Author's Note: Hello, readers. I hope the last chapter wasn't too long for you guys. 13,000 words can be quite a handful. Anyway, we finally have Shirley's parents meeting Lelouch in this chapter. Hooray...? Other than that we still have a couple of really core moments... one of which has something to do with the amnesiac Rolo and his master, Schneizel.
I'll be taking some time to reply to some guest reviews here. And plus it'll be good to clarify some things.
f. s: Thanks for the compliment! Happy to hear that you thought the fight was done well. On whether Lelouch and Schneizel will eventually engage in a battle, I can't promise that as of now, sadly. An opera's an interesting idea. Hmm. I suppose they have to get the entire symphonic orchestra to visit the villa though. Since they can't venture outside... I'll consider it.
king: Thank you for your compliments. And about Suzaku x Euphemia... don't worry, I'm not going to go that direction. At most it's just little bits of set-up and interactions between them so that they can become friends... the chance of them being a couple by the end of this story is near zero. They're mainly in the story because they have a part to play in the last moments. Just wanted to reintroduce them at this point of time in case anyone has forgotten about them. Big battles... nah, there wouldn't be any more large-scale battling, as least for quite some time. I'm going to focus on the dramatic bits for now.
Disclaimer: I don't own Code Geass. I'd be shocked if I did.
Chapter 16
Strife and Remembrance
Schneizel scrutinized the screen of his computer, calculating the losses he had incurred when Ricardo went rogue. While his expression was impassive as always, which was mastered through his years of dealing with politics, he was feeling exasperated. "Fully thirty percent of our Knightmare forces were lost. None of them were able to inflict any damage on the villa," the blonde prince exhaled heavily. If Grand Duke Ricardo was still alive, Schneizel doubted that he could resist the urge to strangle him in sheer anger and frustration at the noble's foolishness. "At least none of them were captured alive. So there's no chance of them blabbing to Lelouch."
"With all due respect, sir, perhaps you should not have left them after Valac Palace's siege, no matter how briefly," Kanon replied. Earl Kanon Maldini was his confidante and trusted second in command. He was completely loyal to the second prince of Britannia. Both of them were once again in the Sword of Akasha's base, the older male seated in front of his electronic device while the other stood next to him.
"I shouldn't have, but I was heading towards their command center to wipe out all surveillance footage," Schneizel said defensively. "Maybe I should have sent someone else. However, there's no point in having any regrets now." He shifted in his seat to regard Kanon. "Any news from Agent Haliburton? We need to know whether the key is in the villa or not as soon as possible before we decide on our next course of action."
"Rolo hasn't sent us any reports since his mission commenced five weeks ago," the noble informed his liege. "That's strange of him. Normally he would tell us something once every two weeks at most."
"It's his first time on such a long term mission. He might be occupied with something…" Schneizel mused. Nonetheless, it was fairly unsettling to the royal. Kanon was right - it was unusual of Rolo to be silent for an extended period of time. It had already been three weeks since his first report, in which he stated that he had been accepted as a servant into the Aries Villa. "Well, there's no harm trying to contact him anyway. We need to hear something from him by now."
"Wouldn't it be risky, Your Highness? What if someone overhears our conversation?"
"Don't worry, Kanon. I know what methods to employ in such a situation."
"If you say so, Your Highness," Kanon nodded. "Just a question of curiosity, what is our plan if the key isn't in the villa?"
"Then there's no reason for the Sword of Akasha to hold back against them," Schneizel sighed. He thought of his chess matches with Lelouch many years ago. While he had never lost against the eleventh prince, every game was a close one and he was impressed with his much younger brother's skills. "Since a decade ago, I had a hunch that Lelouch might become a threat and a formidable opponent, even if we deploy the Damocles. Ricardo might be an overly pompous idiot, he should have been able to inflict some damage on the villa. Instead, Lelouch managed to keep him out entirely through strategical planning, which only reinforces my impression of him. Therefore, if the key isn't there... Rolo will kill them both."
Lelouch hated Volleyball. He detested sports in general, as he viewed most of them as dull, uninteresting and not intellectually challenging. Coupled with his poor physical aptitude, the prince found it easy to develop an abhorrence for sports. Unfortunately for him, he was more or less obliged to participate in a game of beach volleyball.
A few hours after Ricardo's failed assault, Euphemia arrived at the Aries Villa, all but frantically looking for Lelouch. The pink-haired princess looked as though the weight of the world was lifted off her shoulders when she spotted her half-brother unharmed. After a somewhat emotional reunion, a teary-eyed Euphemia expressed her desire to stay at the Aries Villa for a couple of days, perhaps trying to experience the old, happy days she spent in the villa as part of her childhood.
Lelouch considered dissuading Euphemia from such, but the eleventh prince recognized the look in her eyes. In the light of the Sword of Akasha's recent attacks, she was fearful that on the next day when she woke up, she would not be able to see him anymore. Frightened that she would not be able to spend enough time with her beloved half-brother. Terrified that every day might be his last. Furthermore, Shirley persuaded him to relent after sensing his hesitation, and he supposed that they could use more social interaction. Thus, Lelouch yielded, much to Euphemia's delight. Suzaku opted to stay for a while as well, although Shirley had a sneaking suspicion that Euphemia has some influence, minor of otherwise, over her friend and ex- classmate's choice.
On the last day of Euphemia's short stay, they somehow came up with the suggestion of playing volleyball by the beach. Aries Villa was almost totally surrounded by wood, but there were a lake and a beach on the southwestern side of the house. Shirley was understandably enthusiastic about the idea – she has always been athletic after all, and both Suzaku and Euphemia welcomed it as well. That only left Lelouch behind, and while he loathed physical recreational activities, the prince grudgingly accepted it for Shirley's and Euphemia's sake. What baffled him was that she invited Rolo along as well. He assumed that it was because the young servant was her friend. The amethyst-eyed adolescent could not get a good read on Rolo, and settled for being wary of him after witnessing his rather strange behavior when they celebrated his birthday a few days ago.
