A/N: Thank you to everyone! 40 followers and 50+ reviews is such an awesome thing to see! I'd like to thank all of you who put out some lengthy reviews: CodeGeassFanZero117, James2091997, and Dark008, among others. If you guys ever have questions please drop a PM/review on the story! :) I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
Lelouch had been walking for an hour through the tunnels.
In the darkness of the sewers it had been difficult to find his way back, even the markers they left behind were hidden by the pitch black. When Lelouch asked why C.C had come to his aid, the witch had simply shrugged and walked away, telling Lelouch that she would find her own way out. The underground system beneath the Tokyo Settlement was grand, expansive, a modern day Labyrinth of Crete.
Damn that witch, she may have saved my life but she shouldn't have wandered off like that.
"Got lost did you?" a familiar voice called out from the shadows.
Lelouch sighed, he did not like to admit it, nor would he, but he had been lost for a few minutes. But he focused, nobody could see his confusion or frustration behind the mask of Zero.
"You know these tunnels well, better than you said you did." Lelouch responded through his mask to the familiar voice. A red-haired man came out of the shadows, chuckling at his comment.
"The Britannians call us rats, there is some truth ot it." the red-haired man shrugged. "You matched your claims as well, I must admit I was nervous with so many Sutherlands surrounding us and I still have no idea how you got Jeremiah Gottwald of all people to let us go. But your plan worked out in the end and everyone knows who you are now, Zero the prince-killer."
Through research, bluffs and Geass, that is how my plan worked. "The problem was never the pureblood, it was the acting viceroy. She gave chase, she almost caught me." Lelouch said as he carefully observed the man. His face gave it all away, a mix of shock, anger and even pride. He still cares for her. Lelouch was not surprised, they were family after all.
"My sister has always been stubborn and reckless." the man said said. Lelouch had confronted Kallen only an hour ago, and it was easy to see that Naoto Kozuki was the spitting image of her. The same colorful blue eyes, the same red hair, the same small nose and the same oval chin. Naoto was taller, almost as tall as Lelouch, but he was far bulkier than Lelouch ever would be.
"The younger siblings are oft the reckless ones." Leloush said, but nothing else. A silence lingered, Naoto frowned.
"You still do not trust me," Naoto said irritably.
"Your spitting image pointed a gun at me not long ago." Lelouch confessed.
"My group knows I am half-Britannian, I have fought with them for a decade and I have never turned my coat." Naoto argued.
"So they all know you are a Stadfeld, the son to one of the richest man in all of Britannia?" Lelouch asked coyly, his grin free to spread as it was hidden by his mask. Lelouch had done his research on the group in Shinjuku and learned plenty. Naoto's face said it all as his blue eyes swerved away.
"Most of them don't know, but some of us know." said a second man emerging from the shadows. He was tall, dwarfing Lelouch and Naoto, he had a simple face, he was not as strong looking as Naoto but he was a capable looking man with a small afro in his head. "Zero, I understand your reluctance to trust Naoto, but he is a man I've worked with for a decade. There is no man more trustworthy than Naoto."
"Do you trust this man with your life, Ohgi? Knowing he is half-Britannian? Knowing his own sister is the viceroy?" Lelouch asked.
"I've trusted him for the last eight years, I see no reason to stop now." Ohgi's voice did not waver.
Lelouch looked at the two of them, Naoto and Ohgi. When Lelouch had asked these terrorist for their aid he was surprised at how swiftly they accepted his proposal. What you did for us in Shinjuku can never be repaid, let us help you. Naoto had said over the radio. They kept true to their words and they helped Lelouch reveal Zero to the world.
They've fought together for years, survived together for years, just like me and Suzaku did. And when he looked at Naoto he saw a reflection of himself. A self-exiled son of nobility, a man who abandoned his heritage and escaped to Japan. After those thoughts, his distrust of them diminished, but he had one doubt still. "If we meet your sister in the field of battle and her life falls in your hand, what will you do, Naoto?" Lelouch asked.
Ohgi looked at Naoto, Naoto looked at Zero. He and his sister make the same faces.
