Author's Note: Hello my faithful readers and welcome to the latest instalment of The Prepared Rebellion.
I do apologise for the length of time these chapters take to write, but that is because I refuse to skimp on quality. If I write something, it's gonna be written well, damn it.
I have come to a decision regarding the harem. I feel it impractical and somewhat hard to accomplish to have Lelouch sleep with all of them in the Prepared Rebellion, so he will only sleep with C.C., Sayoko, Euphy, Kallen and Kaguya in this book. He will then get Villetta, Shirley and Milly in the Rebellion Reforged.
I'm sorry if you disapprove, but them's the breaks.
On with the Fic!
Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass. I would like to, but then again I also want to get uninterrupted sleep at the weekends. I live in hope.
"Kallen"-Speech
'Lelouch'-Thought/mental communication
"{Die}"-Geass Command
"Halt!"-Loudspeaker
"Roger."-Radio/Walkie-Talkie
Chapter 12: White Knight and Black Prince
Timeskip - Two Days Later - 08.00 am
Lelouch's Room, Ashford Academy Student Council Clubhouse
Lelouch smiled as he reviewed the data on his computer. As he had expected, Cornelia had left all bureaucratic work to Euphy and started the arduous task of kicking the Area 11 military into shape.
'After being left to their own devices by Clovis for all this time, they are getting run into the ground by Cornelia. I'm willing to bet that the generals and unit commanders are cursing Zero for this.' Lelouch thought with a grin. Cornelia was a slavedriver.
Using Clovis' backdoor password, he had infiltrated the Administration Building's network and sown a dozen viruses here and there that would cause general confusion for a while.
The viruses included misfiling documents in the wrong files, randomly shutting down consoles that people were working on and, his personal favourite, changed all screensavers to Zero's mask, which ought to freak the staff out a bit.
He had also created his own backdoor program in the Viceroy's personal network, which protocol dictated would be the only one not to be scrubbed after his viruses came online in a week's time.
"That smile does not bode well for someone." C.C. commented from her position under the covers. The immortal enjoyed being physically close to people, so often spent the night in his bed, even when they did not indulge in each other's bodies.
"Suzaku is coming to school today." he reminded his paramour, "You had better get dressed or you'll be late."
C.C. pouted at him, but threw the sheets off and walked to the shower, putting some extra sway to her hips to entice Lelouch as he watched her walk to the shower.
Lelouch smirked as C.C. entered the bathroom and closed the door. He was no pervert or letch by any means, but he did appreciate the fine figure of his partner when she was kind enough to show it to him.
Shaking his head, he turned his attention back to the reports flowing across his terminal's screen. Cornelia seemed to be demoting a fair few of the high command in Area 11 on grounds of gross incompetence, misappropriation of military funding…and was that a charge of Desertion in the Face of the Enemy? That Captain was dead meat.
"Lelouch-sama, there is a message from Miss Milly." Sayoko called from the living room, making Lelouch stiffen in his seat uncomfortably.
He had spent the last day in quiet contemplation of what C.C. had revealed to him about Sayoko, the oath she had sworn and the reasons why she swore it. He had thought long and hard on it and had concluded that if neither C.C. nor Sayoko saw anything wrong with him sleeping with them both, then any resistance he could put up was utterly pointless.
Fortunately, his mind was able to consider many things at once, so as he walked to Sayoko, he considered the other thing he had been considering.
His and Sayoko's Geass abilities.
Sayoko had been practicing using her Geass while Lelouch and C.C. had been 'otherwise engaged' and had reported a couple of discoveries to him.
- She did not require looking into her target's eyes in order to use her Geass, but she did have to see her target.
-In a crowd, the conflicting auras gave her a minor migraine and she could not use her ability with any degree of success.
Lelouch, on the other hand, had discovered far more limitations to his own Geass.
- He had to issue all of his commands verbally, limiting him to a maximum range of 272 meters when combined with the restriction of needing to look into the eyes of his target.
- He had confirmed, via discretely Geassing a teacher that was retiring soon, that his Geass only works once per individual. He could issue as many commands to a person as he liked during the initial set-up, but only as long as eye contact is not broken.
- Any memories for the duration of the command are sealed and cannot be recalled, unless he specifically orders that they become unsealed.
- Villetta was proof that a Geass Command can last a considerable time, but he had discreetly Geassed a first year student to make a mark on a specific wall once a day, if she was in Ashford Academy, as a duration test.
"Here is the message, Lelouch-sama." Sayoko's voice brought him out of his mental review. She was holding a notepad out to him.
"Thanks Sayoko." he said, taking the pad with a nod of thanks and started to read it. A smirk found its way across his face. All preparations had been made.
