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Kallen Stadfeld was the most powerful human being in Area 11 yet freedom always eluded her.
When her lips parted with Lelouch's, Kallen felt nothing.
Her first kiss was empty and cold, a sign of rebellion rather than love: for the first time in my life I have done something for myself, even if it was done without meaning. Maybe she did it because of the lack of meaning, maybe it was her stress or just maybe it was years of pent up anger and frustration about the lack of self-determination in her life. Either way the act had been done.
When Kallen stepped away the purple-eyed teen was visibly stunned.
"Why?" he demand as he placed his left hand on his lips. Kallen stepped forward closing the gap, the vice-president of the student council notably raised his guard. Finally I've unnerved him. The raven-haired teen always seemed to have an edge over Kallen in conversations so she very much enjoyed this shift in balance.
"Why?" Kallen parroted his question. "That's a question I ask a lot, especially when I've done something wrong - or rather, unjust. It's important to ask that question - it's what keeps those with heavy burdens sane in their minds."
Lelouch's perplexed expression did not change, Kallen wondered about leaving the room as is. It is fun to tease him, but no, I must not lead him on. She stepped away. "There was no reason, Lelouch. Just the reaction of a frustrated girl with too much to bear on her shoulder. Forget it ever happened."
"As you say." Lelouch said, a stoic face replaced the confused one and Kallen frowned. I can't read him. Sometimes Kallen wished she could read minds, it would make things easier. Even his violet eyes that could be so intense seemed dulled on purpose.
"Brother?" a voice called out from a hallway.
And just like that Lelouch's stoic face melted away. Behind it was a softer face, one with a genuine smile unlike the one he wore at school. His violet eyes had no malice or arrogance in them, they seemed more like a calm purple ocean rather than a violent storm.
"I'm coming!" Lelouch shouted out and walked away.
"May I come with you?" Kallen asked.
The teen looked at her and the soft expressions were gone, the stoic mask had come back suddenly but there was a hint of something more: is he afraid?
"No you may not. Have a good morning, viceroy." his response was equally sharp as cold. Kallen wondered if the coldness was because of the kiss, or maybe Lelouch just hated her.
Kallen's morning went by too fast, she had spent her third class with that jovial orange-haired girl named Shirley and the next she was already on her way out. Most students still buzzed around Kallen wherever she went - at a respectable distance - some boys even asked her out on a date.
"No thanks." Kallen kindly rejected each and everyone.
"I'm telling you," the boys whispered amongs themselves. "The only one with a chance is Lelouch."
Shirley took note of this talk and the bubbly girl seemed to grow colder. "Do you like Lelouch?" she asked, her tone so deathly serious Kallen wanted to laugh. This was the first time her blonde squire interjected.
"She definitely finds him cute." Liliana said with a giggle. Shirley's face paled at this comment, a sense of doom and gloom now ruling over her formerly bubbly personality.
"You do?" Shirley cried out.
"I will admit he is pleasing to look at." Kallen said with clenched teeth cursing Liliana in her head. Shirley's sense of doom and gloom tripled, the orange-haired girl was so gloomy that the gloominess was about to collapse unto itself and form a gloomy dark hole sucking out the happiness of anything nearby. "But I do not like him." she clarified with a stern voice.
But Kallen's thoughts betrayed her as she recalled the taste of Lelouch's lips - push that down, do not think of it, she told herself.
"Why not?" Shirley asked with a deep frown, her voice sounded almost offended. "He's so sweet and caring, he's always so nice."
Because that's the not the real Lelouch and he's an arrogant prick, Kallen wished to say.
"He's too much of a pushover. He needs to grow a spine." Kallen said while thinking of somebody else.
Shirley eventually said her farewell as her next class began - and Kallen's school morning ended, on the drive back to the Viceroy's Palace though Kallen felt a constant stare from her young squire, a stare of accusation, and no matter how much Kallen tried to ignore it, the blonde haired girl did not look away.
"What is it?"
