Toa Solaric: I don't own Kamen Rider Zangetsu or Code Geass. They belong to their respective owners just as anything that originated from other series. I hope you guys like the previous chapter involving the Mao entering as Sigurd!
Code Geass: Lelouch of Divine Providence
Ch14: Flower of Time! Zangetsu-Shin's Wraith!
Lelouch looks completely disbelief at his surrounding as Ashford Academy on fire.
"No… This can't be happening…" Lelouch muttered.
He soon turns around and he spotted the entire student facility being killed on the floor as he hurry toward to his home immediately.
The raven hair boy continued moving before he stopped with a shocked face.
"N-No!" Lelouch screamed.
In front of him were Ayano, Sayoko, and Nunnally lying on the floor as they're bleeding heavily. Lelouch went toward them immediately and looks at them.
"No…! This can't be!" Lelouch screamed.
"I told you that I will killed everyone you cared about…" a sinister voice said as Lelouch turns around and saw Sigurd with a bloody Sonic Arrow. "Now it only you, Lelouch vi Britannia…"
(Reality)
"Lelouch-sama! Wake up!" Lelouch jolted up awake and took deep breaths. He wiped the sweat off of him.
"Are you okay?"
Lelouch turns to see Sayoko who shows worried expression on her face.
"Sayoko…"
He heard a light thud as he saw, surprisingly, Ayano in her casual clothes as she rested her head on the medical bed. Lelouch slowly sat up but clench his chest until he noticed bandages all over his torso. "Is this…?"
"From your fight with Sigurd." Sayoko answered calm.
The suddenly thought of Genesis Rider in Lelouch's mind made his eyes wide in shocked. "Is Rivalz alright?" he asked to the Japanese Maid.
"Fear not, Lelouch-sama. Your friend's life is stable, but he is comatose state." Sayoko assured. Lelouch sighed in relief to the fact his friend is alright. "What about Orpheus and Rai?" he asked.
"Orpheus left early after checking his wounds, Rai gone back to his dorm but he left regard to you and Rivalz." Sayoko said.
"And Nunnally?" Lelouch asked.
"Lord Jeremiah is looking after her in my place while I checking on your conditions." Sayoko said. "And Ayano, she stay watching over you."
"I see…" Lelouch muttered.
"Here, Lelouch-sama." Sayoko said before offering a fresh black t-shirt to him.
Lelouch take it and puts on to cover the bandages on his chest. He soon noticed Ayano began to wake up and saw him standing.
"I see you're awake, Ayano." Lelouch said.
"Should you be up?" Ayano asked.
"I am fine, though I am not going to pushed myself too much…" Lelouch said.
Ayano soon showed a worried expression. "Orpheus told me what happened… I should have been there to help you." She said, clenched her fist.
Lelouch places his hand on her shoulder and looks at her, "It's alright, Ayano. I have to admit that I got myself caught off guard… but I am not going to let myself being killed when I have people waiting for me." He said, softly.
"Lelouch…"
Lelouch smiled. "I need to take care of something. Can you help watch over Nunnally in the mean time?" he asked to her. Ayano nodded.
Lelouch soon walk out of the hallway to look for a certain witch who leaning against the wall.
"I take it that you heard what happened." Lelouch said with a serious expression.
"It seem he went after your friend to get to you." C.C. said in casual clothes.
"You have some explaining to do," Lelouch said. "Who exactly is he?"
"A shadow." C.C. answered. "A shadow that's been casted in the dark for far too long."
(Cue X.U by Sawano Hiroyuki)
(Instrumental) The screen opens up to show Lelouch and Zangetsu back-to-back as light covered the screen before changing to show Kallen, Suzaku, Orpheus, Rai, Euphemia and Nunnally before the screen was covered with vines and purple fruits.
(I don't want nobody to get killed) Lelouch was sitting on his Lancelot Club with his hands supporting his chin as rain heavily cascaded around him
(I'll come and get, I am always ready to fight) The screen changed to show Zangetsu sinking into a lake while another screen shows Ayano with a hand over her chest.
(Instrumental) Lockseeds appeared before they were seen scattering across the world.
(So don't take all of the blame) The scene showed the Black Knights in their headquarters.
(We're all as bad) The Britannian Military came into focus.
(Ah wait, don't take all of it away) Now different factions from across Earth flashed by.
(You always do) Armored figures showed up in the darkness, the only lights being their visors.
(We'll always be something you cannot control) In the shadows, a flame-shaped head was flanked by two Riders with unique bows.
(We will overcome – Your salvation has begun) Deep in the forest of Helheim, a white creature wielding a Zanbato was leading an army of Inves.
(No suns, no lights) Lelouch was looking to the side before changing to Ayano doing the same thing.
(Such a mess all over) The screen changed to show Lelouch and Ayano holding their hands out to each other.
(Don't kill your hopes) Now CC was standing on an embedded Musou Saber as wind blew through her hair and clothes.
(You make me realize who I need) The screen changes to show Lelouch looking up with a determined glare before he is encased in his Zangetsu armor.
(I'll be there, hold on) Zangetsu charged forward slashing the Shika Inves with his sword
(But it changes somehow) Ryugen fired at Inves and Britannian soldiers alike.
(So where are you now) Zangetsu and Ryugen jumped into the air and performed their Rider Kicks.
(I'll reach you, my darling) Baron pierced an Inves with the Banaspear before cutting two more in half.
(The shadows of the earth) Gaim slashed an Inves with his dual blades before combining both in a wide, area-clearing sweep.
(Illusions so bright) Baron and Gaim charged into a mixed army of Britannia soldiers and Inves.
(They're falling just to run – let them know-) Now the Riders watched as both the Black Knights and Britannia launched all-out Knightmare Frame attacks
(When it's the pain that makes us so human after all) Leila was watching the battle as the rest of her force joins in the battle.
(Toward city, a border patrol) Lelouch kept walking alone in the city, strange plants growing behind his trail.
(1000 precious words, just to start with a spark) The camera turned to Zangetsu and others helping each other fighting the Inves before Zangetsu charged forward and clashed with the white figure swords-first, sparks blinding the screen for a bit.
(To the core) Soon Zangetsu, Baron, Ryugen, and Gaim appeared as the title page appeared.
Lelouch and C.C. soon walk to somewhere private so they won't be overheard by anyone else.
"Mao's Geass let him get into someone's head and learned what they're thinking and planning. I got that right, don't I?" Lelouch asked, remembering his encounter with Mao over the chest game.
"Yes, the way Geass manifests is different for each person, like your, Rai's, and Orpheus's." C.C. referenced, without taking her eyes off the window. She soon focused on the main subject, Mao. "If Mao concentrates, he can hear thoughts up to 500 meters away and he can read clear down to your subconscious if he wants to. For someone like you, who fights with his head, he's the worst possible enemy."
"But my armor is good enough to counter for that but his Lockseed and Driver is another story." Lelouch said, can't thinking back to his clashed with Sigurd. "Did you make a contract with Mao in the past?" he asked, remembering Sagara told him about previous contractors C.C. left.
"Eleven years ago." C.C. answered. This mean Mao is Lelouch's predecessor.
"I see. Is there some reason that this forerunner is also my enemy?"
"Mao's after me. He may be your enemy, but he's not targeting you." C.C. said, confirming herself to be the real target.
"I can see that." Lelouch said, realized why Mao is after him since he is C.C.'s contractor now. Lelouch is still angry at Mao for what he did to Rivalz to put him in the hospital. "He could've revealed my true identity and told the police or the military who I am, but he didn't and draw me by using my friend… Are there limits to his Geass?" Lelouch asked.
"Mao's Geass is very potent. He can use it as many times as he wants and he doesn't need direct eye contact like you do." C.C. explained, revealing the nature of how Mao's Geass operates.
"Does he have any weaknesses?"
C.C. started thinking about it. "If you press me, I guess it's that he can't turn his power off. In a crowd, he hears all the minds rolling and writhing around him, whether he wants to or not." C.C. explained.
Lelouch nodded. This explained Mao's nature. For eleven years, Mao kept hearing everyone's thoughts, not giving him a clear and relaxed mind but a strained and unstable mind.
But there is another thing worries him.
"Will I ends up becoming like Mao if I used my Geass too much?" Lelouch questioned, earning some silence from C.C. "Or did he ends up that way because he didn't fulfill his contract with you?"
C.C. was silent for a couple of minutes, but saw that Lelouch was slightly furious and demanded an answer. And it was one that she had no choice but to give.
"The more you use your Geass, the more powerful it becomes. Those who cannot control the power are ultimately ravaged and consumed by it." C.C. said, finally revealing the true nature of Geass.
"Even though you know everything about that, you still offered these contracts? To me and Mao?" Lelouch asked.
"… That's right." C.C. said.
"You are cruel girl. I don't know why anyone would chase after you. Mao couldn't fulfill his contract with you, so you cut him loose. What were the terms of the contracts?" Lelouch asked but C.C. wasn't answering.
This made Lelouch looks disgust at the witch.
(With Rai)
Rai was rolling in his bed after coming back from Lelouch's place.
He was dreaming about something he never seen before. Also he felt like his body begins to heating up.
A blue sky. Then shows a mansion.
