The Prodigious Son

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Aries Villa

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"Come on Kaguya, I'm trying to help you here," Lelouch said in perfect Japanese, as he watched as the little princess looked away from him. "If you don't listen you won't be able to survive here."

"I don't want to be here." The girl said glaring at him from her peripheral. "I want my home returned to its rightful name, and not be a part of this damn empire!" She shouted out.

Lelouch sighed. 'Well, this shogi game is ruined.' He said to himself as he looked down at the game, and ironically he was losing. Yes, the game was similar to chess, but it wasn't chess. 'I was really enjoying that game too.' He inwardly whines to himself as he slowly puts it away.

It's been about a week and a half since he returned to Britannia from his successful conquest. Since then he has joined his father in every meeting he had with his nobles, and most times he sat at the emperor's side. Even when Schneizel was in the audience, his father wanted him, a Prince with no power nor a name, beside him, and not the Prime Minister. No one would understand how happy the boy was. He was finally someone his father had acknowledged as his son.

Lelouch was taken from his thoughts by the little princess. "Hey, I never said we were done with the game!" She had a pout on her face as she said that.

The prince smiled and stopped what he was doing and sat back into his chair. "Okay." He said and gestured towards her. "It's your move, little princess." He winced when he felt her kick him.

"Don't call me that!" She shouted and made her move, and Lelouch chuckled at her reaction as he rubbed the leg she kicked. He then looked at the board and it hit him once more, that he was losing. The prince saw a smug look take over the girl's face. "Oh, so you have finally accepted defeat."

Kaguya watched as a sour face took over her captor's face. "Of course not!" He then moved one of his lance's forward. She giggled at his reaction and went back to the game.

Since Lelouch asked if she wanted to play shogi, Kaguya felt a tiny bit better, and this game was almost like they were back in the Kururugi Shrine… ALMOST that is.

Even though she was warming up once again to the boy in front of her, Kaguya would never forgive him. Lelouch took her home from her, and turned it into some it should never be. From what she had been told and heard, the once cluster of islands known as Japan was now called Area 11, and its people were thrown to the gutters where they rot away as the Britannian scums sat in their homes not caring about her people.

Kaguya was so in her thoughts that she forgot about the game she was playing. That was until Lelouch said something. "If it makes you more comfortable I could hire some Japanese maids, to tend to your needs, and keep you company."

To be honest, Kaguya never lost the crush she had on the violet-eyed boy. Yes, she forgot about it for what he did, but she never lost it. And it was proven then again when he still called her people Japanese. Even after being forbidden to even say that word, Lelouch still called the 'Eleven's', Japanese.

Kaguya left her thoughts and snarled, looking away from the game. "I don't need maids! I can do everything by myself." She responded to what he said. However, she quickly grew dower. She did miss being in the company of others from her home.

"Kaguya," Lelouch said looking at her, it hurts him to see her like this. The once always careful, and reckless Sumeragi heiress was no more, and in her place was a more serious, and sad political hostage. "Even though you try to hide it, I can tell when you feel alone." He then grabbed the stack of paper he brought with him.

The princess looked to the stack of paper and he watched as a glare appeared on her face. "What are those for?" Lelouch then handed her the stack and she looked at them. After a few seconds of the political hostage looking at them, the prince watched as a shocked look took over her face. "You are allowing me to pick them?"

Lelouch nodded. "Well most of them." She shot him with a glare. He threw his hands in front of him. "I personally picked one of them, Kaguya. The rest are your choices." He grabbed the last piece of paper and handed it to her. "Sayoko Shinozaki. Age: 16." He watched as her eyes widened at the name. "I picked her for a few reasons ." Kaguya looked at him waiting for him to continue. "The first is for your safety. Even though I trust my mother's defence, I don't trust that someone might hire an assassin to come in here and kill you. You are my hostage, and most importantly you are someone I care about."

Kaguya didn't know why her heart fluttered at that, but to hear that come from him, made her happy for some reason. However, before she could say anything Lelouch continued.

"However, I'm also hoping that you are okay with learning Britannian from someone from your own country." He confessed. "Even though I know how to speak Japanese, I am probably the worst when it comes to teaching another language." Yes, it hurts his pride but he has come to acknowledge that he can't be amazing at everything.