"I understand hiding things, my lady, but lying to Shirley is cruel, that girl is clearly in love with Lelouch."
Kallen understood now. "You saw the kiss." she said with the sound of fear coming up her throat.
"Only when you two separated, but yes."
The fear went away. The kiss is meaningless, but the words before it…Kallen had snapped when she talked about being a pawn, of how she hated her duty, of how she never got what she wanted…those words had meaning. Kallen would've been embarrassed if Liliana heard them. She furrowed her eyebrows. Lelouch heard them. A blushing sensation rose in her cheeks. That was too personal.
"For the last time, I do not like that boy." she said while looking away to conceal her blush. "That is final, no matter what you saw, now stop speaking of this nonsense, give me my daily schedule."
Liliana frowned but complied. Kallen's schedule would be busy but there were two notable events: a luncheon with the richest Britannian businessmen in Area 11 and then the arrival of Princess Cornelia in Area 11. The princess was something Kallen was looking forward to for many reasons.
"With the princess in Area 11 you will have more free time on your hands." Liliana pointed out. "Maybe you can even use that extra time to continue your intimacy with a certain somebody at Ashford Academy?" she asked coyly.
Kallen laughed at her squire's bold comment. "The only person I'll be intimate with for the next few months will be Zero." she clenched her fist. "And when that is done, I will finally rest."
Arthur could no longer dismiss Suzaku Kurugi. He had been doubtful about the Eleven's ability to serve in Kallen's guard but Kurugi proved himself time and time again. Only Arthur, Jaime and Alexis, the three leaders of Kallen's guard could compete with Suzaku in the Knightmare Frame simulations. In terms of physical ability he was an outstanding specimen too.
"He's a teen and he's stronger than most of the guards." Jaime had said while laughing. The second in command of Kallen's guard was a jovial, happy fellow who eagerly embraced the Eleven.
"Still a teen and still an Eleven." Alexis, the third in command of Kallen's guard dismissed the Japanese youth. Alexis was a woman full of contradictions: a commoner with the tendencies of a noblewoman, a rebellious woman yet Arthur had no doubt her loyalty ran deeper than most when it came to Kallen.
Most of the guard sided with Alexis. They were distrustful of Suzaku and when Suzaku proved himself a superior Knightmare frame pilot the distrust grew into resentment. They bullied the Eleven whenever they had an opportunity, mostly when Arthur nor Jaime were present.
And they finally took it too far. Arthur had been working on locating Clovis's green-haired woman and when he returned he found Suzaku in the infirmary. His left eye was completely swollen and shut with a number of dark bruises in the rest of his face. The jovial giant Jaime was not so jovial.
"It was Alexis!" he said angrily. "I already asked the guard, she took it too far in training, using him as a damn example while they trained with blunted weapons."
Arthur's eyes locked unto Suzaku who sat with his head down almost as if he were trying to hide.
"Is this true, Suzaku? Did Alexis do this to you?" the captain of the guard asked.
"I did this to myself, " Suzaku said quickly. "I failed to defend myself properly from her strikes while we sparred."
Arthur scolwed. Alexis was the best swordsman in the whole guard, not even Jaime with his massive strength and size stood a chance against her.
"Many have trained with Alexis, but only you have received such an injury." Arthur said through gritted teeth.
"Please sir, I do not want any trouble." the Eleven begged with a lowered head. Arthur frowned, this was not the first time he acted like this. Suzaku Kurugi never fought back, he never even frowned when he was mistreated by his fellow 'brothers and sisters' of the guard. He simply put a hard face and ignored them.
Arthur respected him for that. Any fool could throw a punch in anger but it takes a strong man to choose the path of non-violence. Jaime on the other hand seemed frustrated by this attitude.
"You can't let yourself get pushed around Suzaku, I understand it is not easy but from what I heard you didn't even try to fight back, is that true?" Jaime interrogated him.
"It is sir, I won't hurt a superior officer, I should have defended myself better and none of this would have happened." Suzaku responded diligently.
Jaime looked at Arthur in frustration, shouting: "Talk some sense into this fool!"