What is this? Rai thought before the vision continued.
A young boy with silver run happily across the hallway. Soon there was a beautiful woman with silver hair painting.
"Who are you?" Rai asked, still confused about the vision of the mystery woman.
Soon the silver hair boy is seen sitting on the ground while the woman taking care of his bruise knee.
"Thank you, Kaa-san." The young boy said.
"Kaa-san? Is that my mother?" Rai asked before he accident falls off of his bed and rolling on the ground in pain.
"Rai? Are you alright?" a familiar voice asked before feels two arms hold him tightly.
Rai soon slowly opened his eyes and saw Kallen looking at him with concerned.
"Kallen…" Rai said weakly.
"You were screaming in pain…" Kallen said.
"I don't know… but why does it hurt?" Rai said, breathing heavily.
Unknown to Rai and Kallen, the Black Orange Lockseed on the table is glowing with orange aura briefly before turning back to pitch black.
What is going on?
(At a library)
Mao was sweating and banging his head against the wall as he kept hearing everyone. Despite, people in the library being physically silent, they were all chatting a storm in mind. Mao desperately wanted them to shut up but there was nothing he could do but go through it every day for the past eleven years.
Mao turned his gaze onto the audio player and raised the volume to hear C.C.'s voice through his headset.
"Don't worry Mao, I'm not going to die."
"Mao! Mao! Are you awake, Mao?"
"Oh Mao, how silly…"
Mao smiled since C.C. was the only one he couldn't read; the only one that he could connect to even without thoughts, his family whom he also considers as his one true love.
"C.C., I can't live without you. Wait for me, I'm coming to get you." Mao said, determined to get C.C. back from Lelouch. And he won't let him or anyone else get in the way. Mao took out the Cherry Energy Lockseed and smiled as he clenched. It was his second trump card.
(Black Knights' hideout)
Ohgi was on a phone with Lelouch right now. "Genesis Rider… This is the first time I've heard." Ohgi said with surprised tone.
"Same with me, Ohgi. But I want you and Black Knights keep your guard up if he shows up." Lelouch warned with serious tone.
"I understand." Ohgi said before closed the call.
"Ohgi, was that Zangetsu?" Ohgi turns around and see Naomi.
"Yeah, we have another Rider spotted and he sound dangerous from Zangetsu's account." Ohgi explain with a serious expression. "He want us to be on guard if he try to attack us."
"I see…" Naomi muttered.
"Hell yah! I can finally show my groove on the field!" Tamaki said, coming to join them.
"Oh no you aren't!" Ohgi and Naomi exclaimed at the same time.
"But why?" Tamaki whimpered. "I want to help!"
"You got knocked out three times when facing against Ohgi, this showing us that you aren't ready to deal with experience fighters." Naomi explained. Though she is against Tamaki being one since he is too hothead, but others didn't want to be Kurokage.
Ohgi nodded. "I need to check on Kallen in order to inform her of this." He said, dial Kallen's numbers.
(Next day)
Lelouch was having some time with Nunnally as he was watching the surveillance with his laptop to keep an eye out for any sights of Mao. He also asks Jeremiah to set up some false wanted pictures of Mao in the Britannia police in order to wide eye for Mao and giving him more headaches.
If Mao read my mind, then he already knows my weak points. That's where he will strike… Lelouch thought, looking at Nunnally. Mao should know that Nunnally was his whole purpose of forming the Riders, the Black Knights, and his reason to fight.
Nunnally soon finished her tea and looked at Lelouch with a smile.
"It's been a while since we spent time by ourselves, huh?" Nunnally remarked. She missed having private moments with her big brother but she doesn't know the real reason as to why he's with her now, to protect her from Mao.
Lelouch looked at his little sister and smiled back.
"You know, even Sayoko needs a little time off now and again. Starting today, I'll be staying home for a while." Lelouch said as he looked at his laptop.
So far, no signs of Mao on the surveillance cameras.
"Lately, you've been out of the house so much, I was curious." Nunnally remarked. "Were you and Ayano-chan on a date?" she asked with a grin.
This cause Lelouch to sputtered. "I-It's not like that Nunnally." He said. "I just find an interesting game to play."
"I see… Only our big brother Schneizel would even make you say something like that." Nunnally giggled. But she still finds it amusing to tease her brother as well.
(An abandoned factory)
Sigurd is sharping his skills since C.C. is Code and could be very… teasing. He know that he will have to face against other Riders thank to a certain guy who gave him the Genesis Driver and Cherry Energy Lockseed.
(Flashback: A year ago)
Mao was room around an empty warehouse. He figured that he need to rest if he's going to find… her. Mao soon heard footsteps and turns to see a headband man approached him. Mao looked at him for a few second before his face was filled with shock. His Geass to read minds wasn't working.
"Hello there, Mao-kun~!" The man greeted with a smile. "I take it that you're resting from long search for your long lost love, huh?"
"W-who are you?" Mao asked.
"My name is Sagara and I have an offer that will change your life forever!" Sagara said.
"What could you have that I want?" Mao asked.
"I know where your love is heading to." Mao was shocked. Normally he wouldn't buy this but since his Geass wasn't working, then he has to be onto something.
"I'm all ears."
Sagara soon shows him the Genesis Driver and Cherry Energy Lockseed before explained what they are then revealed that C.C. is planned on looks for a new contractor.
This caused Mao to gritting his teeth. "I will shows her that she won't need any more contractors, but me! I will fulfill her wish and we will be together forever!" he declared.
"Before I go, I need to let you know those with Drivers will be immune to your ability due to the Lockseeds being originated from the forest." Sagara added.
"Dang, but I will still know who the Riders are which a good thing." Mao said.
"Then good luck on paint the world in your own image, Mao-kun." Sagara said before he left.
(Present)
"You will see, Lelouch vi Britannia," Sigurd muttered darkly to himself. "But I will need to deal with those pesky polices first." He commented.
Lelouch looks at Rivalz in the bed as he came into the room. His friend is still in comatose after getting him away from Mao.
The raven hair teen have many thoughts on his mind at the moment. Back when Rivalz find out about his secret as Zangetsu, why didn't he used Geass to erase what he saw? But he didn't since he know Rivalz is someone he trust to keep his secrets and someone who puts his faith in him. Rivalz was his best friend Lelouch could ask since coming to Ashford Academy, and he let him getting hurt by someone pyscho like Mao himself.
"Rivalz… I know you might not hear this. But I am sorry about what happened." Lelouch said, with a guilty expression. He never want his friends to get hurt in the first place.
But he know forced Rivalz to not remembering him as Zangetsu doesn't solve the dilemma Lelouch was currently facing. He know that he has to face against Mao since he doesn't want any more people close to him being hurt again.
Even if he is stronger than me, there have to be a way I can defeated him… Lelouch thought serious.
Rai was currently at Orpheus's warehouse to check on how he is doing and told him about Mao.
"So Mao isn't just a new breed of Rider, a Geass user but one who took former boss's contract?" Orpheus asked, getting the facts straight.
Rai nodded. "Have this even happened to anyone you knew?" He asked.
Orpheus chuckled and shook his head. "Not that I know of. Though this is the first time I heard of Genesis Riders… But I won't be surprised Sagara is behind they're coming." he admit.
"Do you think there are more Genesis Riders out there?" Rai asked.
"Of course. But fighting them alone might be risky." Orpheus said, thinking to the experience against Sigurd. "Then I guess Lelouch might want us to be careful around Mao, right?"
Rai nodded. "After what happened to Rivalz, I don't want more of my friends get hurt." he said.
"I will get Peace Mark to help." Orpheus offered.
"Thanks… Orpheus."
"Also how is Kallen reacted to this?" Orpheus asked.
"I am not sure… but I am a little worried if she going after Mao." Rai said.
It was now sunset and C.C. was in an alley, with a disguise, was fed up with the man that she was talking to. CC then kicked him and pushed his chest against the wall with her leg.
"I'm not looking for a Refrain dealer. I said that I'm looking for a Chinese guy named Mao. Did you hear me?" C.C. asked, doing things the hard way.
"Believe me, I have no idea. The only Chinese here are with gangs or labor. Go ask the cops or something." The man said, trying to reason that he doesn't know anything about Mao.
"I don't like cops." C.C. replied coldly.
"T-Then go ask the Black Knights about him. They're all over the underworld. They're wired into the settlement and the ghetto." The man explained. The Black Knights are not only well-organized and well-hidden but they sound like the best kind of people to search for something that is the equivalent of a ghost. But the only problem is that C.C.'s associate is already handling that bit.
"Everybody keeps telling me the same thing." C.C. said, a bit frustrated that this man was the same as the rest of the people that she talked to today.
C.C. just stared at him before letting him go. He had no real use to her. As he was breathing for air, C.C. kicked him in the face again, knocking him out.
"Idiot." C.C. said before leaving the alley.
The police officers thought they finally cornered the white hair foreigner who have commit some serious crimes: destruction of properties, murders, and rape.
But they won't expected Inves came out of nowhere and starting to beaten the crap out of them. Just when Mao was about to escaped, he hears engine roaring as he spotted Baron riding her Rose Attacker down the street.
Baron pushed down her Cutting Blade.
"COME ON! BANANA SQUASH!"
