Chapter 3: Walking Through Ashes
Alternative chapter title: Mixing Sakuradite and Water
Warning: Canon-typical violence. This is the invasion of Japan and lots of people die.
Britannia invaded Japan on March 14, 2011, breaking a period of nearly two years of peace. With the first deployment of the Knightmare frames outside of the country, Britannia shocked the world and crushed the Japanese military. A new age of war had begun. The EU publicly condemned Britannian for crimes against humanity and, with the aid of China, helped evacuate Japanese citizens in the Northern region. When Japan finally surrendered, 15 million civilians were confirmed dead with many more unaccounted for.
—The Fall of Japan
Near the Kururugi Shrine
Lelouch lay down in the shade as the sun beat down on him overhead. He could hear Nunnally clambering through the branches of the tree above him. He... was happy. It had been nearly two years since the Emperor had sent them to Japan and he found himself calling the Kururugi Shrine home. In Japan, he and Nunnally weren't the honored Britannian prince and princess. To most, they were children fostered by the honorable Genbu Kururugi. It was liberating to be free from the crushing expectations of excellency.
Tossing him a water bottle, Suzaku sat down in the shade. "It sure is hot today although Father says there is a storm rolling in later this week or the next... You sure it's fine for Nunnally to climb the tree?"
"She is blind... not crippled. Besides, I currently hold the record for falling off of stuff."
"That really isn't something to brag about Lelouch."
"Sure it is. Nunnally is amazing."
Suzaku chuckled. "I can't believe Tohdoh-Sensei had a baby. He sent me pictures you know. I'm not supposed to know, but he and Kaguya are coming over next week for Hanami. Father wants to make it into a big social gathering. He is worried about the election next year."
Nunnally, overhearing their conversation, called down to them: "Maybe we can invite my mom over for Hanami. I haven't seen her in ages."
"I doubt Suzaku's father wants to appear too friendly with the Britannians."
Suzaku said, "I don't know. I overheard—"
"You mean eavesdropped Suzaku. I have at last succeeded in teaching you the basics of subterfuge," teased Lelouch.
His friend glared at him. "I overheard that father is hoping that one of the girls will catch your eye... He wants you to get married."
"I wonder if the Emperor would show up for his son's wedding," Lelouch mused. Both of his parents had barely kept in contact and he couldn't ignore the small seed of resentment. His mother should have been better. She was so kind, yet all he and Nunnally knew was that she was alive.
A shadow passed overhead and Nunnally jumped down to the ground, wobbling slightly and then threw herself at Lelouch. "Father will show up. And then we can have peace with Japan... wouldn't that be nice?"
"Peace," Lelouch whispered. Japan was peaceful and tame compared to Britannia. Perhaps their presence in Japan soothed the diplomatic tensions between the two countries. He wouldn't mind living the life of a commoner with Nunnally in order to ensure peace. It would cost him nothing and as much as he loathed to admit it, his father may have made the right decision: he and his sister were safer than ever before.
The earth rumbled and Lelouch shot to his feet, already lending a hand to his sister. Earthquake? A deafening clap of thunder and Lelouch swallowed, his heart beating rapidly in his chest, and he scanned the horizon, already knowing, but daring to hope that he was wrong. Smoke curled upwards, climbing into the air. The conquest of Japan had begun.
Suzaku's face was white and he didn't move, just staring at the climbing smoke erupting from the countryside. A siren echoed through the hills. Nunnally moved closer to him, clinging onto his arm.
"Lelouch, what is going on?"
"Suzaku," he yelled, "We have to go!"
His friend turned to him, his usually expressive face blank. Shock. "How can they?"
"Lelouch? What is happening? Brother, you're trembling. Please tell me?"
His eyes scanned his surroundings, running through the necessary supplies they had and calculating the distance to the nearby settlements. "Nunnally, I need you to climb on my back and don't let go."
"Lelouch! You are scaring me!"
"Now!" His sister cowered, but he had no time to feel guilty. More explosions ripped through the heavens as Japan's air force took to the sky. It wouldn't matter. The air strikes were a diversion for the ground troops landing and rushing inland, tearing the countryside apart. This... would be a War of Conquest.
