《ーーA/Nーー》
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE! Yay〜
Well I have lot more to say other than Merry Christmas but that can want till end of the story. Then here's your story (full of errors).
Disclaimer: Code Geass isn't mine, yet.
18th Dec; 15:27
The soft jazz music that played in the background; the sound of rain hitting against the pavement; the cars speeding away on the road, against the rain, and finally the muffled chatter of various people inside the café. All this added up to form the cozy atmosphere of the café Ciel was in. This would have created a very enjoyable scene, one she would most definitely have had enjoyed, but it didn't.
Why? Because today was the day of her long awaited tour.
It had been but a day since Ciel, and her accompanying guardians, had set foot upon Japan. The exhaustion of flight weighed their minds and body and hence Ciel's plan to go on tour immediately were set aback.
"…ok." Ciel had finally consented after quite some convincing. Had they, her guardians, been inept, they would have had to travel from where to wherenot without having had a single break. Thankfully that wasn't the case now anymore.
"Where are we staying anyways?" Ciel inquired, fitting herself comfortably in back seat of the cab.
"I had said it before but we are staying at one of our relatives' house." Jeremiah lied. "Since they are quite wealthy, they let us lodge in one of their houses."
Jeremiah felt a tinge of guilt seeing Ciel's eyes light up in expectance. He had lied. But what could he do, right? He cannot divulge the information that it is just one of many manors Lelouch had left behind. He had to lie, in order to follow Lelouch's will... yes... his will.
'Only one you fool is yourself, Jeremiah.'
Jeremiah reprimanded himself. How dare he mask his own incompetence under the shroud of his master's will! Had he been truly able, then such pathetic lie, especially to his master's daughter, should have been unnecessary.
"Right turn from here, was it ey?" The cab driver called out to the group which a "Yes" was returned. Jeremiah put away his previous thoughts and turned to view the scenery that he hadn't seen in 10 years.
"Tokyo has changed." His whisper could only reach Sayoko's ears sitting behind him but she didn't say anything and mentally agreed.
The cab moved with a steady unhurried pace, navigating the sea of vehicles of all sizes to make its way to the destination. The sun that was still bright when the group had landed upon New Tokyo airport had turned to an orangish hue, showering the light of like color upon the stone paved path to their manor.
Making their way up the path running between well maintained lawns on both sides, Ciel exclaimed at the marvel of the manor, which in truth was just a decent sized Brittanian manor that would normally belong to a middle class noble.
"Is Mr. Aurbus home?" Ciel asked in innocence as Jeremiah called on the door bell. Aurbus was the name Jeremiah had given to their fictional relative. Of course, like good cheese to wine, he too had a story to go along with it
"He informed me he was overseas currently for work" He paused. "But we were welcome to stay here." A satisfied nod later the door opened revealing a man, perhaps in his 40s, dressed in the attire that of a butler. The butler eyed them before moving away from the path to reveal a way in. And thus the group entered their new residence.
Who was the butler you ask? Well, he was one of many people at Imperial Palace Lelouch had geassed but one of the few that either didn't die in war or got evaporated from the F.L.E.I.J.A. In other words, he was a robot in human flesh serving Lelouch.
Or so Jeremiah had believed.
"I hate rain…" Ciel back in the café muttered softly, digging into her omurice, taking out and eating a big chunk of it.
"Didn't you like rain?" Anya, who was sitting opposite of Ciel sipping on her coffee, replied with a bored look.
"I do..." Ciel started. She did like rainy days a lot but "but just not today..." Ciel answered in a sigh. She had been watching this rain for what must be half an hour now. And it didn't seem like it will stop, ever.
Earlier this morning when they had left, the weather was so blindingly sunny that one wouldn't even think of any possibility of rain but here it is. Raining down her plans, literally. At such preposterousness, she was even considering all the lunch table conspiracy theories one of her friends at school used to spew. What was it again?
'Climate Manipulation something…'
While she may not remember the name of whatever conspiracy theory that was, atleast she had the delicious of omurice to accompany her thoughts.
"Like it?" Anya asked noticing the blissful face Ciel made. "This omurice better than one at Beri's, isn't it?"