Baron jumps from her motorcycle and swing her Banaspear forward to impale several Inves in the process to cause them exploded.
"So this is the famous Kamen Rider Baron…" Mao remarked. "The second enforcer of the Black Knights…"
Baron turns around and saw Mao before pointed her Banaspear at him. "I take it that you are the one knows as Sigurd…" she said.
"But I am just an innocent civilian…" Mao joked.
"Then explain why those Inves attack the police than you?" Baron countered.
This made Mao chuckled. "Very interesting… then I won't mind if I play with you for bit…" he said before opened his coat, reveals his Genesis Driver.
So that is the Genesis Driver Rai talking about… Baron thought to herself.
Mao then take out his Cherry Energy Lockseed.
"CHERRY ENERGY!"
"Henshin…" Mao said.
"SODA~! CHERRY ENERGY ARMS!"
Soon the Cherry Energy Arms land on Mao before transforming him into Sigurd and got his Sonic Arrow.
Baron charged forward as she brought her Banaspear against the Genesis Rider. But Sigurd brought up his Sonic Arrow to protect himself from the attack before pushing Baron back from him.
This made Baron stumbled backward.
"Is that all you got?" Sigurd asked.
"I am not done yet!" Baron shout, getting herself back up and charged at Sigurd.
But Sigurd just dodged most of Baron's attacks before slashed her from the side. Baron quickly blocked but was kicked away. Baron landed in a pile of boxes but got up and charge again.
Sigurd brought up his Sonic Arrow and start firing at Baron in the chest and caused explosion occurs.
"Sorry, but you can't match against me…" Sigurd said. "I bet that I can even crushed your predecessor with ease, he is weak as you. Too bad that you never get to exact your revenge on him since Lelouch take it from you."
Baron growled; she never want to be weak as that man who killed her brother!
"Shut up!" Baron barked before getting back up and take out two Ichigo Lockseeds as she summoned a Shika Inves and Seiryu Inves.
Baron been mastered her Driver's power especially learning how to control Inves to even the odds.
"Sick that bastard, boys." Baron ordered to her Inves.
Sigurd seemed a little impressed.
"This is going to be interesting…" Sigurd let out before he started fighting the Inves and Baron. Baron jabbed Sigurd a couple times before Sigurd focused his attention at the Inves. "Not bad at all, for an amateur."
Sigurd then pushed down the Seaboll Compressor once.
"CHERRY ENERGY SQUASH!"
Soon Sigurd unleashed a red energy wave that destroyed the Inves and knocked Baron across the floor. Baron struggle getting herself up while hearing Sigurd laughing at her, increasing her frustration even further.
"Damn it… Is this the strength difference…?" Baron wondered her thought out loud.
"I thought you would be a challenge… but you are nothing but a weakling like Clovis himself and nowhere near strong as Zangetsu. You dream of surpassing" Sigurd mocked.
"Shut up!" Baron then got herself back up and take out the Mango Lockseed.
"MANGO!"
"COME ON! MANGO ARMS! FIGHT OF HAMMER!"
Now armed with the Mango Punisher, Baron charged forward at Sigurd with a defiant roar and brought her weapon down for a crushing blow. The Genesis Rider parried the swing before shoving the weapon away and slashed Baron's chest, causing the red Rider to tumble away from the blow.
But Sigurd wasn't done finished yet. He push his Seaboll Compressor of his Genesis Driver.
"CHERRY ENERGY SQUASH!"
Soon Sigurd turns into a blur before he slashed Baron with series of brutal slashes. Massive burst of sparks erupted from Baron's chest plate and sent the red Rider tumbling painfully to the large garbage can.
"Damn… such power…" Baron cursed, weakly. This was definitely the strength of Genesis Rider.
Sigurd was about to finish her off when he spotted sight of a familiar green hair woman appeared in front of him.
"That is enough, Mao. She isn't worth killing." C.C. said.
"C.C., your mind is so quiet. It's the only one I can't read. You really are the best there is!" Sigurd remarked with a bright smile, while C.C. kept her natural neutral look on.
"As childish as ever, I see." C.C. remarked.
"I'm a prince on a white stallion, and a prince has to rescue the princess." Sigurd laughed. "Does that make you happy, C.C.?"
"Mao, we talk about this before. I told you that you and I-"
"Those were all lies. Lies." Sigurd denied as he walked up to C.C. "C.C., you love me and this is how I know." Sigurd said before undoing his transformation and C.C. heard the sound of her voice.
"Thank you, Mao. Mao, Mao-"
"Stop it!" C.C. said as remembering why she and Mao were close before.
(Eleven years ago)
"Be quiet!" A young Mao said as he heard every mind nearby.
C.C. was holding him and had a delicate face.
"Don't listen to them. Listen to the sound of my voice." C.C. said with a caring voice. A caring voice that only a mother would have.
Mao listened and looked at her.
"That's it." C.C. smiled.
….
C.C. and Mao were in the forest before Mao painted a picture of C.C., making her proud.
"Since my mind is the only one you can't read, and you can be only happy when with me. I'll stay with you always. Yes, I'm right here. So you don't need to worry." C.C.'s voice said as the day turned to night with C.C. holding the child Mao as they slept.
(Present)
"C.C., you're the only one! The only one I want forever. Lelouch doesn't matter at all. If you just come with me-" Mao tried putting a hand on C.C. but she smacked it away.
"Stop it!" C.C. said as she placed her Driver on. Then took out her Lime Lockseed.
"LIME!"
"I should've done this a long long time ago… Henshin!" C.C. placed the Lockseed in the slot before using the Cutting Blade.
"LIME ARMS! MAHOU NO CODE!"
The Lime Arms fall on her head before transforming her into Code and looked ready to kill Mao.
"If you want to do this the hard way… be my guess." Mao said before getting out his Cherry Energy Lockseed.
"CHERRY ENERGY!"
"SODA~! CHERRY ENERGY ARMS!"
Mao once again has transform into Sigurd. Code only clenched her weapon before charging at her former contracted.
(With Lelouch)
Lelouch was on the phone with Jeremiah while working on the computer right now.
"I see… I got a feeling that she might went after him by herself." Lelouch said. "Is the preparations set?"
"Yes, my lord."
Though Lelouch is still a bit bitter about C.C. But they have a contract and they have to look out for each other.
(With Rai)
Rai got off his Sakura Hurricane as he spotted familiar redhead groan in pain. He soon hurry to her side immediately
"Rai…?" Kallen openly her eyes to see the white hair teen.
"Kallen, are you alright?" Rai asked with worried expression.
"Y-yeah, how did you find me?" Kallen asked, quiet.
"I got a feeling that you challenged against Sigurd and hear explosion nearby." Rai said, helping her up.
"You weren't kidding… about him…" Kallen said, tired.
(With Code)
Code was trying to land hits but it looks like the Genesis Rider's armor was too dense, even for her to pierce.
"You're quite quick, C.C." Sigurd said before grabbing her arm and tossing her into a building, causing the window to be broking.
Code got up to see that Sigurd came in and about to fire his energy arrows at her. Code rolled out of the way just in time before getting up and blocked incoming arrows with her weapon.
"Oh don't be like that." Sigurd said before he turning into a red blur and charged at Code.
Code barely managed to rolled out of the way in time before the Genesis Rider turns and slashed Code in the back.
Sigurd then approached Code who was getting up.
"What's wrong, Code? I know you're definitely a much better fighter. Oh wait, I know why you're holding back." Sigurd laughed. "It's because you love me."
"I don't! Mao, I was just using you from the start." Code said as she charged but Sigurd grabbed her by the neck. She tried to get free but the Genesis Rider had more power, enhanced or not.
"What are you saying? You shouldn't tell lies like that. You really shouldn't." Sigurd denied as he started punching her in the gut multiple time. He punched her so hard, causing her to puke a little bit of blood in her helmet. "Lies are very very wicked. Wicked lies!"
Sigurd held Code up by both hands before bending his knees. He then brought Code down on them, breaking her spin and paralyzing her legs. Code lied on the ground before Sigurd reverted back to Mao. He pried Code's belt and torns it off, reverting Code back into C.C.
"You won't need them anymore." Mao said, tossing the Driver and Lockseed to the ground. He looks back at C.C., who was too injured to even sit up. Despite her healing factor, it'll take time before her spin was healed fully. C.C. just stared at Mao while struggling to sit up. "Don't worry… I understand. C.C., you must listen to me. I've build a big brand new house in Australia, a very quiet, white, immaculate special house."
Mao then take out something from his extra pocket.
"But to get to Australia, you'll need to take an airplane and there isn't very much room. The thing is, C.C., you're a little too big to bring on a plane. So that's why…" Mao said, taking up a large dagger and grinned. "I'm just going to make you compact. It'll take a little time at all!" Mao smiled as he sliced off a sign in a matter of seconds.
C.C. started to sweat a little under Mao's crazy intention, keeping her imprisoned while he can have her all to himself.
"Is this your revenge? You're punishing me?"
"Oh no, I'm not, I'm not, I'm not at all." Mao soon started to approach her. "I'm just showing my gratitude."
Just before Mao can do anything else, the television turns on show a familiar face and stared back at Mao.