Suzaku finally moved, his wide eyes staring at Lelouch. Lelouch let his left arm drift to his satchel, where the small gun hid. Instead of accusing him, Suzaku said, "We can't go home. Father would... you and Nunnally won't be safe. We could... Please tell me you have a plan?"
Lelouch relaxed. Of course his best friend wouldn't betray him. "Grab the supplies. We will take the river to get to our secret cave."
Complying with his orders, Suzaku quickly collected the supplies. Lelouch took a sip of water before turning back to the forest. They ran. The ground quivered beneath their feet and Lelouch struggled to maintain his footing. Ash drifted through the air. They waded into the river and the clear water drenched their shoes.
Suzaku yelled over the sirens, "Are you sure nobody will find it?"
Who would go looking for them in the middle of the war? Certainly not the Japanese, they had bigger things to worry about. But the Britannians... He and Nunnally would probably be fine, but if they found Suzaku... Lelouch looked at his friend weighed down with liberated equipment from his family home. He was the son of the Prime Minister and, if he was lucky, would be killed. No, he couldn't allow anyone to find them.
"I have some decoy traps I can arm one we get to the cave," he yelled.
Nunnally whimpered and Suzaku almost tripped as he turned to stare at Lelouch. "How much stuff did you steal while I wasn't looking?"
"Borrowed! Besides nobody missed it." Suzaku missed a step and wobbled precariously, nearly plunging himself into the cool water. "And don't get that bag wet. I hid some sakuradite cells in there."
A loud explosion rocketed through the air, coming from the direction of the Kururugi Shrine. Swallowing the bile that rose in his throat, Lelouch ran into the brambles obscuring the cave, not caring that the thorns caught on his clothes and scratched his skin. He dropped Nunnally and fumbled through her craft supplies piled in the corner, searching for the remote. He had to active the traps and lead the Britannian troops astray with the decoy. The explosion meant only one thing: the Britannians were at the Kururugi Shrine
Suzaku sat down next to Nunnally, pulling her into a hug as she sobbed. As the earth rumbled around them, they waited, huddled together.
Coast of Japan, Kagoshima
The city of Kagoshima burned. Reuben Ashford exited his knightmare and stared at the horizon where he could barely make out the local volcano. It had been pitifully easy to storm inland once the invasion force landed in Ibusuki. The Glasgows easily crushed the surprised Japanese troops. Major Cornelia li Britannia expected that the area would soon surrender based on their obvious display of superior strength.
The ashes of Kagoshima drifted through the air and Reuben's hands shook. The conflict had been bloodless like he intended with only one knightmare frame being damaged and the pilot safely ejecting. His knightmare saved countless of lives and would continue to do so, but still, the ashes of the formerly beautiful city floated through the air.
Around him, nobles relaxed as the commoners helped fortify the area. Reuben could see Cornelia walking around camp, observing everything with sharp eyes. She had changed from her time as Lady Marianne's Captain of the Royal Guard. She was colder and more ruthless. Failure was not an option.
She approached him and he saluted her lazily. "Lord Ashford, show proper respect! The scouts spotted a small military force a couple miles out. I want you to take a small platoon and exterminate the threat."
He bowed at the waist. "Yes your highness."
The minute she left, Reuben was bombarded by lower nobles volunteering. They all wanted to be in the good graces of the Earl of Ashford and close friend to the royal family. He picked the starry eyed youths. He may have never fought in a war before, but his father had warned him of the nobles who would betray their lord when it served their best interests. Blind faith was preferable.
He ended up with eight men and two women: Sir Oster, Sir Flechton, Sir Lockheart, Mr. Newberry, Mr. Stockhausen, Lord Polinet, Lord Siebenberg, Lady Lusignan, and Mrs. Lupton.
"We will spread out through the forest on the East end in search for the military force the scouts spotted. As we are unsure if they have reinforcements, I want everyone to travel in pairs, but do not clump together. The knightmare frame does not make you invincible and as I am sure you are all aware, they are not cheap either."
Everyone winced except Lord Siebenberg who scoffed. "What are they going to do? There is no way such stupid rabble can scratch us in these monsters."
Reuben narrowed his eyes. "Lord Siebenberg, considering I designed the Glasgows before I licensed them off to Margrave Oberstein, it is fair to say, I know their weakness. The Glasgows are not impervious to explosives or gas Siebenberg, and I recommend you keep that in mind if you wish to stay alive."
