Well, this took me all break, but it's finally done. Now then, please enjoy the final installment of the Laws of Equivalence. But with that being said, be prepared for something you won't believe next chapter. Please review, favorite, follow, or do anything else that you see fit.
Chapter 10 (2/2)
The Laws of Equivalence
Part 3 (2/2)
It had been 4 days since Narita was concluded. At first glance, nothing was different at Ashford at the time. But as far as Kallen could see, the slight differences that Lelouch had made were beginning to make waves of change among everyone. The Japanese heralded Zero as the one man that could liberate Japan from the tyrannical Britannia, and possibly, destroy Britannia completely. The students at Ashford, however, were divided. Some of them saw Zero as a champion of the common man, rather than just the "elevens", considering that he supposedly stood for justice. Others saw Lelouch as their mortal enemy, seeing him more as a rebellious figure that would set fire to their lives and burn through their home of Britannia, leaving nothing but chaos in his wake.
In a small way, both sides are right. Kallen thought to herself, a cheerful smile reaching it's way across her face. But just as it formed, it disappeared. Kallen knew that this was no time to take it easy. The last time I thought something like that, Shirley's father had apparently died, and it was by my hand. She reminded herself as she entered the room. It was time for the council meeting, and afterwards there was the Black Knights meeting. Now that Narita is over, the Black Knights need to focus on repairing the Guren, or be preparing for contact with Kyoto.
Lelouch sat quietly in his chair, occasionally giving glances towards Shirley and Kallen. Suzaku was absent due to Narita, and Rivalz was sitting across from the purple-eyed demon of a man. C.C. sat on the other side of Shirley, enjoying a slice of pizza as she did her share of the work. Kallen didn't like it, nor would she admit it, but she wanted to talk to Lelouch about Narita, and about why he was acting so paranoid ever since. Kallen took her seat next to Milly, and she noticed that Nunnally had followed her into the room, her blue eyes seeming to be full of love and compassion. But Kallen knew, on the inside, Nunnally was in just as much pain, if not more so, as she was. Kallen had been crying in secret ever since Lelouch died, but Nunnally; she would probably cry whenever she wasn't in public.
Stay strong Nunnally. This will be over before you know it. Lelouch had told her during their last meeting. She knew what Lelouch was doing was for the good of the world, but she could still feel her heart crying out for him, her entire mind moaning in the agony that was loneliness. Lelouch's dead smile was brilliantly pictured in her head every time she looked at him. She knew he was wearing a mask for everyone, and that his true face was never really seen by anyone, herself included.
Lelouch could barely focus at all, let alone on his own work. The green geass kept popping back up in his mind, as if his memory was a broken record, unable to recall anything but that. The Laws of Equivalence. Just what are those? He kept asking himself, unable to decipher it at face value. He had asked C.C repeatedly about what those were, but she scuffed him off as usual. She would never tell him anything important like that unless the situation called for it. His eyes lingered on two people in particular, the two people he knew were the most vulnerable to the Britannian military, or worse, Mao.
One of them was Shirley, the girl who he had made suffer during the previous timeline. He knew it wasn't necessarily his fault about what had happened to her, but he was guilty all the same. She died in his arms, her clothes soaked in a puddle of her own blood. She told him that she would love him for the rest of eternity, even if she was to die more than twice. He knew that because of her father's connections to Narita, he would most likely be questioned by the authorities and/or the media about what had happened. And in doing so, could still leave Shirley vulnerable to what that psychopath had in mind for her.
The other was Kallen, his powerful ace of the Black Knights. After removing Kallen's mother from the Stratfield manor, it wasn't easy keeping the Britannian police from doing a search for her. Jeremiah had exhausted himself and his resources to get them to drop the case, which wasn't easy to begin with considering the 'Orange" circumstances that impeded his word a bit. Because of that, he was determined to keep them both safe. Kallen could handle herself for the most part, but he kept in contact with her whenever he could, just to be safe.
Shirley, on the other hand, was not safe. He wanted her away from him, away from the very nature that was his geass and his own being. However, out of no where, he felt a mild bumping on his head. He looked up, seeing as it was Milly, glaring at him as if he had stared off into space. And when he thought about it, it was very likely he did.
Milly glanced down at Lelouch, the slacker seeming startled at what she had done to him. "Wake up Lelouch!" She demanded, knowing that she had probably just woke Lelouch up from a daydream he was having. Lelouch blinked twice, and she began to scold him. "I know you were sleeping, Lelouch. Your hands stopped moving."
Lelouch simply smiled, knowing that she had the right to hit him like that. "Well, you don't have to beat me up over it, do you?" He asked her sarcastically, knowing that Milly was most likely hatching another scheme to get him to confess. It would be a problem if the truth was revealed by her methods. The last time she pushed me into a corner, I accidentally awakened Nunnally. So, if the plans she comes up with continue to be as well thought out as that last one, I'll have to keep on my toes. He thought to himself, his eyes briefly going back and forth between her and Kallen.
C.C looked over at Lelouch, a slight smile forming across her face as she saw Milly scolding him. "You should try harder to pay attention to what your doing Lelouch." She told him, knowing exactly how he'd respond. "One mistake is all it takes to create disaster." She reminded him, knowing that it was his bad judgement that had caused the death of Joseph Fenette last time, and what caused Shirley to be tortured by Mao. Mao! Her mind stopped there, knowing it would not be long until he located her, and at the same time, Lelouch. Last time he showed up, it had put Lelouch into a stranglehold. He won't be able to get to Shirley this time though. She reminded herself, her gaze returning to her roommate.
Shirley kept staring down at her work, and avoided eye contact with Lelouch. It had been 2 days since her father returned home from Narita, and the things he said made her cringe with every word. I only have a short while now. She reminded herself as she took a glance over at the raven-haired boy, his violet eyes displaying the hopeless genius he really was. She felt a breath blast from behind her, and as she turned, she saw the only person who was close to Lelouch where she could get a straight answer; Cecilia.
"Uh… why are you looking at me like that CC?" She asked nervously, trying her best to look the lime-haired girl in the eye. Ever since Nunnally got her eyes back, she had felt a little betrayed by Cecilia. Milly or no Milly, she had gagged her as Lelouch was interrogated. It wasn't easy to trust her since then. But then again, it wasn't really her own decision. After all, Suzaku helped capture and restrain Lelouch, and they're the best of friends. Her breath became shallow, and she began to speak again. "You look like your worried about something?" She asked the immortal witch.
C.C averted her gaze, looking out into space as she answered the red-head. "You seem to be concerned about something…" She told her, wanting nothing more but to disappear at the moment. It was easy for her to keep an eye on Lelouch last time because she didn't have to interact with anyone. But now that she was part of the student council, it was hard not to consider them friends. Lelouch, why must you make things so difficult for me? She kept asking herself, turning her attention back towards Shirley. She put on a concerned face, then asked the girl a question of her own. "Is there something that's troubling you?"
Shirley nearly jumped out of skin at the question, her eyes faintly going toward Lelouch. The boy wasn't someone you would expect to always come to class, but lately… "Uh yeah. But can we talk about it in the hallway, alone?" she asked, C.C merely nodding in response. The two of them got up from their chairs, handing Rivalz the remainder of their work. They exited the room, and Shirley let out a sigh of relief, even though her heart was still pounding at her chest as fast as a speeding bullet.
(Government Bureau, 11:23)
It was bitter cold in the conference room, and yet the air was as thick as fog. All around her, Euphemia saw the ministers of Area 11, General Darlton, Lord Guilford, and of course her sister, Viceroy Cornelia. She felt really out of place among them, despite her being a royal princess of the empire. They were all active political members, and all she could ever do was sit back and watch as the people around her carried on with their actions. In front of her, there was a man with deep, black eyes and frail gray hair. Euphemia wasn't sure about what his name was, but she was sure he was the vice-minister of Area 11. He sat up in his chair, looking as bold and confident as an adviser could be. He began to speak, his voice sounding like an old gentlemen from the homeland, the way an adviser to the viceroy should sound.
"The Japan Liberation Front was nearly wiped out by your Narita operation, Viceroy." The vice minister told her, his voice brimming with confidence. He didn't take part of anything at Narita, so he was unfamiliar with the details surrounding it. But, in spite of that, he assumed that it was successful, due to the fact that the JLF forces were dwindling down into mere dozens of supporters. "Now, we're hunting down the survivors, one by one." He lied. In reality, most of the JLF forces had disappeared from their own forces. But if the Viceroy knew that, it could jeopardize the entire revenue of Area 11. Cornelia would probably have us fill in the subway tunnels and send troops in to smoke out the terrorists. Better not tell her about the major details.
Cornelia glared at the minister with a vengeful fire in her eyes. "Are you being sarcastic?!" She accused, knowing that Narita was anything but a success. Zero had managed to outsmart her, for the third time now. And what was worse, he had managed to overpower most of her forces with a single move. "We're barely pulling our forces back together after that fiasco." She raged, knowing full well of what they were going to say to her and Guilford about this.
The minister's eyes widened as he began to panic, knowing that he had most likely just angered his viceroy, and was most likely going to be penalized for it. His breath became shallow as he staggered out a response. "No, I, I didn't mean to…" He managed, before being cut of by Cornelia's personal knight.