"Sorry to interrupted your happy reunion, Mao." Lelouch said.
"Lelouch." Mao recognized, looking at the television. "Where are you!?"
"Since your Geass had the total maximum range of 500 meters. You can't reach me in Tokyo tower." Lelouch's voice continued.
"That's true. That's very true." Mao said, keeping his bright smile on because he knows that he won already. "But what can you do from so far away, hmm? I know you sucked at snipping, what's your grand plan? Sending Inves at me or a tongue-lashing to lecture me into submission?"
"…." No response.
"Ah, cat got your tongue now? If you want C.C., then you're gonna have to come-"
"Mao, think! You don't believe that C.C. is her real name, do you? She never even whispers it to anyone." Lelouch brought up, surprising Mao.
"Huh?" Mao looked surprised and wondered why Lelouch would bring up such a thing. His eyes then widened when he looked at C.C., then realizing what Lelouch was saying.
"But I know it, though. She told me her true name!" Lelouch revealed, even if it was by accident, he still knows her real name. Something that she wouldn't trust anybody with.
Mao looked at C.C. with a surprised and shocked expression.
"Is that right, C.C.? You never told me, ever ever. But you told it to him?" Mao said, feeling somewhat betrayed.
"You know why?" Lelouch asked, catching Mao's attention. "Because C.C. is mine. C.C. belongs to me in every possible way."
"No, she doesn't! She doesn't! She doesn't! She doesn't!" Mao denied as he shook his head before looking at Lelouch in defiance. "She was mine long before she met you!"
"I have gained every single thing from her, including all of the parts that you have never seen, all of them…" Lelouch mocked, pushing Mao to the edge.
"Lelouch… face me!" Mao charged at the television screen and started slicing it with his dagger. "Lelouch, come here! Come here! Let me look into your mind! I'll see the truth! I'll see what a liar you are! Liar!"
"Mao, you've lost…" Lelouch said with a smirk before the screen was destroyed entirely.
"What are you talking about!? I don't care! I'm gonna be with CC!" Mao said before he felt the floor start shaking immediately. "What the hell!?"
He turns around to see Bujin Gaim come at him with a swift kick in the face. This caused Mao to be sending flying backward.
"How did you get in here?" Mao questioned.
"This building is going to fall apart at any seconds…" Bujin Gaim revealed, making Mao look completely shocked.
"But how?!" Mao exclaimed. "When did you have time to set up bombs in here!?" he looking around. He can't even get his Driver and Lockseed out to transform while the building is shaking.
"You… what are you doing here?" C.C. questioned while Bujin Gaim looks calmed at Mao.
"When you got yourself so distracted by my Lord's voice… You've never resorted to cunning like my Lord." Bujin Gaim revealed, he soon picks up the Driver and C.C. before started running.
"Give C.C. back!" Mao exclaimed before trying to pursuing.
Suddenly there was large crack on the floor before Mao fall straight into the floor and screamed in shock.
"Oh no!" C.C. remarked.
Bujin Gaim summoned a red Crack as he and C.C. jumped into it before vanished when the building collapsed.
(Later that night)
Lelouch watch C.C. looking into the city. He wasn't concerned about Mao since he doubt that he can survived from falling from crumbling building. What concerned him was C.C.
"Mao was only six years old when I made my contract with him." C.C. started. "He was an orphan who'd never known the love of a parent. He couldn't read or write and nothing of good and evil."
Lelouch didn't say anything but listened intently.
"When I gave the Geass power to Mao, it isolated him. In his mind, I became his only friend and his love, though I was still a perfect stranger. I'm the only one he even thought of as human. I was Mao's entire world." C.C. sadly said.
"C.C., listen to me. I won't let Geass destroy me. I will conquer its power and bend it to my will, and use it to change the world. But I will find another way to fulfill your wish without turning myself into immortal." Lelouch said, knowing how harsh being immortal from C.C.'s personal memory.
"Lelouch, tell me…" C.C. turned her head, revealing a worried look. "Are you trying to comfort me? Pity me? Or is this part of your obsession?" C.C. asked, wondering if she turned Lelouch into another Mao.
Lelouch started at her.
"It's a contract. This time, it's from me to you." Lelouch said.
It was enough for C.C. to turn to face Lelouch with a warm smile.
"Very well, then. I accept your contract." C.C. said as she stuck her arm out.
Lelouch did the same and the two shook on it.
(Two days later)
After the collapsed building incident, Lelouch felt that he can get over his nightmare about Mao and continued on with the mission of crushing Britannia.
Lelouch came home to inform Nunnally about Suzaku coming over for dinner.
"Hey Nunnally, Suzaku's gonna-Huh?" Lelouch looked around and didn't see Nunnally anywhere. He did notice a bunch of paper cranes circling a photo of Nunnally tied up and gagged, immediately alerting Lelouch.
He gritted his teeth as he thought about who did this. Did someone find out who they really were? Or was it some sort of psychopath?
RING!
Lelouch's thoughts were interrupted by his cellphone. He soon answered it.
"Yes?"
"Lelouch!" His eyes widened because it was Nunnally's voice.
"Nunnally! Where are you right now!?"
"I don't know but I can't move!" Soon it sounded like the phone was being switched around.
"Nunnally!?"
"It's me, Lulu." Mao said, revealing himself to be alive to Lelouch.
"It can't be!" Lelouch said with horrified expression. How can Mao survived after fall from several floors?
"You dropped your guard, Lelouch. Just because you thought I was dead?" Mao taunted.
"Mao, listen. If this is about C.C.—"
"That's why I came. Someone immune to my Geass would be troublesome now." Mao explained. "I'll save my encounter with her for a later date. First, I'm going to pay you back for that little session the other day." Mao said. As much as he wanted CC back all to himself, revenge was the freshest thing on his mind.
"You're somewhere within 500 meters of me." Lelouch noted since he figured that Mao read his mind regarding C.C.
"Of course. Want to try and find me?" Mao asked.
Lelouch immediately linked the cellphone to a wireless earpiece and ran out.
"Your time limit is five hours." Lelouch looked around the courtyard but saw no sign of Mao or any clues regarding his and Nunnally's location. He soon ran into the building itself and examined the halls. "Oh, by the way, since the game is just between you and me, no using explosives again. Or your little sister gets it…"
Lelouch just ran through the hall looked through each class room, only to find nothing out of the ordinary. Where could Mao be?
"Although Britannian medical science is amazing. You can thank them for my return!"
Mao laughed as Lelouch went into the bathroom to find nothing that yields good results. Lelouch gritted his teeth as he just continued his run in the halls.
"You know, Lulu, when you set that trap, you forget the minor details. I can use summoned Crack as well." Mao said, revealing Lelouch's only mistake. Lelouch was soon in the computer lab and still there was no sign of Mao or Nunnally or any clues to the true location. "You left off the finishing touch, and now your sister's in a bind! What a quandary! What a quagmire! What a crunch!" Mao mocked, much to Lelouch's dismay.
"Nunnally has nothing to do with this!" Lelouch barked, obviously frustrated. There is no way he will let his sister get hurt!
(With Mao and Nunnally)
Nunnally was tied up but she wasn't gagged anymore. Mao is watching over her, this time he is wearing black jacket and a top hat.
"It's not a very nice way to play a game, you know." Nunnally said, earning Mao's attention.
"Hm?"
"If you do something to make brother sad, I'll never forgive you!" Nunnally said, expressing her distaste in Mao's actions. But that didn't bother Mao at all, in fact it actually made him laugh.
"What a pair you are! I love this brother-sister thing." Mao remarked as he planned for Lelouch's encounter. In the meantime, he looked at the Cherry Energy Lockseed in his hand and the Genesis Driver at his waist. Mao soon developed a diabolical smile.
(At the Student Council room)
"The president is on a blind date? I never knew that." Rai commented as he, Suzaku, and Kallen were feeding Arthur. It was lunch time and the gang was having a Pizza Hut pizza on the table with Ayano and Nina trying to eat a slice.
"You know I heard from Lelouch that Rivalz had a crush on her." Ayano recalled.
"That is a surprised." Rai remarked.
"It's kinda obvious with a bit of perspective." Kallen replied. She still angry about being crushed by the power of Genesis Rider though only Rai know about it.
"Don't rub it in." Rai said before Suzaku looked at him with a curious look.
"Speaking of which, how are your memories coming along? Remember anything yet?" Suzaku asked.
Rai still don't know what to say to his cousin yet. "Nothing worth mentioning." Rai answered before Arthur bit Suzaku's hand again.
"Ow!" Suzaku let out and Kallen looked at the small cat.
"What's the matter? Don't like your food?" Kallen asked but Arthur didn't answer since he was taking too much joy in biting Suzaku's hand.
"Arthur, why do you always do this!?" Suzaku asked since Arthur just about bites Suzaku every day of the week in every spot of his body, even in the private parts.
Just then the door opened, revealing an exhausted Lelouch. He looked around before eyeing Rai and Kallen. They already knew his identity as Zangetsu but given past experiences, Mao could easily manipulate either of them. Lelouch had to deal with this on his own.
"Lelouch, is there something wrong?" Ayano asked, noting Lelouch's absence but he wasn't paying attention since he was looking for clues on Mao and Nunnally's location but there wasn't.