"Ye-yes!" This was nothing like Beri's!
When Ciel had heard about the new restaurant opening in her town from one of her friends, she hadn't expected much about it until her friends took her to that place. The food there wasn't actually bad. In fact, she can thinks it is better than most other mediocre restaurants around here. Excluding Misel Star of course, that one's truly good; only if they were more considerate with their pricing.
But that not-bad type of food was not enough for Ciel to take detour from her usual commute. Then what was it that caught her attention? It was the menu which she so stupidly hadn't checked before ordering the same as her friends. Indeed, had she known they served omurice (yes, the real one, not just rice and omelette), she would have ordered it.
Which she did on her second visit to Beri's with Anya.
"Not bad."
Then Ciel hadn't understood why Anya would give a mere rating of "not bad" to omurice that, to her eyes, looked like something right out of the anime she watches. Yes, she hadn't known the standard Anya was comparing then.
"That was soo good〜" Ciel commented picking up and eating any last pieces of omurice on plate. Her plans may have been destroyed by rain but atleast she got some great food to compensate for that.
Looking out the stained glass pane of her right, Ciel watched the rain fall. The rain had yet to lift but it has grown lighter from last time she noticed. She remembers that when she entered that café and the moments following that, rain had poured in buckets at a time. Now however, the rain seemed more like a gentle shower washing away the dusty outside.
Faint steps sounded amongst the soft noise as a maid approached Anya and said something incomprehensible in Japanese. Ciel could only pick up a few words here and there but if few words here and there were enough to understand and a language, it would have been herself, not Anya conversing with the maid now.
"Do you want to order something else?" Anya asked, looking away from the maid.
She had to decline. Ciel had a urge order another omurice but she felt the angry gaze of Sayoko over her shoulder. She knows she is just imagining things but that reality won't be farther as phone from Anya if Sayoko gets a word of this. Her mother too wouldn't have liked her eating too much but she wasn't really in position to say that while eating a pepperoni pizza every other day.
In fact, because of her mother's obsession over pizza, their room now smelled like pizza. C.C. would say "it helps in falling asleep" but how in the devil's name does one fall asleep while being constantly reminded of food?!
Well... her mother is special; that she had realised long time ago anyways.
Though because of her smelly (of cheese) room, she can somehow find her way back to the room even in dark, solely using her nose.
"It looks like rain has stopped." Anya noted."Should we begin our tour then?"
"Yes!" Without hesitation, smiling wide, Ciel answered.
18 Dec; 16:30
"So pretty…" Ciel exclaimed at the painting before her.
Ciel had come to Clovis Art Museum here in New Tokyo's Minato prefecture, only 20 minutes away from where they were previously. The old museum that dates back to times long before Zero's debutante had been recently renovated and it's old architecture preserved. This, along with old Brittanian government office, is one of the last remaining structures that hadn't been either destroyed during or before the war or hadn't been deconstructed after it.
After Prime Minister Ohgi was elected as the first prime minister of Japan after decades of Brittanian rule, the country had faced a temporary recession because of devastation of infrastructure and over-exploitation of resources by Britannian Viceroys preceding Demon Emperor. It took 5 years to get the country at stable position, much less progress.
But while lacking in charisma and perhaps competence too, Prime Minister Ohgi had used his connections and fine diplomacy to bring in some amount or prosperity to the country or else he wouldn't have been elected with popular vote for two terms straight. Many say that this will be his last term in the office but that only time could tell.
Ciel looked up at large painting that was several metres taller than her. The painting depicted a regal figure of Zero presenting the crown to 100th and current Empress, Her Highness Nunally vi Brittania. She remembers reading about this in her history books: about Zero awarding the crown to the Empress and how it signified Zero, hence the Black Knights and UFN's acceptance of Nunally. But to read about it and to see it is a very different experience.
When this actually happened and was aired on TVs and other media portals around the world, she wasn't even born. All she had seen were some old footage and yet, despite having seen real footage of the event, this painting gave off a feeling of grandeur and elegance unlike that in a mere footage.
"I didn't know you had interest in paintings." Anya's voice sounded from behind Ciel.
