A/N: Happy Thanksgiving everyone and here is a special treat. I am working on some of my other stories, but it would feel wrong not to post something today, so here we go. Chapter seven is about finished, and I am going to leave the poll on my profile open for a bit longer since I got nothing else to really throw up in its place anyway.
I should note however if I do end up choosing Ryūko over Satsuki in this story Satsuki will be given a prominent role in my Kingdom Hearts: The Rise of the Black Knight of Keyblade, the sequel to my Code Geass and Kingdom Hearts crossover called Kingdom Hearts: the Awakening of Zero. Of course, conversely, I could still change my mind in which Satsuki would win over Lelouch in this story, and Ryūko could get the role in my KH crossover instead.
Part of the reason I am still considering Lelouch and Satsuki for this story is….having Ira Gamagōri as the Knight of One…enough said. But I might do a special omake of that even if I do Ryūko and Lelouch instead because the mere thought of such an event is too damn funny for me to not do regardless.
I was disappointed by the lack of reviews for the last chapter, but I guess not a lot really happened. Not too much happens in this chapter except for some development and Lelouch having unknowingly put himself on Satsuki's radar. Of course, this is where Ryūko and Zero will meet face to mask in this case, so let's move on with the chapter and see how it goes.
Chapter 6
Motivations
Later that evening Satsuki Kiryūin sat in her chair within the student council's lounge that doubled as their meeting room as she listened to Inumuta's report on the investigation he conducted on the Media Room's Broadcast center while the Information Collection Service that worked under him aided him in their efforts. They were no closer to learning Zero's true identity, but even the smallest bit of information and understanding how Zero had left a pre-recorded broadcast that seemingly anticipated Satsuki's actions and responses to activate at the right moment would be helpful towards understanding how their enemy thinks.
"This device he left attached to the PA system's broadcasting equipment next to the recording room contained the recording and a remote from which Zero was holding the device to trigger the recording when he needed it to do so," Inumuta explained before pointing to a small black device with a small antenna sticking out of it.
"What have you learned about it so far," Satsuki inquired taking a sip from her teacup.
"The device is custom made, but we have found no markings to determine a primary manufacture so far, so we don't have a way to trace who may have purchased the parts at this time," Inumuta explained before putting the device down on the table before using his free hand to adjust his glasses. "We have found no fingerprints or anything else to help us in determining Zero's identity. The recording was wiped out when we tried to examine its memory."
"Zero isn't someone who would be so careless to leave such clues for us when he has managed to hide from us for this long," Satsuki said analytically as she was hardly surprised by this information.
"We suspect Zero must have broken into the Media Club last night, but we are having trouble finding any footage from the security cameras to determine when he could have broken in," Inumuta added as well, but Satsuki could tell that wasn't all he had because there was one other issue that bothered her.
But how did someone like Matoi know about that rule that she used to tip her match against Hakodate in her favor, Satsuki thought.
Satsuki was certain Ryūko was someone who didn't care for the rules and wouldn't bother reading the rulebook for the academy, so the question was how did she know about a rule a small few were really aware of.
"Did you find out the person who told Ryūko of the rule she used to customize her Scissor Blade," Satsuki inquired before taking another sip of tea.
"I did," The glasses wearing member of the Elite Four replied having shared Satsuki's view that someone had undoubtedly helped Ryūko find that loophole in the rules in which she exploited in her tennis match earlier this afternoon. Using his laptop Inumuta entered in some commands before displaying a recording of Lelouch standing by the school's gate observing the Tennis Club beginning to purge Mako.
"Who is that," Satsuki asked noticing the no-star student.
"His name is Lelouch Lamperouge from class K for second-year students, which happens to be the same classroom Ryūko Matoi attends," Inumuta answered promptly while ready to provide more information at his superior's request.
Satsuki quietly watched the footage until Ryūko showed up and the two spoke for a time before explaining something to Ryūko which Satsuki assumed was her being told about the loophole in the rules she could use to her advantage.
"So he was the one who told Matoi," Satsuki said as she studied the video of Lelouch closely before inquiring to Inumuta, "What do we know about him?"
"He has been attending Honnōji Academy since his first year, but before attending he was from Ashford Academy's Middle School Division," The Information and Strategy Committee Chair answered.
"I see," Satsuki said while silently gesturing for Inumuta to continue.
"From what I have gathered so far Lelouch's record here in Honnōji Academy has been clean. He has never been late to class, and he has obtained one of the highest grades among the No-Stars for the second and first years but," Inumuta said allowing his sentence to trail off before he added. "He has made no attempts to join any of the clubs where according to his records he would be an ideal club member for some of the clubs under myself and Jakuzure."