He watched as the little princess looked at him unmoving and blankly. That was until the blank look turned to that of a small smile. "I'd appreciate it." Lelouch watched as Kaguya looked back to the stack of paper, and asked. "How are you able to do this?"

The prince smiled when she asked that. "Lord Ashford, you've met him a few times, he's the nice old man who comes with Milly." He watched as the little princess nodded. "He recently opened up a few things in Japan, from schools, restaurants, stores, and dockyards. He's been hiring Japanese, who are looking for work." Lelouch finished as he watched Kaguya nod.

After a few seconds of her looking over the list, Lelouch went to motion her to continue, but their meeting was cut short when they both heard a knock at the door which was followed by a familiar voice. "Prince Lelouch." The voice belonged to that of his guard, Jeremiah Gottwald. "His Majesty, the Emperor is here."

With that Lelouch shot to his feet. 'Why is a father here!? It's Saturday, today is my day off?' He said to himself as he straightened his clothes, and made for the door. "Thank you, Jeremiah. I'll be right there." The prince said as he grabbed the cape hanging up on a stand.

However, before he could leave the voice of Kaguya spoke up. "Why are you allowing this?" Lelouch looked back to see her holding the stack of paper.

"Well, it wasn't me. I was the one who brought up the idea, and told mother that I would be hiring a maid for you." He answered and watched her nod slowly. "Mother was the one who gave me that stack. Nunnally, and Mother, have taken an interest in the Japanese people, and their culture and thought it would be better to hire some." The prince then bowed. "Now I must leave, Kaguya. I mustn't keep the Emperor waiting." He turned to the door and opened it.

From the look on her face, she mustn't have heard what Jeremiah said, for immediately her eyes widened which quickly turned to slits, that screamed anger. Lelouch sighed knowing that whatever she was thinking, it wasn't good for him nor her.

Charles was being followed by his Knight of One as he entered his beloved's home, the Aries Villa. There were a couple of reasons why he came today, and the first was already making her way towards him.

"Love?" Marianne said as she made her way towards him, from the direction of the garden. "I wasn't expecting you to be here? Aren't you supposed to be dealing with the nobles?" She questioned him.

Charles knew she didn't mean to be disrespectful, but he came without notice, and was probably a shock to the members of the household, for he quickly watched as all the maids, butlers, and guards made their way into the room, and bowed with absolute perfection and as if they were all one person.

The emperor looked to his wife, and waved his hand, telling everyone to leave and get back to business. When they were alone with his knight behind him, Charles smiled. "You said that I could visit sometimes. So I'm here, hoping to visit my daughter, and to see how everyone is doing." He answered, and everything he said was true. But he also came to do two more things.

Marianne raised a brow at that, she could tell that her husband had another reason why he came. However, it made her happy that he took some time out of his schedule to come and visit. "Charles, I can tell that you came for other reasons." She watched as he flinched, and she sighed. "I'm guessing it has something to do with our son's hostage, and what has happened in Area 11?"

'Leave it to Marianne to read my mind.' Charles said to himself as he nodded, releasing a sigh. "Yes. I was hoping to speak with Lelouch on a few things." He watched as Marianne's eyes turned to that of slits, and the emperor raised his hands into the air as if he was surrendering. "Marianne I promise that if this wasn't important I wouldn't have bothered him with it on his day off." He quickly explained.

He watched as his love went to speak but was stopped from whatever it was by two voices sounding out around the room, one coming from the second floor, and the other from the direction the empress came from. "Father?!"

Charles looked to see his true children making their way towards him. He smiled at seeing his daughter, the last the emperor saw her was for such a short amount of time, and he barely got to spend any time with her. "Nunnally." He said as she ran into his legs, and clinged to them as if her life depended on it.

He then looked to his more mature son, who stopped a few feet away, and bowed. "Your Majesty." However, he quickly left the bow, as he looked up to him. "What brings you here?" The prince asked, and even though he tried to hide it, Charles could hear the worry in his voice… but it was very minimal, showing that his lessons are doing well.

Charles looked at his son and then at his wife. "I came here for a couple of reasons. One is to make a visit, as Marianne asked, and to spend time with Nunnally. The other involves you, my son." He looked at Lelouch. "Do you mind showing me your Political Hostage?"