"I won't kill my sister." Naoto declared after a long silence. Ohgi looked satisfied with the answer, Lelouch smiled but only because he remembered something from a few days ago.
"A close friend of mine once told me that to kill a father or a brother is a sin, a heavy sin that will stay with you for the rest of your life. You are a good man Naoto, but now I ask: if Kallen's life falls in my hands, will you stop me from doing what needs to be done?" When Lelouch asked this he streched out his arm, offering his hand to Naoto.
Naoto stayed silent, looking at him, looking at his mask, trying to peer through the glass. That was the advantage of the mask, it did not just hide his identity, it hid Lelouch's thoughts. Every man is my prey when I don the mask of Zero.
Naoto did not speak: but he shook the devil's hand all the same. Lelouch smirked. I have my knight, my rook, and my queen. Soon I will take down the red queen.
Kallen dared not close her eyes, if she did sleep would soon take her. She kept them peeled wide open as the brown woman Villeta Nu talked.
"I do not know what overcame Lord Jeremiah, that terrorist, Zero, he must have played some trick." the pureblood member pleaded.
"Jeremiah will remain arrested until we figure out what happened." Kallen snapped. She would not hear any more excuses. Jeremiah had set barely any security for the prince's funeral, hoping for some foolish terrorist to step into his den. A terrorist had come, but he had embarassed not only Jeremiah but all of Area 11. "This Zero came in to directly confront us, he confessed to the murder of the prince and your security detail let him get away!"
Villeta flinched, her head facing the desk.
"This Zero is likely our unknown suspect, the one that aided the terrorist in Shinjuku," Liliana said from her seat. "His voice matches the older recording from the battle."
And the green haired woman is with him. Kallen thought. She had her doubts at first, about Zero's enigmatic claim of him killing the prince: but when Kallen saw that green-haired witch with him she did not doubt it. Zero was behind it all mayhaps, the seizure of the prince's 'weapon', the battle in Shinjuku, and the murder of the prince.
Zero's claim and reveal were the talk of not just Area 11, but of the whole world. From Paris to Pendragon everybody was talking about this caped terrorist, and it fell on Kallen to deal with it. Her advisors discussed loudly their next steps, what to do, who to blame, who to ask for help.
Kallen's mind wandered off to her brother. She remembered a Kozuki was working with this Zero in Shinjuku, she did not know if it was her brother. Kozuki was a common name, but regardless she knew her next actions would make her brother unhappy, wherever he was. I want to make Area 11 peaceful, prosperous, she remembered telling Lelouch. She wanted to do that for her brother, in his memory. But Zero has forced me to take the road of blood and steel.
"Contact the commander of our garrison in Hokkaido and Kyushu." Kallen suddenly spoke. The talks of her advisors suddenly fell silent. "Same with the commander in Nagoya."
"My lady?" asked Arthur.
"Tell them to prepare for battle. We will strike when the sun rises."
"My lady, would it not be prudent to wait for Princess Cornelia?" an older man asked, one of the economists in her government.
The news of Zero and his confession had enraged a certain princess. I will be coming to Area 11 in two days, Kallen had received communications from Cornelia. And I will avenge my brother, she wrote. "No, we will act fast. We cannot let the terrorists become emboldened by this Zero, nor can the world think Britannia is weak." Kallen said.
"Who will lead these attacks?" asked one of the generals.
"Myself, I will first head to Kyushuu, then Nagoya, and then finally Hokkaido. By the time Her Highness has arrived we will have struck back against Zero." she declared.
Soon the meeting was over and Kallen retreated into her chambers. Our battle will be one of wills, Viceroy, and I plan to break yours. Zero's words repeated themselves in her head. She remembered the green-haired woman by his side as well.
"My lady, who will you take with you in these battles?" Arthur asked her.
"None of you, this is something I plan to do by myself." She decided she would have her guard stay in the Tokyo Settlement.
The old man frowned. "You plan to fight three battles in one day, you will be at significant risk."
"There will be no risk." Kallen said with a coldness creeping in her voice. "I want to be alone, I do not want my guard to see me."
