Chapter 3— Lelouch and Kallen
An undercurrent remained in the room despite Milly's and Shirley's comedic interaction.
Euphemia was sitting beside Nunnally, theirs hands joined as they waited.
Milly and Shirley were nervous too, for Lelouch's sake more than Clovis'. Whatever choice he makes here will affect his life in the days to come.
Kallen was muttering under her breath. She wished she was the one with a gun to Clovis' head. She'd shoot without hesitation. It was true that her group was also responsible for the massacre, but the chief culprit was definitely Clovis.
Kaguya was perhaps the most disinterested in what happens to Clovis. Whether he lived or died is irrelevant. It wouldn't make dead come back to like. On the other hand, Britannia might blame the Japanese for whatever happens to him and make life harder for them. She was interested more in Lelouch's choices. His motivations, choices and actions will determine whether he is a man worth following or not. Of course, whether he wanted to ally himself with the Japanese was still not shown either.
CC feigned disinterest but her gaze on the screen was sharp. Although her stay in Code R was not her most painful memory, it came close. She'd certainly not say no to some well-deserved punishment to Prince Clovis.
Stage 03: The False Classmate
"The false classmate?" Milly said. "So, it's back to Ashford in this episode."
"Any idea who it might be referring to?" Kaguya asked.
"It must be Lelouch," Milly muttered. "If after everything he returns to school and pretends like nothing happened…"
"It could be Kallen," Shirley proposed, glancing at her friend. "You act completely different in school."
Milly snapped her fingers in realization. "Yeah, the sick girl act. I almost forgot about that. She dropped it from the start here. But will you be going to school so soon after the incident, Kallen?"
Kallen blinked in thought. "I think so…Ohgi might force me, even." Her lips curled in distaste.
"If so, then it will be your first class in this term," Shirley said in disapproval, especially now that she knew it wasn't because of health reasons. Sure, whatever Kallen was doing with the resistance might be important but school was important too.
In the aftermath of the ceasefire by Clovis' orders, those found in the resistance shelter along with any other survivors were let go.
"Why the hell are we letting the Elevens go? What about the poison gas they have stolen?"
"But it's by order of Prince Clovis."
"What about Bartley? Get the general staff on the line."
"They're not on their posts, sir."
"Are you telling me Prince Clovis is alone on the con?"
Kallen glanced back at G-1 base as she was escorted out.
Kallen blinked in disbelief. "So, they really let us go?"
"Well, duh. Those were the orders by Prince Clovis." Milly said.
"I thought they will keep us in detention. They know the resistance is part of the crowd, right?"
Kaguya's focus was on another point. "Lelouch let the staff live."
"Yeah, that's a relief." Euphemia said. "Are you disappointed?"
"No…I just hope no one saw his face this time."
Inside the G-1, Lelouch aimed a gun at Clovis.
"I'm overjoyed, Lelouch. They said you died when Japan was brought into the fold. What a blessing to have you back. We should depart for the homeland immediately," Clovis said with a smile.
Milly winced for him. "Wrong thing to say. If Lelouch had any intention of returning, he'd have gone back long ago."
"So you can use me as a tool of diplomacy?" Lelouch questioned. "It seems you have forgotten why we were used as tools in the first place." Clovis lost his smile as he realized what Lelouch was talking about. "That's right, it was because my mother was killed."
It showed a flashback of Lelouch's mother's assassination. Her back was riddled with bullet holes and blood pooled on the stairs. A young Nunnally, her eyes filled with horror, was sheltered protectively under her body.
Several people flinched at the sight, averting their eyes.
Nunnally felt a pain in her head at this sight. She'd tried to suppress this memory for so long. She was so afraid that she didn't dare open her eyes in reality.
Euphemia tried to shield her from it but Nunnally pushed away. She resolutely forced her eyes open and saw it.
This was her brother's memory. The pain he carried in his heart. If she turned her eyes away, she'd fail as a sister. This was Nunnally's true feelings.
'Was she trying to protect her daughter?' Kallen wondered, for a moment her thoughts went to her own mother, but she shook her head. There was no comparison between both sides.
CC's eyes narrowed slightly: 'Marianne.'
She wondered if her previous contractor's secrets will come out in the open too. If so, they she will have to make a choice. But first, she'd like to see what her future-self chose. It's pretty convenient to see the result of one choice in advance.
"Mother held the title of Knight of Honor but was a commoner by birth. No doubt the other imperial consorts held her in contempt. Even though you made it look like the work of terrorists, I'm no fool. You people killed my mother."
On the stairs, there were other corpses and at the top stood a young Lelouch looking in horror.
"Oh Lulu," Shirley's heart went out to him. She'd never seen him so broken, not even when the Royal Guard was going to kill him.
Milly balled her fists. That death not only affected Lelouch and Nunnally but also her family. They were Empress Marianne's supporters and her death was the start of their family's downfall.
"Is this true?" Kallen asked. "Did they really kill an imperial consort just because she was a commoner?"
"That's what Lelouch believes anyway." Milly said.
"No way!" Shirley protested. "How could they get away with this!?"
"According to Lelouch, the emperor helped in the cover up."
"Emperor Charles was involved…" Kaguya hummed. "Court struggles. I'm surprised your grandfather was willing to shelter them. It seems too big of a risk."
Milly shrugged. "He admired the empress. She was a very charismatic person. I believe Lelouch inherited his charms from her."
Neither Euphemia nor Nunnally spoke a word. It was the first time the involvement of one of their siblings was brought up in empress Marianne's murder. Both of them had believed until this moment that it was the work of the terrorists. They couldn't wrap their heads around the idea. Especially since the accused was Clovis who was so close to them at the time and not one of their estranged siblings.
"It wasn't me! I swear to you, it wasn't." Clovis realized that his brother was blaming him and lost his composure.
"Then tell me everything you know. The truth cannot be hidden from me any longer." Lelouch activated his geass. "By whose hand was she slain?"
"My brother second prince Schneizel and second princess Cornelia, they can tell you."
Lelouch made a shocked noise. "They were at the heart of this?"
"That's not true!" Euphemia immediately protested, turning to Nunnally. "Cornelia wouldn't…you know, she admired her…she really wouldn't…"
She started babbling, panic started building inside her because Nunnally wouldn't meet her eyes.
"You know Cornelia, Nunna." Euphemia pleaded. "She's not the type of person…"
"I thought Clovis was not this kind of person either. But I was wrong, wasn't I?"
Euphemia's breath was taken away. Nunnally's words were no different from announcing her sister's guilt to her ears.
Clovis didn't answer this time.
"That's all you know, isn't it?" He deactivated his geass.
"You see, Clovis doesn't know for sure." Euphemia pleaded once more, grasping at straws.
"He's under the geass." Nunnally countered. "He must truly believe that Schneizel and Cornelia were involved from the depths of his heart."
"But…but…"
"Euphemia, you realize it too, right. Lelouch is going to hunt down Cornelia. And as his sister it is my duty to support him. Just like you will always support Cornelia."
Words failed Euphemia. She realized that Nunnally was right. Until he gained definite proof that Cornelia wasn't involved in this matter, Lelouch will treat Cornelia as his enemy. And so will Nunnally.
At this moment, she felt that were was a wide chasm between them even though they were sitting side-by-side. Because even if Cornelia was really involved in it, she would never allow Lelouch to hurt her sister.
Clovis came out of his trance and stated panicking again. "I swear it wasn't me! I had nothing to do with it."
"I believe you." Lelouch lowered his gun causing Clovis to relax. "However—"
"Is he going to let him go?" Kallen questioned dangerously.
"Clovis wasn't involved in empress Marianne's death so maybe…Lelouch would let him go." Euphemia whispered hopefully.
