Chapter 11
Preparations
Part 2
(Black Knights headquarters, 13:03)
It was quiet in the Saitama ghetto, but that only made the Black Knights more on edge. On the outside, it appeared that they were in deep thought, possibly thinking about what their next move was going to be. But in reality, they were still shaken up at the spectacle they saw during the meeting with Kirihara. Ohgi sat in the center of the group, his breath shallow and his eyes were squirrelly. It had been dead silent in there for the past 20 minutes, and it was very nerve-racking. Ohgi sighed, and finally began to speak. "I can't believe it. It's been 3 days since our meeting with Kyoto, and I still can't believe it."
"Tell me about it!" Tamaki bellowed, his attitude more pissed off than confused. He sighed, his thoughts beginning to race, and began to think back to when they all first met Zero over the radio back in Shinjuku. At first, Tamaki thought that Zero was just some punk who was just using them to get something from them. After he had them rescue Suzaku though, he thought that there might have been someone who could actually stand up against Britannia, and someone who would fight for Japan's freedom. And after what Kirihara said, I'm inclined to believe that. He thought to himself, his thoughts becoming deeper and deeper with every word that came into his head. But then again, after what happened at Narita, I'm not sure I can trust him. "Zero's a Britannian." he said with a confused tone in his voice, wondering why the hell he was feeling this way. "And that's a lot to take in."
Sugiyama couldn't believe it, but he knew Tamaki was right for once. Zero was their leader, a man who said he had sworn to fight against Britannia. And yet, somehow, Zero himself was a Britannian. It was almost crazy enough to make a man like him give up and drink for the rest of his life. "But even so, he still fights for us." He admitted, closing his eyes in thought. It was all too much to believe, and it was ironic in a way. We wanted to oppose anything and everything that had to do with Britannia. But now, we know that our leader is of Britannian descent. And he is on our side, even if he's just using us to get what he wants. He told himself, remembering Zero's actions from Shinjuku to their meeting with Kyoto. "Why is he helping us at all. If he's a Britannian, then he should have a cozy life in the settlement. Why would he bite the hand that feeds him?"
Ohgi looked down at the floor, his mind buzzing in a frenzy, trying to figure out exactly what drove the man behind the mask of Zero. "Kirihara said that Zero is someone who hates Britannia with all of his heart, and it was clear that they knew each other before all of this happened." He restated to them out loud, knowing full well what that could mean. If Zero's a Britannian, then there has to be a real reason that he decided to rebel against them. If he talked to Kirihara like they were old friends, then perhaps he sees Japan as his true home. But if that were the case, then he'd be prejudice against the Britannians alone. He deduced, his head seeming to ache from thinking too hard. When we made our debut, he said that we would be the knights for justice, protecting the weak against the strong. Ohgi reminded himself, wondering if Zero was somehow able to wear more masks than just the one he wears on his face.
"But how is that possible?" Tamaki blurted out, his mind unable to shut his mouth. He had never really been able to keep his mouth shut about anything this big, which meant it was only a matter of time before he spilled, and he knew that Zero and Kyoto would have his head for blabbing. Whenever he thought about it, he could feel himself sweating, and his heart became slow and numb, as if it ceased to work. But even so, I still want to fight for Japan, and to figure out exactly who Zero really is. He told himself, regaining what little resolve he had left.
"And if he did somehow know Kirihara, does that imply that he knew Suzaku Kururugi too?" Sugiyama said, remembering how determined Zero was when they first rescued Kururugi from his Britannian executioners.
"That's definitely a possibility." Ohgi stated, his expression showing a deep thought running through his head. "He seemed to care a lot about Suzaku when we rescued him. And if that's the case, then it also means that he had to be in Japan before the war started. And given how badly he hates Britannia, I'd say that he was caught in the crossfire." Ohgi deduced, knowing that it was probable that Zero was one of the first Britannians to come to Japan. But if that were the case, then why didn't he just use geass on him to make him join the Black Knights? He pondered for a second, before he remembered that Zero was all about giving people the freedom to choose. Unless… he wanted him to join of his own free will. Ohgi went deeper into thought, his mind starting to fit the pieces of the complex puzzle into place.
"So?" Tamaki asked, acting like his usual, idiotic self. "What the hell does any of that that have to do with who he is?"
Sugiyama glared at Tamaki as if he were a small child that had just spoken out loud at a fancy party. "Shut it Tamaki." He yelled at him, his mind on the edge of rage as it was. The very idea of Zero being a Britannian had indeed surprised him, but more importantly, he felt outright insulted by it. The only reason they've had this much success was because of Zero. The last time they had done anything by themselves was in Shinjuku, when they decided to steal the poisonous gas and use it against the Britannians. The very idea that they were still alive because some Britannian decided to rebel against his own country was just too much to take in at once.
Ohgi looked down at the floor, becoming more lost in thought with every passing second. He reviewed upon what he did know about Zero, and what his goals seemed to be. Zero is too smart to be caught off guard like that, especially when it's his identity on the line. He reminded himself, remembering all the times when he was asked to remove his mask by their enemies, and how he always managed to make it so that he wouldn't need to remove it. If he wanted to keep his face hidden from us at all costs, he would've used his geass on the guards beforehand, and then showed his face to Kirihara alone. He quickly deduced, putting the pieces of what he had of the puzzle together. Therefore, the only way I think he would allow himself to have his face revealed was if… Suddenly, the picture became clear, and Ohgis eyes widened as he realized what had happened. "It was a test." He said out loud, alerting everyone present.