Time for the curtain to rise on the next act.
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Timeskip - 1 Hour Later
Lelouch's Classroom, Ashford Academy
"Settle down, settle down." the teacher said in a monotone. He was an old man due to retire in a month and was just going through the motions until he could wash his hands of the little rich brats and this school.
The class, which had been quiet before he spoke, just looked at him with various expressions of boredom.
"Ahem!" he cleared his throat, "We have a transfer student arriving in this class today. I would appreciate it-" He gave the class a half-glare, half exasperated expression, "-if you could all not cause a fuss by his identity. Come in!"
The door opened and Suzaku Kururugi stepped through the door, prompting a frenzied whispering among the class.
"An Eleven at our school?!" one whispered to her neighbour.
"He was accused of killing Prince Clovis!" another whispered, "He shouldn't be allowed near any nobility! What if he does something?"
Kallen was discreetly glaring at the Honorary Britannian. She felt sick at being so close to someone who bowed willingly to Britannian rule without so much as making an effort at resisting them.
'Patience, Kallen' she told herself, 'Zero told us to lie low for a while until he had some new equipment ready for us. As much as I'd like to beat some sense into this fool, I won't compromise myself for the likes of him.'
Suzaku took a seat and the lesson went on, with most of the class regarding the boy warily out of the corner of their eyes. Nina wore a terrified expression and moved as far from him as she could.
When the class ended, the teacher frowned as the vice-principal came and passed a file to him before having a discussion in a quiet voice, which seemed to generate a considerable amount of irritation in the old man.
Sighing in exasperation, the class' teacher turned back towards the class when the vice-principal left, his face sour. "Alright class, it appears we have yet another transfer student, who was held up elsewhere this morning and has only just arrived. Come in please." the teacher said grumpily.
The door slid open and the person who stepped through made Suzaku's eyes widen. A girl with vibrant green hair, stunning agate eyes and a lithe, svelte body strode in as regally as any princess.
"Introduce yourself to the class if you would." the teacher instructed. The girl nodded and turned to face the class.
"I am Celesta Crossfield." she said in a melodious voice, "But my friends call me C.C., so I would ask that you do the same."
The whispers of the boys were slightly lecherous now, and the girls' whispers had the hard edge of jealousy. Before anything else could be said, the bell rang.
Lelouch abruptly stood up and walked to the door, Suzaku's eyes following him. He paused at the door and tugged at his collar with a frown before he left.
Suzaku's eyes widened as he recognised the sign, but forced himself to wait a few minutes before also getting up to follow him. C.C. merely smirked as she also waited a while before trailing elegantly after the two boys.
Up on the Roof of Ashford Academy…
Lelouch leaned on the stone railing that surrounded the only part of the roof of Ashford Academy that the students could go for an open-air lunch. Suzaku definitely recognised the signal, so he ought to be here any minute.
Almost exactly when he predicted, the door creaked open to admit Suzaku, who then walked over to him. Lelouch turned around, leaned on the railing and grinned at Suzaku.
"Seven years since we used this signal." he said, tugging on his collar again.
"'Meet on the roof.'" Suzaku translated with a small grin of his own, "Just like the old days. I'm glad you got out of there in one piece."
"It wasn't easy, but I managed it, thanks to you." Lelouch replied with a shrug, "The military didn't help things -they were slaughtering anything that moved."
"What?!" Suzaku exclaimed, "That can't be right! The reports say-"
"A pack of complete lies." Lelouch interrupted pointedly, "The Purebloods placed the entire blame on the Japanese Terrorists -and you! - in order to try and disassemble the Honorary Britannian System in Area 11."
"How'd you know that?" Suzaku asked.
"Ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies." Lelouch replied mysteriously, "Suffice is to say, I have my ways of knowing when a royal presence will be popping up near Ashford Academy so Nunnally and I can hide. She was worried about you by the way."
"Nunnally." Suzaku whispered, remembering Lelouch's kind, gentle little sister, "How is she?"
"She's plagued by fevers every so often, but other than that, she's fine." Lelouch assured his friend, "I'd appreciate it if you could come over after school and visit her. She really was very concerned about you. Thank god Zero showed up when he did and admitted he killed my murderous half-sibling."
"Lelouch, Clovis was your brother!" Suzaku hissed, glancing around to make sure nobody was around to hear their conversation.
"He ordered a massacre, Suzaku." Lelouch retorted, "If the public had found out, he would have been crucified by the media circus, never mind what would have happened if they found out about his little pet project."
"Oh yeah!" Suzaku abruptly remembered the green haired girl, "Why the heck is she here? Should I arrange to have her taken into protective custody?"