"Huh? What?" Lelouch said, not paying attention.
"Yeah, Alice has a point. You didn't go to—" Suzaku then saw Lelouch trying to leave.
"Excuse me." Lelouch was about to leave but stopped for a second to look at Suzaku. "Oh, and I'll talk to you later about dinner." Lelouch said before leaving the room.
Suzaku and Ayano had suspicious look while Kallen held Arthur.
"You think he's going gambling again, huh, Arthur?" Kallen asked before they noticed Suzaku and Ayano leaving immediately.
Meanwhile, Lelouch was in the stairway and looked at the picture that he was left with when Mao's "game" began. He soon received a short call from Mao.
"Lulu, if you do a handstand while searching for me, I'll extend your time limit by an hour." Mao mocked before hanging up. Lelouch could just tell that Mao is enjoying watching Lelouch going through this and failing to find him and Nunnally.
Lelouch just ignored him and continued staring at the picture.
'He anticipated this. He wants me to squirm. But what do I do? He must be within 500 meters if he's reading my mind, but-.'
"Lelouch!" Suzaku and Ayano appeared, catching Lelouch off guard and making him drop the picture. Lelouch was about to pick it up but the picture immediately caught Suzaku's attention.
"Nunna-chan?" Ayano looks surprised.
"That's…I thought so. Something happened to Nunnally." Suzaku said.
The three were walking down the hall and Lelouch was speeding Suzaku and Ayano up to date with what happened regarding Mao's "game" and using Nunnally as the grand prize.
"Damn, how could someone like him get into the academy that easier?" Ayano questioned, gritting her teeths at Mao. She want to make Mao paid if he dared to touched Nunnally.
"But who would kidnap Nunnally? It can't be a Britannian spy or someone from the royal family." Suzaku said, knowing that if it was from the Britannian government, they would've been more subtle at least.
"No, this has nothing to do with our bloodline. Just a psychopath who wants to keep a girl all to himself." Lelouch said, which was actually true about Mao since he is doing this to get back at Lelouch and then he is going for CC. "That's why I can't go to the army or the police." Lelouch explained. Other than Mao's threat, revealing himself is a huge risk when it comes to the police or the military.
"Then there's no choice. We'll have to do this on our own." Suzaku said, now joining Lelouch in helping him stop Mao and free Nunnally. "This isn't about your gambling though, is it?"
"It has nothing to do with that." Lelouch said. He hasn't even gambled recently.
"Do you have any ideas where he take Nunna-chan?" Ayano asked.
"Just this photo…and I know he's somewhere very close by, watching me." Lelouch's eyes widened when he realized something. "And now that I think about it, I heard the sound of running water too!"
"Water…" Suzaku then realized the one place in the school where running water can be heard from. "The circulation system!"
"Nunna-chan is there?" Ayano asked.
"The lower levels?" Lelouch's eyes widened at Mao's choice of a hideout. It was so simple because Mao had to be somewhere around 500 meters to read Lelouch's mind but he couldn't do it in an obvious location so he moved underground. "Let's go!"
Lelouch, Ayano, and Suzaku rushed to the elevator where Lelouch placed his keycard in.
"Something's still off though." Suzaku admitted.
"What?" Lelouch looks confused at the brown hair Japanese.
"Normally, you'd home in right on that." Suzaku noted, remembering how much of a genius Lelouch was in class and in their childhood.
Lelouch grunted because he didn't want to admit one thing. Nunnally was Lelouch's drive, his source of strength but it can easily be turned into a weakness. If Nunnally's well-being was placed in jeopardy, Lelouch will rush to her rescue but can be reckless unlike his cold and calculative self who knows every strategy.
Soon the card popped back out following a beep from the console, adding to Lelouch's frustration.
"Tch…" Lelouch let out before bending down and working on the consoles.
"What is it?" Suzaku asked, noticing Lelouch's frustration.
"He changed the codes. We'll have to hack into the system." Lelouch said as he worked.
"But…that's against school rules." Suzaku said, pointing out the obvious.
"But do you want Nunna-chan's life being endanger, numbskull?" Ayano barked, made Suzaku look nervous.
"I am worried too!" Suzaku said.
"I'll change it back later." Lelouch said, not liking loose ends.
"Then let me do it." Suzaku said, wanting to put his military training to use and to help, of course.
"Too late, I got it." Lelouch said before the elevator opened, surprising Suzaku by the speed.
"That was fast. You're a little too good at that."
"The student council has partial access to these areas." Lelouch said as they got in. Suzaku and Ayano waited while Lelouch inputted their destination and soon the elevator started descending to the lower levels.
"Lelouch, I see. This how you've been getting off campus, isn't it? Your little escape route." Suzaku noted as he remembered Lelouch leaving off campus without any other students noticing, It was good to know one of Lelouch's tricks.
"Huh? Uh yeah, sometimes." Lelouch said before taking cover next to the elevator door, confusing Suzaku. Lelouch noticed this. "We have a security system down here in case of criminals or thieves. I have no doubt that the psychopath have hacked them." Mao didn't look like the hacking type but it was better to be safe than sorry.
Suzaku nodded and took cover as well before the elevator stopped with the doors opened.
"How's it look?" Lelouch asked as Suzaku took a hand mirror out and used the reflection to look out. Suzaku sees the security camera linked up with a machine gun turret. The turret itself seemed active.
"You were right. The door's guarded. There's a machine gun linked to the security camera. The lag on these systems is tight: 0.05 seconds." Suzaku analyzed, remembering what he learned from in military training.
"That means we can't access it this way. We'll head back up and disable the-."
Suzaku ran out, much to Lelouch's and Ayano's surprise. The turret started firing but Suzaku was running at a fast speed, dodging any bullet that turret throws at him. Soon Suzaku managed to get close enough to run across the wall before jumping off and doing a spin kick, knocking the turret away from the camera.
"That was a crazy move…" Ayano remarked.
Lelouch was surprised but then against Suzaku was always the reckless and brash one.
"Of all the reckless moves…" Lelouch was surprised that Suzaku can do that even if it was reckless and brash. Maybe he could spar with him once this is all over but right now, that's at the back of his head.
Suzaku just ignored the comment and looked at them.
"Come on, let's go. Nunnally's waiting for us." Suzaku reminded, earning a nod from Lelouch. The trio ran and proceeded into the room of the circulation room. They see Nunnally tied up but Mao wasn't anywhere in the room.
(At the church)
Mao was setting up something up of a scale in the school's church. He smiled as he thought about the thought of his revenge and how killing both Lelouch and Nunnally will be a joy to him. And to top it off, he can have CC all to himself with no one to stop him.
"But first, the pieces need to be laid." Mao said as he waited patiently for Lelouch's arrival.
(In the circulation system room)
They rush down the room before seeing Nunnally tied up and Mao wasn't anywhere nearby.
"Nunnally/ Nunna-chan!" The three called before Nunnally heard them.
"L-Lelouch, Ayano-chan, and Suzaku, is that you?" Nunnally asked as she wasn't looking forward to seeing or talking with Mao.
"I'm so sorry! I'll cut you loose-!" Lelouch was about to go over and save his sister but Suzaku stopped him.
"Wait! Wait! Look up there!" Suzaku pointed and Lelouch did to see something hanging over Nunnally's head.
Lelouch took a closer look to see that it was a makeshift bomb.
"A bomb."
"If only Yukiya is still here…" Ayano muttered to herself, she is no expert to bombs like her old friend who could possible solved this.
"That's right, Lulu. I'll play along since your friends came on their own. Can't wait to see how you three deal with this!" Mao mocked before hanging up.
Lelouch just gritted his teeth, Mao must have the detonator but moved to a different location. The only comfort that he has was that Mao is within 500 meters.
Suzaku, however, seemed cheerful and determined that he and Lelouch will get Nunnally out of this mess and stop Mao.
"Nunnally, we're going to defuse the bomb." Suzaku smiled. "It's okay. Don't worry. Lelouch and I can do anything together. You know that." Suzaku said, being confident that he and Lelouch can succeed since they are brawn and brain personified. If they can survive the Britannia's war on Japan, then they can definitely survive this.
Nunnally smiled, Suzaku's charisma rubbing off on her.
"That's right." Nunnally nodded while Lelouch analyzed the bomb.
"Any ideas?" Ayano asked.
(With Mao)
Mao just laughed at all this. He was going to win this game and take everything from Lelouch. Plus with a statement like that, coming from Suzaku, it'll make Mao's victory all the sweeter.
"CHERRY ENERGY!"
Just the sound of that made Mao giddy and tingling with excitement but just then the burden of Geass activated as Mao received hundreds of thoughts from the students.
(Back with others)
"It's motion sensitive. A solenoid inside supplied energy that keeps it constantly moving." Lelouch explained, showing what kind of bomb they're dealing with and why it's constantly hovering over Nunnally in a circle-like motion. "If an external force interferes with the motion, then the bomb-."
"Explodes. Moving Nunnally even an inch will trigger it. That's the way it's set up." Suzaku finished, being on the same level of understanding as his friend.
"Can you calculate its range?" Lelouch asked.
"It'd wipe out everything within five or six hundred meters, minimum." Suzaku answered.
