AN: I would like to thank everyone for reading the last few chapters and I appreciate all your reviews, shoutout to Darth Lelouch, ParadoxFanatic and Kallen 107 especially! I have some responses some of the longer reviewers below:
James2091997: While Kallen is most definitely crueler, Lelouch will become somewhat softer as the story progresses, I'd say he already is but the reason isn't clear, yet. One of the things I want to practice in this story is how characters can affect and change one another. Also I find it pretty interesting you say Kallen will inevitably switch sides :)
Dark08: The idea of Lelouch getting caught by Euphemia is pretty funny, ngl. I do plan on bringing up Euphemia's education but that will be for another time.
Yuriski-1st: I completely agree with you, Lelouch using his Geass and erasing people's will in stories is somewhat silly and very OOC. What makes Code Geass a great story is that Lelouch for all his boasting of dirtying his hands is still a very moral human being. I think you will find this chapter interesting.
Okay that is all. I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
Kirahara the Traitor was an old man. A relic of another era. A man who still remembered Japan. But Kallen knew that's what made him so dangerous. If Kirahara was not cunning nor resilient, he would not be here in Kallen's office. His businesses would have been seized by the Britannians or maybe Kirahara himself would have been replaced by a younger, more energetic man. But Kirahara the Traitor continued to live, and he continued to be one of the most influential men in all of Area 11.
"Can we count on your support then?" she asked.
The man gave a sly grin. "Of course, with these exemptions to the new taxes, we are more than grateful, viceroy."
Just how grateful? Enough not to stab me the second I turn my back?
Kallen smiled. "That is good to hear, Kirahara. Your cooperation with Britannia brings stability all throughout Area 11."
Kirahara's smile did not fade, but he gave a small sigh. "And that is why we cooperate with you, Viceroy. Area 11 is my home, and it pains my heart to see her in chaos. This new terrorist, Zero is he? I hope you bring him to justice soon."
"Zero will be made an example of," Kallen promised. "And he will suffer for killing Prince Clovis."
Kirahara once more sighed. "I hope you are right, Viceroy. But why must all of Shinjuku suffer?" he asked innocently. The question was an attack: the operation to draw Zero to Shinjuku was a secret, a secret Kirahara somehow knew. But this did not surprise her. Even the walls have ears, Arthur always said about the Viceroy's Palace.
"We all must make our sacrifices," Kallen retorted, ignoring his revelation. "As long as this Zero remains at large, the Elevens will suffer more and more."
"I understand, my lady." Kirahara said as he lowered his head respectfully. "I hope you stop him soon. I have heard many whispers of this Zero, even people who despise terrorists speak of him fondly. Some call him a hero, a figure that will resurrect Japan from the grave. Some call him a legion, a symbol, something that cannot be killed."
"Everything can be killed, Kirahara." Kallen said, "Even symbols."
The old Eleven raised an eyebrow. "And how is that, my lady?"
"Through brutal, demoralizing violence."
When her meeting with Kirahara ended Kallen looked at the clock, the sun was still out and even with her bravado of stopping Zero by any mean possible, Kallen Stadfeld felt terrible. Her fever had gotten worse since the morning, when she had collapsed into Lelouch Lamperouge's arms. Her body felt heavy, slow, lethargic. Her throat was in pain and a throbbing headache constantly harassed her. Furthermore, her body ached as if she had just finished an intense workout.
She desperately wanted to sleep. Liliana begged her to do so, but there was much to do with Cornelia's upcoming attack of Shinjuku. Will Zero come? Kallen was unsure herself, but it was a necessary gamble. After taking her medicine, Kallen found herself with Arthur and Jaime discussing the guard's participation in the upcoming battle.
"Most us?" Jaime asked.
"Yes, most of us will remain in the reserves, we will only deploy when Cornelia finds herself in trouble." Kallen confirmed.
"And the rest of us?" Arthur asked, but he seemed to know the answer.
Kallen couldn't help but look around the office, but it was just the three of them. No unwanted ear can hear this.