"How so," The Student Council President inquired growing curious about the young man.
"I took the liberty of examining his school records from Ashford Academy, and although he was known for skipping out on classes he still maintained impressively high grades, but he was discovered engaged in gambling in the form of chess matches against the nobility," Inumuta answered, but when Satsuki said nothing he continued with his explanation. "According to reading some of the reports he has obtained a very impressive winning streak based on the testimony of a student who was questioned who had accompanied him."
"Interesting and you said his record was clean within Honnōji Academy," Satsuki inquired.
"No…he has never attempted to skip out on classes nor has he had any kind of trouble with the Disciplinary Committee or the clubs, which is probably thanks to the fact there are no real places for him to gamble in the city," Inumuta answered. "However I suspect there is another reason."
Satsuki was still silent prompting Inumuta to continue.
"Reading over some of the records and comments his teachers have made about him I suspect the real reason he went gambling. Even though he obtains the highest grades, the teachers have noted he has always been uninterested in school work and treats all like its trivial. I think in gambling against the nobles he finds some kind of challenge out of it, or so I believed based on what I am reading here."
"I see," Satsuki replied before taking a moment to contemplate her next course of action, "Keep an eye on him for now especially with No-Late Day coming up. We'll observe him for now and depending on his next actions we'll investigate him further, but until then make sure the others know to do nothing but watch him."
"Understood, but do you suspect that young man is Zero?"
"At this point, no, but his aid to Matoi is questionable at best. Until we have a more solid lead on Zero it might be worth watching him on the off chance he is connected to Zero," Satsuki explained although Inumuta thought that Satsuki was indeed more suspicious of the man she was letting on he would follow her orders to the letter.
"I understand, and I shall pass along your orders to the others," Inumuta replied with a respectful bow.
Satsuki sat quietly in her chair considering Lelouch, but somehow she suspected Zero and Lelouch were connected somehow. She had no proof, and her suspicions seemed to be more born from instinct than having actual facts that could prove otherwise. It was the fact Lelouch seemed quite intelligent based on his records, but the fact he was still a No-Star struck Satsuki as odd.
The Student Council President was busy contemplating it while Inumuta had left the room leaving her alone with Soroi who was preparing another cup of tea for her after finishing the contents of the current cup.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the phone ringing behind her.
It was coming from an older phone that sat on a table behind the chair she sat on. The phone in question was a Western Electric A1 desk phone, which compared to the old telephone Satsuki had in her private sanctum was much smaller, but it was one of two phones connected to the same line acting as a sort of direct hotline. Because of that Satsuki knew who was calling her and more than likely it wasn't the Emperor of Britannia calling her because only he and one other could contact her using that hotline.
Looking down at Junketsu for a moment she knew perfectly well who was calling her.
"You have reached the office of the Student Council President of Honnōji Academy and Viceroy of Area 11," Soroi said answering the phone while addressing the calling with the standard greeting. Satsuki was silent as Soroi spoke to the caller who instantly recognized who it was. "Oh yes, my lady…right away."
Soroi brought the phone to Satsuki preparing to hand it to her while covering the receiver with one hand.
"It is Mistress Ragyō," Soroi said before Satsuki accepted the phone bringing the receiver to her ear.
"This is Satsuki," Satsuki replied casually.
"What is this I hear about you putting on your wedding dress," Ragyō Kiryūin inquired, although it was clear from her relaxed tone that the matriarch of the Kiryūin Family was fully aware of Satsuki's reasons for bringing Junketsu out of containment.
"I trust you are aware of the two Kamui wearers who have appeared," Satsuki replied stoically as her mother on the other line seemed surprised by the new of two and not just the one Kamui.
"Two…I was aware of only the one Dr. Matoi had been working on," Ragyō replied, but Satsuki couldn't tell if her mother's surprise was genuine or if she was faking it.
"New information came to light that Isshin Matoi had created two, one a year before the one you had sent Nui Harime to retrieve," Satsuki explained as she heard what she could only assume was a light chuckle from her own mother.
"La vie est drôle," Ragyō mused before asking, "How much do you know about this new Kamui besides the one Matoi's daughter is wearing?"
"He is the masked man known as Zero who for the past six months has been attacking some of our clubs that had engaged in after hour club activities. Zero has been very careful in his activities while succeeding in keeping the fact he had been using a Kamui all of this time until we forced him to take action during an incident involving Matoi's daughter," Satsuki explained.