"No, she mistrusts the Army, which is nothing personal against you though. I'm sheltering her from the small portion of the Britannian Army that's after her." Lelouch replied, "After all, who would expect a fugitive to hide out in a premier educational facility for the Nobility?"
"About as much as they'd expect a missing prince and princess to be here as well." Suzaku conceded, "That reminds me, what is it I should call you now?"
"We abandoned our royal names when we left you seven years ago, and we were officially declared dead after the invasion." Lelouch replied, "Nunnally and I are now Lelouch and Nunnally Lamperouge, the last members of the very minor House of Lamperouge."
Lelouch grinned ironically, as he spoke. Neighbouring families had absorbed the Barony of Lamperouge after his mother's death, and the title had been officially abolished upon the 'deaths' of himself and Nunnally. Keeping the name had been spitting in the eye of their father for the vi Britannia siblings.
"What about you? Why're you enrolled here?" Lelouch asked. He actually knew why, but it was best to keep things moving as if he did not.
"Well, I'm just as surprised as you are actually." Suzaku confessed with an embarrassed chuckle, "You know how your sisters are the new Viceroy and Sub-Viceroy?"
"Yep. Nellie and Euphy." Lelouch confirmed, "Don't tell me; Euphy went into Mother-Hen Mode and decided you needed to go to high school?"
"Got it in one." Suzaku replied, "You should know that they both think you are alive, thanks to Lord Jeremiah. He's been searching for you for seven years."
Lelouch put a frown across his face. "Jeremiah…Jeremiah Gottwald? He was a guard at the Aries Villa. He helped Nunnally get away from that brat Carina on more than one occasion. Damn, that means he knows what I look like. I'll have to step up my security for this…" he trailed off into mutters as Suzaku looked on in amusement.
'I'm glad that Lelouch hasn't changed much since seven years ago, leaving the fact he actually exercises to one side.' Suzaku thought with a chuckle, 'Todoh-sensei wouldn't believe his ears if he found out that Lelouch actually listened to him…eventually!'
"Can I come out now, Lelouch?" a bored voice called from the stairway, drawing the attention of both boys. C.C. stepped out from behind the door and strode over to Lelouch, capturing his arm in a hug and snuggling in to him with a satisfied smile.
"Is there anything you wanna tell me Lelouch?" Suzaku raised his eyebrows suggestively at Lelouch and his new arm ornament.
"I'm his mistress." C.C. replied, "A fact I would ask that you keep to yourself. Lelouch is the subject of crushes of most of the girls here and I'd rather not have to deal with their silly antagonism."
She extended a hand and Suzaku took it and shook it firmly before releasing it.
"Gotcha." Suzaku replied with a chuckle, "Looks like Kaguya isn't the only girl that you entranced since coming here, Lelouch."
"Don't remind me." Lelouch muttered as he recalled being chased by the little black-haired terror that had been Kaguya Sumeragi, "How is she, by the way?"
"I haven't heard from the rest of my family since I joined the military two years ago." Suzaku confessed, "But when last I heard from her, she was doing OK."
"Speaking of the military, what are you doing for them?" Lelouch asked.
"Oh, I…can't really say." Suzaku replied uncomfortably, "I work with engineers now. That's about all I can tell you."
"So, you work with Camelot?" Lelouch said decisively.
Suzaku gaped soundlessly at Lelouch before shaking his head slowly. "How you found that out, I don't wanna know, do I?"
"Please see my previous statement regarding asking questions and telling lies." Lelouch replied, "But I will confess that I only came across that titbit by coincidence while looking for other data. Anyway, are you gonna come over and see Nunnally?"
"Of course!" Suzaku replied. There was no way he was going to miss the chance to see his other friend from seven years ago.
"Good." Lelouch said approvingly, "Now, what do you want for dinner?"
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Timeskip - End of the School Day
Corridor in Ashford Academy
Lelouch had sped off after class to get things ready for the impromptu party they were going to have and had asked 'Celesta' to show Suzaku the way to the siblings' home.
The silence as they walked was uncomfortable and Suzaku was about to break it with some inane conversation when the greenette did it first.
"You are a startlingly naïve person, aren't you?" she said languidly.
"I'm sorry?" he asked, taken aback at this odd remark.
"You could have stayed with Zero when he rescued you." C.C. replied, "Your family publicly cut its ties with you, so they wouldn't be suspected of aiding you, and I doubt the Britannians would bother looking for a single Eleven in the Ghettos, so why did you go back?"
"Because I didn't want to give the likes of Kewell the satisfaction of being right." Suzaku replied, "The system can work for people, and I plan to change it from within, so that those like Zero will not be needed."
"Fool." C.C. said softly, "Even if you could change the system from within, the corruption within Britannia would corrupt you long before you change it."