"Arthur, you will lead some of our men through the tunnels of Shinjuku, your primary objective will be to find our immortal woman." she took a sip from her cup of coffee. "If Zero appears in Shinjuku she may be close by."
"And if we cannot find her?" the captain of her guard asked.
"Your secondary objective will be finding any terrorist headquarters. When the battle begins, they will likely be quartered in the old subway tunnels. Destroy them, if you find them."
Arthur nodded and left. Jaime had a look of concern as he lingered in the room.
"My lady, is it wise for you to participate in the battle?"
"I am fine, Jaime. This is just a cold, it will pass." she assured her second in command.
But when Jaime left, Kallen slumped on her chair. It may just be some cold, but misery is what Kallen felt. Her whole body felt sensitive and even though she had turned off the air conditioner, Kallen still felt a cold that made her shiver at times. Liliana soon enough arrived. Her blonde squire was wearing a casual dress, she almost looked like a normal teenage girl.
"You wanted to speak with me, my lady?"
"I do, Liliana. Please sit down." the blonde girl sat down and crossed her legs. "For a year and half, you have served under me. I have taught you many things, but I have not let you step foot in the battlefield. You are still young, and mayhaps I wished to shield you from the scars of battle. Mayhaps I was wrong to do so, but your time has come. Now it is time for you to join me and the rest of the guard, this upcoming battle will be your first."
There was a sense of pride radiating around Liliana, the blonde's eyes seemed to brighten as she stood suddenly. "My lady, I will be honored to finally fight alongside you."
"And I am sure you will do good, but you must understand Liliana, war is a terrible thing. It is nothing like the songs, it is not glorious, and most of all it is dangerous. Do not do anything reckless, do not play the part of hero, stick close to the rest of the guard and always listen to us, understood?"
Liliana nodded almost too eagerly. "Understood, my lady."
When Liliana left, it was Kallen who sighed. Liliana was an energetic girl, kind, caring and loyal to a fault. Kallen had handpicked her as a squire, and she was one of the few people in her life that Kallen would ever consider a friend. The idea of something happening to Liliana in the battlefield…it scared Kallen, she loathed to admit it.
She found that funny. She wasn't scared of death whatsoever, and the idea of someone like Arthur dying also didn't scare her. So why did the idea of Liliana suffering a mortal wound make Kallen so…uncomfortable?
She had no time to reflect. As the day dragged on, she found herself inspecting Knightmare Frames with Cornelia herself. The princess was wearing her usual purple and white dress.
"How many Knightmare Frames are there in Area 11?"
"One hundred and twenty-seven." it was Liliana who answered her.
"And all are ready for use?"
Kallen did not like the sound of her words. "Princess, the logistics of mobilizing all the Area's Knightmares is…"
"Do not worry, Viceroy. I have no intention. We will take twenty-two of them into the battle," the princess held onto the sword hilt strapped to her waist. "I will supply eleven of those, all from my personal guard." the warrior princess looked up at the Sutherland. "How many battalions can you provide, Kallen?"
"I can mobilize eight battalions by tomorrow morning," Kallen said. "In total, it would be 8,000 men. Two of those would be tank battalions, while three others would be mechanized."
The princess continued to grip her sword. "Mobilize only four battalions, if we bring too much the rats will not come out to fight us."
"Understood, is there anything else you desire, your highness?"
The princess smiled. "No, that would be all. But I must say, dove, I grow eager to see you in the battlefield. You were a fine fighter before, but now as you are a Knight of Round I expect even more from you. Do you still drive that machine developed by Earl Lloyd? Lancelot, was it?"
"Not anymore, your highness. I passed on the machine to one of the newest members of my guard."
"Oh? He must be a capable pilot then."
Kallen could feel Liliana shifting uncomfortably in the back. Kallen's decision to hand the keys of the Lancelot to Suzaku had caused quite a ruckus in the guard, but that ruckus had been put down by Arthur and Jaime. Even still, Liliana did not like it. Her squire had been unhappy with Suzaku's inclusion in the guard, even if she never spoke up about it.