Even though she knew her mother was aware of this, but she merely did to keep up appearances and for the sake of conversation including to test how much her mother really know.
"This Zero sounds to be quite intelligent and resourceful, but do we know what he is after," Ragyō inquired.
Satsuki didn't miss the fact she made no comment on the fact that a Kamui wearer has been active in the city for possibly more than six months left the young woman wondering if her mother did know something about it or was merely playing her.
"He was vague on it, but I am certain he plans to overthrow me and launch some kind of liberation of Japan…however," Satsuki said as she allowed her sentence to trail off.
Ever since becoming Viceroy the young woman had dealt with her fair share of resistance fighters who sought to free Japan and liberate while dealing with their idiotic ranting, but with Zero he was very different. Satsuki didn't get that feeling of patriotism or mindless devotion towards liberating Japan as she sometimes got whenever she dealt with captured resistance group leaders especially those from the JLF.
"I believe his intent to overthrow me and liberate Japan from Britannia is merely a means to an end for Zero's real goal."
"Oh and what gave you that impression," Ragyō questioned with a particular interest in her voice, which intrigued Satsuki as well as she was trying to deduce the meaning of her mother's response.
"When you deal with the ratings and declarations of various resistance groups who keep mouthing off the same hopeless drivel you notice certain patterns with their speech and how they carry themselves, but Zero was different," Satsuki explained although it was a mixture of instinct and from what she had observed from Zero's words and actions.
His intelligence and how he had planned out counters and ways of escaping her was something she hadn't seen among the resistance groups she had dealt with. Tohdoh of the Japan Liberation Front was close to being different, but like many others, he has a strong sense of patriotism towards Japan, and his loyalty to a dying organization like the JLF didn't help Satsuki's overall opinion of him.
"How interesting," Ragyō said before asking her daughter, "How do you plan on handling this?"
"Zero will be more difficult to draw out, but he has a special interest in Ryūko Matoi. I'll observe her for now and let events take their course because I don't think Zero is acting alone. Ryūko is easier to provoke and more predictable than Zero, so if conditions are right I can use her to lure Zero out with the right motivation or any of his allies perhaps," Satsuki explained to her mother who accepted her explanation judging by the chuckle she heard.
"Very well since you are the Viceroy of Area 11 I'll leave it in your hands, good luck," Ragyō said before hanging up allowing Satsuki to finally put the phone down.
I thought that would never end, Satsuki thought as she began wondering if her mother would really leave her to her own devices in regards to dealing with Zero and Ryūko.
Across Japan, north of the Toyko Settlement, in the city of Sendai which was the capital of the Miyagi Prefecture when the city was Japan years ago, but even under a new ruling government the city of Sendai was the center for region's economy as well as the base of the region's logistics and transportation for significant companies. Even in the past as well as the present, the city's economy heavily relied upon retail and services, but now one company dominated the city choosing the location for its headquarters years ago since no other company in the past had established such a major headquarters.
Sitting upon her desk within her spacious office on the top floor of the gigantic headquarters of the Revocs Corporation sat Ragyō Kiryūin. She was not only the CEO of the world's most heavily influential textile company, but she was the head of the Kiryūin Conglomerate which held as much wealth and influence as Revocs alone did if not more. Even before Japan fell to Britannia, this influence and wealth didn't waver at all even after the invasion that saw Japan become Area 11.
Unlike most companies and other people who held considerable wealth in Japan before the invasion who either lost most of their holdings and their wealth regardless if they cooperated with the colonial authorities. Ragyō Kiryūin not only dodged the colonial tribunals, but she was made a full Britannian citizen like her daughter and was granted the title of Grand Duchess by the Emperor for her contributions to Britannia and her loyalty. This, of course, shocked both Japan and Britannia leading many to wonder what kind of contributions Ragyō had made to Britannia to obtain such a title and for the Emperor to make a Japanese woman a Britannian Noble no less.
All kind of rumors floated around, but the most common one was that Ragyō had fed Britannia all of the intelligence they needed to launch such a successful conquest or that Ragyō was a secret lover of the Emperor or both.
There were others, but some more ridiculous than the last with too many to list.
The elevator to her office opened, and two figured stepped off the elevator. The younger of the two was someone who appeared to be seventeen years of age with a fair skin complexion and long blonde hair tied into a pair of huge and extravagant drill-like pigtails with a giant pink bow on the top of her head. She wore a richly adorned pink lolita-styled dress with matching boots and armbands. She had a blue eye, but her left eye was covered by a purple eye patch, and she carried a pink parasol.