"My lady, we are all sworn in service to you-"
"Words are wind. And vows are made up of words. They follow me because they respect and love me." Kallen pointed out. "They will not follow me if they see how ugly I can become."
Arthur's grey eyes were sad. "At least allow me, my lady, allow me to follow you in these battles."
Kallen shook her head. "I wish to be alone, Arthur."
The sun would soon rise, Kallen did not have a moment to rest. She headed to the courtyard where a helicopter awaited her, outside of it was a familiar scientist. Ah, my favorite sociopath. "To what do I owe the pleasure, Earl Asplund?"
Lloyd waved his hand ignoring formalities. "You are not taking the Lancelot for today's battle?"
She shook her head. "One battle, I would have. For three battles? No, the Lancelot is too fragile." Kallen said. The Lancelot was sturdy but it was still a prototype, if some mechanical error or software error occurred it would be hours until it would work again. "I will be taking my custom Sutherland with me. But do not worry Lloyd, I believe I have found the Lancelot a new pilot."
"Oh? Then please do introduce us to this pilot of yours when you can," said Lloyd eagerly with a loud laugh. "Cecile has grown impatient, she wants to do test runs on the Lancelot as soon as possible." She promised the scientist she would get him his pilot, soon. Suzaku will ride that beast, Kallen hoped. The newest member of her guard had lived up to his potential in a Knightmare, or so the simulation scores suggested. Mayhaps tomorrow.
After an hour in the helicopter she arrived in Kyuushu and the sun was beginning to rise, she met with the general of all Britannian forces in Kyuushu, an old man named Levin Horax. Horax was a veteran of the invasion of Japan and had been stationed in the island for more than a decade.
"My lady, it is an honor." he said while kneeling.
"Do you have our target?"
"I do, this terrorist group is called The Sons of the Rising Sun. They have been a thorn to our side for many years, even against our best efforts."
"They will be a thorn no longer after we are done with them."
She mounted her custom Sutherland which was painted in red. Her Sutherland was heavier, bulkier than regular Sutherlands, but it could take plenty more hits. They began to sweep the streets of the city of Fukuoka, where they believed the terrorist were based in. They questioned shop owners, random passerby's and slowly the battle emerged. They came out with pistols at first, rifles, and then finally grenades and other explosives.
"Viceroy!" a solider called out over the radio. "They have snipers on that blue building!"
"Recieved."
The guns of her Sutherland tore apart the building, Elevens ran outside unto the streets as the building collapsed, and they ran into Britannian assault rifles. As the battle progressed the terrorist were rooted from their hidng places and began to retreat. "Into the subways!" Kallen commanded. "Do not let them escape!"
She led a squad of Sutherland through tunnels and they found their pray. There must have been one hundred men, they dropped their weapons as her Sutherland approached. Britannian footsoldiers then came in, escorting the captured terrorists back outside. "A great victory, you were a force of nature out there, my lady!" called out Command Horax.
But Kallen did not reply, her mind was blank from the battle, she never thought in battle, she always acted on instinct. Looking at the captured terrorist she called out: "Who is your leader?"
A woman rose separating herself from the rest. Kallen approached her.
"What is your name?" Kallen asked in Japanese. The Eleven woman looked surprised. "Suzuki."
"Suzuki, you and I are leaders, I lead my group, you lead yours. Leadership is a heavy burden, I know this, because you are not just responsible for yourself but for your whole group. Now, from leader to leader, I ask you to bend the knee."
"Why should I?" the terrorist leader asked while scowling.
"I will give you one last chance, Suzuki, bend the knee by choice, or I will make you bend the knee by force." Kallen said coldly.
The terrorist leader spat on the ground instead. Kallen sighed and then whistled. Two guards came up to Kallen. "Break her kneecaps, both of them." she commanded.
When they did Suzuki cried out in pain so loudly that the rest of the terrorists flinched and looked away. Suzuki fell on the ground with her knees bent. I gave you a choice, Kallen thought bitterly. After that display Kallen spoke outloud to the rest of the terrorists, and they all bent the knee and silently let themselves be escorted into a prison - all while they heard the cry and wails of their leader.