Lelouch felt a shiver go down his spine. It never really occurred to him that the emperor would want to know about Kaguya. However, he nodded. "Of course, father." The prince then made for the room that held Kaguya. He could hear the footsteps behind him, and the only thing that he was hoping was that Kaguya wouldn't do something that could get her killed.

Marianne could tell that her son was nervous, and she knew that Charles could see the same thing. In all honesty, the empress wasn't that happy that her husband came to have Lelouch deal with a few things. She didn't even agree with sending Lelouch to Japan, but she could agree that keeping Lelouch here was a waste for such a great mind. But still, she didn't agree nor liked the idea, her son was too young, and now Charles might have him deal with something else.

The empress released a sigh as she tried to get her emotions under control, closing her eyes doing so. All she could do is hope that nothing bad happens today.

Marianne opened her eyes to find that they were outside of the room that held Lelouch's precious little princess. She could see her son hesitate to open the door, and as the boy took a deep breath to control his emotions. She smiled when he finally opened the door without a sign of fear on his face.

Charles entered the room that his son led him to, and the room that held the hostage his son forgot to tell him about. Not that he blamed him, Lelouch has been busy with things. The meetings he had the boy accompany him with and learning of his betrothal to Milly Ashford. So it must have slipped his boy's mind.

The emperor looked around the room and found that it was spacious and roomy. It had everything one needed to live in. His eyes stopped on the small girl in the centre of the room, sitting at a chair in front of a table that held a board game.

He immediately took notice of the glare she was giving him. It wasn't the worst he has been giving, but he could feel the hatred, and disdain in the look. Charles made his way over to the table and looked at the board game. He then went to pick up a piece but was stopped when a smacking sound went around the room, followed by a deep intake of breath.

Charles looked at the person who slapped his hand away from the board game and only found a glaring seven-year-old. He then heard Bismarck making his way towards them. However, the Knight of One was stopped when the emperor raised a hand.

Lelouch was holding in his breath as he waited for what his father would do to Kaguya for hitting him. 'Have you lost your mind, Kaguya! Do you know what might happen to you if you hit an emperor!' He screamed to himself watching as his father's most loyal knight made his way to his friend.

However, he watched as his father raised a hand, stopping the giant of a man. From where Lelouch was standing all he could see was the glare Kaguya was giving his father, and how she wasn't backing down.

What Lelouch expected to happen was the emperor ordering the girl arrested and executed. But what actually happened shocked everyone. For the room was filled with laughter coming from the man who ran the strongest superpower on Earth.

"Oh, I like your spirit, Girl!" The man said well he laughed. "Lelouch!" The man shouted, making the prince jump and make his way towards his father. "You may keep her, but no more. You will not be taking any more 'political hostages'."

Lelouch gave the man a deep bow. "Thank you, your Majesty. I am sorry for the transgressions she has laid upon you! I'm willing to take whatever punishment you see befitting her mistake!" He responded, still bowing fearing for the safety of the only person that treated him well in Japan.

Charles shook his head. "There will be no punishment." He looked at the board. "I'm guessing this game is something from her homeland?" The emperor looked back to his son as he nodded, still bowing. "Then it would make sense why she is protective of it."

He could hear his son releasing a grateful sigh. The emperor then went to leave the room, wanting to move on and get what he wanted here, and the results were more than satisfactory. Charles heard people following him. 'That girl is going to be a very interesting piece.' He said to himself, making his way to the garden, where he will spend time with his wife, and watch as his two true children played around.

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Hours Later

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Lelouch found himself alone with the emperor. It was already past eight at night, with Nunnally already being sent to bed, and Marianne went with her. However, what really held the prince's attention was the towering man in front of him.

He knew he wasn't going to go unpunished for what Kaguya did, and now would be a great time to give it. So Lelouch waited for the emperor to give him justice. But as he waited and as time went by, the two only remained in silence.

That all ended when the emperor spoke. "What was that game she had? I never saw it before until now?" The man looked at him, and Lelouch was shocked that he saw actual genuine interest in his father's eyes.