"Japan lost, Britannia won." Suzaku replied woodenly, "We have no alternative but to use the system available to us."
"And what of those who still dream of a Japan independent of Britannia? What of those who raise the banner of rebellion against the system? What of those who feel that they cannot use the system?" C.C. asked slowly.
"They need to be brought down for the good of all." Suzaku replied instantly, "No change made by violence and against the will of the majority is a change made for the good."
C.C. shook her head once. "I do not know why you pursue an ever-distant ideal such as this but it will grant you nothing more or less than pain and sorrow in the end. Take it from me, I know." she told the Honorary Britannian, "I tried to change the world for the better and ended up experimented on by that bastard of a prince."
"What did you do?" Suzaku asked. Her voice convinced him that she spoke the truth.
"Nothing that you would either understand or be willing to accept." C.C. replied, "We're almost there, so let's end this conversation…for the moment."
The immortal sped up slightly, leaving a confused and slightly irritated Suzaku in her wake.
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Timeskip - Ten Minutes later
Lamperouge Dining Room
The reunion between Suzaku and Nunnally had been exactly as heart-warming as Lelouch had predicted. Nunnally had cried when she realised the hand she held belonged to Suzaku and she had monopolised him ever since.
C.C. had merely led Suzaku to the dining room and then vanished, probably into Lelouch's room, so she didn't have to explain her presence to Nunnally, who she had been avoiding for some reason.
"Suzaku, can you stay the night? Please?" Nunnally asked him as they ate an excellent Japanese-style meal that both Lelouch and Sayoko had collaborated to cook.
"Suzaku is a student at Ashford now Nunnally." Lelouch told her gently, "He'll be in school when his duties as a soldier allow him to be."
"Oh…so you're…still a soldier?" Nunnally asked Suzaku quietly.
"In the Engineering Corps." Suzaku replied, "For the short-term, I'll be here almost every day. My new commander is very laid back and the engineering project that is being worked on right now is getting some new parts added to it, so I have nothing to do there at the moment anyway."
"That's a good boss you have there." Lelouch noted as he grabbed the empty teapot and stood to re-fill it.
"Oh, let me-" Suzaku started to say.
"Sit down Suzaku." Lelouch told him firmly, "Unlike seven years ago, we are the hosts this time."
Suzaku smiled wryly. It was true. Their initial positions had been totally reversed. He was their guest this time around.
The evening continued until it was time for Suzaku to return home.
"Lelouch, I think we should keep a distance from each other at school." Suzaku told him at the front door.
"I can see why you'd think that, but Milly, the Student Council President, has already made plans to invite you into the Student Council." Lelouch told is surprised friend wryly, "There's no point resisting, as she'll get her way come hell or high-water. The best thing for you to do here is bow to the inevitable and follow the path of least resistance. It'll save you unnecessary headaches, take it from me."
"Ooookay." Suzaku said slowly, "Well then, I will see what she has in mind for me, although I'm sure you're just exaggerating here. Catch you later."
"Later." Lelouch echoed as he watched his friend run off into the growing darkness.
Once Suzaku was out of sight, Lelouch closed the door and activated the building's security system before heading to his room. C.C. was flicking through a magazine on the bed when he walked in.
"So, did you enjoy spending time with the White Knight?" C.C. asked casually.
Lelouch cocked an eyebrow at the immortal. "Why call him that?" he asked.
"Because he is determined to do the right and just thing, even if it means hurting himself and his cause in the process." C.C. replied, "Although he will refuse to get his hands dirty in the process, even if it would advance his cause and save more than by his own methods."
"And you know this…how exactly?" Lelouch enquired archly.
"With physical contact with another person, I can scan their minds, their psyche and get a good grasp of who they are as a person." C.C. explained, "Remember when I shook his hand? I did a small scan then."
"I see." Lelouch said. He sat at his computer terminal and booted it up. He scanned the latest information from his worms in the Administration Building's mainframe and frowned.
"Cornelia's hitting the ground running." Lelouch said aloud, "Yesterday she annihilated the Mikado's Guardians Faction completely and today she destroyed the central base of the Blood of the Samurai Faction."
Both of those groups had been two of the largest resistance groups outside of the JLF.
"Who's the next target to be?" C.C. queried as she stood and walked over to drape her arms around him.
"Unknown." Lelouch replied, his frown deepening as he read on, "Meanwhile, Euphy is cleaning up the government with admirable alacrity. She's imprisoned, sacked or demoted at least fifty people in two days and has replaced them. She has also warned the replacements to do their jobs and not take bribes otherwise they'll be given the same treatment as their predecessors."
"Sounds like your second-favourite sister is doing a good job." C.C. commented as she played with a lock of Lelouch's hair.