"Seven serving one!" Shirley's cheery voice called out energetically, jarring Lelouch from his thoughts. The prince barely registered a ball speeding straight towards him and made a half-hearted attempt to move forward, only to nonchalantly step aside once he spotted Rolo lunging forward to intercept it. The younger male sent the ball back to the opposite side of the net. Euphemia attempted to return it, but was too slow and hence Lelouch's team managed to score for the second time.
As there was an odd number of players, they agreed that one of them should take a break while the others played two versus two. Currently, Shirley and Euphemia were playing against Rolo and Lelouch, and Suzaku rested under the shade of a nearby tree, watching them. The males were dressed in beach shorts and Shirley was in her Ashford Academy swimsuit, while Euphemia was clad in a white one-piece swimsuit. Lelouch tried to hide his despair at the idea of playing a sport against Shirley. She always eclipsed him in physical activities with ease, and Lelouch wondered if this was how his opponents always felt when playing against him in chess.
"Come on, Rolo, let Lelouch return the ball," Shirley pouted, slightly irked by how passive Lelouch was. She supposed that she couldn't blame him, though, since he constantly performed poorly whenever he tried to participate.
"Umm… but whenever I try to do that, he'll end up letting the ball through. That has happened four times already," Rolo slowly replied. Although they were losing by a significant margin, Rolo was surprised at his ability to keep up. He had no idea that his physical capabilities were that superior to Lelouch. And there was that moment a few days when his body reacted instinctively and he somehow ended up killing the terrorist that snuck into the Aries Villa. Rolo did not say a word about it, and the others, while quite baffled when they encountered the cadaver, were willing to let that slide. The intruder was most definitely an enemy after all. Rolo shot Lelouch a nervous glance after realizing that he might have provoked the prince. "No offense, Your Highness."
"None taken," Lelouch muttered curtly. He was painfully aware that sports are not his forte since years ago. Sweat gleamed on his arms and chest, whatever little exercise he went through already made him near his limit. He tried to dismiss his weariness and flexed his limbs to better prepare himself for more physical activity as an attempt to entertain Shirley and Euphemia. He reminded himself they were quite excited about the game, and that Shirley was secretly worried about her parents' arrival later in the day.
Shirley flashed Lelouch an appreciative smile. "Seven serving two," she called out, pushing the blue-striped ball over the net. Lelouch grimaced and lurched forward, smacking the ball back in a lazy arc, almost stumbling face first into the sand. Euphemia returned it easily and Rolo responded, sending the ball flying high into the air. The young servant squinted at the round object sailing past the net and was momentarily blinded as he inadvertently exposed his pinkish eyes to the harsh rays of the sun. Thus, he was unable to witness Shirley eagerly leaping up and slamming the ball, spiking it with incredible force without aiming carefully. The volleyball rapidly soared to the other side and smashed Rolo straight in his right eye with tremendous force. His world exploded with pain as he fell backwards onto the golden sand.
Shirley clapped her hands to her mouth in alarm as she watched Rolo toppling over. Lelouch hastened over to him while the younger male clutched at his eye in pain. "Oh my god, I'm sorry, Rolo, I'm so sorry!" Shirley cried out. She chided herself as she hurried over to join Lelouch's side - she had injured the young servant twice already in a space of two weeks, for crying out loud. The slender adolescent peered at Rolo, trying to get a glimpse of the injury she inflicted. "Are you alright?"
"I-I think so," Rolo flinched as Shirley gently pried his hand away from his eye. She felt her sense of guilt skyrocketing. The wound was far from life-threatening nor very severe, but it still looked incredibly unpleasant. An ugly dark purple bruise with minor bleeding formed around the area. "Is it bad?"
"It looks awful," Shirley exhaled. "Lulu, would you please fetch the first aid kit?" Lelouch nodded and was about to head back into the house when Jeremiah suddenly appeared and trotted over, a first aid box in hand.
"I saw what happened just now, and we were keeping guard in the vicinity," Jeremiah informed them, pressing the first aid kit into Shirley's hands. "I would advise arnica ointment for such bruising."
"Thanks, Jeremiah," Shirley beamed at him. The Margrave bowed politely and dutifully retreated, returning to his post as a guard. The orange-haired adolescent then knelt before Rolo, who was still lying in the sand. "Now hold still for a while." She instructed, reaching into the first aid box.
Rolo realized what Shirley was trying to do, and he made an effort to squirm away. "Wait, I can do it myself-"
"Oh no, let me," Shirley insisted stubbornly. She then added in a gentler voice. "It's the least I can do since I'm the one who caused it. I'll feel bad if you don't allow me to tend to your wound."
"Um, if you say so then…" Rolo quieted down. The slender girl grabbed a tube of ointment before prying it open and squeezing its contents on a cotton swab. Shirley flashed Rolo a reassuring smile, which seemingly caused his heart to stop, and she started gently dabbing the swab on his bruise.
Lelouch wordlessly strode towards Suzaku, who was still sitting under the shade of a tree, and Euphemia followed him. He did not want to admit it, but he was feeling envious that Shirley was paying attention to another male around their age. The raven-haired teenager cursed his own emotions, although he acknowledged them as a natural reaction, and sat beside Suzaku. Euphemia joined them shortly after.
"That looked painful," Suzaku commented, gazing at Shirley fussing over Rolo's injury.
"Sure did," Lelouch replied shortly. He glanced at Rolo and fought not to feel resentful at the amount of attention Shirley was showing him. The prince then wondered since when he started to be so petty since she did have a good reason for doing so.
"You're not envious, are you, Lulu?" Euphemia teased, her eyes lit up in amusement. She had already taken to using Shirley's nickname for her older half-brother.
"Well, maybe a little," Lelouch debated lying, then decided to be semi-truthful instead. Suzaku coughed loudly, and Lelouch glared at his childhood friend. "Anyway, so what are your plans now after this?"