"One of the best I've seen." Kallen said, "He has the talent to be a Knights of Rounds one day,"
"Then I must meet this new pilot of yours one day." Cornelia said.
"I will be happy to make the arrangements then." Kallen said with a rigid smile. Cornelia will not be happy to learn that this driver is an Eleven.
When they ended their inspection of the Knightmare Frames, the sun was beginning to set, and Kallen desperately retreated into her quarters. The cold was growing worse and worse, Liliana noticed this and called for a nurse. Kallen's temperature had risen, and the fatigue was making her mind dull and her body slow. Forced into her bed by the sickness, Kallen groaned.
"My lady, you must rest." the nurse said. "You cannot continue to work, you are only making things worse."
"What else needs to be done? I can do it for you, while you rest." Liliana also insisted.
An hour later, Kallen laid in her bed, drifting in and out of sleep. She dreamt about her brother, about her father, about her mother and about her mother-in-law. She still remembered when they left their small and humble home into a what was undeniably a mansion in her young age. Her father's wealth grew exponentially as Stadfeld Industries became one of the leading weapons manufacturers in the country, but the wealth came at a price.
Her father and mother divorced: her father could no longer be seen with a Japanese wife after all; he was now a high-class Britannian. So her mother left to Japan and her father married another woman, the daughter of some wealthy count. Alice Windsfield was her name. Her mother was so kind and caring, while Alice was harsh and cold. Her mother always taught Kallen about the virtues of honesty and humility, while Alice preached of pride and strength.
"My mother told me always to respect others." the younger Kallen said.
"Your Japanese mother was a fool. You must be strong and stand tall, lest everyone walk over you." Alice would angrily say.
Kallen shifted in her bed as sweat dripped all around her body. Her eyes could barely open as she tried to check the time, and in front of her was Zero.
"And you expect to destroy me like this?" the masked man laughed.
Kallen breathed heavily through her mouth and shifted in her bed again, suddenly Zero was gone, replaced by her mother-in-law.
"Weak, weak, you cannot be weak. You embarrass all of us with your actions." she scolded her. Kallen shifted again in her bed, trying to get up. Her body felt heavy, as if her Sutherland was parked on her back. Her eyes were hazy as she stood up, but her mother-in-law was already gone, and in her place stood Lelouch.
"Are you ok?" he asked, his tone genuine as he offered his hand. His face was soft and the purple in his eyes seemed to brighten the room itself.
But Kallen did not reach for his hand, instead she stood up by herself. She did not call for any of her maids, Kallen dressed herself, she slipped out of her sleeping wear and into gray long pants and a white blouse. Looking through her cabinets, she found a bottle of painkillers and took two pills instead of one, she gulped down the pills with a cup of water and exited her room.
Nobody saw her leave the Viceroy's Palace, except for a handful of guards. To the ones in the entrance, she directed: "Tell your superiors the Viceroy is going out on a walk."
"On a walk, my lady?" the common guard asked, confused. "To where?"
"Tell them it was a walk for fresh air."
And so Kallen walked. The Viceroy's Palace was situated in the middle of the Tokyo Settlement. The bright, vibrant lights of the city came alive as the sun began to fade in the distance, the people finished their work en masse and headed to bars, shopping centers, and their own homes. And Kallen walked among them all.
The Tokyo Settlement was Britannia's pet project, to prove they could convert Japan into Area 11. Britannians and Elevens lived together in the city and thrived fairly well. The bustling city remained active even in the latest of hours, with cars, trains, and buses moving millions of people every hour. Every place seemed to be brimming with activity, every store packed with customers.
And among millions, Kallen blended in. It was something Arthur taught her long ago.
"Act as you belong, young lady, and you can go wherever you please, no matter who you are."
Here she was just another girl, another Britannian. It was refreshing, similar to her first day in Ashford Academy. She relished it, the normalcy, the simpleness of it all. Even her cold seemed to simmer down in the pleasure of being incognito. She thought of where to go, and the possibilities felt endless in the grand city that was the Tokyo Settlement.
