CHAPTER 1.5

ACT: 1

Well, it would seem that being captured by that nuisance Clovis may just work in my favor after all. The immortal mused. She'd been in that capsule for far too long, and the pain in her back was only barely worth her recent find. Lelouch vi Britannia, she toyed with that name in her mind as she made her way down the ravaged streets of the Shinjuku Ghetto. Even then, the sounds of war reached her, as explosions, bullets, and of course, the motors of knightmares could be heard for miles.

The screams of those poor fools filled her ears, and she smiled. If they only knew the peace that death would bring them, but they were only mere mortals, oblivious to many things. They fought desperately to keep their worthless lives, and probably dreamt of immortality. How foolish. Immortality was a curse she would never wish upon anyone, not even that bratty Prince Clovis. Of course, it was rather interesting in the first few years, but as she got older, C.C. found out just how painful it really was. No wonder that damn nun wanted to lose it so bad, that she would play with the heart of a little girl, twist her mind and give her the power of geass, making her every wish come true, only to cruelly take it away with a smile on her face.

C.C. shuddered at the memories. She remembered how the men who had desperately fought for her attention trailed after her as she ran, only to burn her at the stake for being a witch. Of course, she had survived. In those first few pivotal decades, immortality had its charms and benefits. She had lost count of the number of times she had been burned, stabbed, stoned, and more recently, shot over the pain was always there though, making her remember just how much she hated both herself and the nun.

She never experienced death like a mortal would. When she was still young, believing there were other ways she could die, she had willingly allowed men to stab her, behead her, drown her and poison her, praying it would be the last pain she would ever feel. She always woke up, though, disappointed and more depressed. When she 'died', it felt like a dream - there was no light as mortals thought, finding beautiful things about it and embracing it willingly. She'd only feel her wounds slowly heal over time, waiting in the darkness, flooded with her own thoughts, desperately awaiting the moment she'd stop feeling at all and fade into nothingness. However, that moment never came.

She was eventually forced to accept one 'truth' that that godless nun had bestowed upon her before her death. "You'll live forever, like I was once slated to. Then, I found you, C.C., you, who would save me from this life. Once more, the cycle will be renewed, but with you and another."

With every step she took, her drive and wish for death only grew stronger.

Well I can't have that kid dying on me already, so it'd be best if I follow him around a bit, just to be sure that he's safe, C.C. thought as she stepped over the burning corpses of soldiers and Japanese civilians alike. Surprisingly, Lelouch was giving Clovis hell on the battlefield, as the Britannian forces lost more and more ground to the small band of insurgents. At least, that's what the witch had heard from a radio that one of the dead soldiers was carrying on his person. Maybe, just maybe…, she thought to herself.

"The terrorists are pushing on the MCC, and we're two squads down, send squads Omega and Delta to point G20 and cut them off. It's where the terrorist are thickest! Stop them from getting closer to his Royal Highness at all cost to life and limb! All Hail Britannia!" the commander shouted, and C.C. snickered at the cheers from the other soldiers. Britannian soldiers were so naive it made her laugh almost always.

It would seem he is headed for the MCC. To kill Clovis maybe? It can be an interesting thing to see. She thought, climbing into the cockpit of a nearby Sutherland. The Mobile Command Center was two miles away, and she could not get there in time on her feet. She did not want to miss the show for anything.

Not surprisingly, she had some skill with Knightmares, a courtesy of being close to Marianne vi Britannia, Lelouch's mother. She was an ace pilot, defeating even the Knight of One, Bismarck without tiring. The Knight had insisted that she at least learn how to pilot a knightmare, so she could defend herself.

For the first time, C.C. was grateful for that. The controls were far simpler than the ones on the Ganymede, and C.C. figured out how to use it in no time. She turned on the radio, listening to the Britannians so she could see whether she was close to the MCC or not.

She wondered if she would help Lelouch and his little band of terrorists, but decided against it. The last thing she needed was unnecessary attention from both sides.

The ride was fairly short and quiet, C.C. managing to avoid any conflict without making herself look suspicious.

She climbed out of the frame, and headed for the entrance. She raised her eyebrow when she noticed nobody was guarding it. Maybe Lelouch is already here?

The sight that greeted her upon entering was unexpected to say the least. Bodies were everywhere, covering every corridor, and turning the royal violet of the carpet into bloody red. Yes, the boy is definitely here. she thought, observing his handiwork, barely managing not to grin at her luck. He was ready to drown Britannia in the blood of both the innocent and the guilty. He was bloodthirsty, she was glad to notice. Men like that were always easy to manipulate and twist to her whims.

Before she could properly explore the rest of the MCC, she heard raised voices in the adjacent room.

The trail of broken bodies continued into the room where she heard the voices. Among those speaking was Lelouch, who stood over an obviously terrified Clovis, who had a gun pointed at his head. This should be a fine performance, C.C. thought as she peeked out from behind the metal door frame.

Clovis' face suddenly twisted from the kind one which he had miserably failed to present, to one of disgust. "You know what, you disgust me. You and your entire line disgusts me. You rotten people, the vi Britannias have gotten what they deserve, especially your disgusting bitch of a mother!" Clovis spat at his assailant.

Oh, bad move, boy. Extremely bad move. The brat was even more foolish than she thought. Insulting Lelouch and Marriane? What was he thinking? Oh, but she was pleased. Lelouch's rection would probably not disappoint.

To C.C.'s astonishment, however, Lelouch merely gave Clovis a smile for a few moments, nothing more nothing less. He hadn't shot, or even hit Clovis for his impudence. Well, maybe he doesn't have it in him-, C.C. started before she saw Lelouch entrench a knife deep within Clovis' neck.

Nothing could possibly match her glee at seeing Clovis' blood splatter across the room as Lelouch tore into his being, ripping him apart. Is that what I look like when someone kills me?, C.C. couldn't help but laugh. Luckily, the murderer had been too focused on his brother to hear her. After another few moments of violent slashing, all that remained of Clovis was his untouched, yet pale face, and some pink and red bits which littered the floor. Deciding that the main act of the show was over, C.C. departed from the MCC, though not without grabbing a slice of pizza that someone had left sitting out on a nearby table.

Outside, C.C. stood, silently munching on her snack as she waited for Lelouch. I wonder if he'll tell me about… that, she said to herself. It was another test of sorts, to see if the boy had split personalities, or felt any remorse. Surely enough, Lelouch, as coolly as ever, strode out of the MCC. The immortal wondered how he could so casually walk away from the site of a vicious murder. He looked at her for a moment. The unspoken question in his eyes. "Sorry for getting lost," C.C. said with a streak of cheese at the side of her mouth.

"You're saying you got lost, yet you're nonchalantly munching at a slice of pizza?"

Luckily for C.C., Lelouch hadn't noticed the pizza that the soldiers had left behind in the Mobile Command Center. It was not from Pizza Hut, but it would serve.

"Whatever," Lelouch huffed, "Let's just get back to Ashford Academy. I have people there that are probably worried sick about me."

"You know, maybe you should take a shower first and grab a change of clothes."

He looked at himself for a moment, then a disturbing smile creeped onto his face.

"What's so funny?" C.C. asked him, though it was a rhetorical question.

"Oh, nothing, I'm just glad that my family's bloodline has gotten a bit more pure."

Oh, this one will do just fine.

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