Lelouch's question sobered his other two companions, banishing the cheery atmosphere that was present previously. "Well… while I'm under the military, I would like to request them to allow me to be part of your guard," Suzaku said seriously, sitting up.
"That's a great idea, and I approve of it!" Euphemia clapped exuberantly. She heard of how easily the honorary Britannian decimated his foes in the battle, and surely he would be a great asset to her beleaguered half-brother.
"I don't," Lelouch interjected. Both Euphemia and Suzaku stared disbelievingly at him.
"But why?" Euphemia protested. "I think it's a great idea!"
"Euphie," Lelouch closed his eyes briefly. "I want Suzaku to guard you instead."
"Huh? Me? I'm not in any sort of danger-"
"You could be. The Sword of Akasha might strike at anyone close to me. Either to use them against me or just to spite me," Lelouch explained patiently. Euphemia was speechless. She had never thought about that possibility. "Shirley and I already have Margrave Gottwald, General Darlton and his knights. Nunnally has Cornelia and her troops. You need a trustworthy guard as well, and I can't think of anyone else other than Suzaku." He watched his half-sister for any reaction when he brought up Nunnally, and she showed no surprise. Lelouch assumed that Cornelia would inform Euphemia about his little sister once he told her about it. Nonetheless, the prince was not unhappy about it.
"Lelouch…" Euphemia appeared to be lost for words. "Thanks for thinking about my safety."
"Who do you think I am, Euphie?" Lelouch snorted. "I'm your brother after all."
"What do you plan to do about the Sword of Akasha then, Lelouch?" Suzaku interjected. "You can't just keep defending against them."
"I know," Lelouch replied curtly. "However, we need some sort of clue to either their location or get one of their members to talk. Frustratingly, we have yet to get something like that. I'd love to go on the offense…" His amethyst eyes burned with fervor and rage, causing Euphemia to lean back. "Unfortunately, we have to be defensive until such an opportunity arises. So what do you say, you two? Would you protect Euphie for me, Suzaku?"
"Well..." Suzaku glanced at Euphemia. "Since you said that she needs protection and that you already have enough security, I'll accept that." The pink-haired princess nodded slowly in acceptance. While she might know Suzaku very well, Lelouch completely trusted him, and that was more than good enough for her.
"Thanks, Suzaku," Lelouch said, relieved that his childhood friend did not object to his plan.
Before anyone could reply to Lelouch, Jeremiah unexpectedly returned again. "Pardon this interruption, Your Highness," he addressed Lelouch formally. "But you wished to be informed when Mr. and Mrs. Fenette would be arriving in an hour's time."
"Yes, I did say that," Lelouch gave the noble a polite smile. "Thank you very much, Margrave Gottwald."
"It's my pleasure," Jeremiah saluted briefly before marching away.
Lelouch turned to regard Suzaku and Euphemia. "Well, I guess this is goodbye then," he said. They were aware of the appointment he had with Shirley and her parents and they informed him that they would leave before it happened. He might not have shown it, but he did enjoy the company they provided during their brief stay.
"We'll see you again, Lelouch," Suzaku promised. He stood up and Euphemia quickly followed suit.
"I most certainly hope so," the eleventh prince of Britannia returned. Without any more delays, he swept away to inform Shirley of her parents' impending arrival.
Rolo observed Shirley quietly as she slowly applied the salve around his eye. She bit her tongue in concentration, careful not to accidentally touch his eyeball. While she doubted that would actually happen, she knew that she had a reputation for being clumsy. Rolo winced visibly when the wound tinged suddenly and Shirley withdrew slightly. "Does it hurt?" She asked him kindly.
"Not really," Rolo replied softly. Shirley nodded before resuming her work, intent on alleviating the pain she had caused.
"And… done," Shirley announced. She gave Rolo another heartening smile, and a warm sensation started to spread through his body as he continued studying her. Such a feeling was quite unfamiliar to him, but it felt exceedingly pleasant, and thus he readily welcomed it. "Feeling better?"
"Much," Rolo answered honestly. He paused for a second as he felt heat creep into his face. "Thank you."
Lelouch chose that moment to clear his throat abruptly, stepping forward and grabbing Shirley by the arm, pulling her aside. Rolo frowned as an unexplainable surge of annoyance flowed through his body. "I'm sorry Shirley, but we have to leave now. Your parents are arriving in an hour, and we need to get prepared, right?"
"Oh, sure, Lulu," Shirley answered, somewhat disquieted by how brusque Lelouch was. Her lithe hand slid into his. She had a sneaking suspicion as to what caused it, but she decided not to bring it up until they were out of earshot from the others. The pair crossed the tiny beach before entering the villa. "Tell me… were you envious?" Shirley asked cautiously.
"What?" Lelouch blinked, caught off-guard by the straightforward question. He then huffed loudly. "No, I'm not. Why would I be?"
"Because I gave a lot of attention to Rolo just now," Shirley responded. She saw no point in trying to be vague. Lelouch merely kept his silence. "Come on."
"Fine, I did feel a little envious," Lelouch admitted. " But it's irrational... you did hit him accidentally and therefore my responsibility to tend to him."
"Emotions are never logical in the first place."
"I hate things that don't make sense," Lelouch complained. Shirley giggled. It was so unusual to hear him grumble about things he could not solve. He cracked a brief smile before lapsing into introspective brooding. "By the way... how should we deal with your parents?" He spoke up.
"What do you mean?" Shirley raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"The attacks, Shirley. From the Sword of Akasha. Are we going to tell them about it? They're not going to like it at all once they know of it, won't they?"
"Oh... well... I was thinking of being truthful with them, then hope for the best. Even if that means they oppose our relationship," Shirley sighed. "Eventually, they might learn of it anyway, just like how they knew of your status. Plus, I really wish to obtain your parents' genuine approval, so there's no point deceiving them."
"If they come to disapprove of us, that means there's going to be strife between you and your parents" Lelouch stated, watching Shirley carefully. He knew that the Fenettes was a small and tight-knit family, and he did not wish to disrupt their harmony.