After a while, she went to the New Tokyo Mall: a massive, ridiculous, extravagant eight-story mall funded by Britannian businessmen after the war. A monument to Britannian business and capitalism. She read the slogan of the mall when she entered.
Whatever you want, you will find it here,
Lelouch did not know what was more demanding: unifying the terrorists of Shinjuku or being the vice-president of the Milly's student council.
The terrorist groups of Shinjuku were vast, numbering in the dozens, and all of them had different goals, ambitions and ideologies. They disagreed and fought with one another even when discussing breakfast, they were bitter, full of resentment and despair facing one of the greatest evils known to man: the Britannian Empire.
On the other hand, Milly Ashford was the greatest evil known to man. When Sayako fell ill, Milly had stepped up and helped the Lamperouge household with cooking, cleaning, and buying groceries. Lelouch loathed that the title of Zero kept him away from Nunnally, but it was part of the burden. But thanks to Milly, Nunnally was taken care of in Sayako's absence. But it was after when the president unleashed her trap: Milly had delegated many of her presidential responsibilities to Lelouch.
"You know, quid pro quo." Milly said with a sly grin.
It wasn't so bad, Lelouch had cleverly mixed in his new duties with things to benefit Zero. Many of Milly's task was mostly shopping for the school: decorations, costumes, utilities, even food. Another part was securing sponsorship for school events, something easy to do considering the academy's prestige in the Tokyo Settlement.
Doing all of his new work had Lelouch traveling throughout the Tokyo Settlement, and this gave the opportunity for his Geass to shine. Using the powers of absolute obedience, he gained access to storage rooms, exits, and inventories of the many stores he visited. In the subways he gained access to camera rooms, passages to tunnels, and he even learned their procedure in the case of a terrorist attack. At a mall he gained access to the security rooms, ignore me, he commanded the guards, and Lelouch had free rein to see how the security in the mall functioned.
All little bits and pieces, but they would allow Lelouch to supply his future Black Knights. And when the time came, he planned to use many of these resources to siege down the Tokyo Settlement itself - one step at a time though, Lelouch thought. Today he had to buy mallets for the Ashford Polo Club. After this, I can continue my plan to destroy Britannia.
He was eager to return to Shinjuku, the preparation for the upcoming battle was going well when he left, but he wanted to ensure it was perfect, perfection was what they needed to defeat Cornelia. Lelouch knew it was a trap - he had Kallen to thank for that - yet he would bite the Princess's bait. He had rallied the terrorist of Shinjuku with Naoto's help, and together they would dance with the warrior princess.
"Lelouch?" a voice called out as he walked out the store.
There was something exceptionally terrifying about running into Kallen Stadfeld so suddenly and unexpectedly.
The Viceroy of Area 11 stood in front of him, blending in with the rest of the crowd effortlessly. He saw a smile emerge from her lips, her blue eyes were as charming as ever, but Lelouch noted her skin was pale, paler than usual. And there was something about her voice, it wasn't strong or determined, but rather weak and un-energetic. The Knight of Twelve twisted her head as she looked at the mallets.
"What's that for?" she asked, her voice weak.
She is still sick, Lelouch realized.
"The mallets?" he asked.
She nodded.
"I'm going to destroy Britannia with them." he said with a straight face.
The red-haired girl threw her face up in laughter, and Lelouch couldn't help but smile. "I'm sure the emperor is shaking in his boots. Do you play polo?"
Lelouch had once 'tried' the horseback sport when he was a young prince, but Kallen didn't need to know that.
"I ride well on a horse, but I've never had the displeasure to play it."
"A displeasure it is, sadly the royals love that sport," she said the last words mockingly. "How can it be a sport if the horse is doing all the work?"
Lelouch shrugged. "You could say the same thing about Knightmare Frames and their pilots."
Kallen's smile did not falter, she took his jab well. "The difference is one is a horse, the other is one of the most complex machines made on Earth."
Lelouch didn't doubt her, only a few days ago his friend had been tutoring him on the intricacies of driving a Knightmare Frame, and it was most definitely not easy.