Her body was sore when she arrived in Nagoya, the site of her second battle, or close enough to it.
"There has been a group camped outside the city, they call themselves The Red Banners, yet they are nothing but thieves, monkeys, and rapists." said the commander of the garrison in Nagoya. His name was Eric Levelieur. Eric was a young commander, recently promoted by the now dead Prince Clovis. He was known as a cruel but effective leader.
"Then let us dispose of these vagabonds." was all Kallen said.
The terrorist were camped inside a complex layers of tunnels next to a large forest, thankfully a Britannian spy had mapped out the insides recently. As Kallen sat in her Knightmare waiting for her second battle to begin she realized that even in the sun of summer she felt cold. A coldness that enveloped all around her clutching at her. I need a warm fire.
But her mind stopped as the battle began. The ground forces sweeped through the forest and the terrorist met them. They suffered heavy casualties at first as her soldiers fell into traps and were ambushed seemingly from all sides, but that was only a distraction. Once more she lead a squad of Knightmares, this time into the caves where the terrorist hid.
The tunnels seemed closer to a village than just some tunnels: filled with buildings, houses, diners and other large wooden structures. It was filled with men, women and children. The women and children ran at the sight of her Knightmares. The men tried to fight back but they were ill equipped to stop her.
She had the people in the tunnels rounded up and captured. The terrorists in the forest realized their situation and they retrated back into their tunnels, to try to fight off her Knightmares. But now pinned and with nowhere to go their numbers dwindled and the battle was all but won.
"What is happening here?" a group of Britannian soldiers were stationed outside of a large iron structure.
"Some of the terrorists, they have escaped here and locked themselves in, we force them outt." said Commander Eric, who smiled then: "Perhaps we can smoke them out, a couple of gas grenades should fix the situation."
"They will die then." Kallen pointed out.
Eric shrugged. "Men die all the time, I care even less when it's Elevens that die."
"Have you tried to negotiate?"
Eric huffed and snorted. "We have, nothing gets them out."
Kallen glanced at the women and children that had been captured by the Britannians. "I doubt that."
In front of the iron structure Kallen shouted, shotuing her name and demanding to negotiate with the terrorists. Finally a man responded: a man named Tanaka, who claimed to be the terrorist leader. "Japan will be free!" the man shouted behind the iron door. "Free from your oppression, no matter what threats you make, we will never surrender!"
Kallen felt that cold once more enveloping her, crushing her heart. "You men are cowards, hiding behind your door while your women and children are captured."
"Children and women they may be, but they will die for Japan all the same!" he shouted.
"Die? No, that's not what's going to happen." her voice was ice. "Your children will be turned to obedient servants, but your wives will not be so lucky. They will be servants too but they will serve my soldiers in their beds instead: unless you come out and surrender."
It did not take long for the door to open. The terrorist came outside with their hands up, without weapons. A large Eleven youth shouted: "He did not want to surrender, Tanaka wanted us to keep fighting…we stopped him." the youth said.
Inside their leader had been beaten, his mouth gagged by his own shirt. "I won't surrender, those cowards may but I never will." he said when they removed his gag.
"He seem's close to insanity." Commander Eric said with a frown. "Depressed too, maybe it's best to put the monkey out of it's misery." he suggested.
"No, interrogate him, he may know some valuable information, he was their leader after all." she said.
Eric seemed unconvinced. "He seems the type that will not break easily."
"He has a wife?" she asked. Eric nodded. She felt the cold once more envelop her, but the cold stopped. Do not do this, this is too cruel, something screamed in her. This is what Zero has caused, it is his fault, another screamed. The cold came back.
"Torture the wife then, and make sure he can't look away. It is his fault after all."
On her way to Hokkaido she realized she had never felt this cold before, nor alone. A nauseating feeling came up to her suddenly and Kallen Stadfeld vomited. The crew had cleaned it up, asking if she needed anything.
"Bring me Zero's head." Kallen asked. "That will make it all better."
They arrived in the city of Rumoi, the commander of the Hokkaido garrison greeted her. He was a portly but tall man who carried himself in elegance. Commander Spence had been in charge of the Hokkaido garrison for only a few months, months which he had used to improve the roads and railways of the island.