"Let's hope it won't come to that, but yes... I'm afraid that they may be," Shirley admitted. She scratched the side of her head. "I don't wish to have a conflict with my family, but I can't lie to them either." A resolute expression dawned on her visage. "Even if they disapprove of us being together, I won't leave you."
"I know," Lelouch's features softened and he laid a hand on Shirley's shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly. "Just relax for now. It'll be fine."
"You're right," Shirley smiled at Lelouch. She then glanced at the clock and realized that her parents were due to arrive in fifty-five minutes' time. And they were still soaked with sweat from the volleyball game. "We're running out of time! Quick, go take a shower!" she fussed.
"Right," Lelouch hastily moved towards the bathroom. He paused at the entrance and turned around. "Now, we're running out of time, aren't we? Care to join me?" He asked, smirking.
"Wha-?" Shirley blushed furiously. She grabbed a towel, which was lying on the bed, and threw it at Lelouch's face. The prince snickered loudly before disappearing into the bathroom. "Stop joking around, you pervert!"
"This place is enormous…" Joseph Fenette murmured to himself as he drove his car onwards, following the vehicle in front of him. A grand-looking villa came into view, almost glowing in the setting. Three days ago, he gave his daughter a phone call in the hopes of meeting her boyfriend, who was the eleventh prince of Britannia, over a meal after hearing so much about him from her. For some strange reason, she was unable to fully discuss such a topic at that time and instead sent him a message a few hours later. The message informed him to wait at his house at Pendragon for a light blue sedan to arrive, and to follow the vehicle once he was ready. Joseph was mystified by the strangeness and over-complication of the plan but nonetheless followed it. After all, surely he could trust his own daughter.
"The trees. There's something wrong with them," Mary pointed out cautiously from the shotgun seat. Joseph chanced a glance at the woodland surrounding the road and realized his wife was right. Some of them were fallen or damaged, and more than a few of them bore signs of being blackened by fire. The wedded couple was feeling disquieted by the indications of an assault when he finally spotted a familiar sight. A slim, tall girl, clad in a flowing forest green dress and a cardigan of a lighter shade of the same color, was waving at them eagerly from the villa's front doors. Her distinctive bright orange hair recognizable from half a mile away. Both Joseph and Mary's faces broke into smiles of relief when they spotted their only child, whom they have not seen in weeks.
It felt like forever for Joseph and his wife to finally arrive at the enormous house's doorsteps. They exited from their aging car, and Shirley could not hold herself back any longer the moment she saw them. She broke into a run, all but crashing against her father's rather stocky frame and enveloping him in a tight embrace. Joseph returned it wholeheartedly, laughing as he did so, before backing off to behold his daughter for the first time in months. Any thoughts of their distress over Lelouch's true identity promptly evaporated as the Fenette family reunited for the first time in a couple of months.
"I've missed you, dad," Shirley closed her eyes, relaxing in the comforting arms of her father. She could not help but be reminded of her warm and happy childhood times with her family.
"So do I, my dear," Joseph chuckled and patted her back. It only felt like a short time ago when she was a child, the top of her auburn-tufted head barely reaching his waist. "It's wonderful to see you again."
"You've grown taller, Shirley," Mary remarked, stepping beside her brown-haired husband. Shirley smiled at her before hugging her as well. "And a little stronger too," Shirley's mother chuckled, running her hands over her daughter's hair. "Hmm, your hair seems a bit choppy. Did you have a bad haircut recently?"
A series of images of her ordeal at Mao's hands flashed in Shirley's mind. Her grin disappeared at the thought, but she was unwilling to let it spoil her reunion with her parents. "Yea, it was horrible. The person responsible wasn't exactly a hairdresser. At least it was free," Shirley smiled wanly. "Come on in. Lelouch's waiting for you all."
"The eleventh prince of Britannia and seventeenth heir to the imperial throne, huh," Mary muttered, moving forward to examine the villa wistfully. While it wasn't overly extravagant compared to the imperial palace or the residences of the other royalty, it has a certain grandeur of its own. "He must be extremely rich.
"Of course. He's royalty, but don't worry, I'm not with him for the money," Shirley made an attempt at humor, but it came out feebly. Joseph and Mary shared a dubious look, but they followed Shirley into the house nonetheless.
"We were honestly overwhelmed when we heard the news," Joseph confessed, examining the interior of the luxurious home. It was easily far more magnificent than their modest semi-detached house in Pendragon. Everything was extremely neat and in their top condition. "I look forward to our dialogue with Lelouch over dinner later. It would prove to be quite interesting. Speaking of which, where exactly is the dining room? This place is huge…"
"The dining area's just by the corner," Shirley cheerfully notified them. Despite her jovial demeanor, her body tensed up with nervousness. She was worried about the outcome of her parents' interaction with Lelouch.
"Relax, Shirley," Joseph noticed how rigid his daughter was.
"Huh? Oh right... sorry, dad, I'm just really anxious," Shirley admitted as she took a left turn, leading her parents to a set of mahogany wooden doors. Lelouch was behind these doors, inside the dining room itself. "We're here," Shirley knocked on the doors, allowing him to be prepared for their entrance. "Lulu? Are you ready?"
"Ah, yes, come in," Lelouch replied distractedly. Shirley pushed open the doors, revealing a room with an elaborate crimson carpeted floor and brightly lit by a gold chandelier. Plush chairs with polished wooden armrests were arranged around a rectangular table with an immaculate tablecloth with gold designs on its edges. At the head of the table was Lelouch, who smiled welcomingly at his girlfriend and her parents. "Welcome, Mr. and Mrs. Fenette," he rose from his chair to approach them, extending his hand for a handshake. "I'm Lelouch vi Britannia."
"Mary Fenette," Shirley's mother introduced herself with a handshake. Lelouch smiled pleasantly at the short, light-brown haired woman. She, together with Joseph, noted that the prince's warm demeanor and the fact he did not use any of his titles in his introduction. They were pleased by his behavior so far. "I'm delighted to meet you at last."