Kallen approached him, her blue eyes dancing as they analyzed him from head to toe. When she approached, Lelouch remembered her kiss, her soft, warm lips were something Lelouch did not forget. And from her lips came words: "Do you have to do something else? Or are you leaving?"
Lelouch's mind raced, he planned to head straight to Shinjuku after this. I could say I am going to Ashford…but what if she has people following me? Or she wants to come with me? I could use my Geass on her to tell her to leave me…but what if she has guards close to her, hidden in plain sight, just like she is? What if they are listening to us?
Paranoia filled Lelouch's head. I have some time, I shouldn't be hasty.
"I have to buy a few things." Lelouch lied with his most disarming smile. "Do you want to come with me?"
Kallen's smile seemed brighter than before. "I would love to. It's my first time here, and I want to see more of the mall." she said as she walked next to Lelouch.
"The first time? How often do you go out into the city?"
"Back home? I would do it often, but my father always had guards following from afar. But here in Area 11? It's my first time exploring the city, my guard will be upset that I left without giving them a notice." she said with a sheepish grin.
"Is it truly safe for you to be out here all alone?" he asked.
"It is fine. I'm just a nobody right now," she said.
"Being a nobody is a poor disguise." Lelouch criticized. "Nobody's are the most suspicious people in the world. If you're looking for someone in hiding, what kind of person would they be acting as?"
"Acting like a nobody," Kallen replied.
"Exactly. So, if you want to find someone in hiding, you look for the nobody's." Lelouch said, and then he smoothly wrapped his arm around hers. Her arms were featured with muscle, but they somehow felt smoother rather than hard, and her fever made her skin comfortably warm in the air-conditioned mall. Kallen looked at him in surprise, but she did not protest.
"So instead of being a nobody, I should be a girl in a date with Ashford's student council vice-president?"
"If that's what this is, then aye." Lelouch said earnestly. "A better disguise than being nobody."
"Then I better play my role dutifully." Kallen said with as she moved closer to Lelouch. "You have to do your part as well, Lelouch." she said while looking up at him, her blue eyes marked with a fierce determination, a sly grin grew from her lips. "Can you imagine what everyone at Ashford will think if people here notice me on a date? Shirley would kill me." she said with a small laugh.
What was that about Shirley? "Yes, it would cause quite the chaos." he said.
And to think only two days ago she was pointing a gun towards me. But he was Zero back then: right now he was just Lelouch.
They stopped at a store specializing in costumes and old-school clothing, the theater club had been complaining recently that the art clubhad stolen a good deal of clothing set pieces, and they wanted replacements for their stolen good.
"Of course, the art club vehemently denies that." Lelouch explained as he looked over an 18th century military uniform-costume. "They say the history club stole the costumes instead. Milly asked me to launch an investigation, but that will be for another time."
"The politics of Ashford Academy are truly wicked and vile." Kallen said after giggling. "Be careful when you investigate these clubs, you may be stepping on the toes of powerful people." she joked.
This time Lelouch chuckled. "Thankfully, there is only one person to fear in Ashford Academy, and her name is Milly Ashford."
"Yes, that great blonde tyrant." Kallen said she looked over some of the costumes Lelouch picked, as they made the line to pay. "I wish I could run Area 11 as -"
The cashier was an Eleven woman with black hair, a thin woman in her mid-twenties. But what caught Lelouch's eyes were her injuries: her face and neck were marked by black bruises, and it seems Kallen noticed them as well. Lelouch carried on, paying for his items calmly. But he could feel the viceroy next to him tense up. When they finished paying, Kallen broke off from Lelouch's arm and turned around to the cashier.
"What happened to you?" she asked, in Japanese. The woman's face grew pale, and she shook her head.
"Nothing happened to me, ma'm." the cashier replied in plain English.
"Do not give me such a pathetic lie." Kallen snarled angrily. "Who did this to you?"
The cashier's face grew even paler, making the bruises on her face even more clear.