Tamaki couldn't help but stare at Ohgi, as well as every other senior officer present. One minute, they were all trying to decipher why Zero was helping them in the first place, and the next, Ohgi, their original leader, starts going on about some test. "Come again?" He asked, not understanding what Ohgi meant at first. But the more he thought about it, the more he began to understand. Zero was testing us at the meeting with Kyoto. But how? He thought to himself before he heard the sound of Ohgi's voice once again.
Ohgi knew what Zero was doing now, and why he needed their help in the first place. It all made sense. He doesn't just want to free Japan… He reminded himself, a cold flame building in his heart. He wants to destroy Britannia completely. He looked towards his fellow Black Knights, knowing that they didn't need to know about that just yet, and began to explain what he could afford to tell them. "Zero wanted to see whether or not we were loyal to the cause, and not just because we thought he was a japanese man who could pull these things off, or the fact that he had a strange power in order to keep us in line. If we wanted to, we could've let them shoot Zero, right then and there."
Sugiyama looked at Ohgi, realizing that what he has said made perfect sense. He sighed, his pride now further damaged by the knowledge. "But we didn't, which I assume means that we passed."
(Special Corps Van, 15:00)
It was just after Ashford Academy ended its school day, and Suzaku was still in a bit of shock at what happened during the Student Council meeting. Sure, he was a little frightened at what Milly had said about Cupid Day, especially the matter of what happens if you swapped hats with someone. But what shocked him the most… the fact that Shirley's parents were willing to flee in order to protect their daughter. The whole idea shocked him right done to his core, but it also made him feel guilty deep down.
Suzaku didn't blame her though, or her parents for that matter. It was actually a smart idea to evacuate a potential area for a terrorist attack before it has the chance to actually happen. Zero, even if you didn't kill her father, your still responsible for Shirley's pain, as well as her departure. You're the one who caused this problem to begin with. And the worst part is, you don't even care. He assured himself, knowing that it was the only explanation to Zero's behavior. He wasn't interested in Japan at all. No, he just wanted to see the world burn up in flames, all the while he would just sit back and laugh.
What kind of a creature are you really, Zero? Suzaku asked him in his head, knowing full well that Zero couldn't hear him. And before he even realized it, Suzaku became engulfed in his own mind, his thoughts as deep as the Pacific ocean. Because you're certainly not human. Sure, your goals seem human. But the way you can get into peoples heads, the way you can use your words to twist the minds of good people, and then bend them to your will, it all adds up. You're more of demon than you are human. He stopped himself right there, seeing that Lloyd and Cecile had appeared in front of him.
Lloyd could tell that he had just pulled Suzaku out of his own little world, but he knew all too well that orders were orders. "I have some bad news, Suzaku." He said with a very charismatic smile, his demeanor hiding the true sociopath that he really was inside. He never minded this fact about himself of course. In fact, he actually knew it was beneficial to him. Having an abandoned heart makes my work a whole lot easier. He always told himself, his mind returning to the task at hand as he began to deliver Suzaku's orders. "We've just got word from Cornelia's Royal Guard. They're about to start their next mission soon, and they've requested that the Lancelot be there for support." He said to him, anticipation filling him to the brim as he said it. He twirled whenever the thought passed through his mind, and his smile showed his enthusiasm even more so. "But the real question is whether or not they're acknowledging your skill?" He proclaimed, his smiling seeming to pierce right through Suzaku, knowing that it was most likely just another routine assignment for them.
Cecile looked at her carefree boss with an irritated scowl, her annoyance with his lack of understanding reaching a boiling point. He had never really cared much about his workers or their problems. Most of the time, she knew he was only concerned with his work, and how much progress he could make on it. In fact, he practically thinks of Suzaku as little more than just another part of Lancelot. One that was irreplaceable, but still. She thought to herself, wanting to smack him around like she did at Narita. However, as he turned around to look at her, anticipating that she was upset with him, she put on her sweet, smiling face, using it to mask the level of irritation she had with him at the time. And as she spoke, her tone wasn't timid as it usually was. Rather, it was sarcastic, taunting even. "Ohhh Lloyd, care for another lesson in proper social etiquette?" She asked him rhetorically, silently telling him to leave Suzaku alone about that particular topic. "You look like you have some time to kill."
As soon as the Earl heard those words slip out of his assistants mouth, he could feel his amusement disappear, and his eyes became half closed along with it. He took in a quick breath of air, then sighed as he responded to the woman behind him. "I'll have to take a pass on that." He politely declined, knowing that Cecile was just trying to scold him without saying t directly, just like she always did in these situations. He turned back towards the pilot of his Lancelot, his enthusiasm returning, and began to speak to him. "Now then, I believe we were talking about your mission." He reminded them, his smile seeming to be amused by the very idea of that conversation.