"They used to raid us every chance they could get," the commander explained. "But now our trains are guardeds and we have strong checkpoints in between major cities, Hokkaido has never been safer." he boasted. It was safer before the war, she glumly thought.
Rumoi was a city of rubble, it made the ghetto of Shinjuku look like paradise. It had seen fierce fighting in the war: it was the place where Todoh took his miraculous stand and defeated the Britannian army as well. "The terrorist use the old subways to hide, we've tried attack but the subways are strongly guarded by anti-tank weapons, strong enough to pierce even Sutherlands." Spence explained.
"Your Sutherlands maybe, but not mine."
The battle on the surface had been quick. Her forces were overwhelming, in terms of military hardware and in numbers. The terrorist retreated into the subways just like Commander Spence said they would. And he was right about the anti-tank weapons. She could see why the commander had been unable to root out this group: the anti-tank barrage had scared her momentarily, it would have torn any other Sutherland apiece.
But the armor in her red Sutherland carried through. Afterwards she destroyed the anti-tank weapons and the rest of her Sutherlands flooded in the tunnels. The terrorists once more threw down their weapons with nowhere else to run.
"This must be the third victory today for you!" Commander Spence cried out. "A glorious achievement, my lady!"
Her mind finally came to her, she had shot down who knows how many terrorists in the last ten hours but it was finally over. "It was a victory achieved by the Britannian Armed Forces, not me." she said humbly.
"Nonesense, they will sing songs about your victories, I am certain!" Spence said loudly in jubilation. Or they will sing how I break the knees of my prisoners and torture women.
"My lady," one of her guardsmen approached her. "There is an Eleven who wishes to swear loyalty to Britannia, he says he was one of the captains of the terrorist organization."
Kallen went to the prisoners and quickly met this Eleven who wished to change sides. "My name is Hiroto, my lady. After today the dream of Japan is dead, but I wish to serve you, instead of Japan." the Eleven man said while kneeling.
Kallen found his voice suspicious. He sounds honest but every word sounds forced. Kallen cleared her throat and spoke: "Your crimes will not be forgiven, you will serve time in prison, along with the rest of your group, but when you have served your time you can join the Britannian Armed Forces, if you wish." she said clearly, dismissing the Eleven's request.
"That is a shame, you are quite a beauty too." The man lept up suddenly: with a dagger in hand. It was quick and chaotic, the guardsman behind her tried to get in his way, Commander Eric shrieked in panic. Kallen had her own dagger, snatching it from her waist she narrowly dodged the assailant's dagger which slashed across her cheek, but her own dagger found a more lethal spot. She counter-charged, panic spread through the Eleven's face, he tried to stop her with his free hand but she moved to the left of it. The Eleven panicked more, trying to pivot away from Kallen, but her dagger found his neck all the same.
A wave of crimson red sprayed throughout the room and the Eleven dropped dead.
"My lady are you alright?" she heard one of her guards ask, but a ringing sound played in her ear. Commander Eric made his way to her, his face pale as a ghost but he calmed down when he saw Kallen almost most untouched.
When she looked down her white uniform had been tinted by the crimson of the Eleven's blood, from her neck to her chin. I can almost taste it.
"I am fine, Commander."
"My lady, allow me to punish the other terrorists for attempting such dishonorable acts!" cried the commander.
She could order it, she could have all their heads chopped off, or hanged. Their lives were in her hands. Too many people's lives were always in her hand it seemed.
"No, have them chained up, they will serve their rebellion in other ways.."
When Kallen retreated back into her helicopter her head ached, the dizzying sensation came back. I cannot hesitate, I cannot stop, I must be strong. A voice spoke to her: Why do you hesitate? You can take whatever you want, you are a noble after all, the voice was arrogant and abrasive, laughing at her for her own weakness.
What would Naoto want? A voice asked.
What would father want? Another questioned.
What do you want? Kallen asked herself.
When Lelouch woke up he could not believe the feeling of exhaustion. He had spent the entire Sunday not as Lelouch, but as Zero. He had worked with Naoto and Ohgi's group, coordinating for the future. He had spent the morning with them planning organizational restructure for their group, Ohgi had been upset about it.