Kallen heard her despite her low voice. "What about the people in Shinjuku!? Are they not worth avenging!?"
Euphemia lowered her head in turmoil.
Lelouch smiled dangerously and aimed his gun again.
"Lulu…he looks so much like, like a…." Shirley couldn't bring herself to finish her sentence.
"…a demon." Kaguya finished for her. This was not the kind of demon she wanted Lelouch to become. He had dropped his gun to bring hope to Clovis and then snatched it by pressing it back to his head. And that smile…it wasn't of a man being forced to perform an evil act. Instead, he looked he was enjoying it.
Milly shuddered. That was the kind of face she never expected Lelouch to make before killing anyone much less his brother. Even after killing the royal guard, he had lost his composure for a moment before schooling his features. Yet, here he seemed to be toying with Clovis. For the first time she wondered if Lelouch's hate for the royal family will turn him into something unrecognizable to her.
Clovis started begging for mercy. "Please, you can't! We may have different mothers but you and I are still blood."
Lelouch pressed the gun to Clovis' head. "You can't change your hands without getting your hands dirty."
He pressed the trigger.
No one said a word. Euphemia and Nunnally were still overwhelmed. They couldn't even raise any protests for Lelouch's murder of Clovis. They were just glad that it didn't show Clovis' death. They could pretend that he was still alive. Anyway, he was really alive in the present. As for how long he will remain so…neither of them had any idea.
Nevertheless, Euphemia resolved to have a talk that may increase his survival chances, without revealing Lelouch's continued survival. As for whether he'd listen to her…she wasn't optimistic. None of her siblings took her seriously in important matters.
She didn't notice how Kaguya was looking at her warily. The Sumeragi heiress had realized that if Lelouch were to end up hurting Cornelia in the videos, Euphemia will turn into their enemy. She was thinking of how to appease the princess in such a scenario. If not for the peculiarities of this space which prohibited violence, she would have let Kallen control her. Alas, in reality, she was too far away. Before they could reach her, she will easily be able to leak important information. Cornelia may not believe her but the emperor surely would.
That would be game over for their side.
The scene changed.
In the student council room, Milly hit Lelouch on the head with a paper fan repeatedly and scolded, "Wake up Lelouch! I know you were sleeping. Your hands stopped moving."
Milly let out a relieved breath. "We are finally back in familiar territory. Everybody, this is Ashford!"
"Prez, can't you let Lulu off for once," Shirley said. "He must be so exhausted."
"Give me a break. How can I know that he was fighting a war?" Milly huffed.
"Well, you don't have to beat me up over it, do you?"
"Huh, serves you right for ditching me like that," Rivalz said.
"That's right. What was up with you yesterday?" Shirley asked.
"Um well…"
"Is he going to lie to us?" Shirley huffed. "I want to see what kind of excuse he comes up with."
Milly interrupted. "That's enough, you guys. Let's not get sidetracked here. If we don't come up with a fix for the club activities budget, there won't be money left for anything at all."
Milly chuckled. "He owes me one for that."
"Never mind that." Shirley demanded. "What's with the budget? Is there something you are not telling me?"
Milly laughed awkwardly. "How could it be? The club budget for this month is properly set. There is no problem with it at all."
"Well, this clearly shows that there is a need of a fix." Shirley glared at her.
"It is Lelouch's fault," Milly threw her deputy under the bus.
Their by-play eased the stiff atmosphere in the room.
"And if comes to that point…" Nina said from her table.
"The equestrian club will be pissed." Rivalz said with humor. "We don't want them coming in here on horseback."
"Rivalz, can't you be a more serious student council member?" Milly chided. From the window behind her, an equestrian club member on horseback peeked in.
Kallen blinked. "Did you see that?"
"Yeah…" Milly replied. "…it must have been a coincidence."
She started grumbling under breath about Rivalz being a crow-mouth and a need to shut his mouth with duct-tape.
"You know, it would have been nice of you if you would have reminded us about this mess a day ago." Shirley said.
"I would have to say a day later," Rivalz said. "Then we would have given up."
"Good idea." Lelouch said. "We can still do that."
Milly clenched both her fists and shouted: "GUTS!"
Everyone flinched at her loud voice.
"Are you trying that guts spell again?" Rivalz asked.
"Yeah, I want you people to start putting your all into this."
"I really don't think that your magic's gonna do a whole lot." Lelouch said.
"Says the one with the magic eye," Milly scoffed.
"Actually, it's got me going, Madam President." Shirley said in support.
Milly put her hands to her waist. "Supple and willing, that's what I like."
"I train hard in the gymnastics club."
"That's not what I was getting at. You are a ten." Milly smiled suggestively at her.
"Huh?" Shirley followed her gaze to her own chest.
"From what I've seen in the girl's bathroom anyway. You have been filling out in all the right places, huh."
Rivalz turned to leer at her chest. Shirley blushed and crossed her arms over her chest.
"What are you talking about, you perv?"
"Milly!" Shirley loudly protested. Her face was so red that it showed even though she covered it with both hands.
"That was just a compliment," Milly said with a laugh.
She was not the only one laughing. Everyone inside the room was in various states of amusement. Even CC had her lips quirked.
"You guys are so much fun," Kaguya said, hiding a giggle.
"Aren't we? The best club in the whole school." Milly claimed. "Rivalz has a great sense of humor. Lelouch is the most popular boy on the campus. Nina is the probably the smartest person I know. Shirley is both cute and friendly. And with Kallen joining, we have the strongest fighter in the student body too."
"I never agreed to join, right?" Kallen protested half-heartedly. Truthfully, Milly and Shirley were starting to grow on her.
"You sound like a child showing off his favorite toys smugly," CC said in mirth.
A view of the campus was shown as the conversation continued in the background.
"I wish I could go to this school," Euphemia said wistfully.
"Me too." Kaguya raised a hand in agreement.
"I'm sure it could be arranged," Nunnally said when Milly hesitated to make any promises due to their identity.
"After everything is…over, I hope we'd be able to attend school together. All of us. Just as simple students without any extra burdens. That is my wish." Nunnally stated.
"That's a simple but beautiful wish, Nunnally. I'd glad to make it come true if I'm able," Kaguya promised with a heartfelt smile.
"Me too. I'd like to go to school together too…as long as you don't mind." Euphemia said emotionally.
"There's no way I would." Nunnally promised. "Whatever happens between Lelouch and Cornelia wouldn't affect our relationship."
Shirley: "Geez, our president's just a dirty old man on the inside. Sullying the meeting with her filthy mind."
Nina: "Yeah well, that's Milly for you."
Rivalz: "Look on the bright side. We got the budget balanced, didn't we?"
Milly pouted. "Shirley, you're speaking bad about the president. You need to be punished."
"That's not fair." Shirley protested. "You deserved it this time."
But Milly wasn't listening to any of her protests. She was planning an entertaining punishment for Shirley.
The three of them entered the classroom.
Students were clustered around terminals watching the news about the Shinjuku skirmish.
"They used poison gas?"
"Man, that's freaky."
"Shinjuku's only thirty minutes from here."
"Oh my god! I saw smoke rising over in Shinjuku, it must have been the gas."
"Are they saying anything else about it?"
"So, they still blamed it on us and the poison gas." Kallen said in anger. "I thought Lelouch took care of it."
"Not likely." Milly shook her head. "Unless he geassed the higher ups in Hi-TV to display the truth, they would refuse to broadcast information detrimental to Britannian rule. They said so themselves; their purpose is to assist the rulers."
"More importantly, they didn't say anything about Clovis," Kaguya said. Noticing that Euphemia was getting hopeful again, she decided to sober her. "They must be covering up his death because they haven't found the culprit…or a suitable scapegoat."