Suzaku could see what his boss was doing, though he didn't really mind much. In spite of what was going on in his school life, the world would continue to run its course, virtually unhindered by the tragedies of a few. That's how its always been, and how it always will be. He thought to himself, remembering how many times the world had simply ignored the hardships that he, Lelouch, and Nunnally faced during the Second Pacific war, and the effects of it afterwards. In spite of everything, nothing about the lives of a few… no, even the lives of many don't change the fact that life goes on. "I suppose we were." He finally said, unsure of how long he had kept them waiting. But just as he was about to listen to another ranting by his eccentric boss, something that Euphie told him crept into his mind, and he could feel himself lose his impulse control. "But as an earl, don't you think you should try to be more social?" He blurted out, instantly realizing that his pink haired princess had rubbed off on him a little.
Lloyd felt his eyes nearly pop out of his skull as he heard Suzaku say those words, surprised and impressed all at the same time. "You know about that?" He asked with an exaggerated tone of voice, his mind already coming up with several possibilities as to how his subordinate obtained that piece of information. He took a quick glance at Cecile, wondering if she somehow managed to slip him the information when he wasn't looking. No, that's not it. He concluded, knowing that Cecile would probably only bring it up if she were going to scold him or tease him. But if she were the one who told him, then she wouldn't have hesitated to make that remark herself just a moment ago. He deduced, his mind scurrying around in circles as he tried to piece the whole thing together.
Suzaku hadn't meant to do it, but he found himself unable to resist from smiling at the silver haired scientists reaction. Lloyd being an Earl. He thought to himself, remembering the things that Euphie had told him about his project in particular. He never did care about the aristocracy much, or manners for that matter. All he cares about is science, and nothing else seemed to matter to him. She had told him while they were enjoying themselves in the settlement, her pink hair and bright white smile reminding him that there was still some good left in the world. That's right… He thought to himself, reminding himself why he became a soldier in the first place, and why he continues to fight Zero and his Black Knights now.
(Student Council room, 19:09)
Lelouch felt his heart being shattered over and over again, the very thought of Shirley leaving tearing him up from the inside out. He could handle her going back to the homeland, especially since she would be safe there. But even so… He managed, before the incident flashed before his eyes, her tears clipping his mind severely. I broke her heart right before she leaves, possibly for good. I really am a demon to allow that. He told himself, the green geass symbol flashing on and off in his mind, reminding him that no matter what he did or did not do, it was his fault to begin with, and that there was no chance he could keep her from pain this time, even with his resources and memories.
"Big brother…" Nunnally's voice cried out, her expression showing that she was clearly worried about him at the moment. Lelouch sat up in his chair, trying to make it look as if he were paying attention at the moment. But in reality, he could already feel his stone cold heart begin to crack like a chicken egg. After looking at it from a distant perspective, he knew that what had happened this time around was not as bad as what had happened to her before. But at the same time, he knew that meant it was only going to get worse. If the Laws of Equivalence work the way I think they do, then things won't necessarily be better this time around. The only thing that is certain is that things will be different. "Are you still with us?" Nunnally asked him out loud, Jeremiah and Sayoko looking at him as well. He tried to recompose himself like he usually did, focusing all of his energy into putting on the face of Zero, his entire being filling with grief. He took in a deep breath, and began to speak once again.
"Oh, sorry Nunnally." He simply said, trying to hide the dagger he felt in his heart. With every change I make, I only succeed in creating differences between this timeline and the original. And if that's the case, We'll need to keep things must be as close as possible. However, if I did just come back here without making changes to the atrocities I swore to change, then all I've done is torture myself and the ones I've awakened. His conscious kept screaming at him, his mind more conflicted than it had ever been before. He felt as if he were back on the Avalon, and he had just learned that Nunnally was still alive. His heart was tearing itself apart, and he knew he had to make the ultimate sacrifice for her dream to be realized, even if that meant she would hate him. He sighed, then spoke to her in his kind, older brother tone of voice. "Old ghosts are just getting to me, that's all."
Sayoko knew that Lelouch was lying to Nunnally, as well as to himself. Even if he tried to deny it, she knew that Lelouch was in pain, for she could see the familiar discontent in his eyes, the torment that he was enduring within himself. He never really let anyone in, except for Ms. C.C. She remembered, her time being his personal agent having taught her that much. But at the same time, she knew it was better not tell Nunnally that her brother was in pain, for she knew that Nunnally was in just as much pain as he was. She took in a deep breath, and began to speak, changing the topic of the conversation simultaneously. "Well then, we should address the direct problem then." She simply said, knowing that her master and everyone else in the room would quickly follow her lead.
"Agreed." Jeremiah quickly replied, knowing full well of what Sayoko was trying to do. When he looked into his master's eyes, he could see the well of despair that formed inside of them. Lord Lelouch, I've seen that pain in your eyes before. It's the pain you felt when the girl died in the previous timeline. He quickly deduced, his time serving his master having taught him to read his face and emotions like an open book. Only this time, it seems that this time, her fate seems to have an even greater effect on you. He concluded, sadness washing over him as it did Lelouch. He sighed silently, then continued his report. He spoke in his normal voice, trying his best to mask the sadness he felt from his master, and began to speak. "The transport operation should go as expected, but even with Katase, they're no guarantee that it would work."