"Why do we need to do all this?" the man with the afro hair asked.
"If we cannot have order in our own group, how do you ever plan to liberate Japan?" Lelouch had retorted. Lelouch's lofty words and ambition had inspired Ohgi and Naoto who had only ever dreamt of fighting, not winning.
Lelouch then spent the afternoon investigating other terrorist cells, including the Japanese Liberation Front. At night he returned to the Tokyo Settlement, using his Geass on key law enforcement around Ashford Academy. He had also used it on the guards stationed on the academy: ordering them to ignore his subversive activities, and to ignore the presence of a green haired girl.
If Kallen suspects me, her men will never report it, he thought confidently. His thoughts were interrupted by a warm feeling around his back. C.C was sprawled on the other side of the bed snoring softly. Lelouch frowned, this woman will be the death of me. She had given him numerous moments of anxiety: like when she arrived one day, telling Nunnally that she was to marry Lelouch.
I should be more suspicious of her, but he could not help it. The immortal woman had saved his life twice now and also gave him the power of Geass. So instead Lelouch slowly got out of bed as to not wake her and dressed for school. He did not move quietly enough though, as C.C woke up.
"You're leaving already? I just woke up."
"Quiet witch, you need to stay on your side of the bed next time." Lelouch warned, a hint of red creeping along his cheeks.
"Is that how you speak to a lady?" she asked while smirking.
The green haired woman had forced herself into his bed, he had considered sleeping on the couch but there were too many negatives. A good bed is necessary for a good rest, and a good rest is necessary to keep a sharp mind. A sharp mind is needed to destroy Britannia. How am I supposed to destroy Britannia if I sleep on a couch?
"It's a school day today," he said, ignoring C.C as she slid out of the sheets in her undergarments, the hint of red in his face grew. "So stay out of sight."
It would be a few hours before other students arrived so he used the time to collect himself, to think and ponder on his next moves. An alliance with the Japanese Liberation Front would be major, but mayhaps it would be better to have them removed. He held his temple with his index finger as he set up a chess board. If the rumors are true Princess Corenelia will be coming soon, that will be a good chance to investigate my mother's death.
The doors opened but it was not the girl he expected.
"I have your groceries!" an excited blonde girl said.
"Oh, thank you Milly," he said with a kind smile. The Ashfords had given Lelouch and Nunnally secrecy and refuge, he would always treat Milly Ashford with kindness, even though the student council president was so domineering and tyrannical. "Sayako said to thank you, that she will be feeling better soon." he told Milly.
Sayako had been taking Nunnally to the park recently in the mornings, but one day she returned hastily, saying that a strange Chinese man with white hair had been stalking them. The maid had stayed up all night diligently, checking to see if she had been followed. After that night she fell sick and Milly had been helping Lelouch with groceries.
"No problem, do you want to play?" Milly asked as she looked at the chess board. Milly was no great player, but she enjoyed playing nonetheless, as they had played when they were younger. Lelouch smiled disarmingly and waved his hand.
"No, but maybe next time."
The two students exchanged pleasantries, talking about how they would fix the student council's budget this semester. When the sun rose Milly excused herself saying she had to get ready for her own classes. Lelouch breathed and pondered once more, this time he checked the news.
Zero's grand revelation had been dangerous, a gamble. He thought it would be a simple appearance and exit but Kallen Stadfeld had almost ruined his plans, it was only thanks to C.C that Lelouch escaped. Regardless the gamble paid off, Zero was the topic of the week around the world, from Europe to China. He did read more news though, more distressing ones.
Viceroy Stadfeld Wins Three Victories, it was an article detailing three separate battles that occurred yesterday, how the viceroy had flown around Japan squashing entire terrorist groups left and right. Lelouch took notice. These are not insignificant groups, and he frowned. Kallen is reactive, not proactive. Zero's arrival ignited the fires of Area 11 and Kallen Stadfeld had squashed those flames swiftly.
She may not know a prince is hiding under her, but she is no fool.