Lelouch entered behind his three friends.
Shirley turned to him. "Shinjuku?"
"I heard about it in real time from a friend. That's why I called you yesterday." Lelouch replied without changing his face.
Student: "Hey, check out the footage of those dead Elevens."
Student: "Don't look at that."
Lelouch narrowed his eyes in thought. 'This is strange. Why would they cover it up?'
A flashback from Clovis' last moments was shown, this time with the gunshot sound.
Lelouch felt an urge to vomit at the memory and covered his mouth.
"Did he just…?" Euphemia trailed off, a huge sense of relief washing over her. "He still cares about us…he doesn't hate us completely…" She covered her face and wept.
'Big Brother…I'm glad. You are still the caring Lelouch deep down inside.' Nunnally felt as if a great weight crushing her was lifted. For one horrible moment, seeing Lelouch killing Clovis with a smile on his face, she had a sickening thought that this was the real him and the loving brother she knew was but another mask of his. She felt so foolish thinking like that now.
Milly and Shirley let out breaths that they hadn't realized they had been holding.
"That boy," Milly scolded. "He got me worried there for real. He's such a great actor, it's hard to tell what he's thinking most of the time."
Shirley nodded in anger. "I don't get why Lulu feels the need to tough like that! He could have hesitated and cried like a normal person. No one would have blamed him."
"He still killed Clovis in cold-blood." CC reminded. "Does it really matter if he was bothered by it or not?"
"Of course, it does." Kaguya said. "Doing an evil deed without remorse is very different from feeling guilt and remorse but still going through with it because it is necessary."
"Are you saying killing Clovis was an act of evil?" Kallen said with clear disapproval.
"For Lelouch, it is." Nunnally confirmed. "He said so himself, because as Clovis said they are brothers."
Kallen recalled her own brother and decided not to argue on this topic.
Inside a bathroom, Lelouch was thinking: 'Are they hiding Clovis' death to fend off anarchy? But if that's the case, when they finally do announce it…'
He finished washing in the basin and smirked in self-mockery. "Humph, I guess that I'm not as tough as I thought I was."
"You will be hearing no complaints from us, Lulu." Shirley said.
Kaguya pressed her lips. She knew that Lelouch will have to become tougher. If he continues with his goal to obliterate Britannia then, this wasn't the only family member he will fight…or kill.
A car was allowed in the G-2 area after inspection at the gate. Jeremiah and Villetta were having a conversation inside the car.
"That ex-civil servant is such a fool," Jeremiah said in contempt.
Villetta side-glanced him. "Are you referring to Bartley?"
"These two? I guess they really are important." Milly said. "Jeremiah and…uh, we still don't know that lady's name."
"Isn't she the one Lulu used his power on?" Shirley said worriedly. "Does she suspect him?"
Nunnally looked at the screen in worry.
"The killer has breached our heaviest security twice already. This perfunctory inspection is a farce."
"Margrave Jeremiah, now that Prince Clovis is out of the way, we pure bloods can…"
Jeremiah interrupted her. "Let me make that call. We still need to woo everyone over."
"Why did she not tell him?" Kallen wondered. "Losing her Knightmare suddenly and there were those guards she found dead, Lelouch seems like a clear suspect. No that I want him captured or anything…"
"It's because she lacks proof. She can't claim she lost her memory or her Knightmare to a schoolchild, it will sound like she is making excuses for incompetence." Milly theorized.
"Not to mention she could be treated as an accomplice for the prince's murder, they are still looking for the culprit after all." Euphemia added.
Kaguya shook her head. "Unlikely, that would cast her faction in bad light too. Besides, it seems like the purebloods are more interested in making use of the power vacuum…which is concerning."
"The purebloods?" Shirley questioned.
"I think Naoto mentioned them once to me…they oppose Honorary Britannian system, right?" Kallen murmured thoughtfully.
"To be more accurate, they're an extremist group within Britannia that opposes the involvement of non-Britannians in any political or military matters." Milly informed. "But they don't hold much power in Area 11."
"It's because Clovis has kept them suppressed." Euphemia said. "He is a supporter of the system. But now that he's gone, they are making a power grab. If they succeed, it will be bad news for the Honorary Britannians or Japanese in general."
She threw a look at Kallen as if saying 'Look, Clovis is not without his merits'. Kallen rolled her eyes, refusing to reply.
Lelouch returned to the classroom and heard a loud voice calling, "Kallen! It's been ages!"
"Are you alright? Sophie's been worried sick all this time."
A group of girls surrounded a red headed girl's table and questioned.
"You're okay though, right?"
"Yeah, I just have to go easy for a little while." Kallen replied. Her hair was down and her expression was weak.
"It's such a big contrast from the real you, Kallen." Milly remarked. "It is complete 180, I should say."
"The false classmate…" Shirley whispered, before asking loudly. "Do any of your friends know you? Do you consider them friends at all?"
Kallen took a moment to think. "I don't hate them, but they are annoying. We don't have any common topics. They don't know anything about me at all. It's not like we spend much time together. I hardly go to school. So, no, I don't really consider them my friends."
"What about us, then?" Shirley pressed. "Do you not trust us either?"
Kallen pressed her lips. "I don't know. You already know some of my closely guarded secrets and will likely find more of them as we go on. But it's not like I chose to entrust them to you."
"We just have to prove ourselves worthy of your trust." Milly said, hugging her shoulder.
"Yeah, your secrets are safe with us Kallen." Shirley said. "I am still not sure about the whole rebellion business, but I will never betray you or Lulu."
"Thanks Shirley." Kallen replied.
"We can share our secrets with you if that will put you at ease…like Shirley's three sizes for example." Milly suggested.
"Don't, Milly!" Shirley protested loudly.
It took a moment for Lelouch to recognize her. She was the rebel girl from the truck who piloted the red Glasgow: Q1.
'Of course. That's why she is so familiar.' Lelouch took his seat while paying her attention.
"So, he really did recognize me in the truck." Kallen muttered.
"But it's such a great coincidence, isn't it?" Milly said. "Of all the rebels he could come have across accidentally, what were the chances that Lelouch would meet an acquaintance…a classmate at that."
"Not to mention, he met Suzaku soon after." Kaguya added. "His friend who he had not heard from for seven years."
"There is enough drama in his life to be made a real TV series." CC commented.
"Anyway, if I stay home any longer, I'll never catch up." Kallen was saying.
"What's up, buddy? See something you like?" Rivalz appeared at Lelouch's side, staring openly at Kallen, and whispered at Lelouch. "You've got a thing for her, don't ya!"
"Rivalz, that's not it!" Shirley said as if the boy could hear her voice through the screen.
"Well, it could be." Milly teased. "Maybe Lulu likes feisty redheads who can kick ass in a Knightmare."
Shirley panicked and looked at Kallen as if she had betrayed her.
Before Kallen could placate her, Nunnally added her two cents. "I wouldn't mind having Kallen as a sister-in law."
"Nunna…" Shirley looked heartbroken.
"I will cheer you on too, Shirley." Nunnally promised.
By this time, Kallen's face was getting close to her in color. She finally inserted her herself in conversation: "There is no way I'm going to be in a relationship with a prince! No offense, but your brother is simply not my type."
Shirley glanced at the two of them.
"Just thinking this is a rare event. She hasn't been at here at school since this whole term started." Lelouch said, unaffected by Rivalz's words.
"Kallen Stadfeld. They say she's sick or something and she barely showed up at school last year either. Still, her grades are at the top of the class. And she's a member of the Stadfeld family, which means she's well-bred and rolling in money. Man, you sure know how to pick them." Rivalz said.
Kallen rolled her eyes at the evaluation. She didn't care much for the Stadfeld name. And she was sure that a half-japanese wouldn't be considered well-bred by Britannian standards.