Lelouch then started thinking as he was analyzing Mao's plan. If the bomb had a 500-600 meter radius then Mao would have to be somewhere that his Geass couldn't reach but why would he do that especially since mind reading would have to be one of Lelouch's greatest weaknesses. The only advantage he has in this is that he can do something freely without Mao's acknowledgement but it wasn't much room for comfort.
'Now what? We're beyond the reach of his Geass. Is he trying to mislead me?' Lelouch thought as he tried looking for a way to take advantage of the situation to save Nunnally.
"You think you know how to disarm it?" Suzaku asked, wondering if Lelouch already had a plan which he probably does.
Lelouch gestured Suzaku to look at the multi-colored wires that were holding the bomb above Nunnally.
"Theoretically. The power line to the detonator would need to be severed. Since he's not a pro at this, I'm sure I could figure out which lines are dummies. Still, we need to find another way to do it." Lelouch said, remembering how sloppy yet effective Mao can be when it comes to work.
Suzaku looked at Lelouch.
"Why? If we choose the right one-."
"Because you'd have to cut the line without disrupting the motion, which is impossible." Lelouch said, keeping his eyes on the bomb which was swinging like a pendulum.
Suzaku was thinking before getting a plan.
"I'll do it. There's no choice." Suzaku said, wanting to save Nunnally and end this sick twisted game like Lelouch.
"No, Suzaku! We don't have enough information to pull it off!" Lelouch said, looking at his limited options.
"There's a time limit here; we can't afford to play it safe. As for information, it's staring at you right in the face. I'm a soldier, Lelouch. Can't you use that information?" Suzaku asked, reminding Lelouch that he's been trained to handle situations like this.
Lelouch was thinking about it.
(With Sayoko)
Sayoko was running errands by buying groceries. She looked around and saw a sale on toilet paper.
"We're not short on toilet paper, are we?" Sayoko wondered before…
RING!
Sayoko heard her phone rang and looked at the Caller ID to see that it was Lelouch. She soon answered it.
"Hello?"
(With Mao)
Mao was practically banging his head against the wall since the thoughts of the other students went into his head. Mao could do nothing but grit his teeth.
"Stuck up little brats! No wonder I hate schools so much!" Mao thought out loud before sensing a familiar thought; Lelouch's. "Huh?"
Lelouch was approaching the church with his thoughts being easily read by Mao's Geass.
What now? What's he got planned for me next? That camera trained on Nunnally is transmitting to Mao. Is he here? I can't believe he'd still be here at the school. What a whack-job. I told Suzaku and Ayano to stay with Nunnally, but that leave me with only one option. Lelouch thought and that one option was to confront Mao himself. His only hope of freeing Nunnally was to stop Mao completely and win his game.
Lelouch entered the church and sees Mao with a smug smile while clapping.
"Well, if it isn't Casanova! No weapons, no strategy. You didn't defuse the bomb, didn't use your armor, didn't deploy the Black Knights, Riders, Knightframe, or your friend. What's wrong, Lulu?" Mao taunted, knowing that Lelouch had very few options to begin
Lelouch just held an irritated look while he just stared at Mao.
"I'm not explaining anything to you. The final game…is it ready?" Lelouch asked, eyeing the covered game that was in front of a scale which was probably linked to bomb.
"Hmm, let's put an end to this then." Mao took the cover off, revealing a chess game set. "With your specialty."
Mao looked at the scale next to the chess set.
"You seem the scale is the bomb's detonator and its cancellation switch." Mao then got a chess piece and placed it on his side of the scale as an example. When he placed it there, the needle in the scale meter started pointing towards Mao. "The chess pieces we capture will go here. If the needle swings all the way towards me, the bomb goes off. If it swings towards you, the bomb will be disarmed. In short, if you win the game, your sister's life will be saved."
The rules seemed simple and normally Lelouch is a pro at this game but Mao is a mind reader, that ability alone guarantees victory. This game was probably just icing on the cake for him. Lelouch seemed subtly agitated.
"Your mind is twisted. No wonder C.C. left you."
Mao seemed unaffected by the comment.
"Provoking me won't work. I can read your thoughts, so I know what you're trying to do." Mao warned but on short, he's planning to cheat.
(With Suzaku and Ayano)
Suzaku stood on a little nook above the bomb. He looked down and saw Nunnally's calm yet worried expression. Suzaku smiled at her before taking a deep breath, he was definitely going to save Nunnally and help Lelouch put an end to this sick twisted game.
Come on, numbskull… Ayano thought.
"Alright, here goes nothing." Suzaku said.
(With Lelouch and Mao)
Mao just tossed the fifth piece that he just won from Lelouch into his side of the scale. Mao smiled at Lelouch's uneasy expression when staring at the chessboard.
"I'm afraid you're not the type of person who can keep your mind empty. There's the part of you that's a critic, constantly watching your own moves…and there's another part that's an observer watching the critic…watching you. You're that kind of person." Mao said, analyzing Lelouch's mind as if he was an open book. He then chuckled. "But I know all your thoughts, so I'm always a step ahead. You can't win." Mao mocked as he earned another one of Lelouch's chess pieces.
He tossed it into his side of the scale and the scale meter started pointing more towards Mao, frustrating Lelouch. He needed to think of something quick and soon or else Nunnally gets blown up.
Lelouch soon tried having multiple to throw Mao off but it didn't work, it just made Mao clap.
"Bravo!" Mao clapped. "Your plan is to think of seven things at once to confuse me and trip me up!" Lelouch stayed silent and moved his piece. "But you see, if I focus my Geass directly on you, it's easy to tell which one is your true thought." Mao made his move before taking another of Lelouch's pieces and throwing it into the pile. "Ah, your last plan is failing as well. You underestimated me, that's why your sister is…"
Lelouch's eyes widened and started shaking as he saw the scale meter go dangerously in the red for him. Mao saw this uneasy expression and decided to revel in it.
"'What do I do? I'm out of strategies. I can't call for backup as long as Nunnally is being held hostage.'" Mao then took out a coin and dropped it on the floor, scaring Lelouch since that drop could mess up the bomb's motion. "Sorry, sorry, I dropped it."
Mao picked up the coin and watched Lelouch becoming tenser as the clock kept ticking. Mao then clapped, prompting Lelouch to hurry up. Lelouch seemed extremely nervous to do something.
"Your turn. Better hurry. Looky, looky, time is running out. Your little sister is not going to make it." Mao said before Lelouch picked up his piece and was about to move it. "Ah, is that the right move? Are you sure you wanna do that?" Mao asked, reminding Lelouch that he'll be one step ahead of him since he could read his mind.
Fed up and just wanting to see Nunnally safe at this point, Lelouch dropped his shoulders and head in defeat.
"Isn't this enough…?" He quietly whispered.
"Hm?"
"Please stop it, Mao…" Lelouch begged, he couldn't take this anymore since he knew he couldn't win this game.
"I can't hear you very well." Mao replied, making Lelouch look at him straight in the eye.
"You've gotten everything you wanted! Let Nunnally go!" Lelouch screamed, practically begging for his little sister's safety.
"Huh?"
Lelouch looked down.
"I admit it…you have beaten me." Lelouch admitted.
Mao just laughed hysterically while clapping, rejoicing over his victory.
"Very well said! You're finally speaking the thought from the deepest part of your soul, huh? That feels great! Fantastic! But…no." That immediately got Lelouch's attention as Mao made a checkmate move. He grabbed Lelouch's last piece and threw it into the pile. "This is…checkmate."
Lelouch looked shocked before noticing the needle pointing entirely at Mao's side, leaving Lelouch's completely in the red.
"NO!" Lelouch said before falling on his butt with a face of pure shock with the thought of his sister being nothing but ash now. "Nunnally…"
"Hmm, let me see if she's burst into little pieces." Mao said as he took out the camera to see Nunnally's remains but…she was still in one piece. "Ah!? What the!? Why is she-!?"
Lelouch just seemed just as confused as Mao was. Soon the window crashed and in came Suzaku. That was when Mao realized what Lelouch did.
"How did you!? You kept me focused on you!" Suzaku soon landed and Mao pulled out his gun before firing. Suzaku easily dodged the bullets before kicking Mao, making him lose the gun and his sunglass.
"I am Warrant Officer Suzaku Kururugi of the Britannian Military and you are under arrest." Suzaku said, shocking Lelouch since he told him to stay with Nunnally. Mao was just shocked that Lelouch distracted him while Suzaku took care of Nunnally.
"Suzaku…"
"You disarmed the bomb!? Impossible! You'd have to match your speed to the pendulum!" Mao pointed out.
"That's right…after Lelouch showed me which line to cut." Suzaku explained, shocking Mao…and Lelouch since he doesn't remember it.
(A few minutes ago)
Suzaku took out a combat knife and jumped off the nook. He fell at the speed of the bomb before eyeing the wire that he needs to cut; the red one. He held the knife out and it soon came into contact with the wire, immediately cutting it upon impact. Suzaku then landed and looked at the inactive bomb.
He then looked at Nunnally before smiling and looks at Ayano.
"That was a close one…" Ayano said before figure how to undo Nunnally's bind.
"Stay with Nunnally." Ayano nodded with affirm.