"He is no fool." Arthur argued sternly.
"On that we disagree, there is no bigger fool than Suzaku." a woman's voice cut through the room.
"My lady!" Arthur, Jaime and Suzaku shouted in unison as Kallen Stadfeld walked into the room. She had changed from her school uniform and was wearing a long dress for her luncheon, her dress was a fiery red matching the color of her hair, the dress was matched with a silver necklace and and a pair of black heels.
She walked past Arthur and Jaime and faced Suzaku directly. Suzaku looked down, once more trying to hide his wound. Kallen did not even ask, she used her left hand to grab the Eleven's chin, tilting his head up. Suzaku's face grew red as Kallen grabbed his face and examined the wound.
"Who?" was all she asked.
"Just a wound from sparring." Suzaku tried to argue, ignoring her question.
The acting viceroy said nothing, but her blue eyes must have pressured the the newest member of her guard.
"It was the woman, Alexis." he finally admitted.
The answer seemed to make Kallen's eyes grow cold and hard as she retreated among Arthur and Jaime.
"What do you want to do, my lady?" Arthur asked. The old man may be the captain of the guard but Kallen was its strict matriarch and Arthur knew there would be consequences for Alexis.
Arthur had been tasked with bringing Alexis to the courtyard.
The rain and thunder did not stop them.
Alexis was a taller than most of the guard. A woman with a strong build who always kept herself in the best conditions she ever could. Her skin was a bronze much like the pureblood woman Villeta Nu. Alexis's hair was short and uneven, her left side was faded and short, but the right side of her head sported hair that reached her ears.
Her defining feature was her smirk - the woman smirked constantly. She had a sense of cockiness always about her no matter the situation: may she be in danger, in trouble or even just relaxing, the smirk never left her face.
In the courtyard the four of them stood alone: Arthur, Kallen, Suzaku and Alexis.
The rain poured heavily, the morning felt more like evening. Arthur frowned as they stood outside: Kallen will have to redo her hair for the luncheon, I should notify the maids. Arthur stood next to Suzaku, the rain dripping on them both as Kallen approached the smirking brown woman.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?" Alexis asked.
"To what do I owe the pleasure, my lady." Kallen corrected her. Alexis was a brash woman who rarely used the correct titles, much to Arthur's dismay.
But with Kallen, she bent.
"My lady." Alexis said apologetically while lowering her head. Her brown eyes glanced at Suzaku. "I assume I am here because of the Eleven?" she said, having to raise her voice against the increasing torrent of rain.
"You are here because you harmed one of your new brothers, yes." Kallen said, her tone giving away no emotion.
"I did not know my mother gave birth to an Eleven." Alexis said while chuckling. Kallen remained quiet and Alexis's chuckle died out.
"I warned you, any unjust harm towards Suzaku would be punished. So I ask you this Alexis, did you harm him on purpose?"
The sky was brightened by lightning and the boom of thunder rolled across the sky. The sound of rain lingered between the two women. Alexis answered with silence and an unwavering gaze, her hard eyes did not backdown. "What I did was right, to protect you from the Eleven."
"All you did was harm a brother." Kallen said before whistling. Arthur stepped in, he carried two blunted swords. When he approached he felt Kallen's fire warm the area, her face was calm but her wroth had grown too much, it was insurmountable. "It has been a while since I practiced swordplay, Alexis, I wish to shake off some rust."
Each woman grabbed a weapon and Arthur saw Alexis finally grimace.
They were sworn to protect Kallen, that no harm should ever come to her. Even in practice they treated her kindly, even the brash and angry Alexis did not strike her in training. In return Kallen did the same. But now? No, my lady's wroth is a storm of fire…Alexis knew this too, she must. Both women raised their sword and they began to dance.
Kallen's attacks were fierce, her slashes strong and quick. But Alexis was a master with the sword and she deflected her attacks: such a moment would have given Alexis a chance to counter, but the counter did not come. Alexis for all her faults is loyal to a fault, she will not harm our lady.