"It's not like that." Lelouch denied.
"Ah, you don't have to hide it. A touch too sheltered though, if you ask me."
Several girls threw knowing smirks at the redhead at those words.
At lunch, Kallen and her friends were eating together when a bee coming near them caused screams.
"Aaaah! There's a bee! A bee!" One pointed towards Kallen in fright. The bee was flying around Kallen. Kallen looked at it without any fear.
"Oh my god, Kallen, run!" They ran away. Kallen got up slowly and backed away. Another scream. "Hurry up and run!"
Kallen ran behind a bush and put her hands on her knees. "I don't get it, why's a bee after me?" Another bee flew around her. "Hm? I wonder if there's a hive nearby…" She swiped at the bee. It fell to the ground in two pieces. "God, I hate this! I'm sick of acting like a freaking invalid!"
Shirley blinked. "How did you do that?"
"Are you a ninja, Kallen?" Milly questioned, thinking of Sayoko.
"No, I just used my nails." Kallen answered.
"You shouldn't have done that." Kaguya said. "Someone could have seen you."
She put her sandwich to her mouth and glanced sideways. Lelouch stood there, looking at her in scrutiny. 'Crap, he saw me!'
"See." Kaguya looked at her pointedly.
"How did he sneak up on me without being detected?" Kallen wondered. "Is he stalking me?"
"Lelouch stalking a girl? Never thought I'd see the day." Milly snorted.
Lelouch stared at her. 'There's no question, it's her.'
"Can I help you or something?" Kallen asked, trying to get back in character.
Lelouch used his geass. "I want answers."
Kallen flinched, recalling all those who were put under the geass in the previous episodes.
"I thought you said he wouldn't use his power indiscriminately," she asked Milly and Shirley who had vouched for him.
"He's just asking some questions." Milly said confidently. "Don't worry he won't harm you unless he thinks you mean harm to Nunnally."
Kallen accepted her answer reluctantly.
Milly and Shirley shared an uneasy look behind her back. Truthfully speaking, they were no longer sure what Lelouch could or couldn't do after seeing him handle Clovis. With a smile on his face and no hesitation, he took his brother's life. It affected him, yes, but he didn't let it stop him. So, what guarantee was there that he would do something against his morals if he deemed it necessary.
Loathe as they were to admit, they were no longer sure of Lelouch's bottom line. But they were still adamant that he wouldn't wipe away anyone's free will completely.
"Of course."
"Were you the piloting the Glasgow in Shinjuku?"
"Yes."
"Why terrorism?"
"Because I'm Japanese. Though technically I'm half Britannian."
"Half-blood?" Lelouch looked at her in surprise. "But why go so far?"
Kallen shivered. "It's really scary. Those are secrets that I will kill to keep and yet I'm giving them to him calmly. It's like that is not me anymore but just a puppet wearing my face."
Kaguya wrapped her arms around herself. "Geass is really a terrifying power. It could easily lead to a fate worse than death."
Euphemia agreed this time. She regretted ever thinking of letting geass be used on Clovis. A person constantly under geass is no different from a doll.
"And to think father had such a power all along…" Nunnally whispered. "I wonder what kind of power he has…?"
Shirley saw the two of them conversing from the window.
Kallen woke up from the geass and repeated her previous sentence. "Did you want something?"
"No," Lelouch replied. "I got what I wanted here." Lelouch turned to leave, stopped and glanced back at her. "Oh, wait. Just to be sure."
He activated his geass again. "Don't tell anyone about Shinjuku."
Kallen tilted her head and questioned. "What do you mean about Shinjuku?"
Lelouch looked at her in surprise. Kallen continued with another question, "Why would you say that?"
Lelouch glared at her and commanded, "Go back to class."
"As soon as I get an answer to my question, I will." Kallen said.
'It's not working? What's not going on here?' Lelouch got caught off guard by his geass malfunction.
Milly looked around in surprise. "Did it malfunction?"
CC observed and answered. "It is most likely a limit."
"Like it can be used only once on a person per day?" Kaguya asked.
CC snorted. "More like it can only be used once on a person. Period."
"That would be an annoying limit." Nunnally said. "It would limit Lelouch's options on how to use his geass."
Lelouch and Kallen had a stand-off with Lelouch taking several steps back defensively.
"Hey, Lulu, Kallen." Shirley's voice ended their confrontation. She had opened the window and was waving at the two of them. "You know, it's time to head over to the chem lab! You'd better get a move on!"
Lelouch put his hands to his head and cried out, "Oh crap! It's my turn to class!" He ran off, thinking, 'It didn't work? But…'
"He will run tests now, I assume." Kaguya said. "We will find out enough about his geass if he's thorough."
"Tests?" Milly went wide-eyed. "Is he going to experiment with his power on the student body?"
Kaguya winced, realizing why she sounded panicked. This could easily lead to disaster. Geass is a dangerous power that Lelouch does not completely understand. One wrongly worded command could bring devastating consequences. Just thinking of Lelouch checking to see how long a geass can last on an unsuspecting person made her shudder. That could ruin a person's life.
In the evening, in the student council building, Nunnally and her maid Sayoko were having a conversation.
Kallen looked at the girl on the Tv and then compared her with the one in the room. It was a big difference between hearing others talk about it and seeing it herself. She couldn't fathom how the girl managed to look so optimistic given her condition.
"Oh Nunna," Euphemia sighed sadly and wrapped her hands around her sister.
Nunnally, conversely, was the one patting her in comfort. "Don't worry Euphy. I'm used to it now. It doesn't bother me anymore."
"Well, what shall we do? He may be late again this evening." Sayoko was saying.
"She's Sayoko, our caretaker," Nunnally supplied.
"A japanese?" Euphemia questioned. "Does she know about you and Lelouch…?"
"She does, but there's no need to worry. Sayoko's practically family." Nunnally said confidently.
"Yeah, Sayoko is trustworthy. We wouldn't have recommended her to Lelouch and Nunnally otherwise. Not to mention she won Lelouch's trust which is a miracle in itself." Milly said, before smiling mischievously. "Besides, she possesses some special skills that might come in handy if Lelouch and Nunnally are ever exposed."
"I'll wait. He said we will have dinner together tonight." Nunnally replied. She was sitting on a wheelchair and her eyes were closed shut.
They were folding paper together. Sayoko folded one and presented it to Nunnally.
"A bird?" Nunnally identified it after touching its shape.
"Yes, it is a crane."
"Amazing. The Japanese are so skillful."
Sayoko smiled at her charge.
Kaguya herself couldn't help sending a fond smile Nunnally's way. The way she talked her maid, calling her Japanese and respecting her person as well as her culture, caused her to feel grateful to the younger girl. These were basic things her people were deprived of— name, dignity, culture.
Kallen also couldn't help but look at the girl in a different way. Already, she couldn't hold any resentment for her. It didn't matter if she was a Britannian or a princess, Kallen couldn't bring herself to see the weak but kind girl as her enemy.
Nunnally suddenly turned to the door as if in waiting.
"Lady Nunnally?" Sayoko turned to the door in question.
Right on cue, it opened and Lelouch stepped in to the room. "Sorry, I'm so late."
"Hi, Lelouch! Welcome home." Nunnally greeted.
"Wow, Nunna! Did you sense Lulu coming?" Shirley asked enviously. She wished she had such an ability.
Nunnally nodded shyly. "Yes, I have always been more aware of my brother's presence ever since losing my eyesight."
CC eyed her with interest. She wondered if that was just keen intuition or some kind of residual ability inherited from Marianne. She needed to keep an eye on her too.
"Yes, welcome home, my lord." Sayoko followed.