(Present)
"I showed you?" Lelouch asked, just to be sure.
Suzaku looked at him with a confused expression.
"What are you saying? It was your plan: cut the line then bust in here when I heard your scream. Don't you remember?" Suzaku asked.
Lelouch then realized what he was saying before pulling out his hand mirror, and seeing himself with his Geass active.
"So that's it…right, thanks for reminding me." Lelouch said before putting it away and turning off his Geass. "Mao, it seems that this is my checkmate."
Mao looked confused but his eyes widened as he stood up.
"Lelouch, don't tell me you-!"
That's right, I gave Suzaku his instructions then used Geass on myself to forget so you couldn't find out. You believe that if you know a person's thoughts you know everything. That's why you narrowed your range and focused all your power on my mind. That was your mistake. Lelouch thought as he smiled. In the end, Mao's cockiness and dependency of his Geass were his undoing. Lelouch knew that and made sure it would by making it look like Mao won but he really didn't.
"That's ridiculous! You bet everything on one friend!? What if he'd failed you!?" Mao asked as his arm was grabbed by Suzaku.
'Good point. To execute this plan, to had to trust Suzaku completely.' Lelouch mentally explained and that wasn't a problem since Suzaku was his best friend. Suzaku got on the phone.
"Sayoko, everything's fine now."
"…"
"Right, go ahead." Suzaku said, giving the all-clear to free Nunnally.
(With Nunnally)
Sayoko and Ayano are busy take care of the binds on Nunnally.
"Sayoko, is that you?" Nunnally asked.
"Everything will be okay, Nunnally." Sayoko assured before looking at Ayano.
"Go checked on Lelouch. I will make sure she is safe." Ayano nodded before she ran ahead.
(With Lelouch and the others)
Mao just had a furious look. This wasn't over not by a long shot.
"Hmph, you think you beat me, huh!?" Mao asked as he tried getting his hands at Lelouch but Suzaku was stopping him.
"Stop it!" Suzaku said as Mao tried to resist.
"Get your hands off of me, father killer!" Mao barked back, making Suzaku's eyes widen while Lelouch seemed confused. Suzaku wore an expression of pure shock while Mao smiled, knowing that he could torture Suzaku. "You killed your own father seven years ago. Hmph, he called for do-or-die resistance and you thought stopping him would end the war. What a childish idea. The fact is, you're a murderer!" Mao accused Suzaku of being.
"Suzaku, did you really do this…? Is this why you turning back on your own people?" Suzaku turns around to see Ayano who have a disbelief look on her face.
Ayano thought Lelouch might need help against Mao if he becomes Sigurd again. But she wasn't expected to hear that Suzaku is the one who caused Japan fall into Britannia's hand. The same honorable numbskull who been her and Lelouch's friend, committing something like this.
"That's not true! I just…I-!" Suzaku tried to argue but Mao seemed to have the upper hand.
"How lucky for you that no one ever found out. All the adults lied to protect you." Mao said while Lelouch stepped up.
"But all the reports said his suicide was a protest against military action…" Lelouch said before remembering his previous conversation with Sagara before coming into a realization.
That what he meant why Suzaku joins the Britannia military! Lelouch thought in shocked. Another reason why Sagara didn't tell him because Lelouch knew Suzaku is too honorable to even commit the deed.
"Then all the reports about the Prime Minister's suicide is a lie..." Ayano concluded.
That snapped Suzaku out of the stun.
"I didn't have any choice! If I didn't, Japan would have-!"
"That's how you justify it in retrospect? Well it explains your death wish!" Mao said, putting Suzaku back into being stunned and revealing another secret of him. "You want to save people's lives? It's your own wretched soul you're trying to save. That's why you're always charging into danger, placing yourself on the edge of death!"
Suzaku screamed as he got on his knees, unable to take this mental scarring. Mao just smiled as he took Suzaku's hand off of him.
"You're no hero; you're just trying to wash the blood off your hands! A little brat begging to be punished!" Mao accused Suzaku of before kneeing him in the face, knocking Suzaku out. Mao then opened his coat, to reveal his Genesis Driver. "With him out of the way…"
Mao took out the Cherry Energy Lockseed.
"CHERRY ENERGY!"
Mao tilted his top hat before response, "Henshin!"
"SODA~! CHERRY ENERGY ARMS!"
After the metallic cherry fall on his head, he once again become Sigurd.
"Now then, it time to show you what a real Rider can do…" Sigurd said with a smirk.
Lelouch and Ayano look angry at Mao.
"Mao, it time to put you out of commission!" Lelouch said with anger as they placed their Sengoku Drivers on and got out their Lockseeds.
"MELON!"
"BLUEBERRY!"
"Henshin!" They shout in union before locked their Lockseeds into their Drivers.
"SOIYA!"
"MELON ARMS! TENKA GOMEN!"
"BLUEBERRY ARMS! AMENO GOMEN!"
The two transformed into their respective forms as they got out their blades before charging at Sigurd. Sigurd brought up his Sonic Arrows at the two Riders. But they dodged the shots as they try to slash Sigurd's armor multiple times. However, their attacks have no effect on Sigurd as the Genesis Rider laughed menacingly.
"This is like before, Lulu…" Sigurd gloating before pushing the Seaboll Compressor of his Driver.
"SODA~! CHERRY ENERGY SQUASH!"
Sigurd brought up his Sonic Arrow as he unleashed a red energy slash to both Riders and send them flying out of the church's window.
Zangetsu rolled across the ground before he regained his composition and looks at Habakiri who on the ground.
He soon noticed Sigurd came out of the window and ready to aim his Sonic Arrow at Habakiri. Zangetsu got himself up and pushed down his Cutting Blade twice.
"SOIYA! MELON AU LAIT!"
Zangetsu throws the Melon Defender as it glowing with vibration green color toward Sigurd to knocked Sigurd's arrow away from Habakiri.
"You're fighting with me!" Zangetsu shout before slammed his blade against Sigurd's Sonic Arrow as the two Riders collided.
"Do you think that you can destroy the Rule of Reality by ended many lives with your hands?" Sigurd asked sickly.
"I only do what I know that I have to do." Zangetsu said cold before swing his Musou Saber again to slash against Sigurd's chest.
But Sigurd laughed before swing his Sonic Arrow at Zangetsu. However, Zangetsu narrowed dodged before coming at Sigurd from behind. Sigurd brought his Sonic Arrow around and slash Zangetsu several times in the chest as the white Rider send flying backward.
"Lelouch!" Habakiri shout with shocked and worried before she got up. She charged at Sigurd with killing intent.
Sigurd blocks her weapons with Sonic Arrow as sparks flying across the ground. "I won't forgive you for kidnapping Nunna-chan and try to hurt Lelouch! I will protect them, no matter what." She growl.
"You're just saying that because you want him! You little slut!" Sigurd barked, but Zangetsu hear him. Habakiri froze; she'd totally forgotten that he could read her mind before she use her armor. Zangetsu looked back at her in concern. He wasn't expect she have same feeling for to him.
"Sure, you think you're doing it to atone for what happened to your friends and your grandfather… You are no better than Shirley herself! You are happy that she is out of the way and you can have Lelouch for yourself!"
This caused Habakiri to drop her swords, she fell to her knees shaking her head.
"No, it's not true… I-I didn't want Lelouch for that reason! I don't want him to hurt his friends…!"
Sigurd pushed his Seaboll Compressor.
"CHERRY ENERGY SQUASH!"
Sigurd slashed with his Sonic Arrow, sending out a red energy arc that causing Habakiri to screamed in pain.
"Ayano!" Zangetsu screamed before he snarled at Sigurd and charge at him recklessly. "BASTARD!"
Sigurd brought up his Sonic Arrow to block against Zangetsu's multiply slashes. "You know that I won't be defeated since my advance gear than you. Your friends didn't even stand a chance against me." he said.
"I don't fucking care how advanced your armor! But I won't let you get away with this, Mao! Do you heard me?!" Zangetsu said. First kidnap Rivalz, then hurt C.C. and severely injure some of his best soldiers was one thing. Hurting Ayano by manipulating her feelings burned equally as bad as kidnapping Nunnally.
"Maybe I should make your little girlfriend suffered more..." Sigurd chuckled before he slashed Zangetsu in the process as several armor pieces hits the ground.
Zangetsu clenched his fist as he try to get himself up. "I won't give up…" Zangetsu growl.
Sigurd was about to walk up to Zangetsu before ready to charge at him.
"I won't give up until very end!" Zangetsu shout.
The white Rider noticed everything around him suddenly stop.
"What in the world…?" Zangetsu asked confused.
"It looks like you have some hard time against Sigurd, Lelouch." A familiar voice said as Zangetsu turns to see Sagara.
"Sagara…" Zangetsu said. "What are you doing here?" he questioned.
"I know Mao will find his way to you when it comes to Cera." Sagara said.
"So you are the one who give him the Genesis Driver and Lockseed!" Zangetsu accused at the headband man. "Why!?"
"To make things interesting." Sagara said. "But you looks like you need a hand now."
"Why should I accept your help now?" Zangetsu asked, suspiciously.
"But what can you do now in your current state? Do you really want to upset your sister and everyone counting on you?"