"Quite. I'll admit the designation of Velvet Glove and Iron Fist is clichéd, but it is an admirable fit for Euphy and Cornelia." Lelouch said as he wrapped an arm around C.C.'s waist and pulled her closer to him.
C.C. flushed slightly. "A-Anything else new?" she asked, keeping most traces of her surprise out of her voice.
"Aside from a report from Jeremiah regarding the Knightmare parts, spares and Ammo I had him 'misplace' for me, no." Lelouch replied, "He left them in the designated warehouse and has forged the signature of a corrupt lackey in the Civil Administration Bureau that Euphy is due to review tomorrow on a document that authorised a sale of parts, spares and ammo to 'Private Enterprises'."
"Hmmm, that's evil." C.C. purred as she began to enjoy her partners touch, "The Black Prince is quite the appropriate moniker for you, lover boy."
"Whatever works." Lelouch replied as he shut down the terminal and tugged C.C. down onto his lap. The immortal giggled slightly as she wound her arms around her lover, "And I only got that nickname because I wore black in public a lot, although I will admit it does suit my do-anything-to accomplish-my-goals attitude."
"Enough work and philosophy for now." she said breathily as she moved her face closer to Lelouch's, "Now it's time for some of the benefits of our relationship."
"Seductress." Lelouch accused with no rancour in his voice.
"The only man I plan to seduce is you, Lelouch. Only you." she breathed as she captured his lips in a slow, deep kiss.
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Timeskip - The Next Day, Lunchtime
Stairwell, Ashford Academy
"Ohgi, I understand that the Blood of the Samurai Faction was destroyed yesterday." Lelouch said into his phone. He wasn't stupid and counting on the phone line to distort his voice; he had attached a voice changer to the mouthpiece so he didn't have to worry about that.
"Y-Yes, they were. How'd you know that?" Kaname Ohgi's voice was filled with surprise at his new leaders' knowledge.
"I have my sources that let me know such things." Lelouch replied, "You're worried about our group being attacked, aren't you?"
"Well….yes, I have to admit I am." Ohgi replied.
"My sources will let me know if an attack is planned against Base One." Lelouch reassured his new second in command. Base One was a glorified code name for a fixed up school building in Ikebukuro that Ohgi used to teach at, "At the moment, Cornelia's attention is turned to the outer Ghettos, so she's going to raid a group in the Tokyo Tama Ghetto today, I would think."
"So, either the remnants of the Blood of the Samurai, or the Swords of the Ancestors Faction?" Ohgi asked cautiously.
"Exactly." Lelouch replied, "I plan on giving a briefing of our future plans in the near future, so until then keep calm and don't let Tamaki do anything stupid."
"Right." Ohgi replied, his voice firm and confident once again, "The usual time tomorrow?"
"The usual time." Lelouch confirmed before ending the call, removing the voice changer and flipping his phone closed.
'Ohgi is right to be concerned about Cornelia.' Lelouch thought with a frown, 'She just destroyed the two biggest resistance groups in Central Japan in two days. She's focussing on eliminating threats in and around the Tokyo Settlement first so she can have a secure base of operations, I would suspect.'
Cornelia was hot-headed, but was also cautious by the necessity of her chosen profession. She was well known for quoting, 'War is a struggle between Pride and Life' and took those words seriously. Unless another group enraged her, she was unlikely to shift from her target.
Better accelerate his own plans as well then.
Movement caught Lelouch's eye and he looked out of the window to see Suzaku busy washing something. The exiled prince's eyes narrowed as his old friend raised what appeared to be his gym shirt from the soapy water. It was clear why he was washing it, as it had a message written in red paint on it.
'GET BACK TO YOUR GHETTO, ELEVEN FILTH!'
Lelouch's anger began to build. How dare someone treat his friend like that! Plans began to whirl in his mind on how to find out exactly who the person responsible was and then Geass the fool into walking around the school naked.
He forced his anger down. Despite how he disliked Suzaku being discriminated against and bullied in such a petty way, he had to see the big picture. Suzaku had to see the dark side of Britannian Society, including the blatant racism and unthinking reaction of discrimination, they possessed if there was any hope of bringing him to his side.
'He likely believes that only the military possesses such discrimination and that the rest of Britannian Society is as pure as driven snow.' Lelouch thought with exasperation at his old friend's naiveté, 'It really wouldn't surprise me if that really is what he thinks. A dose of reality is just what the doctor ordered. The bullying will be mitigated somewhat by Milly inducting him into the Student Council anyway.'
Lelouch walked off, cheerfully imagining the mischief that Milly was going to inflict on his friend.