"No place like it, Sayoko. Right, Nunnally?" Lelouch said.
"Yes," Nunnally agreed with a beautiful smile.
"As you know full well, the project was a complete failure. Therefore, this research division is being gutted." Bartley was saying to a group of researchers.
"Wha…? Yes, but—!"
"I've set up a place in Narita for you. Move everything out there. While we may have no memory of it, the fact is that the other staff officers and I left Prince Clovis on his own. I'm gonna be called out on the carpet for this back at home. When that happens, if His Majesty learns this experiment has gone on without his knowledge. I…"
On the table, several pictures showing the experimentation on C.C. were scattered. It zooms in on one of the pictures showing C.C. in a different time period.
Euphemia squirmed in her seat at the sight of those photos showing CC in experiments. No other test subjects were shown but she was under no illusions. There must have been others—humans—they must have tested the end results on. Apparently, they were failures. Her heart squeezed at the thought of what must have happened to them. It was all the more painful to realize that Clovis not only started Code-R of his own will but also hid its existence from father. That must have taken great courage.
Her eyes turned to the lime haired immortal in the room but quickly moved away. She didn't have the courage to look at the girl much less offer an apology. Not after her brother had caused and is even now causing so much pain to the girl and yet Euphy couldn't even promise to give justice to her.
Instead, she turned to Milly. "Write down Narita, too. If our plan to save Ms. CC fails, that's the likely place they'd relocate her."
"Good point." Milly noted it down.
"Ms. CC, are you ok?" Nunnally asked, taking the immortal's hand in her own.
CC answered with only a brief nod, but she didn't pull her hand out.
Lelouch changed his clothes and joined Nunnally for dinner.
"Ms. Sayoko was just teaching me about the arts of origami. Fold a piece of paper the correct way and you can make birds, boats, almost anything." Nunnally was informing Lelouch. She took a sip and it overflowed from the corners of her mouth.
"Easy there. You don't have to tell me everything all at once, you know? It's not like I'm going anywhere." Lelouch helped her wipe it.
"Yeah, you are right. Thank you."
"You're very welcome."
"Ah, those two are so precious together!" Milly gushed, remembering the first time she met those two. The only reason she didn't develop a bad impression of Lelouch was because of seeing how caring he was with Nunnally.
"Nunnally brings out the best side of Lulu." Shirley said with shining eyes.
Nunnally giggled. "I'm so happy, because last night you scared me a little."
"Did I? Sorry. I just have a lot on my mind, is all."
Nunnally frowned. "He is not planning on sharing the truth with me, is he?"
"You can't blame him this time. It was pretty crazy." Kallen said, realizing the need for secrecy.
"Not to mention, considering what happened…between Lelouch and Clovis." Euphemia whispered, looking down. "I can see why he wouldn't share the truth with you, Nunnally. He doesn't want you to think bad of him."
"If Lelouch is going to jump in dangerous situations then, I deserve to know." Nunnally insisted. Compared to Clovis, Lelouch's safety was a priority to her.
"Hey." Nunnally pulled back his attention, holding a paper crane. "It is said that if you fold a thousand of these cranes, your wish will come true. So, is there anything at all that you have been wishing for?"
"No, not really. What about you, do you wish for anything?"
Nunnally hummed thoughtfully. "I wish the world was a gentler place."
"When the day finally comes that you can see again, I'm sure that it will be." Lelouch said.
"Really?"
"I promise."
Milly hummed thoughtfully. This promise was important, her womanly intuition was telling her.
Lelouch looked down in thought. 'The truth is there are very few paths our future can take? The Ashford family is sheltering us now, but how long can that last? If our identity is exposed, even Rivalz, Shirley, and the others will abandon us. We'll end up political toll, or casualty of royal ambition. I have to build a world where Nunnally can at least find happiness.'
Milly and Kaguya looked at each other. "This is perhaps the strongest motivation for Lelouch." Kaguya said.
Milly agreed. "He always placed Nunnally's well-being over everything else."
"But why…?" Nunnally murmured with tears in her eyes. "All I need to happy to be happy is to be with big brother. I don't want him to place his life in danger."
"But that's not a long-term solution." Kallen said. "How long can you keep hiding? And what will happen if you are found? He needs to secure your future."
Milly rolled her eyes. "Although he's being way too paranoid. I mean, doubting Rivalz and Shirley is just way too much, right?"
She looked at her friend for support but Shirley didn't reply. She was staring blankly ahead as if she had lost her soul.
"Lulu thinks that I will betray him…?" She muttered in a low voice that only Kallen and Milly could hear.
"Oh Shirley!" Milly got down from her seat and crouched before her. "I told you that's his habit of distrusting everyone. He's just paranoid."
"But he has no doubts about us…he's sure that we will betray him." Shirley said miserably after breaking out of her trance.
"Then, you will just have to prove him wrong." Milly said firmly. "Prove to him that he is a fool for not trusting you. Yeah?"
"Okay." Shirley nodded strongly, her eyes burning once more with the passion of love. "I will show Lulu how wrong he is and then I'm gonna give him an earful for distrusting his friends."
"That's my girl!" Milly gave her a thumbs up and retook her seat.
Kallen wisely kept her mouth shut because…she understood Lelouch's idea. She too kept her most important and dangerous secret from her school friends, which is why a gap existed between them. No matter how close they were to her, she couldn't help but doubt if that closeness would last if her secrets were revealed. Even as much as she liked her new friends, Milly and Shirley, she wouldn't have told the truth to them about her if not for this bizarre future show.
He clasped hands with Nunnally, who took the opportunity to hook their fingers. "Sayoko taught me this the other day. It's called a Japanese promise. Cross my heart, hope to die, eat a thousand needles, if I lie. Pinky promise song." She smiled.
"Nunnally, you're so adorable." Euphemia gushed.
Nunnally blushed.
Lelouch looked at his finger in wonder. "Well, that's scary. I may have to eat a thousand needles someday."
"That's right. So, I'd better not catch you telling lies, okay?"
"Don't you worry. I will never lie, I swear." Lelouch promised. 'Not to you anyway.'
"Liar." Nunnally pouted. "He's already hiding things from me."
The next day, Lelouch stood outside with his bag in his hand. He looked at the reflection of his eye in the water and mused: 'This is the weapon I have. And I don't even know how to use it.'
"Lelouch," he was called by a teacher. "Class will be starting any minute, you know?"
"Oh, yes sir." Lelouch replied. Then, he used his geass. "Um, sir? What are the topics going to be for the essays on your next exam?"
"The humiliation of Edenborough, the transfer of the capital, north and south war topics."
'So, I haven't lost the power yet.' Lelouch deduced and deactivated his geass. When his teacher woke up from his trance, Lelouch reactivated his geass and asked the same question.
His teacher wasn't affected this time. "Right, very funny. Maybe you should try studying, huh? Just apply yourself, you'll be fine."
"Yes sir!"
Lelouch smirked after his teacher went away. 'As I suspected, I can only use it on a person once.'
Milly sighed after noting it down. "Now that it's confirmed…hopefully he won't continue with his experiments."
Shirley shook her head in annoyance. "Did he need to ask about the tests? It's cheating!"
She knew Lelouch didn't need to cheat but now because of him even she knew of the test topics!
"So, how is campus life treating you?" Ohgi was heard talking.
"Stifling. I was stuck in history class yesterday." Kallen replied. She was alone on the roof talking through the phone. "Look, maybe I should just head back."
"The army is on the high alert right now. Stay there. Let things cool off."
"What about the voice on the radio?"
"Can't go looking for a voice." Ohgi replied, looking at a picture of himself, Kallen and Naoto. "Besides, Naoto would be happy to see you back in school."