"So am I."
"Joseph Fenette," Joseph shook Lelouch's hand as well. "I've heard a lot about you from Shirley," He tilted his head at the prince and added. "Before you two returned to Britannia and we heard the news of you being royalty."
"Ah…" Lelouch shifted awkwardly. His toes curled in his leather shoes uncomfortably. "About that… I sincerely apologize for concealing my true identity. I can assure you that I have good reason to do so. It's a long story."
"We have time," Joseph countered, although his attitude remained amiable. Mary's expression darkened considerably but she chose not to say anything.
"Mom, Dad," Shirley blurted out anxiously. Her parents looked quizzically at her. The redhead took a step forward. "Lelouch really has a good reason for not telling me about it."
"And we would hear it with an open mind while seeking to understand his reasons," Joseph said quietly, holding up a hand to stall his daughter. Shirley still looked upset that the meeting sounded as though it would turn into an interrogation. Her father eyed Lelouch steadily. "Tell me, Your Highness, weren't you classmates with Shirley at Ashford Academy?"
"That is correct."
"Pardon me, but why were you there in the first place?"
"It's a long story indeed," Lelouch sighed. He gestured towards the comfortable-looking chairs around the dining table. "Why don't you take a seat first? This is going to take a while…"
A small smile was plastered on Rolo's face as he made his way to his quarters. Lelouch, and Marianne before him, was generous enough to let each servant to have a room to themselves. It was a small one, but it was far better than bunking in a dormitory. He was quite surprised by his own good mood, as he could not pinpoint what exactly invoked it, or why. The amnesiac assassin only knew that it started after Shirley helped to treat his wound. Perhaps that was the reason. "Yes, that must have been it. She's such a nice person after all."
Back in the days when Rolo was living in the orphanage, no one really cared about him, but now he found a kind soul in Shirley. It was a comforting thought. The spy opened the door to his room and flopped limply on his bed, one hand digging out his green cell phone. He examined the purple bruise he had obtained during the volleyball game and found that it didn't smart as much anymore. He supposed that she did a good job in administering aid. His fingers trailed down the electronic device to the chain of his locket, a birthday gift given to him from her a few days go. Rolo did not remember his birthday, but Shirley insisted that he had specified that the twenty-ninth of June as his date of birth on his resume. The youth turned in his bed, his thin fingers turning the locket around to admire the locket from different angles. No one had given him a gift before, let alone a pristine one like this.
Rolo was interrupted by the ringing of his cell phone. He eyed the electronic device for a second, wondering who would be calling him, then he answered the call. "Hello?" There was nothing but absolute quiet for the first few seconds. "Hello? Who's this?" Rolo repeated.
"Rolo! It's been a long time!" an unfamiliar male voice, full of cheer, all but shouted. Rolo flinched, caught off-guard by deafening volume and almost dropped his phone in startlement. "Why haven't you called? I've been waiting to get a word from you for a long time! I was getting worried!"
"Umm, sorry… who's this?" Rolo shook his head in confusion.
"What? How could you not know me? We've known each other for years!"
"I'm sorry… I was told that I had a car accident not too long ago," Rolo shut his eyes. He wished that the other man could stop yelling so excitedly. "I've lost some of my memories."
There was a short pause. "A car accident. How unfortunate. Well, as to who am I… the possibilities are endless!"
"I'm afraid that I have no idea…" Rolo's voice trailed away. This was beginning to get incredibly peculiar for him, and he considered ending the call.
"…. Rolo, are you alone right now? I can jog your memory a little with some events that we had together, but they're private…"
"Really?" The servant's curiosity was piqued. Could this unknown man truly help restore his memories? "Well, no harm trying, and he somehow has my number after all…" He reasoned with himself. "Yes, I'm alone in my quarters now."
"Very well. Let us begin. My name is Infinity. Your full name is Rolo Haliburton."
"Your name doesn't ring a bell," Rolo admitted. "Wait, how do you know my full name?"
"Then there's still some hope for you," Schneizel replied. "You are a trained assassin and spy. Your codename is Agent Haliburton. You work for me… the leader of the Sword of Akasha."
Rolo felt his entire body go numb and he froze. "You work for me… the leader of the Sword of Akasha," the words echoed in his mind. He jerked back violently, crashing into one of a wall painfully. His phone nearly dropped from his grasp. "That can't be true!"
"Calm down. It is a long and winding story. Everything will make sense in time," Schneizel said soothingly. "I found you when you were a child, held in a police station several miles east of Pendragon after you killed your adoptive parents. They were a sadistic and cruel bunch, who attempted to kill you in a drunken stupor, and in an act of self-defence, you slew them. I sensed potential in your abilities, so I liberated you from them. And then you joined me, and under my tutelage, you became a professional assassin."
Rolo's eyes widened in shock. "I killed someone? How can that be possible?!" Despite his own words, he remembered how he effortlessly disabled and killed the terrorist who had infiltrated the villa a few days ago. It was certainly extraordinary for a mere servant to do so - but well within an assassin's capabilities. Furthermore, Schneizel's previous reply invoked an unfamiliar series of scenes which briefly flickered in his mind, as he tried hard to recall his past to deny the prince's claims. A blood-soaked couple, staring lifelessly up at him. Wooden cupboards stained with gore. "And why would I work for the Sword of Akasha?!" He could not accept that he was from the same organization which attacked them. "It doesn't add up at all..."
"You don't," Schneizel flatly returned. "You work to serve my goals, which are not quite aligned with the Sword of Akasha's, although I am its current leader." The blonde prince gave Rolo some time to digest the information. "Remove the phone from your ear and enable video call mode. I think you'll be able to recognize me."