"I just heard some interesting things" Ciel replied, strodding along the hall way stopping at every second or third picture.
Turning away from from the paintings, Anya looked towards the open courtyard to her left. The many flowers—red, yellow, white—glistened under the sun, wishing to dry themselves after the heavy shower. Despite it being nearly Christmas, it's a wonder how these flowers are able to remain so beautiful… so fresh.
"Pretty flowers, aren't… they?" Anya asked, turning around to only lose both her voice and her body heat. Ciel had vanished!
"Where... Where are you... Ciel " Anya mumbled in-between her pants as she navigated the many unknown halls of museum—both traversable and not. She may have passed few worried looking people but she doesn't have time for that, she has to locate Ciel!
"I... I can't let why harm upon her…"
After a few more surprised people, a staircase and two turns, she finally caught the sight of Ciel—but with someone else.
Without a second thought, she rushed to the apparent 'kidnapper'.
Unlike a certain exercise-nut with ridiculous acrobatic skills, she wasn't strong without her KnightMare. Perhaps if she had her rapier, situation would have been different but now the fact remains that she was in dire lack of strength. So she resorted to combat she has learned long ago from Bismarck, when he lived.
The 'kidnapper', or the man in black grey uniform that looked strangely familiar, reached out his hand to grab Anya by shoulder but unfortunately he wasn't prepared to deal with a former Knight of the Round
"What the-?!" The man cried out as his hand effort to apprehend Anya was turned around and used to knock him out of balance, crashing down on the floor with a loud thud. Looking up, Anya commanded to kidnapper's accomplices but…
"Release Ciel n... ow?" Anya lost her voice, a wave of emotions hit her, threatening to knock her out, and a sense of dread filled her, making her stomach turn. She had thought that today could not get any worser with unexpected rain and Ciel's disappearance but...
"Anya-san?" A soft yet authoratian voice sounded. "Anya Alstreim, it is you, isn't it?" said the 100th Empress of Brittania, Nunally vi Brittania as she approached Anya on her wheelchair with Ciel by her side.
14th Dec; 14:10
Under the heating sun, in a certain country, two person rode in back of a relic of a pickup truck. Indeed, the truck creaked and squeaked at every little bump, of which there are many, on the road as if it would all break apart at any second. But what is peculiar about this scene isn't the dire state of the vehicle but the two figures that, much to one's dismay, are riding on the back of it.
"I told you it was a bad idea." Lelouch complained as he hit some random part of his body against the truck for what must be the 13th time now.
"Immortals don't die from this." C.C. stated as a m as matter of fact. In truth, she had been enjoying watching Lelouch getting hit all over everywhere. This is his punishment for not letting her buy that camel.
"That's not the point!" Lelouch growled back. "Immortality doesn't heal pain. And if this were to continue, I will be cripple before we even reach Brittania!"
Lelouch swore that if he had his Shinkiro now, he would have blasted this damned stinky truck to Jupiter now.
"I don't see how that's a problem." C.C. smirked.
"Hey kids, we're close to the border ya know. Ya got yer passport and stuff ey?" A small glass door from behind the drivers compartment opened to reveal a man with rugged face.
"Yes we do. Both the passport and payment." Lelouch, almost instinctively, pulled up his keffiyeh before answering. The keffiyeh and baggy clothes Lelouch wore not only helped to insulate his body from murderous heat outside but worked as an excellent disguise.
"Why didn't you Geass him?" C.C. asked out what had been on her mind.
"This world doesn't need Geass anymore." Lelouch answered, his eyes drifting across the stretch of desert towards the horizon where tiny silhouettes of cars travelling some road were visible. "If it does..." He paused. "…then I have failed."
C.C. threaded her fingers into his."You didn't." She consoled.
Another 30 minutes under the heated sun and then they can finally see checkpost ahead, heavily guarded with soldiers carrying primitive guns. The lack of a KnightMares amongst their ranks stood to show how depleted the country must be after UFN seized control of military. Now what force the quasi-independent nation has left is only the few common soldiers in the state's reserves.