C.C. looked at Lelouch, seeing that he was struggling inside, his entire mind questioning if he had done the right thing or not by coming back to in time. In all things that involve the lives of others, tragedy is unavoidable. Those who deny this are only fooling themselves. She thought to herself, knowing that Lelouch would soon snap out of his whole debacle. After all, he had experienced worse in the previous timeline, including the Special Zone Massacre and the F.L.E.I.J.A. But then again, he's right to question himself, and his actions. After all, he had this feeling in the previous timeline, and it's no different in this one, once you boil it down to basics. She shook off the feeling, remembering that they were at a meeting to discuss his actions before taking them this time around. She took a deep breath, and replied to Jeremiah's report, looking over at Lelouch as she did it. "It would if you sent your most loyal officer there to oversee it." She said in her sly tone of voice, catching Lelouch's attention immediately.
Lelouch looked over at the witch with his usual expression, his mind already coming up with several ways to interpret that. He looked over at Jeremiah, knowing that he could get the job done just fine. However… He quickly thought, remembering why he needed to keep Jeremiah in Japan. But, if I do send someone, I suppose we could have them carry out orders on my behalf, as well as gain support from the Chinese Federation this time around. He thought to himself, his mind putting the pieces into place. "Though the thought is appreciated, I require Jeremiah's presence here for my plans to proceed any further" He told the immortal witch with an absolute goal in mind, his strategy plotted out like a map. "However..." He said with a smile on his face, his enthusiasm quickly returning as he spoke. "I could send you C.C." He implied, knowing that was his plan in the original timeline.
C.C scowled a bit at him, knowing full well of what he was trying to do. "And leave you to deal with Mao all alone?" She asked him, sarcasm lingering in her tone. The last time he tried to send her to the Chinese Federation, she had to cancel her trip so that she could help him finish off Mao. "The last time he showed up, it nearly cost you and Suzaku-" she managed to get out, before she was cut off by Lelouch, a fiery vengeance visibly in his eye. Or rather, it was a bitter hatred she could see in his violet eyes, his expression making it clear that he would not tolerate her attitude at the moment.
Lelouch looked at C.C with a fierce look in his eyes, a devilish plan forming inside the former demon emperors head as he spoke, his tone showing that he was not worried in the least. "The last time, he surprised me, and took Nunnally hostage." He proclaimed, forgetting the others were in the room at the moment. "Believe me, I can handle him this time. I have a plan to make sure that he doesn't lay a finger on anyone I care about." He stated to her, his tone showing that he was as collected as ever. However, hatred and vengeance were lingering in his tone. But inside, Lelouch could feel his heart sink deeper into despair, desperately trying to break free from it with all of his might. Shirley…My geass be damned, why?! He screamed in his head, knowing there was nothing he could really do to save her from her fate. But at the same time, he was relieved that she was going to live, and her heart would be spared the trauma of being involved with him any further.
"Mao?" The red haired girl asked them both, her expression showing that she was slightly surprised and only a bit irritated at her lack of knowledge about the topic. I remember C.C mentioning him once during our time hiding out in China, but I can't remember all of the details. She thought to herself, unsure as to what said person had to do with all of this. 'Who's this Mao guy?' She wanted to ask, though she already knew it was someone who had given Lelouch trouble in the previous timeline. She could feel the tension in the room increase rapidly, her heart beating slower and slower with each passing nanosecond, and she could feel her breath deepen, the air around them fluctuating rapidly. She looked at Sayoko for a moment, and Kallen could tell that she knew who it was as well. She looked back at Lelouch, and he began to speak.
The raven haired teen put on a straight face as he remembered the sadistic bastard that forced him to tamper with Shirley's mind in the first place, as well as the one who threatened Nunnally just to get what he wanted. He could feel his bitterness take over his thoughts about him, his whole being wanting nothing more than to make him suffer for what he had done. But at the same time, he knew that most of his thoughts were clouded by his despair and anger, the feelings he had whenever he thought about Shirley, and whenever he questioned himself coming back to change the timeline. He looked at Kallen, remembering where he was, and began to speak. "Oh right." He simply said, his voice in it's usual tone, though he could feel that he was struggling to keep his composure around her, as well as around Nunnally and the rest of the people in the room. "We never really told you about him."
C.C. looked at Lelouch with her usual expression across her face, acting as if she knew something he didn't. But of course, she did. She remembered telling Kallen all about Mao after the Black Rebellion had failed, but now, she knew that Kallen must not have been paying that much attention to what she said about him. She turned back to Kallen, slightly irritated that she had to explain this to her again, and began to speak. "He was the man I had a contract with before I met Lelouch. He was the one responsible for the events that led to Lelouch originally erasing Shirley's memories." She explained simply, wanting to let Lelouch explain the gruesome details, knowing they would drive him out of his depression by just thinking about them.