"Forget about Shinjuku for now. I'll be in touch." Ohgi said.
'Shinjuku…I guess he's right, but…' Kallen shut her phone and recalled her earlier encounter with Lelouch. 'No, it couldn't have been his voice.'
"Kallen, as student council president and your friend, I'm ordering you to attend school as much as you can," Milly said. "You need to have a normal life outside fighting."
"Education is important for your future too." Shirley added.
Kallen nodded, half-heartedly. She was still not willing to waste time in school. But if Lelouch were to join the resistance…it wouldn't be a waste.
Later, in the classroom, Lelouch was answering a question.
Kallen was paying attention to his voice. 'It could be…no, I can't remember well enough to be sure.'
Lelouch glanced at Kallen in thought after he finished answering. 'All I did was simply mention Shinjuku, but…'
'If he knows who I really am, then…'
'At the first opportunity…'
'I need to take care of him.'
Kallen blinked her eyes as she heard those thoughts. She was surprised that the two of them were on the same wavelength even without communicating. Although, they were treating each other as enemies.
"Kallen, how are you going to take care of Lelouch?" Milly asked. "Are you going to…?"
Shirley panicked. "You are going to hurt Lulu, are you? Kallen!"
Kallen dodged her eyes. Her expression gave her dead away. She was planning to deal with Lelouch…permanently. "Unless I can confirm that Lelouch is that voice and his motives…"
"No way…" Shirley felt all the strength leaving her. Even after seeing him dominate the battlefield, she was sure Lelouch was no match for Kallen in a real fight.
Milly patted her on the shoulder. "Don't worry. Lelouch is aware of the problem too. He will deal with Kallen…without using lethal means." It was the school, after all. And unlike Kallen, Lelouch didn't want to run from school unless he absolutely had to. Nor did he want the kind of attention that a murder would surely bring.
"But his geass won't work on Kallen," Nunnally said nervously.
"I also think Lelouch can deal with Kallen. Don't underestimate his intelligence." Kaguya said. "I'm interested in how he solves Kallen's doubts."
A convoy escorted by Sutherlands passed on the street. Inside the vehicle, Bartley sat beside a coffin painted in Britannian colors and was communication with his subordinates.
"…and the research center?"
"Transferred to Narita last night?"
"Right then." He put his head in his hands. 'I pray you forgive me, Your Highness.'
"Clovis…" Euphemia and Nunnally mourned their brother. No matter how he was in life, they didn't resent him in death. At the same time, they wondered if this scene will really become their future.
After the class, Lelouch was packing his books when Shirley approached him. "Hey Lulu, you coming along?"
"Sorry, maybe some other time."
Lelouch walked up to Kallen and friends. "You think that you could spare a minute? I need to talk to you." Lelouch addressed Kallen, surprising those present especially Shirley.
All eyes turned from Lelouch to Kallen, who stood up and replied: "Sure, I was wondering when you were gonna ask."
Surprise turned to shock at those words.
Kaguya raised an eyebrow. "What's with that reaction?"
Milly smirked. "This is what happens when school prince Lelouch approaches a girl rather than treating her coldly."
"They must have misunderstood the conversation," Shirley remarked. Truthfully, if she was in their place, she'd too. No wait, she was present at the scene too. She prayed she didn't overreact and did something embarrassing.
"So, Lelouch is popular?" Euphemia asked curiously.
"Very popular." Nunnally replied. "I think his adorers are in three digits, all of them girls."
Kallen groaned in annoyance. She could just imagine the kind of rumors that her gossiping friends will spread.
It returned to the convoy. One of the Sutherlands had its head blown up suddenly. The rest were also laying in smoking heaps. New Sutherlands surrounded the vehicle in which Bartley was.
"I hope you can see how determined we are now." Jeremiah said.
"But I have already told you…" Bartley began. The top of the vehicle was peeled off by a Sutherland.
"That you don't remember?" Jeremiah's disdain was clear through its speakers. "Still cling to this ridiculous excuse?"
Bartley panicked. "Just ask the others. They will testify that…!"
Jeremiah's face was shown inside the cockpit. "Ducking the blame? You're pathetic! You shan't remain at His Royal Highness's side another minute!"
"The purebloods have started moving, I see." Kaguya said.
"Are they planning to turn General Bartley into the scapegoat?" Milly wondered.
Euphemia shook her head in denial. "Not convincing. They lack motive. But they can't escape guilt of abandoning the prince."
Student Council building.
"I didn't even know this room existed," Kallen said in wonder. It was a large hall.
"It's the clubhouse for the student council. They built it as a ballroom for various special occasions." Lelouch introduced.
"And we won't be disturbed inside here?" Kallen asked.
"Yes, that's correct."
On cue, Shirley's voice came from the upper floor. "Here it is! I found it! Look! This is it, right?" She held up a data chip.
Milly tapped her chin in thought. "It's strange. They left the classroom earlier than Shirley but reached the student council building later. What could they be doing?"
Milly looked teasingly at Kallen, who immediately replied. "I'm sure we were just discussing what we need to offscreen."
Euphemia shook her head in denial. "No, that's an important scene. How could it be skipped?"
"Kallen, could it be you went on a date with Lulu?" Shirley looked at her in betrayal.
Kallen shook her head, blushing. There was no way that was the truth.
"What a relief you found our lab data," Nina said and took it from her.
Rivalz stood up with his hands on his back. "Good. My ass is killing me."
A door opened and Milly entered in a cooking apron pushing a trolley. "Were you able to find it? I finished up on my end, shall we dig in?"
"Oh wow!"
"Way to go Milly!"
Rivalz and Shirley gave their compliments.
She put the dishes on the table and chuckled, "You adore me, I know."
"What is all of this?" Lelouch asked.
"Lelouch, don't you know? I thought that's why you brought her." Milly said. "We're inducting Kallen into the student council. It was my grandfather's idea actually."
Milly nudged Kallen. "Like I said, you are going to join us in the council. It's official now. Principal orders."
Kallen rolled her eyes but nodded her head in agreement.
Milly gave a triumphant cheer. "I got Kallen!"
"The principal?"
"He thought it best, with her poor health she'd have a harder time with regular club activities. Oh, I'm Milly, the president of the student council. Pleasure to meet you." She introduced herself to Kallen.
Kallen bowed her head. "Thank You. The pleasure is mine."
The rest followed.
"I'm Rivalz, the secretary. If there is anything you need help with, I'm you man."
"Hi, I'm Shirley and I am a member of the swim club. Welcome."
"Um…Hi there. My name is Nina."
"Nice to meet all of you." Kallen said.
Nunnally rolled in on her wheelchair. "Shirley, I'm sorry but, do you think you could set these up on the table for me?" She was carrying cakes on her lap.
"Oh sure, thanks Nunna." Shirley said with a smile and moved to help.
"Nunnally, what are you doing here?" Lelouch asked.
Kallen stared at her. Milly noticed and introduced. "This is Lelouch's sister."
"I'm still in the middle schools group. So, I can't be on the council yet." Nunnally said.
"That's alright. You are an honorary member in our book." Rivalz said with Nina agreeing.
"Hello there, it's a pleasure to meet you, Kallen." Nunnally greeted.
Kallen softly smiled. "Thank You. You as well."
Rivalz put a bottle on the table. "Right. Shall we kick this off with a toast?"
"Champagne?"
"Yeah, but we're on the student council, we shouldn't…"
"Oh, come on, you guys. Loosen up." Rivalz said thumbing the cork.
Shirley's face went red in anger. She wasn't going to agree with this kind of behavior, she was sure. Not to mention, outsiders were watching their actions now.
"No way, we are gonna get in trouble." Shirley moved to stop him.
The two of them pulled at the bottle.