"Halt!" The soldier ordered, approaching the driver. The soldier wore khaki dress that served as a camoflouge in these terrain and a sunhat of the same color. Approaching the driver's seat, he briefly checked the passport before returning it to the owner.
"Your passport." The soldier demanded.
Lelouch, with his usual cool, handed over a blank passport to the soldier as if the soldier didn't just have a gun on him.
"This is-" Before the soldier could raise any alarm, his minded was invaded and a foreign will embedded— Lelouch had cast his Geass.
"Correct, isn't it?" Lelouch pretended inquire. "Y, Yes. You may go ahead." Soldier walked away returning the blank passport.
"What was that about not using Geass just now" Lelouch smiled uneasily before answering. "This was a Exception."
Shortly after passing the checkpoint, the port came into view. There, on the old dock filled with people and soldiers alike, was their ship back home.
"Soldiers here too..." Lelouch examined his surroundings. There were at least one soldier here for every 6 people or so. "Atleast these aren't checking everyone, unlike at airports"
Excluding the fact that the temple where had Lelouch resurrected was simply closer to border to South Zilkhstan, the reason why Lelouch had decided against the idea to travel by air was because he sensed something unusual about the guards in North Zilkhstan airports.
Not only was the presence large number of UFN troops on the airport, even for a country under occupation, alarming. The fact that they looked more like looking for someone rather than guarding it was enough to tell him that it won't do any good for them to travel by air, even more so when one of them is none other than the the infamous Demon Emperor.
"That's why we came to the ports, isn't it?" C.C. commented, shocking Lelouch who thought she had just read his mind. "To escape without being noticed."
"But that doesn't answer what happened." Lelouch said more to himself than C.C.. "Something must have happened that-"
"Lelouch." C.C. interjected, pivoting on her heel to face Lelouch. "You don't need to involve yourself in world's affairs anymore" C.C. said with a stern gaze. "Wasn't Zero Requiem there to put people on the correct path to happiness? To show them the way so they may walk it?"
"Yes..." Lelouch answered reassessing his own beliefs.
"Then let them walk on the path you showed." C.C. said, her golden eyes bored into Lelouch's deep Amethyst. "And let yourself rest."
A small yet gentle smile carved across her features as she said this. It's almost comical to her how Lelouch would call Suzaku an exercise nut but he isn't much different either in that sense that he doesn't know when to rest. But that's why she is here, isn't it? And she shall always be, to remind this idiot to enjoy life she couldn't.
"Let's enjoy our new lives, Lelouch." She said in finality.
Lelouch was left speechless. What should he say now? What could he say now? How should he refute her? He didn't know. He's not sure he wants to know either. Perhaps… maybe… he could just...
"Enjoy…" Lelouch muttered.
Is it ok? Can he? Can he enjoy life after what he had done so far? He doubts. He doubts the worst tyrant of history could just let go of his sins with such ease, else it would be great disservice to all that had died by his hands, or in his name. He doubts but… but he can't betray that smile.
Truly, if anyone is capable of shaking him to this extent, to leave his heart bare and this vulnerable, that he himself isn't sure what he feels anymore, it's this woman here. And this time he knows why. It's because he loves-
"Aha!" A joyful voice sounded from behind the pair. C.C. had already pulled her hidden pistol and was ready to shoot whoever it was and disappear into crowd. It maybe hard in this broad daylight but it wasn't impossible, especially with Lelouch's genius. She would have shot, if she had not recognised the owner of the voice immediately.
"It was Lady C.C. afterall!" Lloyd exclaimed with his signature Chesire grin.
"Anya Alstreim, it is you isn't it?" Nunally repeated, her gentle face was now ladden with mixture of happiness and confusion.
"I… kuh-" Before Anya could answer, if she could answer, two more men in gray suits, which now Anya recognised as Royal Guardsmen, detained her and pinned her down.
"Anya-nee!" Ciel who was standing idly beside Nunally cried out. "Release her!" She ordered the guards in futility. That is until Nunally validated her orders.
"Release her." The Royal Guardsmen, confused, let Anya loose but maintained a circle around her.