"What's the problem here?" a portly man asked angrily. The store's manager, Lelouch quickly gleamed. The man looked at both Lelouch and Kallen, his face was fuming. "Boy," he said looking at Lelouch. "What is your girl telling my cashier?"
Lelouch didn't have time to respond as Kallen stepped forward.
"Those bruises on her, what happened to her?" she demanded.
The simple high school girl Lelouch had been walking with was gone, Kallen Stadfeld the Viceroy had replaced her. She stood straight, her head was held high with pride, her voice was commanding, and her eyes were dark and foreboding rather than bright and cheerful.
The manager leered at Kallen warily. "Did she not tell you? Nothing happened to her," he looked at the cashier. "Tell her, Suzuki."
The cashier somehow grew even paler. "It's as he says, nothing happened to me."
But Kallen ignored this cashier named Suzuki, her eyes never breaking away from the manager's.
"It was you." she accused, clenching her teeth.
The portly man looked around, seeing the store empty, he snorted. "And what? This Eleven is mine, I do what I please with her." he boasted as the cashier looked down to the floor, afraid. The manager's gray eyes ignored Kallen and went to Lelouch. "Boy, put your girl on a leash before she says something she'll regre-"
He never finished his sentence. It all happened too fast - Kallen struck like lightning, her left hand landed solidly in the manager's jaw. The portly man backed away, dazed.
"Kallen!" Lelouch called out, but before he even finished her name Kallen threw yet another punch. This time, the portly manager fell on the floor, hitting his head on the nearby desk. The cashier shrieked in panic and before Lelouch could speak, Kallen grabbed his hand, and the two of them began to briskly walk away.
"Don't stop." she told him.
Soon enough, they found themselves in a long hallway leading to some bathrooms, far away from any unwanted attention. The two students, the terrorist and the viceroy, the prince and the duke's daughter, sat alone.
"I'm sorry I acted like that. That was rash of me, immature." Kallen hugged her knees with a glum look to her face.
"I understand your anger." Lelouch said honestly and calmly. "But you did not help that woman with your actions, do you know that?"
Kallen rose her head looking at Lelouch with her defiant eyes, but soon enough the defiance died out, and she placed her head above her knees once more.
"I know, I just can't help myself sometimes."
"Why is that?"
The girl shrugged dejectedly. "I don't know. My anger gets the better of me sometimes, so much so that I can't even think straight. It's all red, red and blood when my anger reaches its boiling point."
"You're stressed." Lelouch said understandingly. The stress of Zero recently had shortened his own temper, but to make it up for it Lelouch had been focused on releasing that stress in his free time with exercise and chores. Kallen does not have the time for that pleasure, Lelouch noticed.
"Maybe. But I think it's frustration rather than stress." She sat straight, stretching her legs. "I've tried to make Area 11 better. I've advanced the Honorary Britannian program, I helped pass anti-discrimination laws, I've approved of affirmative actions to help Eleven get jobs, I've lowered crime, and what is there to show for it? The Elevens are still suffering, the economy is still a mess, and there seems to be a terrorist in every corner of the country. Now I have to deal with a masked terrorist with a taste for prince-killing."
She leaned her head on Lelouch's shoulder.
"I try, you know. I want to make things better. But how can I? I swore my vows to serve Britannia, and it is in Britannia's interest to destroy the terrorists without remorse. To oppress those that oppose us, to destroy her enemies. But I don't want to destroy… I'm tired of destroying. I've destroyed and killed for years. I want to build, I want Area 11 to prosper. I want the Japanese and the Britannians to coexist in peace. But what do I do? On the field of battle I treat the Japanese without mercy. And then I bend my back and allow the Britannians to dominate the Area's economy. I can't even express my anger, it's all so pathetic.
"That's why it felt so good to hit that fat manager. Seeing that Japanese woman with those bruises…it made me feel weak. That no matter how hard I try, no matter how many sacrifices I make, no matter how much I wantit, I still fail. My anger took over, so I hit him: and when I did, I had such a rush of pleasure, for a few moments I felt in control. I was doing what I wanted to do. But those are immature feelings, I should have tempered my rage. What was it that he told you? To put me on a leash? Maybe that's not a bad idea." she finished with a small laugh.
