back and smiled sadly at the prince.
"You were my first kiss," Kallen declared. Lelouch blinked, his eyes focusing on her in confusion.
"You thought you were my first kiss," Kallen explained, reminding him. "I lied saying you weren't. You were right on all counts." Kallen reached up with her other hand and combed Lelouch's raven locks with her free hand, stroking his chin softly with the other. "I'm not going anywhere," Kallen declared, softly.
Lelouch winced, scowling at her.
"You're stubborn," he drawled, annoyed. Kallen giggled slightly. Kallen took Lelouch's helmet from his hand, setting it down on the floor beside her and took his bloody hand. The rebel leaned in again and kissed her prince again. Lelouch responded again, not as deeply this time.
C watched from the doorway, seemingly interested, but unnoticed.
Kallen broke the kiss and leaned back, then looked across Lelouch's bloody body.
"We need to fix your wound," Kallen declared. "Then we'll wash you off and get some food to eat. I'll go see if I have enough tools in the first aid cabinet." Kallen stood and headed back to the bathroom, leaving Lelouch alone with C.
"Show it to me," the witch quickly ordered. His Geass. Lelouch scowled, not looking at her.
"No," Lelouch declared. "I want to hear the details of our contract, now."
C remained silent for a moment, contemplating.
"I granted you the power of the king in exchange for granting my one wish," C reminded. "You've seen a part of my past, that I once had a Geass given to me by an immortal like me."
Lelouch's eyes widened in realization. He turned his head to look at C, eyes wide in his blood-soaked face. C stood there in one of Lelouch's shirts, the only thing she wore. C reached down and pulled it aside on the left side below her chest, exposing the huge curving scar on her ribs.
"I was given this because my contractor tricked me," C explained. "When she demanded that I end her immortal life. When I refused she gave me this. Only when my life was on the line did I finally give in and end her.
"I decided long after, that it was cruel to lie to whomever would take my place. About what lay ahead, to lie to them." Kallen could only blink, having re-entered the room C replaced her shirt, the only garment covering her. "If you are powerful enough, then order me to die and end my suffering," C ordered. "And you will be like a living god."
Lelouch looked back ahead, thinking.
"No," Lelouch declared.
"What?" C asked, suddenly upset.
"I won't be immortal," Lelouch declared, rising. He turned to face her. "I won't become a god who watches as those I love fade and die," Lelouch added, angrily. C gasped, eyes wide. The witch had never seen this happen before. "I understand your pain now," Lelouch declared. "But you are cruel even to suggest that life!
"Yes," Lelouch agreed with himself, placing a hand on his chest. "To see everyone you've known or love die, I understand, and endless life without meaning, that's something I would not wish on my worst enemy. Therefore I redefine our contract." Lelouch met Kallen's eyes. He smiled.
Kallen's jaw almost dropped. Lelouch was able to smile, even after all that had just happened...
"I declare," Lelouch intoned, turning his head to C again. "I will give you one final normal life somehow! You will be able to love and grow old and die however you wish!"
C inhaled with shock, stepping back in surprise.
"After I defeat Britannia, when it is burned to the ground and a new world takes its place," Lelouch continued, "no matter what it takes, I swear it."
C smiled suddenly, excited for the first time in forever. She stepped forward quickly, offering her pale hand.
"I accept the terms of your contract!" she declared.
Lelouch gripped her hand firmly and shook it. Kallen jumped in shock when Lelouch gave a short barking laugh. He looked straight at her.
"Call Diethard, and have him bring his camera right now, and a Japanese Flag." Lelouch smirked his devilish grin. "I just had an idea for a plan."
0.0.0
The TVs all across Area Eleven suddenly changed to a picture of Zero.
'People of Area Eleven!' Zero declared across the colony. People everywhere gasped at the bloody specter on the screen. Tohdoh stood to his right, C to his left, both in a Black Knight uniform.
'Today the Black Knights attempted to prevent an assassination of the first japanese Knight, Suzauk Kururugi, by the Britannian Royal Family! This blood is the blood of the man who would raise the Japanese people up from their oppression! Britannia has now shown us its true colors by assassinating him!'
On board the Avalon, Schneizel frowned as he watched the broadcast.
'This blood is only the latest to be spilled by both sides! The JLF bombs civilian children! The Britannians butcher Japanese! Narita! The suicide of the JLF! And now the murder of the son of Japan's last prime minister, a man who swore allegiance to Britannia!' Zero raised his arms, each hand a held like a claw, grasping for justice.
'Our streets run with the blood of martyrs for freedom! We can no longer allow Emperors and Viceroys to determine our futures for us! It is time for the people of Area Eleven, both Britannian and Japanese to seek an end to this bloody conflict!'
'Countries like the old Japan, and the Empire of Britannia, and the Chinese Federation and The Europa Union. I say, NO MORE!' Lelouch dropped his left arm and waved with his right in a horizontal slashing motion.'
Milly squeezed her hand shut, worryingly observing the speech.
"Lelouch is that you? Really you?"
'Therefore, here and now, I declare a war for freedom.' Zero's tone grew softer. 'A war for the creation of a new nation, conceived in liberty!'
In the Chinese Federation, Li Xingke sat by Empress Tianzi and watched this masked man speak. (This Zero is impressive,) Xingke had to admit.
'Dedicated to the principle that all men are to be treated equel!' The dull black backdrop dropped behind Tohdoh, Zero and C to reveal a Japanese Flag.
In the Europa Union, Leila Malkal had her chin supported on both fists, and sat up further when the flag was revealed, eyes going wide.
'I declare,' Zero said, speaking loudly again, 'the formation of a new country, to be called...'
Kallen watched from behind the camera with a smile.
'The UNITED STATES OF JAPAN!'
In the throne of Britannia, Charles zi Britannia watched as the broadcast switched to a view of the streets in Area Eleven, where people had begun to chant. Just a single word. One name.
In the hospital, Suzaku Kururugi lay as the word was repeated loudly from every television in the building.
'ZERO! ZERO! ZERO!'
Suzaku opened his eyes.
Elsewhere, a small boy with long blonde hair watched the broadcast in the dark. V smiled.
Well that shit just went DOOOOWWWN dinnit?