"How many today," Ragyō inquired to the blonde haired new arrival, but regardless of the rumors surrounding Ragyō a large number of resistance groups had attempted several assassination attempts against her. Despite the number of attempts which were almost a hundred in all each attempt failed terribly for various reasons.
"Six, but I think they finally got the hint that direct attacks don't work on you…nope nope," Nui Harime said waving her right index finger side to side. Grand Couturier of the Revocs Corporation took a seat in front of Ragyō's desk, and she was soon joined by another who was the CEO's, right-hand woman.
"They were bomb attempts for the most part, but the Grand Couturier dealt with them swiftly," a woman wearing a white business suit with shorts replied while wearing a pair of aviator sunglasses over her amber eyes. She also had dark-skin with a light purple hair styled in locs as she held a PDA before sitting on a chair before her superior next to Nui. "The bombs have been disposed of course," Rei Hōōmaru reported with a perfect sense of the utmost professionalism.
"Good work both of you," Ragyō complimented as the rainbow light emitted by her silvery hair illuminated the room as her maroon eyes focused on Rei. "Rei could you play the video we got from Honnōji Academy."
"Yes ma'am," Rei replied stoically as she pushed in a few commands on her PDA to bring up a video on a large screen that lowered itself from the ceiling behind Rei and Nui while facing Ragyō's desk.
"Is this something about that Kamui that Isshin Matoi made," Nui asked with a cheerful and bubbly disposition.
"Yes and no, but this is something I wanted to ask you about my dear Nui," Ragyō replied with a sweet smile that masked her true nature.
The video began playing, but it displayed images of Zero fighting the Boxing Club and the Karate Club before he removed his cloak revealing the Kamui underneath.
"Did you know that Isshin Matoi had made another Kamui," Ragyō asked while Nui was apparently shocked that her target, which Ragyō had sent to kill after retrieving the Kamui he created, had created another Kamui without their knowledge even before the one they had become aware of.
"That old meanie man who cut out my eye had made another Kamui oh I am so mad," Nui pouted cutely, but like her superior, it was a façade to hide her true feelings of the matter.
"What are your intentions in regards to Zero ma'am," Rei inquired respectfully.
"Nothing for now," Ragyō replied as her smile grew larger, "I am curious how Satsuki will handle him, but for now it should be amusing to watch."
"Very well ma'am, but," Rei began as she saw a reminder pop up on her PDA. "Your private plane for Pendragon will be ready tomorrow for your meeting with the Emperor."
"Excellent and you know the usual procedure for my visits to the Emperor?"
"Yes I know this is to be a private meeting, so I have taken all care of the usual preparations," Rei replied respectfully which only brought a grin to the older woman's face.
Deep within the sewers of the slums of Honnō City, the former prince Lelouch vi Britannia laid in wait for Ryūko to come as Zero with his mask and his Kamui in its activated state, but to avoid being spotted by the wrong people Lelouch was hiding among the pipes along the tunnel walls. Reiketsu was using its ability to camouflage itself and hide its presence to blend in with its surroundings so if someone else than Ryūko came along they wouldn't notice Lelouch until it was too late.
"Is it me or is Ryūko late," Reiketsu noted as the Kamui believed the pair were likely late.
"I don't know, but," Lelouch began, but he stopped when he heard a sound coming from within one of the tunnels leading to the large chamber he and Reiketsu were hiding in.
"Is this the right way," Ryūko shouted out as the woman was clearly annoyed at something as Lelouch could make out her voice in the distance.
Lelouch rolled his eyes under his mask as he wondered, Did they get lost on the way here?
"Well I am sorry there aren't any signs that say this way to meet Zero," Senketsu replied with a quick retort. "Besides I don't recall you remembering any of the directions, and I don't have any hands of my own to write them down on."
"Damn well I think this is it," Ryūko stepping into the center of the room where they were surrounded by enormous piles dumping a never-ending flow of water that was coming down from the upper levels filling much of the sewers and passageways around them leaving metal catwalks and platforms for service workers and others to transverse the tunnels on.
Lelouch quietly moved from his hiding place as his Kamui was using one of the many abilities it had evolved to obtain which was camouflage, which allowed it to achieve an ability similar to some animals in nature to change its color and shape to match its environment masking its presence from anyone nearby. Lelouch used this same ability for Reiketsu's inactive mode to disguise himself as a No-Star Uniform. With a weapon in hand, Lelouch quietly approached Ryūko from behind with a smile on his face as the woman was unaware of her of his presence until.