You chase an impossible dream, Kallen.
"You will never heal Area 11," Lelouch said. "It's a foolish dream, a hopeless one. Britannia's occupation of Area 11 is a threat to the Japanese identity-"
"I know, I know." Kallen interrupted him with a dull tone to her voice. "I don't want to talk about that, please." Lelouch glanced at her, her blue eyes seemed as dull as her voice, her face was gloomy and melancholic.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have spoken." he apologized.
"I'm the one who should be apologizing, for talking about something so dire." she shifted her head and grabbed onto his arm once again.
"Do you love your sister, Lelouch?"
The warmth from her fever was still present, with her arms wrapped against his he once more felt that comforting warmth, he felt her long red hair run against his skin, he could feel her ragged breaths and the beat of her heart.
"I do, I love her more than anything in the world."
"I figured." she said with a smile. "Family is important, isn't it? How far would you go for your sister, Lelouch Lamperouge?"
Lelouch didn't even need to think about it. "I would travel to the deepest pits of hell if I had to. I would travel the world ten thousand times. I would suffer for her, I would endure the strongest pains, I would endure the coldest colds, I would destroy the entire world if it meant keeping her safe."
"Why do you love her so much, Lelouch? Why would you go so far for one person?" Kallen asked weakly.
"She's the reason I wake up every day. Without her, my life would be full of anger, bitterness, and resentment. Nunnally reminds me that kindness is necessary, that being happy is the ultimate goal for all of us. That there is something past all our anger and bitterness. That no matter how bad things are, no matter how dire things get, I will return home to see her smiling. Every time I see her, my heart jumps. And no matter how dark my mood, it brightens at the mere sight of her. Even in my most rotten moments, she makes me laugh with her small japes. Whenever she laughs, I want to freeze time, to never leave her. All I want in those moments is to see her smile, forever. To hold her so tight and never let go. I cherish my memories with her so much that even in my darkest hours I will continue to push, I will continue to strive, I will fi-"
He stopped himself as he got carried away, but it was pointless.
Kallen had fallen asleep in his arm.
"I will fight to destroy Britannia," Lelouch whispered. "And I will fight you: all for Nunnally."
I know, Kallen said earlier when talking about her inability to 'fix' Area 11.
If she knows she cannot succeed, why does she continue? Why does she fight for Britannia? Is it because of her loyalty, to her father and her country? Or is she here just to find her brother?
As Kallen dozed on Lelouch's arm, the exiled prince asked himself: who is this girl?
Was she the Knight of Twelve? Was she the Viceroy of Area 11? A student? The daughter of a wealthy duke? Or maybe she was just a student of Ashford Academy? Twice Lelouch proclaimed Kallen would break: once as Lelouch Lamperouge and once as Zero. But it seems he would have to do little: Kallen Stadfeld was already a broken girl.
Or was she? She was one of Britannia's greatest knight. Kallen called herself a pawn, but she was more akin to a queen; powerful, fast, stubborn, and determined. In a single day, she won three battles against experienced terrorist groups, she drove one of the fiercest Knightmare Frames known to man, and with her name she commanded influence only matched by royalty.
Kallen Stadfeld is a broken girl, but she was dangerous all the same.
What are you waiting for? A voice whispered in his head.
This sleeping girl once held him at gunpoint. And at Shinjuku her Lancelot had almost killed him on the spot.
He had many plans: a plan for Zero, for his Black Knights, for Japan.
And Kallen Stadfeld was a threat to those plans.
All he had to do was wake her and to command her. Anything would do. To kill herself, to make her retire from the military, to become his slave, to backstab Cornelia, to worsen Area 11 to Lelouch's advantage. He had so many possibilities and his enemy was right here, defenseless.
So why couldn't he do it? He bit his lips and put the back of his head against the wall.
My father would do it, he thought while clenching his fists. He wouldn't hesitate.