"What's going on?" Nunnally asked.
"Here, Nunnally." Milly passed a glass of juice to her.
"Lelouch, heads up!" Rivalz threw the bottle to his friend who caught it.
Shirley switched targets immediately. "You are not getting away with it either, Lulu."
Lelouch raised the bottle high and Shirley pushed against him causing both of them to fall. The cork popped off towards Kallen who swatted it away reflexively. But the drink spouting out of the bottle doused her head, anyway.
Rivalz slumped knowing there was going to be no drinking now. Nina covered her mouth in worry. Milly blinked.
"What just happened?" Nunnally asked.
Everyone broke out laughing, except for Kallen, who was the subject of joke and Shirley, who blamed herself.
"I'm sorry, Kallen." Shirley said in shame.
What could Kallen say to such a sincere apology? Of course, she accepted it.
Later, in the laundry room, Milly and Shirley were looking at a washing machine.
"We have clothes for her?" Milly asked.
"Sayoko is on it." Shirley replied.
In the shower, Kallen was muttering. "This is why I hate Britannians."
There was a knock on the door. "It's Lelouch. I've brought you a change of clothes."
"You can come in. I've drawn the curtain already."
Lelouch came in and saw Kallen's silhouette through the curtain. "Sorry about all this. I know they can be a little over the top."
"That's okay. Nothing wrong with cutting loose every once in a while, you know?"
"These are some of my clothes. Hope that's okay."
"It's cool. Don't worry about it. That was fast. You went all the way to the boy's dorm?"
"Actually, I live here. It'd be pretty hard for my sister to live off in the dorms. The principal of school lets us stay here as a favor."
"I see…"
"Anyway…"
Lelouch moved to leave the bathroom.
"Hey, wait!" Kallen said loudly. "Can you hand me the pouch over there?"
"Sure…" Lelouch picked it up and put it in her extended hand. Kallen grabbed his wrist causing him to drop the pouch. "You really are a live-wire, aren't you?"
"Ooh…what's this?" Milly looked in interest. "Kallen, you do realize how this looks, right?"
Kallen blushed. "I'm just questioning him, I'm sure. The pouch holds a weapon."
"But you do realize you're in a good position to interrogate someone, right?" Kaguya said, smiling teasingly. "Unless you don't mind being seen by Lelouch."
Kallen had no answer. She blushed even harder. From outsider's perspective, she could see how this will end for her.
"Were you the one in Shinjuku?"
"What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb! You brought up Shinjuku the other day, why?"
"Why do you ask? Is something wrong with Shinjuku?"
"Don't answer my question with a question!" She picked up her pouch. "Yes, or no? That's all I wanna hear out of you."
A blade extended from her pouch.
Several people tensed realizing that Lelouch was in real danger.
"Kallen, are you going to…" Shirley began hesitantly.
"I sure hope not," Milly said. "That'd be very stupid of her."
"Exactly!" Kaguya exclaimed. "This is a way to expose yourself. Rather than silence someone."
Just when it seemed like she was going to use the knife, the phone in the bathroom rang.
Kallen tensed. Realizing her nervousness, Lelouch said: "If I don't answer it, someone will come. That okay?" Getting no answer, he took it as agreement and picked up the phone with her free hand. "Hello? Ashford Academy Student Council. No, this is…Oh, it's for you. He says he knows you."
Lelouch handed the receiver to Kallen. She put away the pouch and picked the phone without loosening Lelouch.
"Hello?"
"Glad you're still alive Q1." A familiar voice said.
"What?!"
"But how—?"
"Lelouch is right there!"
Surprise and disbelief filled their words as they questioned the scene.
"He must have planned this beforehand," Kaguya said. "Someone else using voice changer or a recorded message. But how did he time it so perfectly…?"
Milly snapped her fingers. "So, that's why he was the one who brought in the clothes instead of Sayoko. He must have known Kallen will confront him in the bathroom."
"But he was going to leave before the call came. I was the one who called him back. If I didn't see him when I picked up the call, it wouldn't have cleared my suspicions," Kallen insisted. She couldn't believe that everything was staged by the boy. Because that would mean…
"He must have predicted your reaction," Euphemia said, her voice filled with amazement. "He must have been confident you will call him back."
'No way!' Kallen wanted to deny that idea. How could Lelouch know her so well? They hardly talked to each other. And normal girls will never use a bathroom to interrogate a boy.
It was the voice from Shinjuku. Kallen's head whipped around. Lelouch's wrist was still in her grasp. She peeked through the curtains. He wasn't talking nor was he holding any devices.
'Was I wrong?' She wondered.
"1600 hrs. The day after tomorrow. The observation deck at Tokyo Tower. Come alone."
"Who are you? How did you arrange the cease-fire order?" Kallen questioned but on getting no answers angrily pulled away the curtains. "Hey, don't hang up."
"Did you say cease-fire?" Lelouch questioned. "Sounds like you keep dangerous company."
"Um…that was…" Kallen struggled to search for a convincing excuse.
"Let me guess, you are talking about a game? Something online?"
"Uh, yeah, you got me. Cause, you know, I have been shut up in my house for so long…" She released her hand.
Lelouch rubbed his wrist. "That's what I was warning you about, when I told you not to bring up Shinjuku before. Seriously, some guys will try to show you footage of what happened that day and it's pretty damn grim."
He pointedly glanced away and said, "By the way, you know I can see you, right?"
The curtain was pulled to the side, Kallen noticed. Glancing at her exposed body, she ducked down in shame and pulled the curtains back.
She wrapped her arms around her body, her eyes squeezed shut, and listened to Lelouch saying, "Um, I won't tell anyone. Later."
The door opened and closed after Lelouch exited.
"I was wrong…" Kallen whispered to herself.
Kaguya sighed tiredly and rubbed her forehead. "You do realize that you were completely dancing in his palms. He broke your rhythm, brought you in his own rhythm and was in complete control the entire time. And you were the one with the knife."
"He even made up an excuse for your slip up," Euphemia reminded with a smile.
Kallen was so embarrassed that she wished she would disappear immediately.
As if feeling she was not embarrassed enough, Milly made a final attack. "By the way, you are a ten too. I'm sure Lelouch would agree."
Kallen self-destructed.
Elsewhere, a voice recorder was playing the lines that Kallen had just heard on the phone.
The recording was stopped by a geassed Sayoko. She came out of her trance and looked around in confusion.
"A recording, then. And Sayoko is immune to geass now too."
Milly made a list of people geass was used on and thus became immune. It wasn't of any use for their future but it'd be a reminder for this showing.
Nunnally breathed a sigh of relief. She had no problem with this use of geass on Sayoko, even if she wished it was never used on her.
"The council doesn't require much actual work, I guess. Beyond occasional paperwork, we'll sometimes plan school events." Lelouch was saying to Kallen.
Kallen dressed in Lelouch's casual clothes was walking by his side. "You mean like the cultural festival?"
"Yep, like that along with the cross-dressers' ball, the absolute silence party and swim suit day." Lelouch replied.
"What's up with that?"
"Blame out president. You'll be spending a lot of time with her. Hope you're ready."
Kaguya looked gleeful. "That sounds fun."
"All my festivals are," Milly said proudly. "I hope they show one in the episodes."
"I can't wait," Euphemia said in anticipation. 'Lelouch cross-dressing!'
"Lelouch, it's awful," Nunnally said to him when they joined the rest in the hall.
"What is?"
The rest were standing before the TV which was showing a news broadcast.
Milly turned to him and replied, "Prince Clovis has been found dead."
"They say he was killed," Rivalz said.
In the TV, Jeremiah was speaking in a press conference.
"Prince Clovis has been taken from us. He fought for peace and justice against all of the Elevens. He died a martyr. We must all bury our sorrow, and carry on his will."