Briefly Siebenberg looked as if he wished to protest, but he thankfully kept his mouth quiet. They entered the forest as the sun cast long shadows on the trees. Reuben turned on the thermal readings of his Factsphere and scanned the area. Sir Oster hung back, following him hesitantly.
"Lord Ashford?"
"Radio silence Sir Oster unless it is important. I don't want the enemy to intercept our transmissions."
"Do you have any advice my lord?"
The boy was nervous and Reuben was reminded of his own pounding heart. He knew every weakness of the Glasgow machine and it wasn't comforting. "If the ejection button jams, there is an emergency release on the right side of your chair."
A small flicker of heat and Reuben signaled for Sir Oster to stay still as he focused the camera. Agonizingly slow, small figures began to step into range. He could identify the clear outline of a gun, they had found the remnants of the military force. His hand drifted to the radio to call Cornelia.
Sir Oster called him first, "Lord Ashford, there are children there."
He couldn't suppress the tremor in his hand as opened the channel to Cornelia. He knew what would happen. This wasn't a War of Honor and he had read the rules. "Major Cornelia, we have found the enemy. They are evacuating civilians."
"Make sure none of them escape." The order was swift and without hesitation.
Despite knowing the answer, he said, "There are children there."
"It doesn't matter."
He closed his eyes and opened the channel to his platoon. "All units converge on my position and ext— exterminate the enemy."
"But the children," protested Sir Oster.
"The Major has given her orders."
Sweat pooled on his brow and he lunged forward, firing his rifle. He could hear the screams outside his cockpit and the soldiers firing helplessly on the knightmare. The refugees scrambled away from his and Sir Oster's onslaught, only to be gunned down by Sir Lockheart. Reuben's hand shook. He would grant them a death quick; it was the least he could do.
A child ran toward Sir Oster, who hesitated in firing and Reuben's eyes widened. "Sir Oster! Pull back!"
He fired his slash harken, but it was too late. The explosion ripped through trees and Reuben watched Sir Oster's knightmare fly backwards. The tree broke through the top hatch and Reuben knew Sir Oster was most likely dead. His own knightmare frame wobbled dangerously from the blast of air. The heat of the blast burned, turning his skin red.
The enemy was annihilated and Sir Oster was dead to a suicide attack. The forest burned around him, more ash rising into the air to join the ash of Kagoshima. In creating the knightmare frame, he had truly become the Earl of Ash.
Lelouch's Secret Cave
Lelouch carefully rationed portions for breakfast. Three days since the invasion had begun and in that time, they hadn't felt the warm caress of the sun. The shaking had finally ceased and Lelouch hoped the Britannian army had finally stopped pillaging the countryside. It was a foolish hope. Furthermore, he hadn't been able to store enough rations to sustain the three of them for a long period of time. Not that it mattered because someone would soon realize that the traps he had placed were a decoy. Then they would scour the forest and find their heat signatures... and Suzaku would be dead.
Next to him, Suzaku slowly began to cook the oatmeal. "You planned for this didn't you, Lelouch?"
"Yes."
"Why didn't you warn us? You could have stopped this."
A dark chuckle escaped him. "Suzaku, everyone knew the invasion was coming. It was foolish for me to hope otherwise. I think we should leave today. Head to Tokyo. The city is probably still standing, it is too important to bomb to oblivion."
Small bubbles burst in the oatmeal as Suzaku watched it. "They bombed the nearby village. Those were just civilians. How can Britannia do that?"
"Because Britannia has the power to do so." It was a simple fact. If you had the power to do something, then you could. Only someone stronger could stop you.
"But why? All those people, just dead..."
Lelouch glanced at his sister, watching her chest rise slowly. She was sound asleep. "Britannia's opening strike needs to be as devastating as possible to show our strength. The Japanese are not Britannian, it does not matter if they die, and the costlier the war is to the civilians, the more likely it is for the country to surrender. It doesn't matter if there are no Japanese left, Britannia needs the land to keep the loyalty of the Nobles. If the Japanese surrender, then they may survive because they will be useful as cheap labor. One way or another, Britannia will win."
Surprisingly, Suzaku didn't grow angry at his words. Instead, he began to pack the bags. "Let's move out after breakfast. We will want daylight."