"And the one who attempted to kidnap Nunnally as a way to get to him." Sayoko added, having assisted Suzaku in rescuing Nunnally. She could still see the look on Nunnally's face afterwards, the look of total fear. She turned back to Nunnally, seeing that she look a bit frightened, but no where near as scared as she was last time. She sighed in relief, and began to speak again, looking Kallen directly in the eye. "Because of the overwhelming effect of his geass, he was driven to insanity, and C.C quickly became the only source of comfort for him. However, when he failed to complete his end of the geass contract, C.C left him alone, driving him further into madness. When he located her here in Japan, he tried to use both Ms. Fenette and Nunnally as a way to manipulate Lelouch in order to get to C.C." She concluded, knowing that Nunnally and Kallen would not take the news too well.
Lelouch sharpened his gaze, remembering the last time he had seen the bastard, and how he had handled getting shot by C.C. "He failed last time, but only through Suzaku's intervention. However, since I will not allow him to get that far this time, I won't be able to count on Suzaku's help again." He promised to himself, his bitter rage welling up inside of him. "And to start my preparations against him, I'm sending C.C away for the time being. His geass allows him to read a persons thoughts. Against someone like me, a man who uses my mind to fight with, he has the upper hand." He told the rest of the personnel in the room, preparing them for whatever trick Mao has up his sleeve this time around. "However, he is unable to deactivate his geass. Geass, as you know, eventually reaches a point where the user can no longer control its activation."
Kallen looked down for a second, remembering the awful things that happened because of that rule. Geass is the power of the king, as I remember C.C telling me once. But what kind of king can bear a power like that? She pondered, remembering the day the Zero Requiem came to an close. She didn't want to admit, or even face the fact, but she knew that Lelouch was put out of his misery on that day. He had seen so much suffering during the previous timeline by following the path of blood and creating a new world for Nunnally. And now, he came back to try to change that, but it won't work out like that. If the Laws of Equivalence work like C.C. says they do, then there won't be any less tragedy this time around. The only things that will change are the circumstances, events, and results. But even with all of that, the same river of blood will be spilled, no matter whose blood it is. She thought to herself, tightly clutching her hand into a fist as it sat on her lap. She took in a deep breath, looked Lelouch dead in the eye, and began to speak. "Does he need eye contact?" She asked him, knowing that geass was a power dependent upon the individual. "And if not, how far is the range of his geass?"
Lelouch closed his eyes for a second before he answered her, trying to remember everything he could about his telepathic foe. "His geass doesn't require eye contact in the least, and as far as the range of his geass goes, it's best to assume it can go up to 500 meters in radius and about 300 meters high." He told her, remembering how he had used that information to assist him the last time. "However, if he is within close range, he is able to read a lot more specifics, and he tends to use the thoughts of those around him in order to get what he wants."
Kallen scowled for a moment, her mind desperately trying to come up with some ways to use that knowledge against him. But alas, it was to no end. Kallen was a smart girl, but even she didn't know what to do about this man. "That's going to be a problem." She boldly said, her mind uncertain if she was thinking clearly, what with everything that was going on at the moment. "There's not much we can do to confront him if he's able to read minds like that." She managed to get out before she was corrected by the former demon emperor.
"Don't be fooled by that alone, Kallen." said demon emperor told her, knowing that Mao had a number of weaknesses that they could take advantage of. Last time, I only got desperate because he managed to get to Nunnally. But this time, I don't intend to let him get anywhere close to her, Shirley, or even C.C. He thought to himself, his mind coming up with several slow, brutal, and torturous deaths that he could put Mao through. "Despite being powerful with his geass, he has quite a few weaknesses. For example, if he concentrates, he is able to peel back every layer of your mind. But in doing this, his range is severely weakened." He told her as he remembered how he had managed to use that to his advantage the last time he had fought the chinese bastard. "And as for himself, his mind is sadistic and childlike, making him easy to interpret if you know what gets him."
(Ashford Academy entrance, 14:50)
Shirley wasn't sure how bad she was feeling, but she knew she must've looked awful in front of her friends. She could feel her heart growing weaker and weaker, and it seemed the sadness within was turning into despair. She couldn't hold it in much longer. She turned to face her friends as she put the last of her bags in the trunk of the car, the slamming sound reminding her of what was happening. But even with that in mind, she could barely move, for she felt frozen in time, watching everything go by her unhindered. But in reality, she knew that her friends could see her, and they were there to support her through this. Kallen seemed to be avoiding her gaze, reminding her of what neither of the dared to say out loud, or even in whispers. Ever since it happened, that tiny moment has haunted her nightmares, the whole memory making her eyes leak like a faucet in her sleep. She looked around, trying to find some happiness in this. But seeing her friends all there, staring at their friend being taken away from them, made her heart ache. She sighed silently, and her friends began to approach her, one by one.
"We're… really going to miss you." Nina told her red haired friend, her eyes filled with despair as she looked at Shirley. She sighed, hoping not to make too much of a scene, and said her last words to her friend as she walked away. "It just won't be the same around here." She simply told her, timidity and sadness lingering in her tone of voice. Nina looked back a little, seeing that Rivalz was the next person who wanted to talk to Shirley. But as far as she could tell, he was as glum as the rest of them were.