*Squeak*
"HUH!" Ryūko called out before jumping forward to spin around to face Zero who had just hit her lightly in the back of the head with an inflatable sword fashioned after a long sword that you can buy a carnival.
"You're late," Zero deadpanned holding the fake sword in front of him with his right hand prompting Ryūko to look at him in shock before her expression rapidly changed to one of being very annoyed and likely angry too.
"WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR," The young woman snapped at the masked man standing before her.
"I wanted to see how your reflexes were, but it's clear to me we got a lot of work ahead of us," Zero replied stoically as he mentally prepared himself for Ryūko's next outburst.
"What is that supposed to mean," Ryūko snapped with a look of raw irritation on her face, which considering events during the last two days for her were understandable.
"Your father asked me to help you and keep an eye out for you if the worse ever happened to him, which as he feared it did," Zero explained as he knew that Ryūko's father had known sooner or later his work would lead to him getting killed, but it was only a question of when.
"Are you saying my dad knew he was going to get killed," Ryūko demanded wishing to learn everything about events surrounding her father's demise.
"Yes and we are both wearing the reasons he was killed for," Zero said as he used his left hand to point to Senketsu.
"But why and just what the hell is Senketsu?"
"Senketsu and his older brother Reiketsu are Kamui, which unlike the Goku Uniforms you have seen are made completely out of Life Fibers," Lelouch began to explain before he went further into his explanation. "The one star Goku Uniform is made of ten-percent life fibers while the two-star uniforms are made of twenty while the three-star uniforms are made out of thirty percent life fibers."
"So what does that have to do with why my dad was killed," Ryūko demanded impatiently.
"Based on what you have seen from the two-star Goku Uniform wearers you have seen so far and how you overpowered them considering the beating you endured when you first encountered Fukuroda before you found Senketsu," Lelouch pointed out.
Ryūko recalled getting the stuffing beaten out of her by Fukuroda and then how she easily overpowered him once she came back wearing Senketsu.
"Basically what you are saying is the more Life Fibers the uniform has, the stronger it is right," Ryūko asked bringing one hand to her chin to contemplate that new bit of information.
"Yes, but the more life fibers you use to create a uniform a risk emerges," Zero began to explain before he cleared his throat, "Life-Fibers are organic in their origins in which the Kiryūin Family had found ways to use them to create weaponized uniforms with Honnōji Academy being created solely as an experimental testing ground. When infused with clothing the wearer is granted increased physical abilities while those wearing a uniform with more life fibers obtain special abilities and powers."
"Ok, but where does my dad fit into all of this," Ryūko asked wishing to know more.
"Your father used to work with the Kiryūin Family a long time ago, but when he found out what the Kiryūin Family was planning, he turned against them and dedicated his life to stopping their plans," Zero answered, but he was mindful not to reveal too much at one time. "Our Kamui we are wearing were created for that purpose, but when they found out what he was working on an assassin was sent to kill him."
"They killed him for this," Ryūko said tugging on Senketsu's collar.
"Yes because your Kamui is much more powerful than you realize since you have yet to really tap into its power," Lelouch began to explain as a smile started forming on his face.
"Your rejection of Senketsu is preventing you from being able to synchronize and achieve your full power which is why he is drinking a lot more blood than he needs," Reiketsu added joining the conversation intending to help Ryūko overcome her difficulties in wearing Senketsu.
"I am rejecting him, but how," A confused Ryūko Matoi questioned.
"I think that answer is obvious," Zero asked as he narrowed his eyes on Ryūko from under his mask.
"Wait you mean how I look like a," Ryūko said as the realization dawned on her prompting a blush to appear on her cheeks.
"I completely understand how you feel, but you have to embrace it if you wish to synchronize with Senketsu otherwise you have no chance in hell against Satsuki Kiryūin," Lelouch warned harshly before Ryūko glared at him.
"OH YEAH," The black haired girl snapped back, "Easy for you to say since you don't look like a ho when you transform!"
"Not now I don't, but that was before I mastered and learned how to harness my Kamui to his full potential," Lelouch boasted proudly with his hands on his hips while he still held onto the inflatable sword.
"You mean," Ryūko said as her mind began trying to picture what Zero might have looked like when he had his Kamui initially.
If going by the appearance of her Kamui was any indication was probably something very revealing which caused Ryūko to begin blushing wildly quickly regretting trying to envision what Zero might have looked like before mastering Reiketsu.
"Well I have a secret identity to protect after all, and I was concerned that showing too much skin might help people in figuring out my identity," Zero explained, which part of it was a lie.