Down in the courtyard…
"ACHOO!" Suzaku sneezed before looking around, "Was someone just talking about me?….Nah."
Shrugging, the Honorary Britannian got back to trying to clean his gym shirt using soap, water and good old-fashioned hard work.
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Timeskip - After School
Ballroom, Student Council Clubhouse
Lelouch hung back as he observed the interactions between the Student Council and Suzaku. Milly was her usual cheerful self, teasing and being friendly with Suzaku. She wasn't the kind of person to discriminate against Numbers.
C.C., who had also been invited to join the council, was sat at a table devouring a pizza and hugging a stuffed toy she had won from all her purchases. She had, rather unoriginally, called it 'Cheese-kun'.
Shirley and Rivalz were cautiously friendly and were opening up as they got to know Suzaku, as Lelouch knew they would. Shirley, whilst innocent and naïve, was an open and friendly person, and Rivalz was the most unbiased person Lelouch had come across.
Nunnally was, of course, happily chatting away with Suzaku, which made Lelouch smile. If Suzaku being here had no other benefits, making his sister happy made it worthwhile.
Kallen was feigning interest, but was actually keeping her distance from Suzaku. Lelouch supposed that to her, Suzaku was a traitor to her country, so it was of little surprise that she avoided him.
The ebon haired boy looked off to the side and viewed the only major fly in the ointment. Nina Einstein was busy blocking out the world, and the Eleven in close proximity to her in particular, by focussing on typing away on the computer.
'Time to intervene, I think.' Lelouch thought as he made his way to Nina's side.
"O-Oh, Lelouch." Nina stuttered out when she noticed him leaning against the wall to her right, "W-What's up?"
"Nina, why are you in Area 11?" Lelouch asked conversationally.
The resident genius of the Student Council looked taken aback at this question. "Because this is where my parents work?" she replied uncertainly.
"If they can afford to send you to Ashford, they could also afford to send you to a reasonably prestigious boarding school in the Homeland." Lelouch countered, "So again: Why are you here?"
Nina was confused. Where exactly was he going with this? "I'm not sure why you're asking me this, Vice-President." she temporised.
"Because I am actually worried for you Nina." Lelouch replied, drawing a surprised look from her, "Yes, worried. Because you cannot stand to be near a Number who was declared innocent of the crimes he was accused of. If you can't handle that now, in Ashford, how will you handle things after you graduate?"
"There must have been some basis for accusing him in the first place." Nina muttered stubbornly.
"Yes, my sources tell me it was because he was an Honorary Britannian. That was the basis for the prosecution's entire case." Lelouch replied dryly, "Nina, he arrived back at the Mobile HQ a quarter of an hour after Prince Clovis died. It was, quite literally, impossible for him to have done it."
"O-Oh…" Nina said, blushing in embarrassment, "W-Why are you so up in arms about this?"
"Because Suzaku saved my life in the Ghetto." Lelouch replied, drawing the attention of the rest of the council. Kallen especially looked interested.
"You were in Shinjuku during that mess?" she asked timidly.
"More like he got hijacked into it by the terrorists, would you believe it?" Rivalz replied with a chuckle, "A truck crashed off the highway and Mr Busybody over here ran down to see if he could help. He was flung into the back of the truck when it drove off, because he was on the roof at the time. Talk about a hit and run."
"Wow." Kallen breathed. Internally, she was worried. Had he seen her? Would she have to kill him to keep her secret a secret? She deliberately avoided looking at Nunnally while these thoughts ran through her head.
"Thank you, Rivalz." Lelouch said sarcastically, "As always, you make me sound like the epitome of manly endeavours."
"Just telling it how it is." Rivalz shot back with a grin.
"Anyway, I fell in then and landed behind some weird device of some kind. I hit my head during a particularly sudden swing and my memory gets fuzzy after that." Lelouch recounted with a wince, "The next thing I remember is a loud explosion. I staggered out from the truck, which had apparently crashed, and there were these men in the uniform of the Royal Guard lying on the floor -dead."
Suzaku wanted to interject here, but kept silent. Apparently, Lelouch had told the Council about being in Shinjuku before and was now making a story up to get them to be friends with Suzaku.
'Lelouch never could stand people picking on his friends.' Suzaku thought ruefully.
Kallen meanwhile was relieved that Lelouch didn't remember her, but resolved to be more careful around him for a while, just in case.
"My head cleared rather quickly after that and I tried to get out of the Ghetto." Lelouch continued, "Unfortunately, a pair of soldiers spotted me and one took aim. The one that didn't evidently saw that I was dressed in a Britannian school uniform and stopped his partner from shooting me."
Lelouch looked pointedly as Suzaku, who blushed at the attention given to him by the Student Council.