And suddenly the doors opened, and as if she had heard his thoughts, Kallen Stadfeld arrived. Flanking her was her squire, the young blonde Liliana Vergamon which Lelouch had the pleasure to tease last time. Kallen was already wearing her school uniform, a yellow vest and black skirt that didn't seem to match that fiery red hair of hers no matter what.
Liliana on the other hand was wearing her white military suit.
"Lelouch." the viceroy greeted him.
"My lady," he said kindly with a mock bow, his purple eyes darted to the girl in the back. "And good morning to you, Liliana, you are as beautiful as last we met."
The squire's white face flushed with red and her eyes darted away. I will make use of this squire of hers, with or without Geass.
"Do not tease my squire, Lelouch." Kallen said sternly. Kallen threw a glance at her squire, the blonde girl nodded and headed to the second floor, to the bathroom.
"You came prepared for school this time." he noted. "And you seem better rested than last time."
"I had a long sleep last night, not good sleep mind you, but a long one nonetheless." Kallen looked to the stairs. "Liliana on the other hand did not have the pleasure to even sleep, she has been hard at work all night."
Lelouch wanted to ask why - but he knew better.
"You must give her a rest, that poor girl." Lelouch said. "So you don't have any more questions about Maxim's Conquests?" he asked jokingly. The topic had been the centerpiece to his last few conversations with the viceroy, he doubted it would occur a third time. But Kallen ignored his comment as she stared at the chess board.
"Do you play?" she asked.
"I'm known to play every once in a while." he lied. "And you?"
"I hate chess." she said clenching her teeth. "But I play it time to time."
"Why hate it? It's a fantastic game."
"In chess, people always do as they're told." her blue eyes looked at the black pieces. "Go forward you say, they go forward, go take this piece, and they take this piece." an irritated tone appeared in her voice. "In real life we're different, no matter how perfect you perform, no matter what you tell people to do, issues arise, problems come up. No matter how strong your reasoning or logic, people will disagree. Maybe if people always obeyed me I would like the game, but that's not how the world works."
Lelouch wanted to laugh, but he stopped himself when Kallen suddenly stepped towards him.
Her blue eyes were focused, intense. "That's how humans are, we are free, wild, foolish and stupid. But when I look at a chessboard I think of a pawn. It has its duty, it always does what its owner tells it to do. And it never acts by itself, it has no free will of its own. It will never stray from its duty, no matter what. For does it matter what the pawn wants?" Kallen shook her head.
"No, I take a step forward because the emperor commands me, I take a piece because my father requests it, and that is my duty." she declared drawing closer and closer to Lelouch. A sense of discomfort rose up in the prince as he took steps back, ceding ground to the viceroy. "My duty is to serve my family, to serve the emperor, to serve Area 11. It does not matter what I want, it does not matter what I believe in, Lelouch, I hate chess because in real life I'm just a pawn."
Lelouch could retreat no more as the table with the chess board blocked his path. Kallen drew close, too close. He looked down at her, her face was inches away from his own.
"But I want things, I am nobility, aren't I? You told me that nobility can take whatever we want, and that means I should be able to do whatever I want. Right?"
Lelouch had no answer, her blue eyes were brighter than ever, her lips were suddenly so close to his own, his heart suddenly began to beat, screaming, and even his lungs seemed unable to breath.
Then Kallen pulled back.
Lelouch could suddenly breath, he felt his heartbeat calm down. It was a moment to regain composure, a moment to-
Kallen suddenly moved closer once more, and pressed her lips against his.
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, please drop review/thoughts/suggestions and I'll be sure to read them! :) Some of you may think the end of the chapter will be 'too fast' but I assure you we are just getting started. The last section of the chapter I redid like 3 times, double that for Kallen's monologue.
With this chapter we are done with the 'prologue' part of the story and the next threeish chapters will be much lighter. We will get a Liliana POV and an Arthur POV chapter, but the focus of those will be on Suzaku, for who I had a whole section in this chapter but erased.
I'm hoping to get a chapter out next week but I'm doubtful, I'm afraid the story will be updated infrequently starting next week, but we'll see how it goes.