Guilford scowled at the incompetent fools that sat across from him. They are nothing more than filthy, money grubbing idiots acting in place of government officials. Hmph... and Britannia is supposed to be the greatest country on Earth. He thought to himself, knowing that if had said anything like that out loud, he'd most likely stir up a lot of trouble for him and his princess. He huffed out a puff of air, and began to speak, his tone only showing half of his frustration. "The Occupation Government is responsible for this. They've done nothing about Area 11's subways and mining railways." He reminded them, his tone sounding as irritated as a festering flesh wound. "In the ghettos, they falsify the registries and property deeds as the rebellion spreads unchallenged!"
The minister's blood ran as cold as ice, and his breathing became shallow and rapid. He felt himself wanting to collapse, and as his eyes blinked rapidly, he felt cold sweat run down his body. "Uh….. " He managed to get out, his mind stammering for a reasonable explanation for what Guilford had told them. His thoughts raced, each second feeling like an eternity on it's own. His eyes widened as he finally came up with a solution, and silently pleaded for mercy from the universe. "But Lord Guilford, the subway tunnels stretch over the entire country. We can't just fill them all in. We just don't have the budget." He explained, but to no avail. Cornelia's scowl didn't change, her being seeming to radiate with anger. He could feel her presence penetrate his soul, and fear traveled all the way to the front of his mind.
"The terrorists are using them as their strike bases and escape routes." Guilford retaliated, his temper reaching a boiling point. After Narita, it was clear that there was someone working with Zero on the inside. Jeremiah Gottwald was the most likely suspect, but without him or even his corpse, they had no evidence or confession to prove it. And what was worse, it seemed that the former members of the Purist division were beginning to question the higher-ups just as much as they suspected them. With this much disarray, we'll have to weed out the weak ones and replace them with stronger leaders. Guilford reminded himself, knowing it was exactly what Cornelia was thinking.
"B... But, Prince Clovis instructed us not to close them." The minister tried to argue, although he knew it was the very same viceroy that was killed by Zero. This probably won't do much, but what else can I do. "He said forcing them would fuel the rebellion, giving the Chinese Federation an excuse to attack." He claimed, knowing that the Chinese Federation had more than enough reason to attack as it was.
Cornelia felt her temper flare, her tolerance reaching a point where it was a fragile as stained glass. She couldn't believe the garbage she was hearing from the vice minister. An excuse for the Chinese Federation to attack? Is that the best excuse you could come up with to save yourself? She wanted to say to him, knowing that the word imbecile was quite appropriate to describe him. If he thinks that they would attack us because of the rebellion, then… Her thought froze, her mental words manifesting into audible sounds.
"They've already got their excuse. Zero is growing stronger and bolder every day." She reminded them, sounding as irritated as she could possibly be at this point. Zero had defeated her in Saitama, belittled her during the hotel hijacking at lake Kawaguchi, and had now left her nearly defenseless after the mess at Narita. Zero, once I have my forces reassembled, we will take out the last of the resistance groups in Area 11. And once that is done, I'm coming for you!
Darlton looked at Cornelia with stone cold eyes, silently telling her this was not the time to lose her cool. She nodded in agreement, seeing that Darlton was correct about this. She needed to focus on the task at hand, then assign blame when it was the right time. He then turned his attention to the minister, his stone walled face scowling at him.
Darlton began to speak, his deep voice overpowering the minister with ease. "Vice-Minister." When Area 11 came under Britannian rule, Internal Affairs appointed a special group of the Elevens to self-govern the ghettos, isn't that right?"
"Yes. That is correct General Darlton." He simply answered, his spine becoming flimsy and frail on the inside.
Darlton scoffed at the minister's reply, seeing that he was only saying what he needed to say. "Are you telling me the truth, or are you unaware of the NAC?" He said sarcastically. "In any case, we looked for the evidence of the NAC's conspiracies when we stormed Narita. However, most of the potential evidence was buried in the landslide. Still our suspicions remain high. If we suppress them now…" He attempted to point out, before being interrupted by the vice minister once again.
"Now wait just a minute!" He yelled, trying to sound as if he were in control of the situation. His voice, however, faltered These are just rumors. There's no evidence of that at all. Besides, if you suppress them, then the Eleven's economy will certainly collapse. That means no tax revenue to send to the homeland." He concluded, knowing that was his best defense against aggressive action. After all, if things seem to be out of control in Area 11, Emperor Schneizel would first point the blame towards the long term leaders. Since Cornelia has only been viceroy for a few weeks now, he'll most likely blame me and the rest of the ministers. That means we could get fired, or worse, arrested. "Besides, it's a prime directive of the empire that Numbers should take care of their own kind."
Cornelia's eyes looked straight at the minister, her gaze piercing through him like a sword. Her expression was enraged, and she could feel every last drop of blood in her body boil at his remark. "So you want us to leave the NAC alone?" She asked sarcastically, knowing that he was only looking out for himself in the matter. Typical official. When it comes to blaming others, your the first to point fingers. But when you yourself are questioned, you immediately deny it in order to save your own skin. She thought to herself, wanting nothing more than to confine him for the greedy behavior he was displaying in front of her. However, I can't do that without a good reason, otherwise I'd put my reputation on the line as well. "If that's the case, tell me something: What exactly have you done to find the Black Knights?" She asked him, knowing exactly how he'd answer.
The minister paused, uncertain about how the viceroy would respond to the findings. He swallowed his heart, and gave her the update. "We analyzed the shield machine they left showing Zero was behind the Narita operation. But that's all we've got." He told her in a hurry, then realized he needed an explanation for the lack of results. He pondered at what to respond with, his heart nearly stopping with every second. That's it. He thought to himself as he gave what he thought was a perfect excuse. "You can't squeeze information out of corpses."
Cornelia arose from her chair, her temper becoming like fire. She walked over to the window, seeing the far extent of the Tokyo settlement in her eyes, and began to speak to him. "So you can't catch Zero and you don't want us to hit Kyoto." She restated, knowing that he was most likely sweating bullets at this point. She turned to face him, her eyes engulfed in the flames of her rage. Tell me minister, are you familiar with the word incompetent?" She asked rhetorically, knowing she had probably taken away any courage he had left in him. "Because you of all people should be. After all, it's for people who can't get results."
(Student Council Room, 14:09)
Lelouch felt a tidal wave of air rush out of his mouth as he sighed in relief. He collapsed onto the couch, wanting to do nothing more than rest before he returned to the Black Knights. It had been a long day at Ashford. Milly had them go through 10 sheets of paperwork this morning, and had them jot down ideas for the event to celebrate Nunnally getting her eyes back.
In truth, it wasn't that horrible, but it was still a lot of work. Lelouch chided himself, knowing that that was nothing compared to the Zero Requiem. He had made himself the world's true enemy, and then ordered Suzaku to execute him on international television. It was enough to be back here in the first place, let alone trying to correct and prevent the mistakes he had made in the previous timeline.
Suddenly, the door flew open, and the ace of the Black Knights entered the room, a concerned look across her face. In actuality, Kallen didn't know what to say, or what to do at the moment. All she knew was that she had to tell him, no matter what. She walked over to him, her heart nearly stopping with every footstep. She took in a small breath, and began to speak in a soft and frail voice. "Lelouch… I…" She tried to say before her breath dried up, her words beginning to fail her for the first time since the Zero Requiem.
Lelouch turned his gaze to align with hers without a single hesitation. Lelouch smiled at her, seeing as she was wearing the mask of a helpless schoolgirl again, using it as a cover to hide her true intentions. "Kallen, is there something I can help you with?" He asked her with a sincere tone, the words themselves washing over Kallen like a gentle wave. "Or rather, is there something you wish to talk to me about?"
Kallen stood there, frozen in her own tracks. She sighed slightly as she continued to walk over to him, until she was right next to him, sitting right next to him on the couch. She took in a deep breath, and looked him in his purple eyes. "Lelouch… I didn't get the chance to say this before Narita started, so I'm going to say it now, and I'll only say this once, so listen up." She demanded, swallowing her pride at the same time. "Thank you. For helping my mom and all." She whispered out, knowing that Lelouch would never say thank you to anyone he truly didn't appreciate.
Lelouch's eyes widened for a brief second, unsure about what Kallen was thinking as she said that. A thank you? He closed his eyes at the notion, knowing what she was thinking. "Your welcome Kallen. But there was no need for a thank you." He told her, knowing that she would have thanked him regardless. "After all, your mother is the reason you fight, correct?"
"That's not all I fight for…" She thought out loud, before clamping her mouth shut almost immediately. She couldn't see it, but she could feel a blush stretch across her face. Dammit! Not now! Kallen screamed in her head. Ever since Lelouch gave her her memories back, she wanted to get close to him again. Now she was all alone with him, and all she wanted to do was… No. Get a grip Kallen! Her mind kept telling her, reminding her of where they were.