Zangetsu gritted his teeth. As much as he hated it, Sagara was right. The situation looks really bleak right now. Especially he eager to get back at Sigurd more than anything else. "Very well," He answered. "But know this: I will find out what is your real agenda and come for you."
"I'd like to see you try," Sagara replied, apparently amused. He then takes out two items from out of thin air.
"T-That's…!" Zangetsu gasped in surprised. The objects in question were a Genesis Driver similar to the one Sigurd wear and an Energy Lockseed with Melon cover with the code E.L.S.- 04.
"I hope you provide more entertainment, Lelouch." he said before handing the objects to Zangetsu. The white Rider looks at the items in his hands. "I be watching you, Lamperouge." Sagara said before he vanished into thin air.
Soon everything seem to returns to normal.
Zangetsu removed his Sengoku Driver, much to everyone's surprised.
"What are you doing?" Sigurd questioned, caught off guard. That didn't make any sense. Why would he remove his belt?
"Lelouch…?" Habakiri asked, confused. Is he giving up?
Soon they received answer and their eyes widened in shocked as they saw what he replaced his Sengoku Driver with. It was a Genesis Driver like the one Sigurd used. "How did you get that!?"
"I won't forgive you for what you did to Rivalz, hurting my friends, especially Nunnally! I will make you paid with your own life! I swore on… my Noblesse Oblige!" Zangetsu declared, holding his new Energy Lockseed in his hand.
"MELON ENERGY!"
(Play Kamen Rider Gaim: Toki no Hana ost)
Soon techno tune played as a Crack opened above his head and the Melon Energy Armor Parts descended. It looked like Melon Arms, but with extra orange panels on it. Zangetsu placed the Lockseed into the Driver's Core and locked it in place.
"LOCK ON…!"
There was a low humming, pulsating sound before he pushed the Seaboll Compressor to open the Lockseed. Unlike it's Lockseed counterpart, the cantaloupe image split into three to reveal its core, based from the image of a cantaloupe slice.
"SODA~! MELON ENERGY ARMS!"
Orange 'juice' flowed through the Vascular Duct to the Concentrate Pod, filling it up until it is full.
Soon the Melon Arms vanished into thin air as the rest of the techno music played. The Melon Energy Arms fell on top of his head and energy rippled start to affect the bodysuit. It was same as his original one but with black padding on the sides. Then the Melon Energy Arms opened to reveal his helmet while folding into pieces of his armor. The chest piece had the same color skin as a melon with orange plating on the right side and his personal emblem. A large orange pauldron was on his right shoulder while his left shoulder was bare. His visor was now orange with more prominent black trims and had futuristic design on the helmet and head crest.
A splash of juice-like energy immediately equipped him with a Sonic Arrow.
"Genesis Rider Zangetsu-Shin, on stage…" the newly Genesis Rider declared.
"I-Impossible…" Sigurd stuttered.
"Woah…" Habakiri comment.
Zangetsu-Shin took his new Sonic Arrow and charged.
Sigurd got out his confusion before charged too as the two Genesis Riders collided. Sigurd tried shooting at Zangetsu-Shin but Zangetsu-Shin is too fast than he was in Sengoku Rider. Zangetsu-Shin saw an opening and slashed Sigurd with his Sonic Arrow but this time… Sigurd actually felt that.
"I-It hurts!?" Sigurd remarked, looking at the wound.
"That wound is no compared to how pissed off I am now…!" Zangetsu-Shin said before Sigurd brought his Sonic Arrow up into the air and fired as a large energy cherry appears above him.
But the red arrows doesn't seem to bother Zangetsu-Shin at all.
"My turn!" Zangetsu-Shin said before firing his own Sonic Arrow at Sigurd.
This cause Sigurd to fall to the ground and groan in pain. But Sigurd hadn't give up yet as he came back up and looks angry.
"This isn't over!" Sigurd exclaimed before charging in red blur.
Zangetsu-Shin did the same as the two Genesis Riders collided with each other when they passed each other. Sigurd try to slew him, but Zangetsu-Shin parried the attack and struck him in the chest with the Sonic Arrow.
"This is for Rivalz!" Zangetsu-Shin shout before unleashed another fierce slash that send Sigurd flying in the air.
Zangetsu-Shin then brought his Sonic Arrow into the air before pulled the shaft and let loose of several energy bolt arrows at the Cherry Energy Rider in the chest.
"That was for kidnapped my sister and hurting Ayano's feeling, you fucking bastard!" Zangetsu-Shin roared with fury.
Sigurd fall hard to the ground as you can see smoke coming out of his armor.
"Finally, something I'm good with." Zangetsu-Shin compliment, looking at his Sonic Arrow. He once asks Sayoko to teach him archery to make up for his failure in long range.
"Damn you! I won't go down like this!" Sigurd exclaimed with angry before he pressed his Seaboll Compressor twice.
"CHERRY ENERGY SPARKING!"
Sigurd's Sonic Arrow glowing with crimson energy as he going into a stance before unleashed the attack.
But Zangetsu-Shin leaped into the air before pushing his Seaboll Compressor once.
"MELON ENERGY SQUASH!"
His Sonic Arrow glow with green aura and slashed through the red arc before unleashed a deadly slash on Sigurd's chest, causing an explosion.
"GAAAAHHH!" Mao cried out before being sends flying backward.
"This is over, Mao." Zangetsu-Shin said.
"Shut up!" Mao shouted as he shakily rose to his feet. "Do you really think this is over?" he asked sarcastically before he began to laugh. "Just you think that you won this battle, doesn't mean you won the war!"
This made Zangetsu-Shin stares cold at him.
"And I am not done with you ya!" Mao continued before picked up his fallen Cherry Energy Lockseed and activated it.
"CHERRY ENERGY!"
"LOCK ON…!"
"SODA~! CHERRY ENERGY ARMS!"
"RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" Sigurd yelled after transforming and charged at Zangetsu-Shin.
Habakiri is about to help Zangetsu-Shin, but she noticed he takes out his Melon Energy Lockseed and equipped to his Sonic Arrow.
"LOCK ON!"
Zangetsu-Shin aimed high at the sky and pulled the Sonic Arrow's shaft, stretching the string before releasing it. The charge at the tip was released as an arrow that reached the sky, trailing a huge melon behind it.
"MELON ENERGY!"
The melon exploded and Habakiri watched in awe as the energy bloomed. She then gasped as hundreds of energy arrows rained down and fell upon Sigurd, causing serious explosions.
The bombardment ceased as Sigurd collapsed on the floor before his armor vanished. The Cherry Energy Lockseed was ripped out of the Genesis Driver before landed in Zangetsu-Shin's hand.
(Song end)
Zangetsu-Shin then walked over to Mao to see he is badly bleeding all over his body. The white hair foreigner won't last long as Zangetsu-Shin doesn't believed he is worth finished off. But Zangetsu-Shin then pay attention toward the Genesis Driver on his waist.
"Dam-n… yo-u…" Mao tried to speak, trying to clinger on life. Zangetsu-Shin didn't say anything but took the Genesis Driver off of Mao. It only had minor damage, but it will be a good use for him to study the Genesis Driver's power.
Zangetsu-Shin turns his attention toward Habakiri who looks quiet before he approached her slowly.
"Ayano, are you alright?" Before Habakiri could response, she felt Mao's words floated back into her mind. Gripping the sides of her helmet with her hands, she shook her head, desperately trying to get his voice to stay quiet.
This made Zangetsu-Shin frowned and looked back at Mao who laying on the lap of C.C. as the green hair witch say her farewell to Mao.
"We will be together in the C's world." C.C. said soft before closed his eyes.
Zangetsu-Shin closed his Energy Lockseed before kneel down to closed Habakiri's Lockseed. "Ayano." Ayano looked up at him. Lelouch soon pulled her into an embrace. "I don't care what he said. You are important to me and Nunnally. You are fighting to make up for the past by helping Japan being free again. Don't ever doubt that."
Ayano nodded into his shoulder and hugged him back. He could feel her crying against him.
"Lelouch, I…"
"Love me?" Ayano tensed and her face turned bright red. Ayano was thankful that Lelouch can't see it since her head rest on his shoulder. His hand ran through her hair, the feeling soothed her.
"It's alright… The truth is back when we're were kids, I felt something as well and I still do after seeing you again." Lelouch said softly. "I am still unsure what my feeling… but we can try to discover our feeling together, will you go out with me, Ayano Kosaka?" he requested.
"T-that sound a bit cheesy, baka." Ayano said with a teasing tone.
"I-I am not good at this, okay." Lelouch protested.
"Alright. I accept." Ayano said with a smile.
Lelouch and Ayano walked back into the church where they see Suzaku sitting against the wall with his head in his hands, still not able to get over Mao's words.
"I just… I just…" Suzaku let out.
AN: What do you think of the debut for Zangetsu-Shin? Also Lelouch and Ayano finally learns what exactly happened to Suzaku, this will result some problems. Also, Lelouch will still used regular Lockseeds after gained his Genesis upgrade. As for who is going to be the new Sigurd, I already have couple of candidates in mind. Anyway, be sure to review or message me for any questions, comments, or concern. And don't be afraid to look at my other stories.