Rivalz hardly knew what to say, if anything at all. He was Shirley's friend, and he knew that it was tearing them all apart to see her go. But even so, he felt a bit conflicted about all of it. After seeing the hotel crisis, and how Zero treated Euphemia, he was certain that the Black Knights weren't that bad. And hearing about Narita, he was almost convinced that they were the coolest heroes he had ever heard about. But now… He thought to himself, silently reflecting on what he had seen and heard. Zero did this to Shirley, but he also saved her. Her father didn't die, so that's something. But at the same time… He stopped himself right there, knowing that if he continued to think like that, he could be considered a traitor. As he faced the girl he was saying goodbye to, he couldn't help but feel a mixture of relief and sorrow, for he knew that at least Shirley was safe from the war that was sure to happen between the Britannian military and the Black Knights. He sighed heavily, looked her dead in the eye, and began to say what he needed to say. "I guess this is goodbye." He grimly said, his gut telling him that something was about to happen, something awful. He hesitated for a second, his mind still in conflict, and blurted out the first things that came to mind. "And to think that… after what happened at Narita, I told my buddies just how cool I thought the Black Knights were. But now." He caught himself right there, realizing he had spoken his thoughts out loud. "Please…" He bowed his head to her in apology, wanting her to pay no mind to what he had just said. "...forgive me."
Shirley knew exactly how he was feeling, and she knew it was tearing them both up inside. I suppose the life of one person doesn't just affect that one person, regardless of the circumstances. She thought to herself, as she put on a smile, trying to ease Rivalz. "It'll be alright, really." She lied, knowing that it was most likely only the start of her troubles. My father acted rashly because this was the second time one of us was caught up in the conflict. He's uncertain if he can get another job back in the homeland, but he said that our safety was his biggest concern. She thought to herself as another student council member approached her, the girls crimson hair and light blue eyes representing the original pain in her heart.
The more Kallen thought about it, the more depressed she got. She could feel herself drift away inside of her own mind, and her heart grew numb whenever she got around Shirley. It was just a little kiss… She tried to convince herself. It wasn't that big of deal. But Kallen knew better than to listen to that. She sighed as she walked up to the girl, her inner being wanting to break down and cry. However, she knew this had to be done, for both of their sakes. She took in a small puff of air, and began to speak. "Shirley…" Her voice trembled, trying to find the right words to say. Kallen felt guilty for what she did, and even worse for not talking about it afterwards. "I… I'm sorry. For not telling you." She managed to get out, her and Lelouch having agreed that would be the story they would tell the poor girl.
Shirley's eyes widened for a moment as she realized what Kallen was saying. So… She thought to herself in despair. They were… a 'thing' longer than I thought. She could hardly believe what she was hearing. All this time, she had been blaming herself for what had happened, and it all made sense to her at the time. But even knowing all of this, just knowing about it is quite depressing. She thought to herself grimly, finally mustering up the strength to respond to her red haired friend. "And…" She began, searching for the right words to be said at this point. She began to tremble as she spoke, her eyes tearing up slightly as she spoke. "I'm sorry too. Sorry for being a burden." She finally managed to get out, her voice trembling slightly as she spoke those words. She could feel her eyes dry up, and her heart began to ache, but none of that mattered at this point. It was over. And that's all she had to say to Kallen at this point. But as the red haired teen walked away from her, Kallen froze for a second, and turned back, the look in her eyes the same as Shirleys.
"Shirley… You were never a burden." The ace of the Black Knights proclaimed, despair and sincerity lingering in her tone of voice. "To me or to Lelouch." She turned back around, hoping that what she said gave the girl some sense of relief, though Kallen knew that she probably just made the poor girl feel worse about it. The Laws of Equivalence… She thought to herself as she remembered all of the grief that Shirley was put through in the previous timeline. She lost her father, then her memories, she was manipulated by the Britannian emperor, and when she finally got her memories back… she died, right in Lelouch's arms. Using that knowledge as a basis, Kallen knew that her unfortunate life would repeat itself in this timeline, even if the circumstances and the reasons for them were completely different. I use to think balance was a good thing, carefully keeping things in order. She thought to herself, knowing that in that sense, there had to be shadows in order for there to be light. And within those shadows, darkness.
Suzaku wasn't sure he could say much to the girl, though he knew he had to say something. And as he approached the girl, he couldn't help but wonder what would've happened if he had caught Zero at Narita. If Zero was captured, the Black Knights would be without their leader,and thus would disperse. And when that happened, Area 11 would be back on the path towards peace, and Shirley wouldn't be in this situation to begin with. He tried to convince himself, knowing that he was just imagining the best case scenario. In reality, however, he expected Zero to have a contingency plan, something that would ensure that the Black Knights would be able to continue resisting against Britannia should he be captured. He heaved a heavy sigh, then began to speak. "Shirley, I'm sorry." He told her, clenching his fist in frustration. "I had Zero right in front of me, but he got past me and escaped." He admitted, his anger slowly rising within him. He could feel his own frustration transform into rage, and he knew that Zero was the one responsible for at least half of the misfortune that she was going through. "I promise you… I'll make him pay."