"Really?" Lelouch implied, the simple word digging through Kallen's mind like a drill. He knew that Kallen had fought for the people of Japan as much as she did for herself and for her mother better than anyone. But from her tone of voice and the reaction she gave afterwards implies something else. Could it be that… Lelouch deduced, before coming to a halt in his thought process. His heart felt like it had been stabbed again, aching and feeling warm on the inside. "Kallen…"
Kallen's eyes flashed open, and softly sighed as she removed her hands from her mouth. She could feel her heart throbbing against her chest, and her thoughts were racing faster than she could interpret them. Her breath became uneasy as she placed her hand to her side. She felt as if she were dreaming, the real world nothing more than a distant place from where she was. Her blush grew larger, until most of her face was as red as her own hair. She looked at Lelouch, and nearly gasped at what she saw. His face was as red as hers was, and his eyes were attempting to avoid her gaze. "Lelouch... " She whispered as she leaned closer to him, Lelouch doing the same.
For that moment, it felt as if time itself had stopped all around them, leaving only Lelouch and Kallen free to move. Her heart began to race as she closed her eyes, her heart burning with a fiery force. And with every second that passed, Kallen could feel herself getting closer to Lelouch, feeling the warm of his breath and body. She wrapped her arm around his neck as he pulled her closer, her heart now beating faster than she could keep track of.
Suddenly, Kallen felt her heart stop, her lips feeling a familiar smooth texture pressing against hers. She pressed her lips harder as she realized what had happened. Lelouch felt the heat of his heart radiate with the intensity of the sun, and yet, he didn't care. He pressed his lips harder against Kallens, the intensity between the two seeming to rise. He pulled her in closer, feeling her body press against his own. He opened his mouth slightly as he pulled away from her, taking in a breath of air before he pulled away from her completely. He was happy, and yet he was terrified. Terrified at what he had done.
Out of nowhere, however, the sound of falling books appeared behind them, surprising both Lelouch and Kallen. They turned their heads, still startled by the noise they had just heard. Lelouch's eyes widened at the sight, his body beginning to tremble at the figure he saw. His breath became shallow, his lungs feeling hard and heavy. He sat there, feeling frozen in his tracks as he gazed at the person he had hope would never learn about what had just happened.
Shirley stood there, the tears in her eyes nearly blinding her. Her heart felt like it had been cut open, and the insides were ripped out of her. But then again, what did you expect? A voice kept telling her, mocking her with the obvious facts. She noticed how Kallen acted around Lelouch, all the time they spent together with Nunnally, and now this. Of course this happened, little miss too scared to do anything. She turned around, running out of the room in a hurry. After all of this, all of the opportunities she had, she still lost to a sick school girl who was away half the time.
"Shirley… Wait!" Lelouch got out of his chair at lightning speed, running to the door as fast as he could. He looked outside in the hallway, seeing nothing but an emptiness both ways. He knew that it was time for swim practice, so that's where she would most likely be headed on her normal routine. But after… I doubt she would even talk to me right now. He deduced, knowing how badly Shirley would've taken this. First, I took her father, then her memories. After that, she was killed by Rolo, who was trying to keep my identity a secret. And this time, even with all my knowledge and experience, I still ended up breaking her heart. He told himself, nearly on the verge of tears. And if I can't keep myself from doing that much... then why the hell am I even doing all of this again in the first place?
"It wasn't very nice, but it was equal alright." The voice of the witch said to him. Lelouch immediately turned around, seeing that the witch had snuck up on him again. He scowled at her, seeing that she clearly knew something about all of this. He gritted his teeth, staring C.C down with a vengeful look in his eye. C.C. merely tilted her head as she frowned at him. "Don't give me that look Lelouch. It's not my fault you hurt her again."
"Damn witch, what the hell did you mean by equal?! What's going on here?!" He demanded, knowing that this was most likely the only chance he would get to learn exactly what was going on. He huffed at her, trying to get himself to calm down. But regardless, he found that his heart was restless. His breathing was heavy and shallow at the same time, his head aching with agony, and his chest pounding from all of the mixed emotions he was feeling.
"The Laws of Equivalence." She said cryptically. "Only the Collective Consciousness knows the specifics, but they work in a very simple way. You see, last time, you caused most of the Britannians to dislike you at this point, while a lot of the Japanese saw you as a light of hope." She explained, knowing that she would probably leave him more confused than he was now. "But, seeing as you have many more Japanese and Britannian supporters than you did before, the ones who go against you now have more anger and hatred towards you than they did before, thus balancing the scales of love and hate."
Lelouch glared at C.C with fiery tears in his eyes, his own temper beginning to flare. "C.C, for once in our entire partnership, I need a straight answer." He demanded, wanting to know exactly what she was saying. His anger was rising, as well as his despair. I came back to the past to correct my mistakes, not make new ones. He told himself, trying to understand what was going on. C.C looked him in the eye, her expression as coldly bored as ever.
"I forgot that you are not to good with spiritual knowledge." She told him, mocking him on an infinitesimal level. "You always were somewhat of a materialist. So I'll put it in simpler terms you can understand." She told him, walking over to the window, her back turned to the former demon emperor. "You see Lelouch, mankind cannot gain anything without first sacrificing something. Therefore, in order to obtain, something of equal value is required. That goes for both the physical world and the psychological world." She told, sounding as if she was feeling a combination of grief and pity. "And since that is the case, there is always a balance in everything. Between good luck and bad luck, between right and wrong..." She continued, seeming to become more upset with each example. "... And of course, the balance between life and death."
Lelouch's eyes filled with horror as he realized the meaning behind it all. So, if that is the case… He thought to himself as he began to tremble, losing his balance for a brief second. He closed his eyes, not wanting to see anything around him, knowing that changing things would not save any number of lives. He lost the feeling in his knees, the fear and frustration taking away his balance as he fell to his knees. He caught himself as he began to collapse, holding himself up by his own hands, his mind completely in shock. If what C.C is saying is true... He thought to himself, his mind and heart weeping like a small child. Then why am I here at all?
(Black Knights hideout, 19:02)
Kallen had barely looked at Lelouch since the meeting started, her eyes averting him as much as possible. We kissed. Lelouch and I actualy kissed. And it wasn't just me kissing him this time. He kissed me back, and it was with a genuine passion, I know it. So, why do I feel rotten inside? She kept asking herself. But deep down, she knew why she felt awful about it. When it was all over, she saw the look on Shirley's face, the tears that were flowing down from her eyes. It was a look that Kallen knew all too well. After all, it was the same look that she had when Lelouch died, and everyday since.
And what's worse, I'm the one who did this, again. She reminded herself, knowing that she had broken Shirleys fragile heart once again. She cursed herself for doing what she did, and she told herself not to act like that again. It stung, but it was nothing compared to the dagger that had been shoved through it earlier. But then again, it's not as bad as having her father murdered. She tried to tell herself, knowing that there was still somewhat of a bright side to this. She looked up from her magazine, seeing that Ohgi was about to speak.
"Kyoto praised us for using the Guren Mk-II so well." He reported, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. He never thought he'd hear any acknowledgement from Kyoto, let alone praise from them. It's certainly a change in the tide. He thought to himself, seeing that everyone was somewhat happy. But as he remembered why he was giving the report, he turned his attention back to Zero, preparing to say what had to be said. "I thought that was encouraging."
Kallen sighed, lowering her magazine to meet Lelouch's gaze. She wanted to talk to him alone, to sort this whole mess out between themselves. But I'm not that girl right now. Nor is he the boy that I love at the moment. She reminded herself, taking in a deep breath. He's Zero right now, and I'm his ace. That's all that matters at the moment. "Yeah, but we lost Narita." She reminded them all, remembering the fierce combat that she had with Suzaku. Even with her memories of the previous timeline, he was still a formidable opponent, and was more than willing to fight her to the death at the moment. "If anything, we should be regrouping with Katase and his forces."
Tamaki grinned like a madman at what Kallen said, his attitude seeming to be as if he were drunk. "So what?! It was a tie Kallen. A tie!" He shouted at the top of his lungs, chuckling like hell. But just as soon as the laughing fool stopped, his expression became confused, as if he was unaware of something."Wait, what do you mean by regrouping with Katase's forces?"
Kallen smirked at this slightly, seeing that Tamaki was about as dimwitted as ever. "What, didn't you get the memo Tamaki?" She teased, knowing he was always the last person to figure out anything. "In exchange for our services at Narita, Katase dissolved the JLF and had their supplies and personnel transfer to the Black Knights." She informed him, his reaction seeming to be in complete shock at what she said.
Lelouch was lost in thought, wondering about what C.C had said to him. Her words echoed in his mind, taunting him with all of the possible outcomes. So even with all of the precautions I've taken to prevent the previous tragedies, there will be others. I'll have to be ready for anything from now on… He thought to himself, before he found himself being handed the note from Kyoto. Lelouch unfolded the paper as he examined it, his attention refocused onto the task at hand. That's right. The meeting with Kirihara is tomorrow. However, I better act as if I don't no what it is. "What's this?" He asked, knowing exactly what Ohgi would say next.
"A love letter." He simply answered, then realizing that Zero would take it the wrong way. Oh great, now what's he going to say after receiving a love letter? He thought to himself as he imagined what Zero was possibly thinking from that sentence alone.
Lelouch looked at the note with a blank expression on his face. A request from the Kyoto group, just like before. Lelouch thought to herself, noticing that there was nothing different about the request. I see then. Kaguya and the 6 houses of Kyoto are unaware of that Katase has joined the Black Knights. If that's the case… He thought to himself, concocting a plan to gain even more support than he could with just Kyoto's support.