Lelouch shook his head and answered. "It's called Shogi, and it's the Eleven's equivalent to Chess." The prince then bowed. "I am sorry for what she did, your majesty. I never knew she was going to react like that. Please forgive her." He finished.

The emperor didn't make a move to speak, and only went back to staring at the sunset. "Why are you so fond and protective of her, my son?" His father finally spoke.

Lelouch looked at the sunset and smiled. "Well… during my time as Japan's political hostage, no one treated me well, and never really got to know me." He stopped as he remembered that moment. "However one day this girl came along and kept on bothering me. Asking me questions about my mother, and what she was like. She was the first person who spent some time getting to know me. Even though I tried to avoid her to not make connections with anyone, I slowly grew a liking for her, and sorta grew a protective streak for her." He motioned back to the Aries Villa. "This is my thanks for everything she did. Even though that girl has left, and a more serious and dower one took its place." He finished still watching the sunset.

Charles listened to his son as he explained to him how he felt towards the girl, and he learned that his son cared about the Eleven. And something he didn't want to do was hurt someone who his son cared about.

The emperor went to speak but was interrupted by his son confessing something. "But… you should also know that the girl is a noble… and has some royal blood in her." When Charles heard this his eyes grew a bit at the information he was just told. His son then continued telling him the girl's titles. "Her name is Kaguya Sumeragi and she is the heiress to the Sumeragi Family, and before I conquered the land, the family ruled over the region of Kanto, just like how the Kururugi Family ruled over the Chubu region. She also carries some titles like the Princess of Japan, and such."

Charles was completely shocked at what his son told him. He obviously didn't show it but even so he was shocked. After a few seconds of taking in the information, a small grin appeared on his face. 'This girl is most definitely an interesting piece, and a powerful one.'

So with giving a small nod. "Then she is forgiven and no punishment will be given." He looked at his son and saw a small smile on his face. "Lelouch, you do know what might happen if the public finds out that you are housing Eleven, and one from such a family and how much power she holds, right?"

His son nodded and a serious no-nonsense look took over his face. "I do. Which is why I have hired a maid to look after her and most importantly to protect her." The prince said not wavering.

Charles nodded and looked back to the already darkening sky, and the two fell back into a comfortable silence, watching as some birds flew to their nests, and as the sounds of the predators of the night awakened. The emperor then decided now was the time to bring up the topic he needed to tell his son.

"Lelouch, as you know your fool of a brother, Clovis, was made the viceroy of Area 11." The boy nodded, hearing that his father was completely serious. For some reason, Lelouch already knew where this was going. "Well all over the Area, terrorists have popped up, disrupting the peace you brought to it during your time thereafter you took it." Lelouch could feel his father's eye boring into him. "How would you fix such a problem?"

Lelouch has already come up with such plans, once he heard Clovis being named the Viceroy of the Area. "Well, my first suggestion is to kick my brother from the seat and put someone more capable in his place." He looked to the ground. "Someone who could care for both of the Area's people." He said to himself as he looked back up to the emperor. "My second thought is to get a better general for the Area. It seems that General Bartley is an incompetent fool who doesn't know what the hell he's doing." He watched as his father nodded, and he continued. "My last thought is to replace both of them and be done with it."

Lelouch watched as the Emperor of the Holy Britannian Empire nodded and looked to be in thought. After a few minutes, the emperor looked at him. "Who would you suggest I make the new viceroy Lelouch?" His father asked him.

Now that was something Lelouch hadn't thought about and just answered with what came to mind. "I would say, Lord Reuben Ashford. But with my recent betrothal to Milly, and you gifting him more lands. I think it would paint too much of a picture and could cause some problems." He finished watching his father nod and a smile appeared on the man's face.

"Then we thought of the same thing, it seems my son." The smile then left. "But we are in agreement on the last part. I'd rather not deal with more bickering and complaining from the nobles." The emperor looked at him. "For the time being, I shall do nothing. For this is a problem Clovis will have to deal with."

Lelouch nodded. "Yes… but I do feel like we should give him a little bit of a helping hand." Even though Clovis was a fool, he was still his brother and one of his closest, so he at least wants to help him in any way.