Lelouch was in fact embarrassed by Reiketsu's first active form when he first had it, but Lelouch knew he needed to swallow his shame if he had any hope of mastering it.
"Besides the reason a Kamui's active form is so revealing it's to prevent the user from being overwhelmed by the power of the life fibers that compose it."
"What do you mean overwhelm them," Ryūko asked as this was one of the many questions she wanted to be answered.
"Life Fibers grant a user who is wearing them as part of their uniform a great deal of power. However, the higher the life fiber concentration, the stronger you need to handle that power, and it's not just physically strong your mind needs to be strong too," Reiketsu said answering Ryūko's question before further adding. "The reason your outfit is so revealing is that my creator realized if a Kamui's active form covered little skin, then it would be easier for a first time user to better handle and control its power."
"So basically Senketsu looks like…uh…that so I am not overwhelmed by its power," Ryūko said trying to be nice about the subject of Senketsu's appearance out of concern.
"That should further prove to you the kind of power you now have at your fingertips once you learn how to wear Senketsu properly," Zero said nodding his head while rising his left index finger up as he spoke with a matter of fact attitude.
"Really huh," Ryūko as she began thinking about the possibilities if what Zero was telling her was indeed true.
"I don't want to rush you on this, but you may want to consider mastering wearing your Kamui as soon as possible because I doubt Satsuki Kiryūin will give you the luxury," Zero warned with a stern tone of voice. "There isn't much I can do for you now, but you have to overcome your rejection of Senketsu on your own to truly wear him."
As Zero began to leave Ryūko quickly stepped in front of him to stop Zero from leaving the waterworks without answering all of her other questions first.
"Wait I still got more questions for you like who killed my father," Ryūko said spreading her arms out to block Zero's path.
"I don't know for sure who did it, but the only one who would have wanted him killed was Ragyō Kiryūin, Satsuki's mother and head of the Kiryūin Conglomerate who is the prime suspect in my book," Zero answered giving Ryūko a prime suspect on her own list of the one who had her father killed. "Although she likely sent someone else to do the deed I am almost certain beyond a shadow of a doubt that Ragyō ordered his demise given the fact they are enemies of one another."
"Why didn't my dad tell me any of this," Ryūko said balling her hands into fists while growing with a lot of repressed anger.
"Because he didn't want you involved, this is why he sent you away to a boarding school. He knew sooner or later Ragyō would have him killed for his research so he sent you away so you could be safe from harm if assassins ever did come," Zero explained putting one hand on Ryūko's shoulder to calm her. "Even if Ragyō didn't order it the fact was that your father still had enemies and even if she wasn't involved in his demise there were probably others who wanted his research for less than noble purposes."
Ryūko was silent for a moment as Lelouch's word was seemingly leaving an impression on Ryūko, but the girl was still stubborn and knew there was more than Zero was keeping from her.
"Maybe, but still I get the feeling you haven't told me everything," Ryūko said raising her scissor blade to point it at Zero, but out of nowhere Zero deflected the weapon using his own sword. "Where the hell did that come from," Ryūko demanded with a surprised expression.
"My blade can change sizes just like your Scissor Blade can since my blade is similar to yours because your father created my weapon just as he made those Rending Scissors," Zero answered causing Ryūko's eyes to widen in realization.
"Rending Scissors, so my dad made the scissors," Ryūko asked before Lelouch nodded his head in confirmation.
"Yes, they were designed to be a weapon you could use with Senketsu against Goku Uniforms and other Kamui. In fact, those pouches on the skirt of your Kamui were designed to be used as a storage compartment for your scissor blade when you shrink its size down. I advise you take time to practice since I am sure you can find ways to be more creative with their usage," The masked man explained which made Ryūko look at her signature weapon in wonder as she never realized it was capable of that.
Taking this as a chance to slip away, but Zero once again found his path blocked by Ryūko.
"Oh, no…there is no way you are not getting away that easily!"
"Then stop me, but remember unless you can tap into your Kamui's full power you got no chance against me," Zero warned with a dangerous tone in his voice before he added, "Even Satsuki Kiryuin would crush you easily and declare you are inferior to her."
"No, she is NOT," Mako Mankanshoku declared coming to Ryūko's defense after appearing out of nowhere.
Lelouch's expression behind his mask was one of complete confusion as his mind was trying to grasp how Mako tracked them down here or how she even got her. On her back, Lelouch noticed a backpack with what looked like a stick with a magnet attached to it with a metal detector poking out. Lelouch realized that Mako had likely come down here using the magnet and the stick together as a crude make-shift metal detector to pick up loose change or anything valuable to sell.