He needed to respond to the others, and even more so, he needed to get his mind off of Shirley. He felt his heart begin to ache as he remembered the expression she had. The look of complete despair. Shirley, I swear… I'll make things right again. No matter what it takes. He swore in his head as looked over at Kallen. "I'm guessing this is from you?" He joked, trying to get his mind back on the matter at hand.
Tamaki grinned once more, bursting into an utter fit of laughter "A-ha-ha-ha-ha!" he bellowed, seeming to forget that he was right next to Kallen and Inoue. "And they say you have no sense of humor. A-ha-ha. Oh boy…" He managed, before his words were drowned out by the sound of his own laughter. He could feel his lungs expand and contract, the very movement
Kallen had kept her face hidden under her magazine, hiding the fact that her face was as red as her own hair. Lelouch knew about her feelings, and as usual, he was toying with them to help himself and everyone around him. He always was someone I wanted to punch half the time. She remembered, reflecting on the previous timeline. She sighed, remembering all the times that Lelouch showed the fact that he cared. He didn't say much, but his actions always spoke for him. He always hide his feelings, thinking that keeping it to himself would be the best way for us not to deal with it. She thought, before her train of thought was interrupted by Tamaki as he barked in her ear.
"Hey, Kallen didn't say anything when Zero cracked that joke. That's not like you Kallen." He reminded her, looking closely at her expression. Kallen tried to enrage herself, wanting to push the blush she had on her face aside. But no matter how hard she tried, her face remained flushed, and Tamaki's suspicious look faltered, becoming a taunting grin. "I see. Wow." He shouted to where everyone in the van, if not the entire ghetto. "No wonder you were on my ass at Narita. You've got a crush on Zero, don't…." He managed to get out, before he found himself on the floor, his eye swelling from where Kallen had punched him.
Kallen scowled at Tamaki, her temper reaching a boiling point. Tamaki was the one person she hoped didn't figure it out. She had kept it between her and Lelouch since the day that Lelouch left the Ikaruga. And I'm going to keep it that way. Got it Tamaki?! She proclaimed ion her head as she began to speak. "You know, that laugh of yours is about as annoying as you are sometimes, you know that."
Ohgi looked at Kallen with a confused look across his face. She hit him. I'm not surprised at that, but… He tried to read Kallen's face, but it was all so confused. Kallen, you look so… broken up. He shook the thought, knowing that Kallen was the strongest one in the room. He turned his attention back to Zero, remembering the letter that he had just given him. "It's an official letter from Kyoto." He stated out loud, making sure that everyone heard him. "They urgently request a meeting."
Lelouch scuffed at Ohgi, knowing full well that Kyoto's support would be more symbolic than anything else at this point. "Is this really such a big deal?" He asked, sarcasm lingering in his tone. He lowered the paper down, seeing that nearly all of the Black Knights were looking at him as if he was a mad man. Then again, that is a possibility, considering all that I've done. He chided himself, knowing that he had snapped a long time ago.
Inoue looked at him with a confused scowl across her face. She didn't know what he was thinking. First he had us jump down on a building at Saitama, then had us fight our way through Cornelia's forces at Narita, and now he doesn't want to even meet with Kyoto?! She shouted to herself, resisting the urge to pull his mask right off of his face. "A big deal?!" She exclaimed, her voice sounding confused and irritated at the same time. "This is Kyoto were talking about here."
Ohgi sighed, his smile slowly returning to his face "If they accept us, it means funding and support." He told his masked leader, knowing that the Black Knights needed all the help they could get. After all, not everyone in the ghettos supported them. There were those who thought that the best way to help the Japanese was to keep the peace between them and Britannia. Fortunately though, no one ever reports our actions to the military, which means were safe for now. But at the rate we're going, it won't be long until they spot us. "And at any rate, this could solve our financial crisis." He thought out loud, before realizing that he had informed Zero about the hiccup in their operation.
Lelouch was aware of Tamaki's outings with the new recruits, the female recruits in particular. However, if I act to calm about it, it will arouse suspicion, and I have enough to deal with at the moment. He reminded himself, the events that happened earlier replaying over and over again in his mind, as if it were a broken record. "Crisis?" He asked knowingly. Ohgi gasped at his response, knowing that he was not supposed to say that in front of their leader. "There shouldn't be any problem if you are following the budget I laid out."
Ohgi's eyes widened as he began to panic, his instincts telling him to back away from Zero slowly. His body, however, was frozen stiff. He rubbed the back of his neck, trying desperately to explain the current circumstances. "Um... well… you see…" He tried to get out, before being interrupted by the annoying sound of Tamaki's voice.
"Hey! It's not my fault!" Tamaki barked before he realized that no one had pointed a finger towards him. Crap! I shouldn't have said that! He told himself in hindsight. He needed to act quickly to prevent the others from putting two and two together. He thought up the most obvious excuse he could say at the time, and the words rolled out of his mouth as he thought them up. "We're turning into a big organization now! That means new expenses, you know!" He tried to point out, before he saw the smug glance he was receiving from the red head who had just punched one of his lights out.
Kallen looked at him with the same smile that she had on her face last time, but this time it was even more sweet. Well, looks like it's payback for that comment about me Tamaki. She thought to herself devilishly. "Like fancy French dinners for the new recruits so you can show off?" She said sarcastically, knowing exactly what his reaction would be. Tamaki's mouth gaped open at what she said, if only for a brief instant. She giggled on the inside, satisfied with the look she had received from him.
"Say what?!" He barked angrily, wanting to strangle the girl at that very moment. but all the while, underneath that sheer irritation, he was terrified at the fact that Kallen was aware of what he was doing behind Zero's back. Was it wrong of him for wanting to look important to the new guys so that they would show him some respect? Damn it Kallen! Is this your way of getting back at me for the crack I made, or is this just for your amusement? He kept asking in his head, wanting to do nothing but disappear at the moment.
"I know where you've been taking them, big spender!" She returned eagerly, wanting nothing more, at the moment at least, than to see the bastard squirm. She had to admit though, behind the joy of seeing the bastard squirm, she was feeling pretty crappy about what had happened between her and Lelouch. The whole time it was happening, she could feel fireworks between them, the sheer excitement and passion coursing through her veins at lightning speeds. She didn't want it to end. But when it did… She thought to herself, remembering the pain that was in Shirley's eyes, the tears that had formed inside of them.
Kallen tried to keep those thoughts out, desperately trying to preserve that moment as a good experience. But every time she did, she found that there was more evidence to support the claim that it made everything worse for her, and even more so for Lelouch. Is this what happens to people like me when we act too selfish? Or… is fate determined to give me and her heartache?
Lelouch looked at Tamaki, completely aware of what needed to be done about his actions. Just like before, I suppose. He thought to himself, then began to speak. "Hmph... Well for the time being," He began, looking over at Tamaki directly. "Ohgi will be in charge of the treasury." And just like that, Tamaki's temper reached a boiling point. As short fused and dimwitted as ever. He thought to himself.
"Now hold it right there!" Tamaki barked, his black eye now beginning to swell. It looked like the eyeball was covered in a bulging form of blackened flesh. His tone, although he sounded like he was in some pain, sounded frustrated and insulted at the same time. "I'm the one that's in charge of the cash! That's my job!" He demanded, knowing that was the one respectable job he had in the Black Knights.
Lelouch lowered the note, putting it on the table. He turned to Tamaki, his voice sounding prideful and annoyed at the same time. "If you want me to trust you then show me some results." He told him, wanting to be certain that this did not happen a second time with him. Of course, Lelouch was aware of the financial crisis before it even begun, but noticing it without an explanation would only cause problems and spread rumors about being spied on by Zero himself.
Tamaki's temper had blown a fuse. He had been forced to battle one of the strongest military armies in the world, against his will, and Zero expected him to act trustworthy and get some results. "Trust?!" He screamed, his rage now out of control. "You hide your face from us, and you go off to say that bullshit?! How hypocritical can you get?!" He raged, his entire body shouting at him, telling him to break that mask right off of his face.
Kallen's hand balled up, her entire being wanting to give Tamaki another black eye to match the first one. "Hey! Zero is not the problem here, you are." She reminded them all, her tone sounding even more irritated than she was before. She knew Tamaki, and she knew that Tamaki was doing his best to try to turn them away from the real problem. "Who cares who he is? He had the skill to outwit Cornelia. And not just once. If you recall, he was able to outwit her 3 times." She exclaimed, all of the Black Knights seeming to be calming down at the notion.
During the Narita operation, they all distrusted Zero before they even started, thinking that he had sentenced them to death. But as the operation went on, and it looked like Cornelia had been defeated, they all began to see Zero as a confident and, more importantly, competent leader. Kallen's voice returned to their ears, her tone sounding bold and proud. "That's why he is the leader of the Black Knights." She reminded them. Now to refresh their memories about why he said he had to wear the mask. "Besides... you don't wanna get geassed, do you?"