Ohgi and the rest of the resistance cell was also watching this from their hideout.
"We interrupt this broadcast with breaking news. The man suspected as the murderer has been captured. According to this report, the suspect is an honorary Britannian."
The footage was shown of the arrest. When Lelouch saw the suspect, he couldn't help letting out a shocked gasp. It was Suzaku.
"Private Suzaku Kururugi, a former Eleven and honorary Britannian. I repeat, Suzaku Kururugi arrested for member."
"Suzaku!" Nunnally exclaimed.
"So, that's their plan!" Euphemia said in anger. "He is the scapegoat."
"But he was fighting for their side all the time!" Shirley protested. "He wasn't anywhere near the viceroy."
"I'm sure the Lancelot's developers—Lloyd and Cecile and the rest—could testify for him," Milly said. "He will be okay."
"If they wanted to testify, they'd have before they paraded him on TV," Euphemia said bitterly. "They have already decided he's the culprit. That's why they are announcing it."
"But he's innocent," Nunnally cried out.
"It doesn't matter," Kaguya glared at the screen with venom. "He's Genbu Kururugi's son. If he's convicted, the purebloods could use the case to bring down the entire Honorary Britannian system in Area 11."
Kaguya was now resolved to drag Suzaku out of the military, forcefully if she must. Otherwise, who knows how he will die.
The screen went dark with only the words 'Next Stage' written on it.
Lelouch's voice started speaking: "Shouldn't I be happy with this news? Suzaku is still alive. But why is he being arrested in my place? I have to save him. I don't care what it takes. If I have to step up me plans, so be it. For I have the power to do it."
"That's good. Lelouch will rescue Suzaku." Kaguya was filled with gratitude. His willingness to change his plans for her cousin showed that Lelouch was not unscrupulous. There are things he won't do even if it furthers his agenda, and things he will do even if he may ruin his plans.
"But how?" Nunnally was filled with concern, both for her brother and Suzaku.
"We will see in the next episode," Kaguya said. Several plans appeared in her mind, all of them featuring geass as the main component. But knowing the limitations, she was hard pressed to think of an idea.
"Great. Now, we have to worry about both Lelouch and Suzaku." Mily threw her hands up in exasperation. "I was hoping we'd have an episode or two of relaxing school life."
"By the way, is there something to discuss in this episode?" Euphemia said, trying to change in the topic. "I have something I want your opinions on."
She wanted them to clear their issues first but Kaguya shook her head. "Go on."
Euphy took a breath. "Do you think Clovis can be saved?"
Kallen immediately glared at her venomously. "What do you mean?! We're the one who needs saving from that massacre prince!"
"But Clovis has not committed any massacres yet." Euphy insisted. "If we could rescue Ms. CC without letting Clovis start a massacre, it's okay if he lives, right?"
"The problem isn't that he committed a massacre," Kaguya said. "It's that he doesn't treat us as human beings at all. Even to the end, he didn't seem to realize why Lelouch killed him. He killed the people in the ghetto, not for his country or his people but for his selfish interests."
"Exactly," Kallen said. "We have no guarantee he will not commit any other atrocity."
Euphemia bit her lips in anxiety. "If I could convince him…"
"But can you, Euphy?" Nunnally asked gently. "Clovis is already determined to walk his own path."
"Nunna…" Euphy wept in anguish. "Are you okay with Clovis dying?"
"No," her sister replied. "But I'm powerless to change anything. Clovis needs to answer for is crimes. At the very least, what he did to Ms. CC can't be forgiven." The witch looked up at her words. "If it is possible for him to face justice without dying, I will be very happy."
"On that note, don't you think none of us have the power to determine a prince's fate," Milly said. "Even Kallen and Kaguya don't. Kallen's cell is small and ill-equipped. The only reason they won was because of the Sutherlands and Lelouch's strategies. And Kaguya's family may fund the resistance but she can't mobilize them to defeat Britannia. Can you?"
Kaguya agreed with her words. "I can't. And even if I could, I won't. I can't deal with the follow-up retaliation of the empire at all. I wonder what kind of plan Lelouch has for the future that he chose to do it."
"Exactly." Milly spread her hands. "It's Lelouch's power, his plans and his decision. Like he said, he killed Clovis to change the world. Princess, you need to convince him."
Euphemia fell into contemplation. Indeed, she needed to talk to Lelouch. Nunnally squeezed her hand to assure her that they'd have that talk with her brother together.
Shirley was the one who picked up the next topic. "When Lulu killed…his brother, he reacted strangely, right? We all misunderstood him, I mean. If not for his later reaction, even I'd have thought he really killed his brother happily. So, how do we know which of his reactions are genuine?"
"That's a loaded question, Shirley." Milly gave her an impressed look. "It's true that Lelouch is an impressive liar. I used to think I knew him well, but this show has already proven me wrong. At least, I never knew he was so distrustful of the student council. What about you, Nunnally?"
The princess shook her head ruefully. "I don't know my brother that well either, it seems. I didn't know he was seeking revenge for mother's death. Or that he was so worried about our future. I was just content with the present. I am…a failure as a sister."
Euphemia rubbed her arms in comfort.
"I think we should let the TV show us the truth." Kaguya proposed. "Rather than speculating about his intentions, it's better to let the episode play. Just like here, it showed us Lelouch's moment of weakness."
There were nods of approval at her words.
"Anyone else have any questions," she asked and only Milly raised her hand.
"I think the most important topic in this episode is Lelouch's motives," she said. "There are two."
"I thought there were more—he hates Britannia, he hates his father, he's sympathetic to Japanese, etc." Kallen listed off.
Kaguya shook her head. "No, broadly there are two. The past and the future. He wants revenge for the past wrongdoings—his mother's murder and the siblings' exile. And he wants to create a better future—a gentle world where his sister could live happily."
"Isn't that very vague?" Shirley said. "Nunna, have you ever discussed with Lulu about it?"
Nunnally shook her head in negative.
"So, Nunnally maybe her inspiration but his vision of future his own," Euphy hummed thoughtfully. "But I'm sure it's not as simple as destroying Britannia."
"Exactly." Milly said. "Honestly, if Britannia were to be obliterated, who'd protect Britannians from hostile nations. I'm sure someone as intelligent as Lelouch will never forget that he's Britannian too."
Kaguya shrugged. "Who knows…hatred can blind people."
Kallen, sensing that the discussion was over, picked up the remote and pressed the button.
Finally, this chapter is out.
I promised this chapter a month ago, but I broke the promise. I have a legitimate reason but still, my apologies.
The thing is my exams that were postponed due to covid were resumed. I got a 15-day notice and then eight tests spread over a month and a half. It's not like I didn't have any time to myself, but it's hard to write after spending my day cramming knowledge. Technically, my exams are still going on. I don't know when I will update next. Most probably, before April.
Now, replies to some comments:
Someone told me that my view was biased, especially against Suzaku. And I admit it is. But I have to state that I don't hate any character in Code Geass completely. Not even Emperor and Schneizel. The great thing about this anime is all characters are dynamic. Look at where Jeremiah and Villeta started and where they ended up. Same is true with all characters: Black Knights (loyal soldiers-traitors), Cornelia (Princess-freedom fighter), and the best examples.
Lelouch: I will obliterate Britannia—I am the emperor of Britannia.
Suzaku: Zero must die— I am Zero.
See, everyone has their moments. I won't bury their shining moments for personal prejudice.
Someone also told me about more characters that could be added. I may add Rivalz and Sayoko. Not any of Lelouch's enemies though. If all of his enemies were converted to his side through this fic, what's he going to do in the sequel.
For now, that's all. See you in the next update.