A beam of light suddenly descended upon Mako as she held her hands in the air in a familiar poise about to give a speech.
"Then don't hold back Ryūko GET NAKED," Mako declared with a fist bump to both a stunned Lelouch and Ryūko with even their Kamui looking at her with their eyes wide in confusion as Mako proceeded to imitate Ryūko and then Satsuki. "I know for a fact that you…YES, YOU are not inferior to Lady Satsuki! Your boobs are way bigger, WAY BIGGER," Mako said by emphasizing her point by groping Ryūko's breasts from behind with a fierce and determined look on her face which only embarrassed poor Ryūko even more.
"Uh that is not what I was talking about," Zero said raising his left index finger in what would be a vain effort to correct Mako, but the girl continued her speech without hindrance.
"I know because I saw them," Mako said continuing her speech using different and very odd posies to emphasize her point which ultimately led to Lelouch's higher brain functions to shut down. "Ryūko my family said has a great rack, we were all talking about what a slamming body you have there so perk up and stopped being embarrassed. Rip your clothes off and GET NAKED!"
As Mako ended her speech with the light that shined upon her dying down Lelouch's brain recovered while his Kamui was just as confused as his wearer was.
"How does she function," Reiketsu asked as his eyes blinked trying to grasp Mako's mindset even through Lelouch warned him such an effort would amount to nothing but frustration.
"Mako Mankanshoku defies logic in all its forms," Lelouch said shaking his head while possessing an amused smile, although she wasn't the smartest person in the school, unlike some people he had known in the past her heart was in the right place even if her head wasn't.
"Get naked," Ryūko said as she was finally catching up to what happened.
"Well anyway," Zero said as he began to walk away again, "work on improving your skill with your Kamui."
"HOLD ON," Ryūko said with a more fierce determination in her eye, but upon seeing it, Lelouch saw a way to help Ryūko overcome her difficulties with Senketsu.
"Then stop me, but unless you can wear Senketsu properly, you don't have a chance. Besides, I guess it means you won't be worthy enough to receive the lockbox your father gave me to give you," Zero mentioned with a smirk that was hidden by his mask. He knew he was taking a gamble, but the payoff was worth more than the risk.
"Lockbox," Ryūko asked with a look of curiosity on her face causing her anger to subside for a moment.
"During our last meeting, your father gave me a sealed lockbox with something inside of it that are for your eyes only. It is locked with a biometric lock, so it was designed for you to open, and it has been built out of the same material your scissor blade is fashioned from so opening it by any other means would be impossible," Zero pointed out which did as he was hoping it would. Ryūko was more determined with a look of renewed fury and determination in her eyes as the red trim of Senketsu began glowing.
"You are not going anywhere until you tell me more and you hand over that lockbox my dad left for me!"
"How are you going to stop me…when you can't even wear your Kamui correctly," Zero mocked hoping it would provide that final push Ryūko needed.
"Oh yeah how about THIS," Ryūko snapped as she pulled the pin, but this time a new transformation took place.
Instead of the previous form he had seen Senketsu in when activated by Ryūko, there was a noticeable difference now.
The part of which Senketsu's eye was upon expanded growing larger extending out over Ryūko's shoulders while the skirt she wore in its activated form was more defined with spikes around its tips. The rest of the uniform was the same with Ryūko having successfully overcome her issues of wearing Senketsu and had begun her path on mastering the Kamui.
"Life Fiber Synchronize: Kamui Senketsu!"
"Well done Ryūko Matoi you have taken the first step to mastering your Kamui," Zero said as he was apparently pleased.
"So now are you going to tell me more and hand over that lockbox my dad gave you," Ryūko asked feeling rather proud of herself.
At the same time, Mako's speech and Lelouch's earlier words lead her to understand the reason she was having such a hard time wearing Senketsu was due to her own embarrassment of her Kamui leading her to reject it which forced Senketsu to drink more of her blood to maintain their connection when transformed.
Zero considered it for a moment as he brought one hand to the chin of his mask as if he was in deep thought before he said, "NO!"
"WHAT THE HELL," Ryūko snapped with her right eyebrow twitching before demanding. "I am wearing Senketsu right now so what more than you want?"
"You need to get to my level now of mastery and the only way you can do that is to catch me."
"Are you fucking serious? You want me to play tag with you," Ryūko said as she was reaching her limit with Zero.
"In a way, but I find that motivating you with the knowledge of the lockbox your father left in my possession seems to be the best way to push you to better master your Kamui. Furthermore, your father did instruct me to give it to you when I deem it time to do so," Zero explained as Lelouch was grinning under his mask.