They left an hour and a half later. Nunnally clung to his hand as they slowly walked through the forest to the stream. The stream went west of Tokyo, feeding into a small lake. They would have to slip by the small towns. Hopefully, the soldiers had moved on, otherwise the excursion would be short.
The water gurgled quietly and the distant sound of artillery fire faded. They could almost pretend that this was a normal adventure and when the sun set, they could return home. Lelouch squeezed Nunnally's hand as she stumbled slightly. When had he started to think of the Kururugi Shrine as home? It didn't matter now.
They stopped briefly for a rest at noon, eating a small snack. Nunnally let go of his hand and eagerly splashed in the water. It was gratifying seeing a smile on her face. She deserved to be happy.
"Lulu? Why did we leave?" She didn't face him, but he knew she was waiting for his reply. The faint smell of smoke reminded Lelouch of their reality.
"Britannia invaded Japan Nunnally, we had to leave for our own safety."
She gasped and sank to her knees, not minding the stream drenching her clothes.
Lelouch frowned. It wouldn't do for her to be soaked. "Nunnally, please get out of the water. I don't want you to get sick."
"No!" She stood up and her hands curled into fists. Tears streamed down her face. "I want to go back home! I don't want to go any further. This isn't fair."
Life wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that their father didn't care and jeopardized their safety for his invasion of Japan.
"This is all a misunderstanding. Mommy can fix this. Then we can all be friends again."
It was Suzaku who stepped forward and pulled Nunnally into a hug, carrying her out of the stream. "Everything will be alright."
She sobbed harder, clutching Suzaku's shirt and Lelouch watched his friend calm her down. He should be by her side, hugging her and assuring her. Instead, he grabbed Suzaku's pack and began to clean up their trash, removing any evidence of their presence. His mother hadn't saved them. How was he supposed to tell his sister that their own mother had abandoned them?
Suzaku carried his sobbing sister. Lelouch checked his map. Sagamihara was a couple hours away. They could find shelter there. Silence surrounded them as the sun climbed higher and beat down upon them. The wind shifted and a rancid odor enveloped them.
"What is that smell?" Suzaku broke the silence.
Lelouch glanced at his sister and used some water to wet a small towel and cover Nunnally's mouth and nose. "I don't know."
The tree cleared and they stared at the sky. Smoke curled upwards and in the distance planes flew eastwards. But standing on the hill, Lelouch and Suzaku looked down at what was once a busy urban area. The area was forcibly flattened, only small hills breaking the monotony.
Suzaku held his nose as the wind blew towards them again. "What do you think those are?"
Lelouch frowned as he stared down. It didn't seem to be military in nature. What had happened here? Truthfully, he said, "I don't know"
The Kururugi Shrine
Marianne gripped her sword tightly as the Lieutenant entered the room... without her children. She didn't wait for him to salute and snarled, "Report."
"We lost another knightmare to the sakuradite traps on the West end. We have found no signs of the royal children your highness."
She frowned and drummed her fingers against the Prime Minister's desk. It was unfortunate that the majority of the household had been out when they attacked. Her children should have been inside the boundaries of the shrine, but apparently the unspeakables had been remiss in their guard duty. If the Japanese had her children or killed them, surely they would have announced it by now?
They had to be alive. Lelouch would never allow anything to happen to Nunnally. Suddenly realizing her stupidity, she pinched her nose. Lelouch would do anything to protect his sister, even if that meant fleeing the safety of the Kururugi Shrine. He should have trusted the guards, but the assassination attempt must have jaded him more than she and Charles had expected.
"It is a decoy. Search the surrounding area and avoid the traps. I don't want to lose anymore knightmares. Also bring me the Prime Minister's wife."
He bowed deeply. "Yes your highness."
Marianne grabbed her sword and laid it down on the table. It was a shame that the unspeakables had been picked for their dedication to Charles instead of their competency. Lelouch and Nunnally would already be with her and safe, had they been competent, but that wasn't the pressing issue at the moment: the wife had lied.
The door opened and Prime Minister's wife, her hands bound behind her back, was thrown down to the ground. She tried to look up and the soldier slammed her back down to the ground, before kneeling down respectfully. "I have brought the prisoner your highness."