The emperor nodded and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Leave that to me. For now, you need to return to the Villa. From what Marianne has said you need more training in the Knightmare frame." Lelouch flinched at that, he wasn't a Knightmare pilot, he was a strategist. His specialty was that of making plans and putting them in place, and not that of a pilot. His father obviously saw his reaction and smiled. "How about this my son. If by the time you turn 16, have at least an ace pilot like ranking, and have graduated top of your class, then I promise you a gift that you would never regret getting."

Lelouch looked up to his eyes, and on the outer iris, he watched as a crimson circle appeared. 'What was that?' He asked himself, however then it hit him that whatever that was, that might be the gift his father was talking about. He nodded his head. "Deal."

Charles smiled. "Good. Now we must be going." He said moving towards the Villa, with his son beside him, thinking to himself. 'Hopefully, C.C. will be willing to give Lelouch that power that is.' But that quickly left for the memory of that night came to mind, and how the green-haired immortal already had an interest in his son. 'Well, only time will tell.' The man said to himself as the two got close to the mansion. 'Only time will tell.'

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TBC

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Chapter 4 is done! Well, I enjoyed writing this… a bit that is. Well anyway! Let me know what you think about in the reviews.

Also as you all know from the first chapter, Suzaku won't be joining the military, and in all honesty, might not be making a return… So who gets the Z-01 Lancelot! I have a few ideas on who it should go to, and I apologize one of them is not Lelouch for, in all honesty, I'm giving him the Gawain. So who should get the white Knightmare? Leave some ideas in the reviews.

I'm still looking for a co-author and/or editor, and if you are interested please pm/dm me. I'm not picky so you don't need proof or any of that, I'm just looking for someone who I can trust, and is willing to work with me.

In the next chapter, Lelouch meets a few people that will join him through his path.

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Aries Villa

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Lelouch looked at the witch in front of him with a raised brow, who was spread out on the coach, his favourite couch. 'Note to self. By a new couch.' he said to himself as he looked at his father and asked. "Why is the Witch here, and what does she have to do with anything?" he asked, sounding a bit annoyed.

When he got his answer it wasnt from the emperor or his mother, but the green haired woman. "So mean Lelouch. So mean." she said and he knew she felt nothing but was just playing around. "But the reason why I am here is because I'm the one that is giving you the gift that man promised you." she said that pointing her foot towards the tall man who looked like he'd rather be somewhere else that isn't here.

Lelouch went to bite back, which would have led to an argument between the immortal and mortal teen. However he stopped when he heard his mother's voice. "Lelouch. She isn't lying." looking at the person who birthed him he went to ask but it seems she already knew what he was going to say. "I know it might be hard to believe but C.C. is immortal, and has the ability to give people powers. If you want proof my son. Both me and your father have that power."

Lelouch listened to her trying to comprehend what his mother meant. 'Immortal?' He looked at the catlike girl and said to himself. 'Impossible.' Looking at his mother he spoke. "What are you talking about Mother? Also," he pointed to the witch, not caring that it might be rude. "She's immortal." The vi Britannia empress nodded. "Bullsh-."

Lelouch was stopped when the sound of a gun going off around them. Grabbing and unholstering his own gun he turned the gun on who shot it and found the Knight of One. bringing his arm down he raised a brow and followed the direction the barrel of the gun was pointing. The gun was pointing at the witch, who now laid dead on the couch, with a hole through her head revealing her pink tattoo

"Give it a bit." the knight said, holstering his pistol and picking up the casing of the bullet he just shot. "It takes a minute to activate." he finished standing back to attention.

Looking back to the dead woman he watched as nothing happened. Finding this a waste of time, he looked to his mother and went to speak. But then it happened. Lelouch looked back to his favourite couch and watched as the witch started moving again and how the hole started healing, and said bullet dropping out of the wound.

Wide eyes he watched as the… the… the immortal got to her feet. "Bismarck, if you do that again I will personally see you to your grave." she said looking at the giant of a man who didn't seem fazed. "Also you didn't need to shoot me in the head. Yes I might be immortal but I still feel pain and being shot in the head in one of the worse, damn it." Lelouch watched this with his mouth agape.

Stopping in front of her soon to be favourite contractor, C.C. leaned up and spoke. "However, let's give you that power Charles promised you." with that she grabbed his wrist and placed a kiss onto his lips, and within seconds all the two could see was white.

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