Knowing what his wearer had in mind Reiketsu said to both Ryūko and his younger brother, "Remember little brother anything I can do you can do too…you just need to figure it out and use your imagination."
"What the hell does that mean," Senketsu demanded as he was just as annoyed by this whole beating around the bush that was going on.
"Just watch and learn," Reiketsu replied smugly.
"There is much you still have to learn, and when you catch me and prove to me you that you have master Senketsu. I'll deem you worthy of the lockbox your father left for you, but until then," Zero said as the cape of his Kamui was suddenly retracted into his body before Zero, and his Kamui transformed before Ryūko's eyes.
In seconds Zero's legs had become jet engines while his appearance became more streamlined and aerobatic with his lower body assuming a single aerodynamic configuration while his arms were mostly the same becoming more smooth and seemingly metallic in appearance. His shoulders became a pair of twin thrusters with cone-like tops and small wings sticking out of the sides for better aerial maneuverability.
"Behold Reiketsu-Arashi (Storm)…good night Ryūko," Zero said before taking off literally like a jet as he sped through the tunnels at a speed that make it impossible for Ryūko to follow him.
His quick take off and escape left a spinning Mako in his wake while Ryūko managed to stand her ground which also shielded Mako from being thrown back by Lelouch's quick departure.
"WOW THAT WAS SO COOL," Mako exclaimed excitedly with stars in her eyes while throwing her arms up in the air dramatically, "Zero really is a superhero he can fly and everything."
Ryūko was a little dazed since she had no way to expect Zero being able to pull off something like that.
"So he can transform into a flight-capable form, so that is what he meant," Senketsu mused as he recalled the words Reiketsu said before their hasty departure.
"So you can change into a flight form too," Ryūko asked looking down at her Kamui's single eye.
"Well he did say anything he can do I can do too," Senketsu answered as the idea of him possessing the capacity for flight intrigued him. "I would just need to figure out how to do it through."
"Then I guess we got some work to do," Ryūko said as she balled her left hand into a fist and glared at the direction Zero had taken off in.
You're going to give me that lockbox one way or another.
The following morning Lelouch was in class sitting in his usual spot while Ryūko sat next to Mako with a testy expression signifying the likely possibility that she was still upset regarding her encounter with Zero. With that in mind, Lelouch knew he would need to be careful with how he acted around Ryūko since he didn't want to risk giving himself away. As the former prince was contemplating other thoughts and the future that lay ahead, Aikurō walked in with two new students behind him.
The one with brown hair and green eyes with a familiar face caught his attention.
Like other students, both of the new students wore no-star uniforms, male and female type respectively. The first new student was a woman who had short red hair with blue eyes and seemed quite beautiful for her age despite appearing to be slightly sick and pale judging from her sleepily expression. But it was the new male student that held Lelouch's attention for the longest before he recognized him.
"Good morning class, but before we get started, I have some new students to introduce," Aikurō said with a bored expression on his face as the new girl stepped forward to introduce herself.
"Hello, I am Kallen Stadtfeld."
"And I am Suzaku Kururugi," Suzaku said stepping forward to introduce himself next before he finished by adding, "It's a pleasure to meet all of you."
A/N: after much debate, I decided that both Kallen and Suzaku will attend Honnōji Academy alongside the others, and the reason for Suzaku being sent to the academy will be elaborated upon next chapter by a character who appears in the KH story. I made a profile picture and stuff (which will have spoilers, so you have been warned) on my deviant art page. He will be the reason Charles knows about Lelouch and Ragyō plans among other information including how his involvement with Charles will only intensify the conflict to come.
Also, it will reveal another character who is going to be sent to Honnōji Academy.
But it will set the stage for a dangerous assassin who will be sent to the academy as well around the same time a certain anti-uniform guerilla shows up.
I am planning on some things about Ragyō and Charles (other than the fact they are both rivals for wanting the rights to determine humanity's fate while in public they seem to be working together), which I am hesitant to do but Draconichero21's ideas and suggestions for improvement have been very compelling.
Still, until I post chapter seven, I look forward to your reviews, and I am going to work to post a chapter for one of my other stories before I post another one for this story. Suggestions and ideas are welcomed, but in the meantime, if you want you can check out the KH story which I have replaced chapter one with the new version of it. I'll leave that one be for now until I make up my mind on which one to use (Satsuki or Ryūko) before updating it. Such difficult decisions to be made for both of these stories lol.