"They got into a tussle and Suzaku's helmet got knocked off, which his how I recognised him." Lelouch concluded, "I made my way out of the Ghetto and got caught by some alert, but not trigger-happy, soldiers. The rest is uneventful."
"Suzaku, thanks for saving Lulu." Shirley said gratefully to him.
"Eh? Oh, no problem." Suzaku replied bashfully, "He wasn't a terrorist or anything. Hell, he wasn't even armed, so…"
He shrugged diffidently.
The Council focussed on Suzaku then thanking him and, in Milly's case, still teasing him mercilessly.
Nina looked between Lelouch and Suzaku for a moment, then sighed. "I'll…think about what you said, Vice-President." she said softly, "I can't promise anything. Numbers just…terrify me, but I will think about what you have said."
"That's all I ask, Nina." Lelouch replied equally as softly, "That's all I ask."
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Timeskip - 9.00 pm
Lelouch's Room
Lelouch was finishing up his homework when a knock came at his door. He frowned. C.C. wouldn't knock, she'd just waltz in as if she owned the place.
"Sayoko? Is that you?" he called.
"Hai, Lelouch-sama." Sayoko's voice replied, a note of tension in her voice, "May I come in? I…have something I need to discuss with you."
Lelouch's eyes widened. He had a good idea what she wanted to talk about. He still hadn't made up his mind what to do about the situation with Sayoko and her oath to him yet. Perhaps a talk with her would be of more use than churning over C.C.'s words yet again.
"Of course." He called as he closed the book he had been writing in and swivelled his seat around. The door opened and Lelouch's eyes widened again at the sight before him.
Sayoko usually wore her maid uniforms that she had brought from her service with the Ashford family. When she had a day off, she wore demure clothing that blended in with the people around her and made her fade into the background as you would expect of someone descended from a ninja clan. What she was wearing now was nothing like either of those outfits.
She wore a traditional furisode (Long-Sleeved) kimono patterned black and silver, with moons and pinpricks that represented stars embroidered on it. Her feet were clad in traditional tabi that glided across the floor soundlessly as she walked and her hair was done up in an elegant bun, held in place by a pair of kanzashi (Hair ornaments), that were a matching silver colour and were decorated with crescent moons at the tips.
All in all, Sayoko looked like she was about to go out for a traditional Japanese party of some sort, and the sight made Lelouch's heartbeat hasten as he watched her enter his room slowly and deliberately, which was likely her intent.
"Do I…look alright, Lelouch-sama?" Sayoko asked him shyly, her cheeks dusted with the light red colour of a blush.
He snapped out of his trance and replied, "You look…beautiful, Sayoko. Even more so than usual."
Lelouch cursed himself silently for his voice sounding slightly hoarse as his maid blushed even deeper at his compliment.
"Th-Thank you, Goshujin-sama." Sayoko said bashfully as she sat on the bed at his gesture.
"Now, what can I help you with?" Lelouch asked, having finally regained full control of his voice, sounding normal once again.
Sayoko fidgeted slightly where she sat. "Lelouch-sama…has C.C.-sama spoken with you, regarding my oath?" she asked timidly.
Lelouch nodded slowly. "Yes, yes she has." he replied, "I must confess to being…startled somewhat as to the precise nature of the oath."
"Hardly surprising." the kunoichi replied, "Very few kunoichi swear the oath I have. And, of those who do swear it, precious few are ever fortunate to have decent master to swear it to."
"What's so special about it?" the exiled prince asked curiously.
"It's called the Life Oath, sometimes called the Oath of Gold." Sayoko replied, "It is something equivalent to a one-sided wedding vow for a kunoichi. The oath was created so a kunoichi who loved her master could bed him and bear his children when he either would not or could not marry her."
As she spoke, the maid's eyes gazed into Lelouch's own and he read the emotions in them with the greatest of ease. Sayoko loved him. She wanted to be with him and didn't care if she was seen as only a mistress like C.C. to the rest of the world. She was willing to do anything in order to be with him and damn the consequences.
Lelouch stood up and knelt before her, a hand reaching up to cup her cheek. "If this is against your will, I will not force you." he told her gently. He had to hear it spoken aloud by Sayoko herself. His own honour would not let him take an unwilling woman to his bed, regardless of duties owed.
Sayoko gave him a small smile. "I am yours, Lelouch-sama. I have been for three years. I was only waiting for the right moment to swear the oath. C.C.-sama merely provided the opening for me."
"And you don't mind my relationship with her?" Lelouch couldn't help but ask.