(Student Council room, 12:05)
Shirley sat there like a statue, her eyes staring off into space. She couldn't accept what had happened. She knew him for 3 years, while Kallen only knew him for 2 months. She wanted to think that she was wrong about the two of them, hoping that she could be the one to win him over. But yesterday, after seeing Lelouch and Kallen, all she wanted to do was disappear from Ashford, possibly from Area 11 as well. Her heart felt hollow, as if the insides were literally ripped out of her. Her blood ran cold, and the tears that desperately wanted to fall from her eyes stung. No. Don't cry. Shirley, don't make a scene. It's no big deal. She told herself, her eyes drying up almost as quickly as they became teary.
Milly looked over at her red haired friend, seeing despair beginning to form in her eyes. She let out a slight sigh, and began to speak. "OK. What's got you so worried all of a sudden?" She asked, knowing that Shirley wasn't someone who would talk about their feelings, especially if she was in pain. "Constipated?" She continued, trying her best to diagnose the girl for the most likely causes. "Your monthly?"
Shirley cringed at the notion, knowing that Milly would try her best to pry the truth out of her. But even, she could still feel her heart weeping, the images filling her mind with despair. She held it in, her own willpower being exhausted in the process. She looked at the president with a blank expression, trying to keep her feelings as hidden as possible. "No, it's not that."
Milly looked at the girl carefully, observing every last detail of her face. Her eyes narrowed as she thought deeper, her thoughts becoming clearer and clearer until her mind finally settled on an idea. "Aha!" She proclaimed, finally figuring out why her friend was so gloomy. "You're lonely 'cause Lelouch is gone, aren't you?" She stated teasingly, seeing that Shirley perked up the second she heard the words fly out of the blonde's mouth.
Shirley's face began to blush, her mind and heart beginning to feel like they were being poked at. "What?" She asked impulsively, before she processed the words clearly. Her voice became weak and timid, sounding as if she were dying on the inside. "More like... it's because of Lelouch that I feel this way." She lowered her eyes, feeling her heart becoming numb from the pain. She knew that she would be, but she never imagined it would be this painful to think about, let alone talk about it.
Milly's eyes widened as the words flew out of Shirley's mouth. "What do you mean by that?" She tried to ask, only to have her turn away from the blonde bombshell, as if to hide something painful. She hiding something from me, and more importantly, she's refusing to let me help. She sighed, seeing as Shirley was just as stubborn about these things as Lelouch was. If she won't let me in, I'll have to force it out of her. She smiled, pretending that she was in her usual mood, and began to tease her. "You know, your so carefree. While the rest of the world grapples with what happened at Narita, you find the time to think about the little things in this world."
Shirley began to feel flushed and upset at the same time. She felt a hole in her heart, the pain burning through her slowly, almost like a form of torture. "Madam Pres…" She began, sounding like an innocent school girl who just had her diary stolen. "...don't be ridiculous. I do care about what happened at Narita. It's just that... that…"
"It's just that I can't stop thinking about Lelouch." She teased, laughing a bit at the notion. She knew that Lelouch had been on her mind since freshman year, but it was now getting to the point where she was getting fed up with the waiting around. "Is that it?"
Shirley's blush grew larger, and her heart began to scream out in agony. It's bad enough I got rejected. She told herself, not wanting to be ranted on by Milly for being passive about it. But if I act too strongly about it, she'll figure it out. I better act like I usually would. "Don't make fun of me!" She yelled, wanting her to stop reminding her of what happened before.
Milly smiled at this, knowing she was getting closer to a confession out of her. A little more of this and she'll sing like a canary. "Then just tell him already. It's been what... 2 years now." She reminded her, making sure that Shirley knew that it was time for a change in tactics. "Come on, it's just three little words: I like you!."
Shirley was reaching her breaking point by now, her entire mind drowning in despair. She felt hollow on the inside, like her heart had been ripped out of her chest. All she wanted was for the pres to leave her alone about it, but no. It was Milly Ashford after all. She was the girl who would pry and pry and pry, until you eventually spill or snap. "It's too late for that!" She screamed, unable to control her tongue any further. She opened her eyes immediately, and clamped her mouth shut, sealing it with her hands.
Milly gasped at her, unaware of what had happened. But as the blonde school girl peered deeper into Shirley's lime green eyes, she only saw what would be the worst sight she could imagine for her; a broken heart. Her teasing smile disappeared, leaving behind an apologetic expression. She felt guilty for what she had said, which for her, was the first time in a decade. "Oh…" She sighed out, wanting to do nothing but leave the room. "I'm sorry."
Shirley kept quiet, afraid to know what was really going on between Lelouch and Kallen. Her heart began to ache again, wanting nothing more than to forget about the whole thing. What did I do to deserve all this? She pondered, looking at all of the possibilities. Is it because I didn't tell Lelouch how I felt? Is it because I told my father I would marry him as a child? Or is it that…. Her train of thought was cut off, the sound of the door opening capturing her attention. She looked over, dreading the possibility of Lelouch entering the room. But as she looked, the only one she saw was Cecilia.
Milly sighed silently, unsure about what her next move was going to be. She had a plan to finally set things right between Lelouch and Shirley. But now, after one tiny bit of information, her entire plan went up in flames. She looked over at the poor girl, seeing the true despair that was written all over her face. "Still…." She began, hoping to cheer her up. "...we should prepare ourselves a bit. The fact is nothing stays the same forever, you know."
Shirley's eyes became empty, the life slowly draining out of them. "I guess so…" She sighed out, staring at the letter that her father had sent her. She had wanted to go with Lelouch to that concert, even if they were just friends. But now, all she wanted to do was watch the world pass her by. That's all I can do really. She thought to herself, forcing the tears she wanted to form inside. I'm not nobility. I'm not considered to be richer than anyone else in the school, let alone in society. And above all of that, I can't even tell one guy how I feel. She reflected, seeing the darkness that was in her heart.
Milly looked over towards the window, hoping to take her mind off of this whole mess. "You know what, forget I said that." She said with a heavy sigh, immediately turning her guilt into frustration as she saw the person who was responsible for all of this. "And what exactly does Shirley mean by 'It's too late.'?" She asked, slightly amused, but mostly agitated.
In that instant, Shirley's eyes perked up, seeing the infamous genius right in front of her. She felt her heart suddenly stop, her mind desperately wanting to flee. But instead, all she could do was sit there, as if she was frozen solid. She scrambled for words, her voice escaping her halfway through. "Wha... Lelou?! I...I thought you were absent!" She said, trying not to look him directly in his violet eyes. She tried to look as if nothing was wrong, forcing herself to wear a normal face. But deep down inside, she could feel her heart begin to chip away, piece by piece.
Lelouch felt the guilt inside of him pierce his heart, making him feel nearly empty inside. His heart was rotting away now, festering as he kept on living. Shirley… I'll make things right. I promise on the name of Lelouch vi Britannia. "Nunnally had a little fever this morning and Sayoko was busy." he explained, knowing that Nunnally had only pretended to be sick so that the timeline wouldn't be thrown too far off track. "So, I stayed home to help."
Shirley's eyes lowered, not wanting to make eye contact with him. "Oh really, you don't say." There was an odd silence between them, the images of the incident flashing through Shirley's head. She didn't want to admit it, but deep down inside, she wanted to cry her heart out. Can't do that though. I need to be strong. She reminded herself, putting on a concerned face. "So, is Nunna feeling better now?"
"A bit." Lelouch told her as he closed his eyes, inclining his head for good measure. He looked over at Milly, who looked as if someone had just ruined something she had been working on for a long time. No doubt Shirley informed her about what happened, or at least hinted at what happened. That'll make things complicated for us in the future, but it will be nothing but a minor inconvenience at most. "Madam president, those papers?" He asked, trying to keep the timeline as intact as he could at this point. With these Laws of Equivalence having a stranglehold on the timeline, there's no telling what could happen if I stray too far from what happened before. He thought to himself, knowing that he'd have to plan everything carefully from now on.
Milly looked at Lelouch with a hidden fire in her eyes. She had been planning on getting him and Shirley together for months now, and he went and ruined all of her work. And what's worse, he broke the poor girl's heart in the process. She kept thinking to herself, her subconscious thinking of various ways to punish him for this. "Oh, right." She finally remembered, looking over to the paperwork that was in front of Shirley. She pointed at them, Lelouch following her finger to the exact spot. And as he picked them up, she gave him her orders, knowing that it was the least she could do to him for the time being. "Make sure you organize all of them by year and class, OK?" She commanded.
Lelouch nodded as he lifted the papers up, trying his best to avoid Shirley's gaze. He hurt her, and it was his fault, no matter what the laws said about it. He turned his attention towards Nina, who was typing on her computer as usual. I'll have to take care of that later. He reminded himself, knowing that if what she was working on was left unchecked, it would spell doom for the world. But as for the matter at hand… He turned his attention back to Milly, who was somehow giving him the stink-eye behind his back. "You know, you have a real talent for ordering people around." He told her, knowing that she would fire back immediately with a subordinate comment.
"Heh." She replied, knowing that he had intended to have her lighten up. "And you are a great subordinate." She said, her frown still present on her face. And as he walked over to the door, she realized that she never thought she would say something like that without an honest, devilish smile across her face. I suppose there's a first time for everything. But even so… She thought to herself, wondering exactly Lelouch did to make Shirley so upset with him.