Shirley could feel her eyes widen at what he said, and her heart felt like it had sunk deeper. All of this fuss over me. She thought to herself, knowing that she was last person she thought would deserve this kind of treatment from anyone. Why is everyone making such a big deal out of all of this? I'm not special at all. She reminded herself, knowing that even though she knew that her friends were going to miss her, this was sheer overkill. I didn't want all of this attention. Not now, not ever. She took in a deep breath, remembering that she was still in public, and put on a fake smile as she looked Suzaku in the eyes. "Just be sure not to blame yourself for this. Okay?" She asked him, knowing exactly what his response would be.
Suzaku looked back at the red-haired girl as if she had gone crazy. She had just lost a significant deal in her life, and yet, for no apparent reason, she was smiling at him. Why the hell would she… He thought to himself, before finally realizing the mistake he had just made. Her smile… It's fake. He thought to himself, knowing that fake tears would bring pain to others, but a false smile would only bring pain to oneself. "Alright…" He told her as he put on his own fake smile, knowing that it would at least ease her mind a little. He could feel his heart sink as he walked away from her, passing by Lelouch as he made his way to the girl. But out of the corner of his eye, he saw a certain look in Lelouch's eye, a look that he had known for a long time. Whenever Lelouch had that look, he was in pain inside, no matter how much he tried to deny it.
As Lelouch passed by his old friend and rival, he couldn't help but ponder whether or not he had done the right thing by coming back in time in the first place, and whether or not by taking this second chance, had he made things worse than they were before. And now, looking at the poor girl who had suffered so much because of him, the thought kept coming back into his head, no matter how many times he had to tell himself that these things were beyond his control. Every time he looked at her, he pictured her death, her blood slowly flowing out of her as she confessed her undying love for him, her skin growing paler as he repeatedly used his geass on her. Why must she be the one who suffers? He thought to himself, knowing that the only real monsters he ever knew were his father, V.V., and most importantly, himself. Monsters are the ones who should be made to suffer, not the innocent. He approached the red haired girl, his raven hair covering his eyes, and attempted to speak. "Shirley…" He tried to get out, but found his tongue all tied up at the mere sight of the poor girl.
Shirley didn't know what to say to him, not to his face, not ever. It hurts… She kept reminding herself, her very soul seeming to be tormented by the sheer weight of all this. She didn't want to speak, nor did she have the courage. All she felt she could do was stare at him, his raven hair covering his violet eyes, and sigh. She knew this would be the last time she would ever get to see him. In the end, did it really matter how I felt about him? She thought to herself, remembering the philosophical belief she once held. In the past, she was certain that love was the strongest force in existence. And now, seeing all of the things that happened, she could still feel loves power. But love wasn't nice at all. Love was cruel, uncontrollable, selfish, and above all… it had to be mutual.
That's right… She remembered what happened the day her father told her that they would be leaving for the homeland. She remembered every little detail about it, from the exact time it took for her to realize what happened... to the exact books she dropped when it was over. And… it's not Lelou's fault. It was mine. She convinced herself, knowing that she had every opportunity to tell him how she felt about him. But every time I tried, I found myself flushed, tongue-tied, and... and frightened about it all. My anxieties went through the roof, I would blush like crazy, and… make a complete fool out of myself. Whenever she thought about it long enough, she could see that love was a double-edged sword. It can drive people beyond their limits, and even unite people together if it's strong enough. But at the same time, love can hurt you more than anything, and unlike death, it continues to eat away at you inside until you can find a way to overcome it, which isn't easy for most people.
"Lelou… I." She managed to get out, before finding herself in a spot she had only seen in her dreams. She could feel his arms wrap around her body in a strong yet gentle embrace, the heat of his body warm and comforting. She could feel herself wanting to cry, wanting to pour all of her pent up emotions inside. But at this point, she knew it would only make them all feel worse. As he released her and pulled away, she could hear him whisper something to her, something that she would never expect to hear from the lips of Lelouch Lamperouge. "I'm sorry…" He said in the softest tone imaginable, his now visible eyes piercing into her very being like daggers. She could feel the sincerity in his voice, and as she turned away from him for the last time, she felt her heart shrivel up inside again, becoming numb and lonely all over again. She got into her family's car, her heart feeling heavier than ever, and drove away from Ashford, most likely never to see her friends again.
(Black Knights warehouse, The Docks, 17:56)
"Wait a second, Zero. I realize that this is a request from Kyoto, but it doesn't make much sense." Ohgi shouted at his masked Britannian leader, wanting to know why exactly Cornelia was being so rash all of the sudden. He could feel the glares coming of half of the Black Knights in the warehouse, but he knew none of the senior officers were looking at him like that. All we need now is a name. He reminded himself, knowing that if he just had Zero's real name, he could figure out who he really was. I just have to be patient now. He took in a deep breath, and began to speak once more. "How could Cornelia still think that Katase is leading the Japan Liberation Front?"
Lelouch didn't even look in Ohgi's direction as he answered his question, knowing that it was all a part of the plan. "There are some parts of the mind that are unable to be understood Ohgi, even by me." He told them, turning his attention to someone he had felt cross with ever since he had returned to the past. In front of him, stood a man that was a worthwhile asset, as well as someone he wanted to pitifully kill at the same time. "Now then, you are the one who brought us this information, correct?" He asked knowingly, the man in front of him simply nodding in response. "Diethard, wasn't it?" He asked, knowing full well of who the man in front of him really was, and what his insane goals were.