"You are a young man of noble blood, despite your distaste for it." Sayoko replied as she placed a soft hand on the one that caressed her cheek, "It is not uncommon for one of your station to have multiple mistresses in addition to at least one wife. Look at the Emperors of Japan. They all had at least three wives, goodness knows how many official mistresses, all in addition to seducing the palace staff.
I would be lying if I said I wouldn't be happy to be the only one you take to your bed, but C.C.-sama is a person I respect and trust, so I approve of her. All I ask is that you tell both C.C.-sama and myself before you take another woman to your bed."
Lelouch gave a small chuckle. "Considering everything, I would be a fool to add more." he said, "I think I will have my hands full with a seven hundred year old immortal and a kunoichi sharing my bed without adding other women into the mix."
Joy blossomed in Sayoko at his implied acceptance of her, but she furrowed her brow at his last words. "What of Milly-sama, Shirley-sama and Kallen-sama?" she asked.
The exiled prince raised an eyebrow. "Milly is my childhood friend, Shirley is a friend and Kallen is a subordinate of mine in my rebellion." he replied, "Why would you bring them up?"
'Ouch. Milly and Shirley just got 'friend-zoned'.' Sayoko winced internally.
"I merely point them out as you have already attracted two women." Sayoko said pointedly, "It is not implausible for those women close to you to also become drawn in by you."
"I do hope not." sighed Lelouch, "My nights are going to become tiring as it is."
"I certainly hope so." Sayoko said straight-faced, making Lelouch flush at the unsubtle innuendo.
"But, for now, leaving future problems to one side, I think it is time, Lelouch-sama." the ninja-maid continued, her face flushing again.
"C.C.?" Lelouch asked as he drew Sayoko to her feet.
"Sleeping in my room." she replied.
"That witch." Lelouch muttered without rancour, wrapping his free arm around Sayoko's waist and drawing her close to him, even as his other hand mover to cup her chin.
"I think this qualifies as magical, so I agree." Sayoko breathed.
"Just so." Lelouch murmured as he leaned forwards and captured the lips of his faithful maid in a kiss.
******** Insert Lemon Here! Please go to my Archive of Our Own Account for the Lemon!********
The two lovers continued to enjoy each other for most of the rest of the night and fell asleep entwined together.
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Code R Facility, Unknown Location
The room was a laboratory of some sort. Pipes, tubes and machinery covered the room. One large glass tank was filled with a green, cloudy liquid and seemed to contain a human-like shape.
In front of the tank, two men in lab coats were examining readings on various gauges and noting the results.
"Tch. This sample is awful." one exclaimed in disgust, "The stress-level is rising far too quickly and it has rejected several implants!"
"It's the best we have." the other replied as he wrote a figure down on his clipboard, "Our Agents were lucky to recover it before the army did."
"Humph." the first sniffed in distaste, "Did you hear about those rather interesting remains that were brought in from the Shinjuku Ghetto?"
"Oh, the Chinese Federation albino? Yeah, I did." the second tucked his clipboard under his arm as he turned to talk to his colleague, "Apparently the brain tissue samples show a significant divergence from the norm. Why?"
"If we could graft some of that samples brain tissue to this sample's brain, there's a chance that it could improve the success rate of mechanisation tenfold." the first expounded excitedly.
"Possibly." the second man allowed, "We'd have to run some tests first to see if such a thing is possible."
"Bring in some of those Eleven gutter trash." the first said dismissively, "It's not like anyone will miss them."
"May I remind you that we no longer have carte blanche to do as we please in Area Eleven anymore?" the second remonstrated the first, "Prince Clovis is dead and Princess Cornelia is not likely to be as…open-minded…as her younger brother. If she catches us, she'll shot us first and ask questions never."
"We have backing from the Emperor himself!" the first countered.
"And we really want His Majesty to bother with spanking his daughter while he has an empire to run?" the second asked rhetorically, "No, caution is the order of the day. I'll instruct our agents to gradually and circumspectly gather some samples from the Eleven populous, but only in areas where Princess Cornelia hasn't been."
"Joseph, you really take the fun outta this job, y'know that?" The first man asked.
Joseph Fenette looked back at his colleague and shrugged. "Signing off on the daily readings of Test Subject #0075, Soresi, Kewell." Joseph signed his partner's clipboard and his partner signed his.
"I'd better catch some shuteye." Joseph yawned, "I have to get back home and visit my daughter soon."
"Little Shirley? How is she?"
"Oh fine, fine." Joseph said as they walked away, "Still has a crush on that 'Lulu' boy, but other than that…"
The door hissed shut behind them, leaving the mangled remains of the former Commander Kewell Soresi to float in his tank.
"Ze…ro…" came from the speakers built in to the tank that were connected to a microphone built-in to the breathing mask.
No-one heard him.
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Next Chapter: Saitama Encirclement
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