Shirley sighed with relief as Lelouch exited the room, her heart rate beginning to steady itself. She was relieved to to know that she had avoided an awkward conversation with him. After all, we're just friends, and that's all we'll ever be in his eyes. She convinced herself, the incident that happened yesterday acting as the perfect evidence. She looked down at where the paperwork was, hoping there was something she could work on. She wanted to keep her mind off of what happened yesterday, and hopefully, forget it all together.
But as she searched for the papers that were never around when she needed them, something caught her eye. Or rather, it was the lack of something that caught her eye. She felt her heart skip a beat as she searched for her father's letter, before it dawned on her: Lelouch accidently took the letter along with his share of the paperwork. But if that's true then… She realized, springing out of her chair before she realized exactly what she was doing, and ran out of the council room as fast as a jackrabbit.
She raced through the hallways, her heart pounding against her ribcage as it ached. Her mind was filling with doubts and visions, all of them telling her to run as fast to him as possible. And as she managed to get a glimpse at him, he exited the building, heading outside to wherever. I can't let him see those tickets. There's just no reason he should know at this point. She kept telling herself, holding back slight tears as she opened the door. "Lelou! Wait." She shouted, nearly out of breath as she did it.
Lelouch stopped dead in his tracks as he heard Shirley call his name. He felt his heart begin to ache again, every molecule in him telling him not to talk to her again. But he knew that this had happened before, and he needed to follow the original timeline until he could figure out a way to keep the Laws of Equivalence from hurting anyone else around him. He turned around, seeing the poor girl out of breath. "What is it?" He asked her rhetorically, feeling as if he knew what she was talking about.
Shirley's face felt flushed, but that was besides the point here. "I... Um…" She stuttered out, her entire body feeling uneasy around him. In all of the years they had known each other, she had never felt this speechless around him, ever. Why is this so hard. It's just a little accident. She tried to convince herself, but she knew otherwise. They were both affected by what happened, and it was eating her away, piece by piece, from the inside out. Her heart ached just thinking about him, let alone being right in front of him. But regardless, I need those things back. And that's all that matters right now. She assured herself, beginning to speak clearly. "Is my dad's letter mixed up with that paperwork?" She promptly asked.
Lelouch looked down at the paperwork he was holding, seeing the concert tickets right in front of him. That's right, today was the day Shirley was planning to… He remembered, the night where they kissed flashing before his eyes. When he looked into her eyes that night, he saw a girl with a broken heart. The tears looked like they had come from the rain, but they both knew they were quite real. "Oh, yeah it is. Sorry about that." He told her, trying to conceal the pain that was lingering in his heart.
But when he looked into her eyes, she saw the same girl he saw back when Mao first appeared, messing with her head until she wanted to kill him and herself. She was hollow, confused, and flustered with an empty feeling. "Look... about the other day-" He tried to apologise, before being interrupted by Shirley.
Shirley forced a faint smile onto her face, trying to look like her old self. It was a fake smile of course, but as far as she knew, it was better than a gloomy school-girl who cried when she was beaten. "Lelou…" She sighed out, wanting nothing more than for him to leave her alone at the moment. "It's fine. It really is."
Lelouch could hardly believe what he was hearing from her. But as he looked into her eyes, he knew she was lying. But she wasn't lying to him though. She wasn't lying to anyone but herself. Shirley. He kept repeating in his mind. How the hell is this equal?! He screamed in his head, knowing that his question was easily answered. He spared her father from his death, preventing her heart ache. By kissing Kallen, he had managed to break her heart in another way, a way he hoped he would never do. But if that's the case, then what the hell could be traded for the torture that Mao inflicted upon her?!
Shirley knew he was struggling inside, judging from the look on his face. He's caught between us, me and Kallen. I see then. He loved us both equally, so he decided not to act on either for as long as he could. That means he was just closer to Kallen then. But if that's the case, then she's in as much as he is right now, seeing him this way and all. She deduced, her own heart now aching even more. She didn't like feeling this way, but she couldn't bear inflicting the feeling onto others. It's not fair. It's just not fair. She repeated in her mind as she walked back inside the clubhouse.
(Narita cleanup operations center, 15:50)
Suzaku looked around him, but there wasn't anything he wanted to see. It had been nearly a week since the Battle for Narita, and he was still having trouble keeping calm. The sight of destruction surrounded him, the smell of rotting flesh filling his nose. He knew that smell well, for he had journeyed with Lelouch and Nunnally across an entire battlefield before. It was the smell of death itself.
But that was not the thing that was really disturbing him. What he was really struggling with was Zero, and the knowledge that he possessed about Suzaku. He knew about my father, and about my reasons for joining the military. He reminded himself, his mind filling up with the memories he had been reminded of. Whoever Zero was, he knew everything about Suzaku. His flaws, his mistakes, his struggles, his weaknesses; everything someone like Zero would need to defeat him, one way or another.
But how did he know all of that? He pondered, hoping to whatever God really was that he was wrong about who was under the mask. Was it all random guessing? Or was he really…. He stopped himself right there, the very thought of Lelouch vi Britannia being Zero too much to bear. It made sense of course, but it wasn't like him at all though. Lelouch never knew about any of the things Zero had told him, and that was more than enough to convince himself it wasn't Lelouch. But, if it's not Lelouch, who else could it- He thought to himself, before his break was interrupted by Lloyd's presence.
Lloyd walked over to Suzaku, adjusting his glasses slightly. Kururugi has been too quiet about all of this. He thought to himself, sensing some negative energy radiating from him. When we located him, all he said was that he engaged Zero in combat, Zero managed to surprise him, and he had somehow disabled the Lancelot, allowing him to escape. He didn't even say that the enemy used gefjun disturbance technology until after we arrived back at the base. He reflected, knowing that gefjun disturbance technology had been but a theory until now. Rakshata's theory. "Dug enough bodies out of the landslide, yet?" He asked sarcastically, changing the subject in his head.
Suzaku gasped slightly, nearly jumping out of his skin. But as quickly as he had reacted, he calmed down just as fast. Everyone who's died here, their blood… it's on my hands just as much as it's on Zero's hands. He told himself, knowing that Zero was part of a resistance movement, which meant that he was the one who created Zero in the first place. "Lloyd, if it's alright with you and the higher-ups, I'd like to continue aiding the recovery operation." He said halfheartedly, his own mind being crushed out of the sheer guilt that he had in his heart.
Lloyd smirked at his reaction, expecting just as much from his test pilot. Well, he certainly doesn't mind working when it helps people rather than kill them. He thought to himself, knowing that Suzaku was only willing to kill out of duty rather than for his own sake. "Be my guest till it's out of your system." He simply said, turning his back towards Suzaku. "Consider it Princess Cornelia's pleasure to indulge you." He told him as he began to walk away.
Suzaku looked at his boss, curious as to what he thought about all of this. "Lloyd…" He called out, Lloyd's head turning around in response. Suzaku felt his mind lose control of his throat, his soul taking over what he was thinking as well. "Zero and the Black Knights... what are they trying to do?" He asked from the bottom of his heart, knowing exactly what they were trying to do in the first place. "What do they hope to achieve by sacrificing all these lives?"
"They're knights for justice, haven't you heard?" Lloyd said sarcastically, adjusting his glasses slightly. He knew Suzaku hated it when people died in front of him, and it was only natural that he didn't want to see any of this, let alone sift through it. But even with that in mind, they weren't really innocent lives. Thanks to the purebloods, the civilians were spared from any harm. "Besides, all of the casualties were soldiers, not civilians." He repeated out loud. 'really Suzaku, what did you expect? When a soldier signs up for the military, his/her life is automatically forfeited, remember?"
Suzaku's breath shallowed, his eyes widening at what Lloyd had just said. He lowered his gaze, his eyes filling with a deep depression. "I know, but all the same…" He began, his mind halting for a second. He knew that Zero was certainly thinking about the greater good, but his way of approaching that goal just seemed wrong. Contemptible actions don't always produce the best results, even if they were meant to serve the greater good. I learned that the hard way. He reminded himself as he pulled out his pocket watch, thinking of his father. "Is this really what justice is?" He pondered, nearly forgetting that Lloyd was right there.
Lloyd chuckled at Suzaku's naive nature. Or perhaps, he was humored by the fact that Suzaku knew how the world really worked, but refused to accept it. My my, he does seem desperate to get the results he wants, but is unwilling to break the rules to get them. That's something he's going to regret one of these days. He told himself, knowing that with Suzaku's heritage and ethical ideals, there was little to no hope for Suzaku's dreams to become a reality.
He took in a small breath as the sound of his laughter ceased, and he regained control of himself. He looked at Suzaku straight in the eye, and began to speak. "Now Suzaku, I hope you are not going to start spouting some embarrassing theory about the nature of justice." He told the Japanese soldier, knowing that he was probably being drowned out by the sound of the machinery. "We're soldiers, after all. It's not our place to think about whether or not we are in the right or wrong."
Suzaku sighed at the notion, knowing it was the truth. He knew that joining the military to do the right thing was not the most sensible idea in the eyes of Japan, but to him… If the Japanese people retaliated against Britannia, it would only cause more senseless violence and hatred. And thus, it would do nothing in the end, and it would cost both sides more lives. The only way to save Japan without this kind of bloodshed is to work from within the system. He reminded himself, though he was starting to doubt his own logic.