"The Knight of Six, Lady Anya Alstreim." Having her title pronounced, Anya proceeded to kneel before Nunally. "You have been missing for 10 whole years ever since the Battle of Mt Fuji and now you appear here in Tokyo with this kid. Who is this kid, care to explain?" Nunally asked in authoratian tone.
She wondered if she had been too demanding here to Anya or if she sounded angry here but that can't be helped for she is slightly.
"Gino, The Knight of Two, had been searching all over for you, do you realize? We were quite ready to declare you dead if he hadn't insisted to extend the search. And now you appear here, never having contacted anyone and much more with a mysterious kid?"
"I... " Anya was petrified in her spot. Her head felt heavy, he knees ached, her whole body felt weak as cold invaded her from every gap possible.
On one hand she was anxious to death on having been discovered and with Ciel. She doesn't know what to answer to get out this situation, if that's even possible.
On other hand, she is quite honestly shocked about the revelation regarding Gino. She hadn't thought that guy would go so far for her. Sure he had treated her as a friend during her time as a knight but... to search for her... all this time. She didn't even think of such a possibility. Her heart gets heavy to even think about the trouble she has caused to Gino and all people that looked for her. But she too had a duty to uphold. She is torn between her feelings and her duty now.
Anya looked up to meet Ciel's eyes. Those eyes. She knows what Ciel feels now. Anyone would. Those eyes that look like they are about to burst into stream of tears, the face that is about to wail. Ciel is scared, confused and anxious. All because of her. Had she properly looked after her, had she kept a proper eye on her, this wouldn't have happened. She... Anya Alstreim… has failed.
"Anya Alstreim, who is this child over here." Nunally asked again.
Anya could feel her heart thumping audibly without even concentrating. Perhaps that's what people meant when using metaphors.
"Your Majesty, I cannot answer." Anya replied. A few growls and scowls sounded around her from Guardsman but she didn't mind them, keeping her gaze at Nunally only.
"You can't?"
"I cannot, Your Majesty."
"You can't or you won't?" Anya hesitated, noticing the meaning behind Nunally's words. She paused before answering:
"I would not."
Nunally could sense the lie in Anya's words. She, having served in various diplomatic discussions over 10 years now, is quite good at catching lies, added her extraordinary hearing she obtained from her time as blind.
And thus, she knew Anya lied.
"Anya Alstreim, I am sure there await many that may wish to see you in the palace." Nunally said. "And Ciel-chan should also join, we have transport ready."
Anya had expected this to happen. She... truly… truly… is a utter failure.
《ーーA/Nーー》
Ha... ha... ha...
I didn't say any time but i didn't mean to post it after 3, or maybe 4 months later...
REALLY SORRY! I had it written but I procastinated thinking "oh I just have to edit it." or "It will just take a day." and such thoughts. But in my laziness, my exams dawned near and I got busy with other various stuff irl. As such, I couldn't even find the time which I may have used productively. While I had it, I procastinated and then I got busy... I set myself the final deadline of before Christmas and depending on where you live, I have failed that too. I am truly sorry!
On top of that, I was reading other fanfics while saying to myself: "It's to learn from them." or "I am just absorbing vocabulary." and such. At the end, after months of ripening, the original draft was too detached from me so I wrote it anew. Perhaps this is better, or maybe not, but whatever it is, you just read it.
Also, I DIDN'T KNOW I COULD REPLY TO REVIEWS! Because I always use mobile version to read and write, I hadn't noticed... or didn't have access to it until I checked desktop version.
Everyone who had been following, favouriting and leaving reviews on my story, I thank you all very very very much. You are the fuel that burned bright. Everytime I opened my home screen, and the email widget showed a update on my story, it reminded me of my duty as an author. Truly, I thank all of you.
And I added timestamps to parts of story because they don't always happen at the same time. I will update other stories too.
I have more things to say but I don't want to extend this section any longer so have a good day/night. Hope you enjoyed my story. I shall post irregularly but I won't give up on this story, like many other CG fanfics out there. And finally, Merry Christmas to you all
PS: I need a Grammar Nazi Editor
PS:PS: Join my discord server at "... /u49M9FKqhV", I am more active there.