Rolo took a deep breath as his breathing grew heavier. He could not help but obey the mysterious man's voice, albeit at a ponderous pace. The servant's fingers trembled before they pressed on a button, converting the call to a video one. He gasped as he glimpsed the face of the other man. His features were extraordinarily familiar. The handsome, confident face with sharp features. Short blonde hair and those intense blue eyes. Schneizel tilted his head and gave a small, satisfied smile - as he always did when Rolo gave a successful mission report to him. Rolo realized with a pang that his mind recognized that feature. "You're... you're familiar." His mounting headache took a turn for the worse out of the blue and he clutched his head. "I know you!"
"Of course, you do. Like I said earlier, we've known each other for a long time. Do you remember your current mission, Agent Haliburton?"
"I… don't…"
"Your job is to retrieve the key to the Superfortress Damocles and return it to me. And your secondary objective is to assassinate Lelouch vi Britannia and Shirley Fenette."
"That's impossible!" Rolo almost screamed in denial. He felt that it was wrong that Lelouch, who had done nothing wrong and fought valiantly against the bigotry of the Sword of Akasha, had to be slain. The thought of killing Shirley, who was always kind and nice towards him, sickened him to his core. "I want no part of this!"
"You have no choice. For all of your life, you have served me as my sword. That is your purpose in life... given unto you by me," Schneizel continued smoothly. "Don't you recall your last missions, agent Haliburton? And how effectively you completed them?"
"I don't! Stop calling me that! I am no agent…" Rolo's thumb hovered over the 'end call' button, but something deep within him stopped him from doing so.
"Baron Arundell. He was a very ambitious individual who wanted to be promoted to higher ranks, and thus he took it upon himself to snoop around the other activities of the royals. He believed that the Emperor would overlook that if he managed to discover any of us doing illicit activities. That noble came too close to finding out that I embezzled the funds from the treasury to construct the Damocles, so I sent you to kill him." Schneizel recited dully. "That was three years ago, and your first mission. His downfall was due to his greed. You promised him that you have some news on one of the other royals, and lured him into a chamber before shooting him in the head. It was a brilliantly done assassination."
"I… no… I didn't… I couldn't…" Rolo stammered. He gripped his phone so tightly that his knuckles were turning white.
"Sir MacMahon. He was a spy, a private investigator sent by one of my half-siblings, hoping to get something interesting from me," Schneizel continued. It was imperative that Rolo recovered his memories, for his lifelong dream more or less hinged on the teenager. "He was too dangerous to leave alone. That was your second mission, seven months after your first. One day, when he went back home, you broke into his house and stabbed him to death. Coincidentally, his wife and child returned to the scene of you standing over his corpse. You killed them all as well, using that same knife, without any hesitation. Incredibly efficient. You are truly outstanding."
"I… killed them all?" Rolo whispered, his eyes beginning to roll madly in their sockets. A chaotic swirl of fragments which belonged to his past started flashing in his mind. Splatters of blood. A cacophony of high-pitched screams of terror. The ringing of gunshots. Voices begging for their lives. "No… I couldn't be a murderer…" Even as he said it, more pieces of his fractured memory began returning to his mind.
"Oh, I still have many more missions to go. Don't leave. By the end of his conversation… you will be finally returned to your true self. The real you."
"…and that's how I ended up in Ashford Academy," Lelouch finished dramatically. The older Fenettes eyed him with shock, their plates of food, served to them minutes ago untouched with their glasses of wine. They did not expect his story to be that tragic. "It doesn't really matter now, to be honest. After a series of events, I am reinstated as the eleventh prince."
"Tell me, Lelouch- I can call you Lelouch, right?" Joseph asked warily.
"Of course," the prince nodded.
"You can call him Lulu if you want to," Shirley chimed in to brighten the mood. Lelouch rolled his eyes in mirth.
"We know that you were classmates with Shirley. How did you fall in love with my daughter?" Joseph inquired, his tone absolutely serious.
Shirley exchanged looks with Lelouch. "Dad, how is that importa-"
"We want to know, Shirley," Joseph requested,"If it isn't too much to ask, of course." Mary nodded cautiously, expressing her agreement with her husband.
"Alright. It didn't start off because of any amazing event, or on first sight," Lelouch admitted. "I didn't see much in her at first, but after we spent some time together, either in class or the student council, I grew to appreciate her optimism and bright outlook on life. She was…" the dark-haired prince groped around for the correct words. "Heartening to be around. Shirley never fails to enliven me, and eventually, we got quite close. I came to care for her… and soon enough I came to realize that I fell in love with her."
Joseph looked at his wife, who merely returned it blankly. "I suppose that's good enough."
"By the way, shall we start eating?" Shirley suddenly asked. She disliked how her parents were turning a conversation into an inquisition, as the atmosphere was rather strained. "You two are famished after a long journey here, mom, dad."
"Oh, right. Yes, yes, let's begin eating," Joseph acknowledged. The four of them picked up their utensils and began digging into their plates of food – generous slabs of lamb chops served with mashed potatoes and vegetables.
"So…" Mary put down her fork and knife after a few mouthfuls of food. She shifted in her cushioned seat to regard Lelouch. "May I know what do you do as your hobbies?"
"I play chess actively at a high level, and the piano as well," Lelouch responded. He did not mention gambling as he doubted that Shirley's parents would be pleased to hear that. It was not as though he was addicted to it anyway. He merely enjoyed demolishing the pride of haughty nobles.
"How about your duties as part of the royal family?" Mary inquired again. Her eyes were intently fixed on Lelouch.
"I'm afraid that I've yet to be officially assigned any duties by the emperor," Lelouch answered slowly.
"So… you're not doing anything as of now?" Mary looked surprised.
"Mom!"
"It's alright," Lelouch frowned. His amethyst eyes moved over to Shirley briefly. They agreed that they would be honest with her parents even if they asked awkward questions. "If I must have to say something… then I'd say I'm currently dealing with terrorists."
"Terrorists?" Shirley's mother repeated. "Sounds dangerous."
"Well…" Lelouch's voice trailed away uneasily.