Kallen was a strong swordswoman as well though and her footwork was without equal. She spun around a number of times, throwing fast and hard attacks. Alexis in response began to move counter-clockwise as she continued to deflect Kallen's attacks. But as the thunder in the sky roared once again Kallen found Alexis's body.
A feint for the head was what fooled Alexis, so when the viceroy turned her slash to the body the larger girl had been unprepared. The blow hurt: Arthur could hear it, the crack of the wood and Alexis retreating in pain made it all too obvious.
"Why doesn't Alexis fight back?" Arthur heard Suzaku mutter.
"Out of foolish loyalty and admittance: she went against her lady's desire and she is suffering the consequences."
"It is too cruel."
Arthur was not a man who laughed much, but he found that funny. "Cruel is what Alexis did to you. This is justice."
"Alexis is one of her loyal subordinates…if this is the justice Kallen delivers to a friend, what kind of justice does she deliver to an enemy?" the boy wondered out loud. Arthur frowned. The Eleven is still soft at heart, he will grow harder with the years. But he could not entirely dismiss the comment, the punishment was cruel.
As the thunder cracked the sky, so did Kallen's sword against Alexis's body.
The large woman was growing tired, especially with Kallen smacking her body. Alexis was better than Kallen in almost every way but not good enough to keep Kallen at bay indefinitely. Every time the viceroy snuck through Alexis's guard the woman grimaced and retreated and soon her movement became more and more sluggish.
Now Kallen's wrath was unstoppable. The pain in Alexis's body must have been unbearable for she could no longer stop any of Kallen's attacks. No longer did the acting viceroy target just the body but Alexis's brown face was now the subject to Kallen's attacks. Two swift strikes to the head proved too much and Alexis fell down to the ground. The red haired girl stood over her subordinate with a dark face clouding her expression.
"Do you yield?" she asked as the thunder boomed behind her, there was blood on her face and her dress, but it was not her own. Alexis did not answer at first and Arthur began to pray. Do not be a fool Alexis, do not let that pride of yours bring you more pain.
"Aye." Alexis said as she looked down with blood coming out of her nose. "I concede."
Arthur felt a wash of relief but it was shortlived.
"Good." Kallen said and a cold smile spread across her face. "Let us start the second round then."
"This is too much." Suzaku muttered. Arthur did not even think to deny it.
The second bout between the women had been just as uncompetetive as the first and Alexis suffered even more in it. By the end of it Alexis could barely stand still, a crack from Kallen's sword sent her spiarling to the floor, Arthur saw that one of her eyes had grown black and nearly shut. An eye for two, Kallen had warned the guard for those who hurt Suzaku without legitimate grievance. It seems she wants to keep to her promise.
"Get up." Kallen demanded. "Again."
The third round had been the worst, so bad that Suzaku did not even have the stomach to look. "This is too much, Alexis does not deserve this beating…I am just an Eleven." he said.
"No Kurugi, you are one of us now," he said. "Our newest brother: yes sometimes sibling fights, it is fine, but your injury…" he looked at the black ball that had formed in Suzaku's face. "It was too much, a mother must sometime discipline her children."
By the end of it both of Alexis's eyes had been shut by injury. Kallen kept her threats. Her brown face was black around her eyes, her mouth and nose dripping with blood and all Alexis did was wheeze through her pain in the ground. As thunder boomed and rain dripped over her Kallen approached, kneeling down to the side.
"You will not raise your hand in malice against Kurugi again." Kallen said loudly. "No, instead you will train him. You will teach him all you know, how to be a good, loyal soldier. To be a strong, loyal member of my guard. Do you understand?"
Nothing came out of Alexis's throat, but after a few seconds the beaten woman nodded slowly with a wheeze of air coming from her throat. Kallen seemed satisfied, she said no other word as she stood up and began to walk away, soon enough though Kallen scowled holding her drenched dress: drenched with rain and blood. "I must excuse myself, I need a new dress for the luncheon."
The acting viceroy left.