"Oh Suzaku." Cecile called out to him, wearing her half hearted smile across her face. She was wearing a fake smile of course, but she needed to keep his mind off of what happened after the battle was over. His mind hasn't stabilized just yet. She reminded herself, knowing that Suzaku was still unready to go back into combat, let alone fight that red knightmare frame. "I've replaced the energy filler for you." She informed him, opting him to leave and help in the recovery operation.
Suzaku's wide eyed expression turned into a serious scowl as he looked over at Cecile. "Alright then." He simply told her, knowing that the sooner he started up the Lancelot, the sooner he could help more people out. It's the least I can do after I… He stopped himself right there, trying to keep his mind off of that topic for the time being. "Thank you for the update, Ms. Cecile." He told her as he walked away, heading towards the Lancelot unit.
(The secret base of the Kyoto group. 18:56)
Tamaki's foot kept tapping against the floor, his patience wearing thin. The car had been moving painfully slow since they got there, and it was pissing him off. I know this is a big deal, and that we have to be extra careful considering that we could be followed. But come on! He thought to himself, before he realized that he finished his thoughts out loud. "This is taking too damn long. When do we get there?" He asked them, even though he was certain that none of them knew exactly.
Kallen knew that Tamaki was a whiner when it came to these things, but she was beginning to lose her patience with him. She scowled at him, while simultaneously raising an eyebrow at him. She could feel unease in her breathing pattern, and her entire body was screaming at her to punch the lights out of him. But she knew that, if she did, it would compromise the entire plan. "Could you chill out? God you're embarrassing." She finally said, her thoughts and focus immediately redirecting at the masked figure sitting across from her.
Lelouch said he would be at the meeting, but he didn't say whether or not he was going to have C.C stand in for him or not. I wouldn't put it past him if he had C.C take his place during the meeting, but he said he would be at the meeting. Then again… She pondered. considering the fact that Zero hasn't said anything, I would assume that to be C.C under that mask. She said to herself, trying not to think about what would happen if it was Lelouch under the mask.
Tamaki returned Kallen's scowl, his eyes filled with annoyance. "Whoop de do Kallen." He said sarcastically, knowing that was the least important thing to worry about at the moment. His mind filled with all of the possible meeting places that they could go to, all of them sure to be something spectacular. It is Kyoto after all. But even so… "It doesn't change the fact that this is going way too slow." He said angrily, knowing that Zero was silently commanding him to be patient and wait.
All of a sudden, the car stopped, and as a result, all of the Black Knights that were on board freaked out by the sudden halt. And just as they stopped moving forwards, there was a large clang, and Kallen could suddenly feel the blood in her body rush down. That's right. She remembered. The meeting area is on top of the Fuji mines. She took in a deep breath, trying to look as surprised as possible, and began to speak. "We're going up?!" She asked rhetorically, knowing that it was really unnecessary to say any of that.
They suddenly stopped, all of them seeming to be unaffected, for the most part, by the sudden change in velocity. And out of the shadows, a figure appeared. He was wearing a traditional black business suit, and his sunglasses were the same color as the visors that the Black Knights used. Kallen's eyes narrowed, her mind lost in thought. I see. Those glasses they're wearing are geass countermeasures. Smart, but it also means that they certainly don't trust us. The car door opened, and the man began to speak to them directly. "Sorry for the inconvenience." He told them coldly, as if he were ordered to only say that. He gestured towards the entrance of the meeting area, his hand motioning them forward. "The master is waiting for you."
They didn't know what was waiting for them on the other side of the entrance, but they were not going to hesitate before they found out. They fearlessly marched into the room, they're hearts pounding as they entered. Sugiyama's eyes stung for a brief second, blinded by the sudden appearance of sunlight. But as his eyes settled, he was starting to think the light had made his eyes play tricks on him. For what he saw outside was more beautiful than he could've imagined on one side, and on the other, it was horrific and metallic, like it was man-made atrocity.
Tamaki, Sugiyama, Kallen, and Ohgi all stared out of the window, revealing a sight that was beyond anything they could've imagined. Tamaki wanted to speak, but was in too much awe to speak a single word. Sugiyama gasped at where they were, seeing that it was nearly impossible for them to be where they were. Kallen, on the other hand, was having different thoughts. She looked down at Mt. Fuji with a sense of dread. The last time she had come here, Lelouch had used it as the ultimate weapon and the Black Knights and Schneizel's force, nearly taking them all out with the explosion he had created.
Ohgi stared blankly at the mountain side, his mind in awe at the sheer fact that they were infact at the summit of the legendary Mt. Fuji. "This is…" He began to say, his words nearly escaping him. "the Fuji mines?"
Tamaki's eyes widened, unsure about how he should take all of this. He tried to think about it, but it only made more sense if his eyes were lying to him. He began to speak, sounding as if he was in complete denial of their situation. "That is not possible. There's no way we could be here." He denied, hoping to god that he was wrong. Kyoto's gotta be something else if they can make this work. He stated in his mind, before his train of thought was cut short by the sound of Kallen's voice.
"But even so, it has to be ." She proclaimed, knowing the sight of the mountain better than anyone else in the room. Except, of course, for Lelouch and/or C.C. "There's only one mountain like this in Japan. Where else could we be?" She asked them rhetorically, knowing that Tamaki and Sugiyama were in too much awe and/or disbelief to give her an answer right away.
Tamaki looked out the window, amazed at what he was seeing. But, out of no where, the obvious truth slapped his brain with the force of a hurricane. "That means the Sakuradite is right below us." Tamaki proclaimed, his blood beginning to boil. "The damn treasure that caused this damned war." He growled out. It never ceased to enrage him about how much evil can be created out of paranoia and avarice. Every last casualty the war had, both Japanese and Britannian, was the result of Britannia's desire to control the Sakuradite that was found within Mt. Fuji, and their greedy desire to harness it's power for the Knightmare frames. It makes me sick just looking at all of it!
Ohgi looked over at Tamaki, reading his face as if it were an open book. He's thinking about how the Sakuradite was the cause of this damned war. He deduced, reflecting on his involvement with the resistance, with Zero, and with Britannia itself. Zero's right. Britannia is rotten to it's core if they think that is a justified reason for all of the lives taken. Not only that, they use the Knightmares to spread out even further, taking even more lives so they can take control. And on top of all of that, they oppress the people, not just of Japan, but wherever they take over. He gasped at how much in depth he had gotten about the matter, his mind unsure how he came to that conclusion. It seems Zero is starting to rub off on me. Still though, I've got to focus on the job at hand. It's the only way to free Japan at this point. He closed his eyes as he took in a deep breath, then he began to speak as if he was still amazed by the fact they were at Mt. Fuji. "The Kyoto group has to be pretty powerful to set up their base here. The sight of it is truly amazing."
"It's repulsive!" An angry voice proclaimed, his voice overpowering the will of many of the Black Knights. The view vanished as the room became dark, illuminated only by dim, blood-red lights. Lelouch turned towards the origin of the voice, knowing full well that it was Kirihara. Kirihara sneered at Zero, his entire body radiating with anger. "Mount Fuji, a sacred mountain once known for its clear water and quiet beauty. Now it is bent to the empire's will, a place of hideous violation. It is a true reflection of what Japan has become. It irks me so." He proclaimed to all of them.
His face, though it was completely concealed from the rest of the Black Knights, would not fool Lelouch, nor would it fool Kallen. The Kyoto group had prepared themselves to hide their true identities, but it would be in vain against Lelouch. He knew about all of the preparation that Kyoto had prepared from the last time. "Zero, I apologize for not showing my face. But I can see that I am not the only who is careful about showing faces, now am I? Unfortunately, I cannot allow this. To trust you, I must know who you are. Therefore you will show me your face." He proclaimed as he snapped his fingers.
From the back of the room, 4 burais appeared, all of them wielding loaded machine guns. Just like before, the guns were not only loaded, but they were aimed right towards the Black Knights, all of them ready to fire at a moments notice. Kallen was certain that C.C could handle herself, but with all that was happening, they didn't need to see that the girl could walk off bullets. She raced in front of Zero, holding her arms up in a defensive position as she began to beg. "Please wait! Zero has given us power and victory. That should be…" She managed to get out, before her voice was drowned out by the sound of Kirihara's vengeful voice.
"Silence!" He commanded them, his voice leaving Kallen completely speechless. He took in a deep breath, allowing his voice the chance to return to it's calm and level-headed tone. "Now then," He began, knowing that he was about to ask for a treacherous act from the Black Knights second in command. "...which one of you is Ohgi?"
Ohgi's eyes widened as he gasped, unsure as to why Kirihara had asked for him. But regardless, I had better do as he asks. He reminded himself, knowing that if he hesitated or made a single mistake, it could cost the lives of everyone in the room, including Zero. He swallowed his heart, and began to answer the man, his heart pounding from the fear that was coursing through him. "That's me, sir!" He answered speedily, trying to be as quick as possible.