"We should just eat first. We can continue such discussions later," Shirley piped up softly. She did not like the direction which the conversation was taking. If her parents knew that they were already attacked twice, they would most likely freak out.
"Sure," Mary sniffed as she returned her attention to her plate of food. They dined quietly for nearly half an hour before finishing their food, although Joseph and his wife were shooting covert looks at each other. "Lelouch, do you mind if we talk to Shirley privately for about five minutes?"
"I don't mind," the violet-eyed prince immediately said. Despite his words, he had an unpleasant feeling that they were going to talk about him. Nonetheless, he understood their concerns and promptly left, not before giving Shirley a tender glance.
Joseph waited for five seconds after the doors to the dining room were shut. The middle-aged man turned towards his adolescent daughter. "I must admit that while I'm uncertain about him as a prince… I'm impressed with him as a person, Shirley. He was very humble and polite for royalty. And most of all, I can tell that he's serious about you."
"Really?" Shirley asked brightly. Her rather gloomy expression, which persisted throughout most of the dinner, immediately morphed into one full of hope and joy. "Actually, I've only learned that he was a member of the imperial family a few weeks ago. It's still a bit surreal for me."
"Surreal would be an understatement," her father chuckled. "Wait, so does that mean he kept his identity a secret from you even when you two were dating?"
"Well, yes, but I can understand that," Shirley said defensively, folding her arms over her torso. "His sister will be in trouble if word gets out, and he did reveal it nonetheless."
"Shirley," Mary spoke up, taking a few steps towards her daughter. "Are you aware of the implications of being attached to a member of the imperial family?"
"Kind of…" Shirley replied tentatively. She brought her hands together, twisting her wrists slightly in discomfort.
"The children of the Emperor... they are competing with each other to succeed the current one. By staying with Lelouch, you're a potential target too. And he's dealing with terrorists. There's going to be an issue of safety for you."
"Mom, I know. But we're fine so far, and the security here is quite extreme if you ask me."
"What if someone tries to kill you two? God forbid that, of course."
Shirley hesitated. She desired to tell the truth to her parents, but she knew that they would react negatively if they knew it. Nonetheless, the slender swimmer decided not to bottle it up anymore. "Mom… there have already been two attempts on our lives." She closed her eyes as her parents gasped in startlement.
"When?" Joseph demanded urgently.
"The day after I've reached Pendragon," Shirley responded in a small voice. She avoided meeting her parents' concerned eyes. "The second attempt was a few days ago."
"And why didn't you tell us about it?!" Mary asked incredulously. "What happened?"
"I… did not want you guys to worry," Shirley gave her mother a weak smile. "The most recent attempt was a group of Knightmares which tried to attack the villa. As for the one earlier…" She shook her head.
"What's wrong?"
"You wouldn't want to know, but we escaped unscathed."
"Is that supposed to put my mind at ease, Shirley?" Mary questioned, irritation plain on her face. "We're your parents."
Shirley bit her lip as she pondered whether to tell her parents of the warehouse incident with Mao. She then sighed and tucked a stray strand of her hair behind her ear. "Someone lured me outside and abducted me to bait Lelouch. I nearly fell into a pool of acid."
Shirley's parents made noises of horrified shock. "Are you really alright, my dear?" Joseph asked, grabbing her daughter by the shoulders, examining her for any sign of injury. "That must be a horrible ordeal."
"It was, but we're really fine," Shirley reassured them, trying to gently squirm out of her father's grip. She had a sinking feeling about what they might propose next, and she prayed that neither of them would. "Not a scratch on me."
"Shirley… Look, I know Lelouch is nice and he seems really great," Mary interjected. "However, this is far too perilous for you. I don't want to sound like the bad person here but…" she swallowed heavily. "I think you should leave him."
"Mom…" Shirley knew that such a suggestion was coming, but she still felt crestfallen. "I can't. I won't."
"Why? I know there are perks to being attached to a prince, but is it really worth risking your life for him? There're dozens of other eligible guys out there, and surely you could pick one that won't include such danger," Mary insisted.
"I'm not staying with him because he's a prince," Shirley said firmly. Her mother's words stung her, and a part of her was getting exasperated. However, she kept it in check. A heated exchange would not solve anything. "I do so because I can't live without him. I love him wholeheartedly." Her facial features softened. "Just like how I love you, mom."
"I love you too, Shirley, and you know I only want the best for you," Mary continued quietly, a note of pleading in her voice. "I can't bear to see you get hurt just because of him. Please heed my advice."
"I'm sorry…" Shirley felt her eyes starting to water a little. She hated disappointing her mother, but there was no choice, even though she was dismayed by the necessity of her choice. "I'm so sorry, but I can't do it."
"Yes you can, Shirley-"
"Hold up a moment, Mary," Joseph tersely joined the conversation. "You do truly love Lelouch, don't you?"
"Without a doubt," Shirley instantly answered.
"And nothing we say or do will convince you to leave him?"
"I'm sorry, but yes. I won't leave him no matter what happens." His daughter shook her head, her orange locks swaying vigorously from one side to another. Shirley hesitated for a moment, before adding, "Please understand, dad."
"Is that your final answer?" Joseph stepped in front of his daughter and searched the depths of her peridot green eyes. For a tense period, no one made a move or sound. Then Shirley nodded. Her father's face broke into a kind smile. "Very well. I give you and Lelouch my blessing."
"Joseph! You can't be serious!" Mary gasped.
"Shirley's a grown up now. She can make her own decisions," Joseph turned to face his wife. "And we've just heard from her. She isn't going to leave him regardless of what we say. If we keep this going, we'll end up estranging her from the family."
"Even if those decisions might cost her life?!"
"I believe that the eleventh prince will keep her from harm," Joseph said slowly. "And he's working on the problem, isn't he?"
"I've been taking self-defense classes too," Shirley chirped in. "I can handle myself now, I think."
Mary looked askance as she regarded her daughter. "I've yet to be convinced," she said flatly.
