I apologize for the hiatus. Work has begun to consume me! Until I can get the rest of Chapter 6 written up, here's something to prove I'm still cracking at this story.
Demons: Yes, it will have some repercussions, for sure.
HESpecOps: Yeah, I found Shinjuku way easier to write because of the sense of scale and grandeur that came with fighting in a huge district. Something smaller than that was considerably harder, and I apologize for that.
Blarg: Yes, she will. And Clovis isn't quite finished yet.
Suzaku Kururugi was breathless. From the moment he'd left the compound to be chained atop the police transport, he was aware that whatever was going to happen to him had already been decided. His appearance and whatever he had to say in his own defense was irrelevant and would make no difference to the Britannian authorities. He would either be dead, exiled, or imprisoned for life, and there was a small part of him that knew he deserved it. He'd been aiding the Britannian status quo and showed no resistance to killing the unresisting, and no matter how hard he'd try to convince himself it'd all be okay and that it was for a good purpose, there was always that tiny part of his conscience that knew he'd receive penalty for his actions.
But this… Zero… rescued me.
"Suzaku Kururugi?"
Suzaku snapped to attention, with the reflexes of a soldier, and turned in the voice's direction. It was a young woman, somewhat smaller than he, bedecked with red hair, a driver's uniform, and a submachine gun. She didn't look a day over sixteen. Suzaku wondered how many more like her would wind up joining the resistance.
"Uh, yes… ma'am?" Suzaku replied, wanting to fix his gaze on the wall above her head rather than meet her gaze.
"Zero wants to see you. In that building over there," she said, gesturing towards a beaten-down warehouse. The train Zero used as his escape vehicle wound up stopping a light distance away from a harbor, which was largely empty and quiet save for the motion and muted conversations between Zero's comrades and subordinates. For a time, Suzaku had just listened to the sound of the ocean, gazing at the stars, amazed he was still breathing.
Suzaku followed the young woman's lead, passing by groups of fighters who were resting, smoking, or laughing. Some were eating, some were cleaning weapons, some telling jokes in their natural, guttural language, of which Suzaku could pick up small traces. Although they were celebrating over their small victory, Suzaku knew nothing was over; the Britannian guns would be back, and they would be eager to compensate for their humiliation.
This is only the beginning. This is why change needs to come, as quickly as possible.
Suzaku reached the threshold of the warehouse; the young woman bowed slightly and left him to face Zero alone.
You're about to become one of the most wanted men in Japan, Suzaku thought as he found Zero, who was standing atop a metal catwalk. He had the attitude of the quintessential celebrity terrorist – flippant, self-righteous, full of panache, spouting profound political statements one minute and boasts of war the next, willing to stand up to people like Jeremiah Gottwald and even Viceroy Clovis himself. In spite of that, he could feel his bravado cool down as Zero stood up and brought himself down to Suzaku's level, taking careful steps off the catwalk.
"It looks like they treated you roughly, Kururugi," Zero said, his distorted vocals more off-putting than affable. "One of their own soldiers. And all because you're Japanese. The wool's been pulled over your eyes at last, hm? Britannia is rotten to the core."
The curse of history.
"You aren't going to go anywhere if you continue serving Britannia. Come join me."
Suzaku frowned. "Why me?"
"I've read your military records," Zero proclaimed, and before Suzaku could ask how he got access to those, Zero held out his hand. "In addition, I know your heart of gold. I can see it in your eyes; you want what's best for Japan."
"That's right, I do," Suzaku began. "But joining you isn't going to help anybody."
Zero sighed with unconcealed impatience. "Britannia is cruel. They have taken the lives of innocent Japanese."
"The only reason there's so much death is because you and your compatriots are just making things worse."
Suzaku couldn't read Zero's face, but he was rigid, shoulders squared. Suzaku could feel the air around the room tighten.
"Are you saying that we should just accept our fates?"
"No. A victory won through dishonest means is no victory at all. The ends are just as worthless if the means to them are wrong."
"So you're okay with turning a blind eye to all the injustices Elevens have to suffer through? This is war, Kururugi! You have to be willing to get rid of your ethical side if you want to do anything!"
A knot tightened in Suzaku's stomach. "I can't accept that. And I refuse to accept that."
It's because of me Japan ended up as Area 11, anyway… all because I kill—
"Britannia cannot be changed."
"Britannia can be changed from within… I'm certain of it," Suzaku reinstated.
Zero took a moment to compose himself; he looked furious.
"And you're being a hypocrite. That poison gas you used back there more than likely killed hundreds," Suzaku said, a blaze of anger in his eyes.
"It was a bluff. Colored smoke," Zero claimed, practically bragging about it. "Unlike Britannia, I don't willingly kill civilians."
"…Even if you're telling the truth, it's not enough, Zero… I thank you for trying to save my life, but I have to return. My court-martial begins in an hour."
Zero backed away. "Are you an idiot?! The only reason they're putting you on trial is to find you guilty! That's the reason I rescued you in the first place!"
"That wasn't your choice to make," Suzaku spat. He glanced up at the moon and the stars. "And besides, what do you think will happen if I don't go back? They'll use that as an excuse to begin targeting Japanese and Honorary Britannians, even kill them in riots."
His words seemed to hit Zero like an arrow, catching him short. Suzaku relaxed, exhaling in relief. Finally, he understands.
"…You'll die. You're guaranteed to die."
"What's done is done," Suzaku said, a far-off look in his eyes. "Thank you again for saving me, but I have to go."
Zero didn't respond. Suzaku left the warehouse and began retracing his steps towards the Tokyo Settlement. Nobody seemed to interfere or try to stop them; possibly, Zero ordered them to let him go. Suzaku felt discouraged, yet oddly empowered. He was going to die, or potentially imprisoned, but it would be in the service of the people.
If I'm going to die, I want it to be a meaningful death.
Motivated, Suzaku started running for the capital.