"Help me carry her." Suzaku said as he approached Alexis. When Arthur approached he felt a pang of regret. Alexis was a comely woman, her face especially was toned just like her body - but now Alexis looked more like some poor creature, her face was almost unrecognizable with both eyes closed up from the swelling Kallen dished out.
"Arthur please." Suzaku asked again as he carried Alexis by the shoulder. The girl groaned almost as if protesting but she was too weak for anything else.
"She brought this on herself, Kurugi," leave her be, Arthur wanted to say but he ended up helping the Eleven. Alexis was far too hurt to be left alone, Kallen took it too far.
They took the girl to the infirmary and laid her on a bed, the woman soon fell asleep as the doctor gave her medication to do so. When the two of them exited, Arthur grabbed Suzaku's shoulder. "You are a good man, Suzaku Kurugi, you did not need to help her."
"She's my superior officer, sir…and it was too much, what Kallen did."
"What our lady did." Arthur corrected him. "It is not our place to doubt her though, only to follow her. Kallen demanded no unjust harm come to you and Alexis did not obey: and so Alexis suffered for it."
Arthur did not doubt his own worries, he knew Alexis most of all would bounce back from the punishment more loyal than ever. But as for Kallen…she needs to control her wroth better than this, lest it become her.
The luncheon had turned out somewhat uneventful. In the viceroy's palace dining hall there sat more than two dozen wealthy businessmen from all over Area 11, she dined and hosted the lunch for all of them and spoke with almost each and everyone of them. They gave her their grievances, how difficult it was to run a business with so much chaos; but they also praised her for her recent counter-terrorist actions, thanking her for her service.
Others asked for tax reform laws, Kallen always promised she would look into it, a plain lie: if we lower our taxes again for these pigs the coffers will soon be empty.
Many asked about the enigmatic Zero and Kallen always dismissed their worries: "Zero is just another terrorist, a terrorist with a mask: and masks can be broken."
By the end she talked with the only businessman she personally knew. He was the president of Stadfeld Enterprise in Area 11, a man named George. Kallen had met George numerous times when she was younger; George was her father's close friend and oft visited the Stadfeld Household. He was a portly man in his mid fifties with an equal appetite for food and business.
"My lady, you have grown beautiful since I last saw you."
"And you have lost weight, George."
The man laughed. "Only if I would." he sad as he slapped his belly. "Me and my wife have tried to change our diet," he leaned closer. "Some food, like some people, can be poisonous." he whispered.
"And who is the poison?" she asked curiously.
"You did not invite them: the Japanese industrialist."
Kallen noted he did not call them Eleven. "This was for our loyal Britannians in the realm, those that have helped Area 11 prosper since the war."
George snorted. "Help prosper their pockets perhaps. Our businesses are large yes but the economy of Area 11 is one of the largest in Britannia, if you truly wish to increase your influence over the money that flows in the area holds you must treat with the Houses of Kyoto."
Kallen found that hard to do. "A group led by a man nicknamed The Traitor," Kallen pointed out, she never liked that old man Kirahara. "If their own people brand them traitors how could I ever trust them?"
"Mayhaps you are wise to do so, but it is wise to keep your enemies close my lady," the man grinned. "Why do you think I spend so much time jesting and drinking with the people in the room?"
Kallen chuckled. "I will take your advice to heart, George." Kirahara and the Eleven businessmen are dangerous but George is right, I cannot ignore them.
Soon enough the lunch was over and the capitalist of Area 11 left. Kallen headed over to the barracks, she wanted to do something she had been planning for two days now. But she did not need to head to the barracks for she found Suzaku Kurugi by the infirmary. The Eleven with green eyes seemed tired as he saluted the approaching acting viceroy.
Immediately she knew why he was there but she had him explain himself.
"I was watching over Alexis." he said no longer hiding his blackened eye, he stood straight and proud.