The blonde haired man didn't hesitate for a second at the masked vigilante's question, knowing that if he showed fear now, he would merely be inviting doubt, and death along with it. "That's right." He said, his scowling expression not changing for a second, though every molecule in him was screaming at him to smile. "It is an honor for us to meet in this manner, Zero." He asked the man standing in front of the heavily armed knightmare frames that he had seen in the reports on Narita. Even though they are mere numbers, I have to admit that the Black Knights are a force to be reckoned with. Since they debuted after the Saitama incident, their numbers, support, and arsenal have vastly surpassed even my expectations. It seems I was correct to assume that Zero was even more brilliant than I gave him credit for. He took in a deep breath, and began to speak to the chaotic mastermind in front of him. "I take it that you find the information helpful?"
Indeed. The former demon emperor thought to himself as he pretended to go over the report. In all honesty, he no longer required many of the reports he was going to receive, for he already knew every spec of information that had ever been put on them. Come to think of it... Lelouch thought to himself as he continued to skim the documents. This whole experience has really given my long term memory quite the workout. He stopped himself right there though remembering that he was still in front of his Black Knights. "So, Princess Cornelia's going to deploy the Royal Marines in an attempt to capture General Katase of the Japan Liberation Front?" He asked rhetorically, knowing that everyone in the room had already been informed of that much. He grinned inside of his mask, and began to speak once again. "Well then, I suggest we use that to our advantage, as well as use Katase to gain further allies."
Ohgi's eyes widened drastically at the thought, a bit surprised at the statement. "What?" He spouted out without a thought in his head. But as he felt the surprise leave his body, he knew he had just asked a very stupid question. That's just like Zero. He always tries to gain an additional advantage whenever he can. It may be good for us, but how long does he expect his elaborate schemes will work. Every bubble has to pop eventually. The rebel thought to himself, knowing all too well of their leader's real goals.
"Even though they are now part of the Black Knights," Said rebel leader proclaimed, knowing that Cornelia's pride was much like her own, as well as a double edged sword. "Viceroy Cornelia still believes that they are the last remnants of the Japan Liberation Front." Lelouch could feel his plan coming into motion as he allowed his Black Knights to soak in what that truly meant. "Using that to our advantage, we can use the liquid Sakuradite they're carrying as an explosive-"
"Now wait just a minute!" Tamaki interrupted, his idiotic voice piercing the eardrums of everyone in the room. He had his usual, furious expression on his face. That damn bastard. If he goes through with that plan, we'll be no better than those god damned Britannians. Treating us like pawns… Of all the ridiculous concepts. "If we do that then we'd be killing our own men along with the Britannians. That is absolutely out of the-" He managed to get out, before he found his interruption cut short by the very man he was trying to call out.
"Allow me to finish before you start spouting your mouth off, Tamaki." The masked rebel proclaimed, knowing that Tamaki was the one who was always the most likely to interrupt him out of idiotic rage. "Detonating the sakuradite with Katase and his forces on board would be out of the question, not to mention, it would be a waste of time and resources." He assured them, knowing that mistake had cost him a lot of support in the previous timeline. "However, I have no intentions of letting that opportunity pass. So, we will make it look as though they committed suicide, just as every Britannian would expect from the cowardly Japan Liberation Front. But in reality, the explosion will only be used as bait to lure Cornelia into a trap of our own."
The Black Knights looked around, each one wondering exactly what their leader meant by that statement. Lelouch could feel his frustration and despair blend with his madness once again, just as it had in the past during the Black Rebellion, his assault on the Geass order, and when he confronted his father for the last time. But as that happened, he could think of nothing except the so called laws that had given him these feelings to begin with. If the Laws of Equivalence will stay in effect, then even they can be used to my advantage, given the right circumstances. And if I must be forced to suffer because of them, so be it. He thought to himself like the demon he was, then resumed his speech. "And while we deal with her forces, Katase will use the submarine we have just acquired from Kyoto. Under the smokescreen that the explosion and ensuing battle will certainly create, he and his group will then use the submarine as a safe transport out of the harbor towards the Chinese Federation. Once there, General Katase will meet with a man by the name of Li Xingke."
Ohgi couldn't believe what he was hearing. He's telling us his plan. No, something about it seems too convenient about all of this. He thought to himself, his brain desperately trying to search for the answers he was looking for. It's as if he was expecting this to happen. Does he have an informant we don't know about, or is he just able to anticipate Cornelia that well? At that moment, Ohgi could feel his head fill with puzzling questions, all of them challenging his earlier theory about Zero's real motivation. Come on Kaname… He thought to himself as his breath became heavy. Get a hold of yourself. This doesn't change a thing about who Zero really is. "What are our chances?" He asked his leader, anticipating exactly what he knew Zero would say in this situation.
"Need you ask?" The masked man simply replied, continuing to organize his rebels for the mission at hand.
"...Understood." Ohgi reluctantly replied as he made his towards the docks, finding himself once again wondering exactly who was the real man behind the mask of Zero.