"Geass is evil," he remembered his friend's word. He found them funny now, for whatever reason. Geass was a tool, it had no morality, it was neither good nor evil, unlike what his naive friend believed. It was the user who was good or evil. And the Geass he used on Kallen was evil.
The exiled prince closed his eyes before looking at her once more: but when he opened his eyes he did not see Kallen the Viceroy, instead he saw Kallen the Schoolgirl.
Lelouch Lamperouge hated himself. If he could not destroy a girl, how could he destroy Britannia? He felt the power of his Geass receding from his eyes, and the tension in his body went away as he relaxed and closed his eyes.
When Lelouch talked about his sister, Kallen felt at peace. There was something about the warmth he spoke with that lulled Kallen into sleep. It was either that or the fever. Regardless, as her eyes closed, she realized why she liked the warmth in his words.
"She's the reason I wake up every day…every time I see her, my heart jumps…to hold her so tight and never let go."
I want somebody to talk about me like that, to love me like that…
"Kallen?" Lelouch called out to her.
"Huh?" She rose her head from Lelouch's arm and straightened herself.
"Oh. Did I doze off?" she asked.
"You did. It was only for twenty minutes though."
The haze from her small sleep still stuck with her, her eyes felt heavy, and her mind was still foggy. She broke away from Lelouch and slowly stood up, Lelouch followed along with her.
"I'm sorry, I must have been more tired than I thought." she said as she felt herself blush from embarrassment.
"It is fine, but you should be resting in a bed rather than being out here." he said softly. But his eyes were sharp and hard. There was something about Lelouch that seemed more determined compared to when they were walking around the mall.
"I am fine." she said stubbornly. "There is much for me to do." she checked her watch, her time was up.
"Yes, I am sure governance keeps you busy…but then why did you come here, Kallen?" Lelouch asked while frowning.
To get away from it all. To see the realm I govern with my own eyes. To see the fruits of my failures.
"I needed to go for a walk to keep my mind sharp." she lied. "But I must admit, Lelouch, it was nice…our date. I'm glad I chanced upon you."
The purple eyed teen looked at her with a face of surprise.
"It was interesting," he admitted. "But it is time we part ways, you must be quite busy."
"Quite."
The two of them walked towards the exit, but Kallen kept her distance this time. She found it troubling: she was starting to like Lelouch Lamperouge. Today he had none of that arrogance, none of that coldness, today he was kind, soft, and his heart was tender.
Before they reached the exit they passed by the store where Kallen had punched the manager, it was closing up, and she did not see neither the manager nor the Eleven woman from before.
"Is something wrong?" Lelouch asked her.
"Nothing, I just want to remember the store."
"Do you plan to come back?" he asked curiously.
"No. But the viceroy might pay the store a visit." she said coldly.
Before the two parted ways, Lelouch asked her a question:
"Will I be seeing you tomorrow morning at Ashford?" he asked.
"Sadly I have other duties tomorrow morning." she looked at her hands, tomorrow they will be painted red with blood.
It began to rain and Kallen grabbed onto one of Lelouch's hand. "Lelouch, can I ask you a favor?"
Under the entrance of the mall they stood alone. The sound of rain and thunder was all that Kallen heard before Lelouch spoke.
"What do you need?"
"Can you…talk to me about Nunnally again? About why you love her? Not now though…but some other time, please?" she asked softly.
This was the most surprised she ever saw Lelouch, his eyes opened wide, the purple in his eyes looked chaotic and confused, even his mouth was slightly agape. But after a few seconds he recovered. The vice-president of the student council looked up at the sky, pondering.
"If that is what you desire, I can oblige."
AN: Can you imagine this was supposed to be a short prelude chapter to the second battle of Shinjuku? Instead it became my longest chapter yet. I really enjoyed writing this chapter up until the very end. I wrote the whole thing in a few hours but spent two days deciding on how to end the chapter, and to be honest I'm still a little unhappy with it.
The next chapter WILL be short, it'll be a Euphemia/Naoto chapter probably around 2-3k words long. And after that the second battle of Shinjuku will begin in earnest.