"So she can beat your other eye shut when she wakes?" she said somewhat irritated. I have to calm myself. The fact Kurugi had the heart to watch over Alexis meant he had a good heart: good or simply foolish? Mayhaps both are the same. Alexis had wronged him and wounded him but the Eleven watched over her due to a sense of guilt and loyalty to his commanding officer.
The two teens made their way through the courtyard and into the Knightmare Frame Combat simulation room, Kallen pointed at the board. "You've scored 21 wins now and you only have two draws. You're obviously talented Kurugi, this is part of why I recruited you." And to show Elevens can integrate into Britannia, she thought but did not say.
"Arthur and Jaime have helped me." Suzaku admitted. "Their experience is valuable."
"Yes, I do not doubt that." she said. He is far too humble, out of her pockets she pulled out the keys to the Lancelot. "Do you know my Knightmare?"
"The Lancelot?" he said, his green eyes were focused on the keys.
"Yes, that terrible machine. Lloyd Asplund is a brilliant engineer and scientist, his aide Cecile Croomy is brilliant in her own right as well: and by working together they have made a monster. The Lancelot is the future, a preview of what Knightmare Frames will become. I have been testing it for the last eight months now but I have grown weary of it - it is a Knightmare that does not suit me. But I continue to test it for there is noone else. It is delicate, it requires the driving of an elite and perfect pilot: not a good pilot, not an excellent pilot, but a perfect pilot."
She offered him the keys.
"I believe you have what it takes, Kurugi."
Suzaku looked like as if he was in a daze, it took him seconds for his hands to reach for the keys. Yet when he did Kallen suddenly pulled her hand back and smiled. "But what I believe is one thing, you will have to prove it to me." she said glancing at the simulation machines.
"Now?" he asked. There was something Kallen liked in his voice: a hint of excitement. He wants to prove himself, he must be growing tired of sparring with the other guards in the simulations.
"Only if you think you can hang with a Knight of Rounds."
Both of them entered their simulation machines and the dance began. The simulations were excellent Kallen thought, obviously they could never replace real combat but they were invaluable to practice and experiment. In the simulations both Kallen and Suzaku were outfitted with a modern Sutherland build and they dueled in an urban-like setting.
The two danced for an hour in the simulations. Kallen quickly found herself challenged, a feeling she had not experienced in a while. The likes of Arthur, Jaime and Alexis were excellent pilots but they were not elite. Jeremiah Gottwalt was an excellent foe but he lagged behind in key areas. The last time Kallen had lost a sparring match was to a fellow Knight of Round, Gino Weinberg, and that was years ago.
It was Suzaku's speed that caused her trouble: his Sutherland moved faster than Kallen thought possible, he was quick not just in combat but on the field. Whenever Kallen had pinned Suzaku down he would slip away, quickly retreating and then quickly counterattacking from another direction. Kallen always had to be on her guard. When they engaged in close quarter combat Suzaku would strike like lightning, his blows hard and fast. But Kallen still had the upper hand.
Kallen wasn't as fast Suzaku but the gap in speed was not so large, they were comparable. And in experience? Kallen had years on the Eleven. She chipped down Suzaku slowly but surely, pushing when Suzaku did not expect it, retreating when Suzaku expected an attack, going left when Suzaku expected her to go right, right when he expected her to go left. Soon she was in his head: Suzaku's movement became more erratic and sloppier as Kallen's pressure mounted.
"Do you think your father would be proud of you?" she asked. "Knowing what you are: a servant to Britannia."
"My father is dead," Suzaku replied. "And so is Japan."
"Dead? I wake up in Japan every day, I see the Japanese every day, terrorist strike back every day, I would argue the Japanese spirit has never been more alive." she barked back.
The two of them clashed with steel as Kallen forced an approach when she ran out of ammunition in her rifle.
"They may be fighting but they are fighting the wrong way." Suzaku said back. "They fight with terror, they do not fight with hope. They spread fear and suffering: fear and suffering do not rebuild countries, they only divide it."
"But I fight with terror as well." Kallen pointed out. "I have commanded terrible things as viceroy, am I not dividing Japan as well?"