She smiled coldly at the woman. "I was going to treat you well considering you hosted my children for the past year and a half... but then you lied to me. So let us try this again, where are they?"
"I don't know," she hissed out, her eyes glaring through her loose, unkempt hair. Utterly pathetic.
Marianne pushed her wheelchair back and carefully maneuvered it in front of the woman. She grabbed her sword and rested the tip in front of her face. "You will tell me everything you know... or I will begin by carving up your face... and when I find your son, I will kill him slowly. Do you understand... Noriko?"
The woman shuddered and her eyes fixated on the sword. "Lelouch —"
"That is Prince Lelouch to you."
Her breath shuddered. "Prince Lelouch would sneak out often to play in the forest."
Play... Apparently setting up an escape plan and planting explosives. "And where did he go?"
"To the East end... but I suspected they would go to the river."
"Very well." She turned to the soldier, "Tell the Lieutenant that he should search near the river."
He saluted and left to carry out her orders, leaving Marianne with the weak and pathetic woman. Her son apparently didn't go the river alone. Was it just Nunnally or had he made some friends with the Japanese?
The woman craned her neck, to stare into her eyes. "Please my son... Don't hurt him."
The Prime Minister's son. That was... unfortunate. The boy might have tried to kill her children or worse... they had become friends. Her son would be much harder to find if he was actively avoiding Britannian troops. Marianne shook her head and rolled out of the room, leaving the weak woman behind her.
The Lieutenant rushed forward and snapped to attention before her. "We have found some smaller traps in the area by the river. They may be in the area your highness."
Looking up, Marianne could see the sun slowly beginning to descend, dyeing the smoky skies in blood. "Have the troops use heat vision. And send some down the river. If they are in the area, they will need to have a heat source. But, it is more likely they already used the river to flee."
The river was a ridiculously obvious escape path in hindsight. Lelouch was smart... so he had to have known that the Japanese and Britannian troops would eventually come to the same conclusion. Therefore he must have intended to leave the river at some point. But where to? In a country in the midst of an invasion, where would Lelouch consider it safe?
"I'm ordering a platoon from Tokyo to travel towards the river."
"Your highness, that would be Sagamihira. The entire region was flattened yesterday."
Marianne smiled slightly. A city would have been tedious to search. "That is fortunate for us. It should be much easier to find a couple living children when they are surrounded by nothing but the dead."
Sagamihira (30km from Tokyo)
Suzaku covered his mouth as they descended into what was once Sagamihira. The hills were the dead and his stomach hurt as he constantly felt the urge to throw up. There was nothing in his stomach now. Lelouch wobbled in front of him and Nunnally stepped closer to her brother, letting him lean on her. She was lucky to be blind although the smell was inescapable.
Suzaku glanced at the setting sun and shivered. Blood. Britannia had painted the sky in blood. The mountain of bodies loomed beside him and he could hear the spirits crying out in despair. His people... dead with only the flies to tend to their bodies. How many more people would die before this war was over? Was it even a war when there was no honor among the enemy?
Lelouch suddenly stopped and staggered to the pile of bodies. He pillaged a cloak from the corpse of a small child. He handed it to Nunnally and her shivering hands accepted. "We need to rest."
"Here?" Suzaku's voice cracked. "We can't sleep among the dead."
Lelouch opened his mouth and the distant burst of gunfire closed it for him. Suzaku felt his heart beat faster as they fell quiet, listening to the distant voices shouting in Japanese. Were they military? Was Suzaku finally saved? He stared at his friend who had pulled Nunnally behind him. They couldn't be found. There would be no mercy for Britannian children, not when the Empire had killed them without honor.
The voices drew closer and Suzaku pulled off his sweater and thrust it at Lelouch. "You look like a Brit. I'll distract them."
Lelouch silently took off his pack and pulled out a short sword, a wakizashi. "Take it. Just in case."
"You really need to stop stealing my father's stuff Lelouch." How had he even gotten into his father's office to grab it?
"I don't think he will mind if it saves your life. Besides the swords in the dojo were blunt and too long." Lelouch crossed his arms.
Nunnally giggled slightly. "Bad Lulu. Mommy will be very disappointed in you."
Suzaku accepted the sword. At least Lelouch admitted it was stealing this time. "It is the principle of the matter. I'll be fine. They are Japanese."