Kirihara glanced over at the man who answered him, seeing that the reports matched his description. So, this is the leader of the group that became the senior officers of the Black Knights. How fitting. He said in his mind, knowing that Ohgi would react just as e expected. Now then, Zero. Let's see exactly what you're hiding behind that mask. "Ohgi, you will remove Zero's mask." He commanded. However, Ohgi's expression said that he was concerned about removing the mask. Figures. "Do not worry about his geass. You're all wearing your visors, my men are either inside of a Knightmare or wearing the same kind of goggles, and my veil is lined with the same material. His geass will not affect me, nor will it affect any of my men." He proclaimed, sending a blizzard down Kallen's spine.
Kallen looked at her friend with a discerning expression on her face, she was hoping that it was C.C behind the mask, but if it wasn't… Well, she didn't want to think about the consequences that would bring. "Ohgi, don't." She begged, her entire body trembling with fear. If it's C.C, then it's no big deal, and it would also indicate that Lelouch is inside a Burai. But if that's really Lelouch in there… She thought to herself, before she realized that Ohgi had walked right past her.
Ohgi looked back at Kallen, seeing that there was real fear in her eyes. He knew that he shouldn't do it, but he wasn't exactly sure why he should trust a man who hides his own face from his comrades. And thus, after hearing the words that came from Kirihara, his entire being became focused on only one thing: removing the mask of Zero. If his geass is the only reason why we shouldn't remove his mask, then there's no reason why we can't in these conditions. He reminded himself, taking hold of the mask. "I'm sorry Zero, but we need a reason to put our faith in you, too." He told him, knowing that he was about take the biggest risk of his life.
He reached around the front, looking for anything that could remove the mask. He trailed the rim of the mask, his hands frisking until… he finally felt something. As he examined it more closely, he could see two buttons, each placed accordingly to where Zero could take his mask off with one hand. He pushed the buttons simultaneously, the back of the mask folding up until the face was all that remained hidden. "So please, help us to put our trust in you." He requested from Zero as he pulled the mask away.
Suddenly, Ohgi felt his heart stop, his eyes widening at the face of Zero. His hands began to tremble, dropping the mask of the man that was not Japanese at all. In fact, he was a Britannian. Raven colored hair flowed down from his head, his eyes glowing a deep, royal violet. His skin was as pale as milk, and his face showed that he was not even old enough to drink. In fact, he looked like he was around Kallen's age.
Tamaki glared at Lelouch, his anger rising from the very core of his being. I've been taking orders from a Britannian brat! God Dammit! He screamed in his head, wanting to do nothing but pull his own hair out. But instead, he merely raised his voice, and began to shout. "What?! A Britannian?!" He screamed in disbelief, unsure whether or not Zero was there friend or foe. "And a schoolboy at that!"
Lelouch smiled at them, knowing that they're reaction was just as he suspected. "Yes." He simply said, returning his gaze to Kirihara. "And that man is Taizo Kirihara, the founder of Kirihara Industries, which has monopoly on Sakuradite mining operations in Area 11." He informed them, causing the Black Knights, excluding Kallen, to gasp out. After the Battle of Narita, it became clear that I would lose their trust if I kept this between me and Kallen any longer. So, this seems like a good way to keep the secret small within the Black Knights. At least, until Tamaki decides he's going to mouth off.
"Formerly, you were a key backer of the Kururugi regime. However, when Japan fell, you dodged the tribune as by collaborating with the colonial rulers. Commonly, you are known as Kirihara the traitor." The former demon emperor stated, letting the facts sink in. "However, in reality, you are one of the leaders of the Six Houses of Kyoto, who support resistance groups throughout Japan. Therefore, you are best described as a double agent. How cliche."
The temper of the guards began to flare at Lelouch's audacity, pointing their guns straight at him. "Those you can identify the master must die! Especially those who are not Japanese!" They screamed, the Burais behind them taking aim. Kallen felt her heart begin to race, the other members of the Black Knights feeling as if they had been betrayed.
But at the same time, Kirihara studied the boy carefully, his eyes lingering on his hair and eyes. And out of no where, something clicked. He felt as if he knew who the boy truly was, but in the light he was in, he couldn't be sure. He raised his hand, yelling his orders as loud as he could. "Stop!" He ordered them, their guns lowering as they obeyed their master. Kirihara returned his gaze over to Zero, his curiosity wanting to know more about im by the second. "Tell me boy, are you really Zero, or is this some trick?" He asked, knowing that Zero was not the type of person who simply revealed himself, even when he was at gunpoint.
Lelouch chuckled at the notion, never having anyone question whether or not he was really Zero before. Yes there were those who suspected him in the past, Suzaku and Kallen included. But after he removed his mask, no one who had seen his face dared to question whether or not he was the real Zero. He looked at where Kirihara's eyes were most likely located, and began to speak. "You are not mistaken about who I am." He proclaimed, knowing it was time to reveal himself to Kyoto, even if it meant letting Ohgi and the others know his face as well. But even with the knowledge of my face, Kallan and Kirihara will be the only ones who will know my true identity.
"Yes, I am Zero. I am the leader of the Black Knights and the one who challenges the Holy Britannian Empire." He finally admitted, never really saying those lines to anyone but Suzaku and Kallen before. He let them take in the knowledge, the sheer shock of everything making Ohgi and Tamaki weak in the knees. Kallen on the other hand, already knew who he was, and was trying to do her best to fake her reaction. Lelouch closed his eyes for a second, and as he opened them again, he began to speak.
"But while I am not Japanese, I am fully aware of their pain and suffering, as well as the true nature of Britannia. I could not gain your trust by revealing my face from the start, nor could I risk my geass being unleashed onto everyone that came near me. My geass, as far as I can tell, has not reached that point just yet, however." He told them, all of them still in shock about whether or not they could trust him. "But even so, I will not allow my geass to be used on the innocent, let alone my own soldiers." He told them. He thought he was lying to himself at first. But in truth, when he was talking, it was the sheer grief and despair that he had known in the past that made him speak that way.
Kirihara looked at the boy with an enthusiastic expression across his face. "I see. So, you're willing to fight against your own blood, are you?"
"I am. And I will. No matter what happens to me."
Kirihara smiled at his reply, seeing that there was indeed true anger in his heart, as well as true despair. "And so, you want nothing more than the complete destruction of Britannia, don't you?"
"Yes. In order for this world to move on and embrace the future," Lelouch proclaimed stepping into a brighter area, allowing Kirihara to see his face clearly. "Britannia must fall! And I'm willing to do whatever it takes to do so!" He shouted at the top of his lungs, showing everyone in the room his true colors. The reason that I failed the last time was that I kept too many secrets. Now, I will tell them anything they will need to know, and I'll tell them anything in order to keep their trust this time...
Kirihara's eyes widened at the face of the masked rebel who spat in the face of Britannia. Lelouch? He remembered, his expression transforming into a devilish smile. "I see then. If I hadn't come tonight, were you planning to take our messengers as hostages?" He asked the former prince, knowing that it was against Lelouch's nature to do any such thing.
Lelouch smiled at the question, knowing it was Kirihara's way of assuring that it was indeed Lelouch vi Britannia, the banished prince of the Empire. He took in a small breath, and gave his answer. "Not at all. I came to ask for your help. That's all I'm seeking from you."
Kirihara began to grin wildly, his tone becoming more and more amused with every passing second. "So the flower planted eight years ago has finally bloomed, has it?" Kirihara asked him, his grin exceptionally large now. Lelouch nodded in response, and Kirihara began to laugh his old lungs out, his chuckles sounding like exaggerated wheezes. And just as fast as he started laughing, his tone became stone wall firm, his attitude as serious as possible. "Ohgi!" He called out, knowing that he was the one who would most likely listen to him.
Ohgi gasped at Kirihara, unsure of how to respond at first. "Y-Yes!" He stuttered out, the adrenaline from the fear causing him to hasten his actions.
Kirihara's tone quickly shifted, becoming the angry, serious voice that had overpowered their wills not moments ago. "This man is a true model enemy of Britannia. However, his true identity must remain hidden for vital reasons. He may be Britannian by blood, but regardless, he is still one of the Japanese people. I can assure you of that much." He promised, knowing that Lelouch would help Japan if it was in his best interest, including the destruction of Britannia. "Now then, with that in mind, I urge you to follow Zero. And I guarantee that if you do, we will assist you generously with intelligence and strategic support." He told them with a sincerely serious tone, his mind filled with pride and joy.
Lelouch, smiling like the true demon he was known for being, was pleased with the answer, seeing that even Tamaki seemed to accept the fact the Zero was a Britannian on the same side as the rest of them were. Lelouch then returned his gaze back to Kirihara, closing his eyes and inclining his head as he said; "I am grateful, Lord Kirihara." He opened his eyes, returning to his previous posture.
Kirihara's smile returned, his old heart beginning to skip a beat. He opened his veil, looking at Lelouch with seemingly hopeful eyes, and asked him one, simple question. "Are you embarking on the path of blood?" He asked, knowing that Lelouch was not the person who would sacrifice the lives of innocents if he could help it.
Lelouch smiled at what he said, knowing that he could handle the challenge this time. "I already have." He proclaimed to Kirihara as he put his mask back on. With the JLF's resources, as well as funding from Kyoto, The Black Knights are now even more powerful than they were during the Shikine Island operation in the previous timeline. Now then, with that matter solved, there is only one more important piece to collect before we're ready to make our move. Lelouch told himself, before remembering the one person he had to remove from the equation before his plans proceeded any further.