"And I want to change that." he said stubbornly. His Sutherland struck hers with two quick blows she could not avoid. "You offered me a position in your guard, I understand why, it is not just because of my skills as a Knightmare pilot but as proof that Elevens and Britannians can co-exist and prosper."
Kallen retreated and Suzaku gave chase.
"Let me prove that." he said loudly. "Let me prove that I can prosper under your service: and then let me help you change Britannia, so that you can rule wiser and kinder than before."
Kallen smiled as she retreated. Fighting rouses him, he is not completely naive, a bit of a fool maybe but he has a strong and good heart. Kallen thought back to the last few days, to the cruelties she had directed in the world: she could use a good heart on her side to keep her reigned in.
Kallen stopped retreating, the Knight of Twelve angled herself properly and used the ejection pod. The pod was pure metal and at such speeds her ejection pod ripped straight through Suzaku's own ejection pod: she lost her Knightmare but Suzaku lost his life.
"You will do good Suzaku Kurugi," she said as she exited the Knightmare Frame simulation.
"Good? I lost." he said bitterly, Kallen could not help but smile.
"You look good with some bitterness in your face, you look more mature."
Suzaku turned pink to these words. "I am sorry if I overspoke earlier." he said while looking down.
"Do not worry," she said dismissively as her blue eyes locked with his one good green eye. "Suzaku Kurugi your dreams are grand, and often grand dreams are hard and impossible. But do not worry, I am a Knight of Round, the Viceroy of Area 11, the heir to the richest family in Britannia; if there is anybody who can help make your dream come true, it will be me."
She offered him the keys to the Lancelot once more, and this time she did not pull her hand away.
That night Kallen would not dream of fire nor blood. Instead she would dream of a thriving and peaceful Area 11, one so excellent her brother would come out of hiding and praise her. One so egalitarian that Suzaku Kurugi would play a role in its governance. An Area 11 so peaceful that Kallen renounced her role in the military and lived her life with a certain purple eyed boy.
But dreams were dreams, nothing more.
It was a beautiful house in one of the richest neighborhoods of Area 11. Everyone knew whose it was as well: the fat general, Clovis's pig, the balding potato. General Bartley had served Britannia faithfully which is why so many whispered quietly, speculating why a man of such prestige had been suddenly locked up in his own home.
Some whispered he worked with the enigmatic Zero to kill Prince Clovis. Others said the general had committed the act himself. Some said he was just a scapegoat, locked up to shift the blame from the acting viceroy unto the fat general. Others whispered more insidiously saying the Knight of Twelve had locked up the general only to consolidate her power.
The neighbors would never know the truth because the fat general laid on the floor with a knife placed deep in his chest. A white haired Chinese teen grinned, he was close. Closer than ever. He had been tracking his beloved C.C for years now but he was no longer alone in the hunt. The local government is searching for her…
C.C must be somewhere afraid, cold, and alone. I will rescue her, Mao vowed. But how? The Tokyo Settlement was vast, with too many people, too many minds all at once. Suddenly he realized that iif the government was searching for her, Mao could simply piggyback off their search. The Chinese teen laughed. Yes, it is brilliant, I will let them find my beloved C.C for me.
Mao began to think, he needed to make accommodations for this plan. In the newspaper he saw her, a photo of the acting viceroy. The young woman with fiery red hair was good-looking but he only wanted his C.C. He grinned as he grabbed the newspaper.
"You will find my beloved for me, Kallen Stadfeld." With a pen he circled her photo and placed it next to the fat pig's body. "But first you must find me, but do not worry I will be easy to find." he said while laughing. Mao left, leaving only the sound of thunder and rain, and the smell of Bartley's corpse which was beginning to rot.
With this we can finally jump into the next part of my story:
-Euphemia and Cornelia
-Mao's different story.
The next few chapters will be breathers and the action will slow down and build up this story's version of the Battle of Narita which will be the next climax of the story.
Of course through all that we will see more of Lelouch and Kallen, but I am not ready to pull the curtain back: most chapters will still be Kallen-centric.