Joseph exhaled. "Shirley, do you mind asking Lelouch to come in? There're a few things I need to ask him." Shirley nodded and darted outside. She could be heard conversing with Lelouch for a fleeting second, then the couple returned to the dining room.
"You asked for me, Mr. Fenette?" Lelouch inquired curiously.
"Indeed, I did," Shirley's father stared impassively at the prince. "Shirley has just informed us that there were two attempts on your lives."
A tense silence filled the air. Lelouch's eyes flickered over to Shirley. "I'm afraid that it's true. A terrorist organization, prejudiced against commoners, is behind them. I've been combating them ever since my return to Britannia."
"I suppose you didn't know about them before you brought my daughter here?"
"I didn't. I apologize for that. It was a mistake on my part," Lelouch admitted. An expression of shame formed on his face momentarily. "If I had known-"
"That's not important anymore," Joseph interrupted. He took several steps towards Lelouch, barely a foot away from him. "From now on, I'll address you not as a prince, but as the person dating my daughter." Lelouch blinked.
"Dad, what are you doing?" Shirley questioned uneasily.
"Can I have your word, Lelouch vi Britannia?" The geologist ignored his daughter momentarily, his gaze boring into Lelouch's amethyst orbs. "Do you swear to defend Shirley from harm, regardless of the cost to yourself?"
Realization dawned on Lelouch as he understood what Joseph wanted. The older man wanted his reassurance and his word that he could entrust Shirley to him. "With my very life, I do."
"Do you promise that you would take care of her in sickness and health?"
"I do."
"And most importantly…" Joseph took a deep breath. "Do you vow to love Shirley unconditionally, no matter what happens?"
Lelouch stared at his girlfriend's father for a few seconds. He was fully aware that Joseph's questions sounded like marriage vows. The prince did not mind - he was certain that, if the chance was presented to him in the future, he would wed her. "Forever and always, yes, I do," Lelouch solemnly replied. Shirley clapped quietly in the corner, tears shining in her eyes. Mary still wore a look of skepticism and uncertainty on her face.
"Very well then," Joseph exhaled and smiled at the dark-haired adolescent. "I shall give you two my blessing."
"Thank you, Mr. Fenette," Lelouch relaxed visibly, returning the smile. Truthfully, he was not sure whether Shirley's parents would approve of him, seventeenth heir to the imperial throne or not, once they knew about the danger she was in. "Words cannot convey how pleased I am to obtain your acceptance." It was the truth - he knew that Shirley's family was small and rather close-knit, and with Joseph's approval, the risk of friction between her parents and herself was reduced significantly, hence his gratitude.
"Mom…?" Shirley asked tentatively, looking keenly at her mother.
Mary pursed her lips and straightened her back, then marched towards Lelouch purposefully. She, like her husband, stared at the prince with almost alarming intensity. "I'm afraid that I cannot approve of this, Your Highness. You may do whatever is in your power to keep my daughter safe, but it is undeniable that she is in peril just by being with you," Mary informed the prince, her tone clipped and brusque. She bowed stiffly and strode out of the room, leaving a resigned Lelouch and disappointed Shirley behind.
"Don't worry too much about it," Joseph said uncomfortably, noting the despondent look on Shirley's face. "I'll go talk to her. Maybe she will be willing to accept this one day." He patted his daughter's head reassuringly.
"Thanks, dad," Shirley smiled gratefully at her father. Lelouch nodded neutrally. "I suppose you'll be taking your leave now?"
"Well, I can't possibly leave your mother behind, can I?" Joseph chuckled. He looked over at Lelouch. "It's my pleasure to meet you at last. I pray that you will keep your word, and I hope to see you two someday again. Farewell." With that, he turned and followed after his wife out of the villa altogether.
The insurmountable pounding in Rolo's head finally dulled to a throb. The missing holes in his memories were gradually being filled with fragments of his past. He began to remember more of the incidents he was previously involved in. The abuse he had received at the hands of his adoptive parents, who ended up as his first kill. Being set free by Schneizel. Embarking on his assassination missions.
Rolo was still in his room, which was darkened by the lack of illumination. The lights were switched off and the brown curtains were drawn. He grimaced and massaged his temples roughly with one hand while the other was clenched around a fistful of white bedsheet. Although his memories already confirmed it, a part of him still found it difficult to believe that he was an assassin. He slowly raised his head, glancing at his green-coloured phone. The locket swung around carelessly. It has been almost two hours since Schneizel's call started and it has yet to be ended.
"Agent Halliburton?" Schneizel inquired smoothly.
"Reporting," Rolo affirmed, no emotion in his voice.
"Very good," The Prime Minister of Britannia was pleased. He was worried that he may have pushed too far, or worse, Rolo may have been affected during his time as an amnesiac in the villa. "Are you fit to continue operating?"
"Agent Halliburton, ready to resume the mission," Rolo reported. It was time for him to get back in the game.
Author's Note: I admit that Rolo remembering that he's an assassin and his master is Schneizel seems rather fast paced, seeing that he just lost them a couple of chapters back. However, it's for the sake of the plot, and I rather not create another filler chapter between this one and the last. I'm no expert with memory loss and related stuff, but I don't think he can really remember all of his past life in one go. While he hasn't fully recovered, he already recognizes Infinity/Schneizel as his master and his past as an assassin. Which is enough for him. Whether he would truly continue serving under Schneizel… we shall see, won't we?
I hope no one was too surprised that Shirley's parents had a split opinion. I thought of going against the norm of having both parents eventually agreeing or going against their child's relationship. And Shirley always has been closer to her dad... I've actually hinted on how their meeting with Lelouch would end in chapter seven, where Shirley states that her father always dotes on her, but her mother is rather strict. Ahh, family dramas... they could be kinda cliche, but I can't resist. Apologies.
Anyway, I hope that you guys enjoyed this chapter! I've been itching to write the meeting for a long time. This event, together with the Britannian Ball (chapter 11), are the first few bits I've conceived of while planning this fanfic. Let me know what you guys think!