Walking towards the noise, Suzaku kept an eye out on Lelouch who was slowly trailing behind him, sticking close to the mounds of bodies. The Japanese men, carrying heavy machine guns, emerged and Suzaku froze. The guns focused on him, and three little red dots danced on his chest.
In Japanese, the young blue haired one shouted, "Hey Boss. We got some kids here. Think they got any useful stuff?"
Suzaku froze as the blue haired teen approached him, the gun still pointing at him. Two more people watched from the distance. "We don't want any trouble."
"Comply," the teen smiled, "then we won't have a problem. I see you got some supplies there with your siblings. Why, I'll even be generous. You kids can join up with us and we'll keep you safe from the scary Britannians."
Lelouch, apparently having heard the suggestion, shouted out in Japanese, "Big brother! I don't like them."
Why couldn't Lelouch act this respectful at home? And his Japanese was better than Suzaku's English. Stupid genius. "I think we'll be fine on our own."
"Either join us, or we'll take those supplies off of you by force," shouted an older voice from the back. The man had a nasty scar running down the side of his face and part of his ear was missing. "I suggest you take the easy route."
Suzaku didn't say anything, letting them slowly approach. Lelouch brushed his left sleeve and Suzaku resisted the urge to smile: two hundred ridiculous codes that he had been forced to memorize flashed through his mind. And to think he had thought them useless. He tightened his grip on the sword.
The blue haired teen stopped before him and smiled. "Now. What is it going to be?"
The scarred man was just out of reach, but a lunge could easily cover the distance. Unfortunately, there was still a gun covering him. He had to trust in Lelouch.
The man narrowed his eyes as he observed Suzaku's trembling hands on the sword. "Don't do anything foolish boy."
Too late. The gun shot rang through the air and Suzaku moved forward, letting the sword's weight pull him forward and sink into the skin of his countryman. The blue haired youth froze, his eyes staring at him accusingly. The older man reeled back in surprise, but Suzaku let go of the sword and brought up his knee with a speed he didn't know he possessed. It smacked into the man's jaw, letting out a loud crunch, and Suzaku fell to the ground, his body already spinning as it remembered the countless hours he spent perfecting the wheel-kick for Tohdoh-Sensei. His heel slammed into the man's temple and he fell like a bag of rice.
Over.
Everything was silent except for the buzzing of the flies.
His legs shook as he stumbled over to the body of the blue haired youth. His hand grasped the sword and he pulled it free. He had killed one of his own people. The blue hair shifted in the wind. Had he dyed his hair or was it natural? What was his name? He turned away, feeling empty.
"Let's go Lelouch."
They stumbled away, Suzaku mindlessly setting one foot in front of the other. What had he done? How was it right for him to kill? He had killed his own kind... to protect Lelouch and Nunnally. Was it right to kill in defense? Nunnally grabbed his hand and Suzaku knew he would do it again to protect her. He would protect people.
Something rumbled in the distant and Lelouch suddenly stopped. "Suzaku! Hide!"
"What?" He looked around, only seeing piles of dead bodies and a small cloud of dust rising in the distant. "Why?"
Lelouch pulled him down, his grip unusually firm. "Those are knightmares... Britannian troops. We can't outrun them."
"I'm not leaving." He wasn't going to abandon his friend.
Lelouch shoved him into the pile of bodies. "Hide Suzaku. We'll be fine, but don't you dare die. Nunnally needs you. I need you. You need to live. Hide under the bodies... it will obscure your heat signature. Please Suzaku... I can't lose my only friend."
Worldbuilding Thoughts:
-Marianne's Ganymede was connected to an external power supply.
-The entire story of Code Geass just seems to happen around Tokyo. The fact that the army hid out in Narita is peculiar as the invasion force would target Tokyo and Narita is apparently East of Tokyo... aka the area already invaded. An entire army somehow managed to sneak past the enemy's front line.
-In canon, noble titles and military ranks make completely no sense. In fact, noble titles and ranks don't seem to make sense in the majority of fictional works. But the point is, Loyd is called an Earl. The title Earl can only refer to the head of the family or a Margrave's eldest son. So either Loyd is in charge of an entire estate or he totally downplayed to Suzaku that he would be a Margrave when his father died.
Author's Note:
Still looking for a beta.