I don't own Code Geass.
Act II
Part 3: Requiem for a Dream
The Wind, though it knew that it was not it's own.
It would carry the dream for as long as destiny permitted....
***************
Ashford Academy
9:32 A.M., October 24, 2018
Roland laid on his back with his head resting over his arms and gazed up at the clouds. He had decided to skip some classes so he could enjoy the sunny day and relax. Eventually though, he got tried.
"What a beautiful sky today," he said dreamily. "I wish I could just lay here forever." Roland slowly closed his eyes for sleep to take over.
"That wish won't come true today Roland," said the oh-so familiar voice of that white haired amber eyed teacher that always chased him down.
The said student didn't open his eyelids but his right eye twitched in irritation. Eventually he got up. "Just when I'm about to have a nap," Roland grumbled. He patted his pants and coat of imaginary wrinkles before returning Viletta's glare with his own.
"Why are you always riding me?" Roland questioned. "You know Schneider isn't in class too! So why is it that you come after me before him for a change?"
Viletta smiled nostalgically to herself. "You remind me a lot of a student I always had to chase down," the coach answered. "He skipped pretty much all of his classes."
Roland smirked. "You miss having Lelouch here don't you?" Viletta was caught off guard by the question. It was enough for Roland to slip by her and down the roof stairs before she even noticed he was gone. "I hope I am being a good substitute then!" he called back cheerfully.
"ROLAND!!!!" Viletta screamed in false fury while in actuality, she was smiling. 'I guess Lelouch did have his moments....When he wasn't Zero,' she mused in her thoughts.
The difference between chasing Roland and Lelouch though, Viletta could tell that Roland had stamina unlike that slacker of a Demon Emperor. Roland made it into a battle of wits and stamina, for not only did his physical prowess far exceeded what Lelouch's was, he also performed the same kind of tricks. That included having other students disguise themselves as him, or smoke screens he made in the chem lab.
Eventually Viletta lost him but ran into Gino, Schneider, and Kallen heading to their next class. "Have you three seen Roland?" They all shook their heads no. "If you do, catch him and bring him to me." With that Viletta sprinted to her own class that she had to teach.
"Wow, Roland really pisses off Mrs. Kaname huh?" Gino mused as they continued to their next class.
"Just like him," Kallen agreed, but not thinking of Roland in her own answer.
"I'm going to skip," Schneider announced to the other two as he turned a corner.
Gino and Kallen stopped and watched as the exchange student walked off. "What are you going to do?" Gino asked. When Schneider vanished down the stairs without giving an answer, Kallen and Gino exchanged worried looks. "We should follow him," Gino said what they were both thinking. The two student council members and soldiers of the Black Knights followed after Schneider.
***************
"You have to do better than that, Lelouch!" said Adam as he countered Lelouch's attack, just barely scratching his cheek. "I win," Adam declared, "First blood is what we agreed on."
Lelouch let out a long sigh and sheathed his sword onto his back. "I yield," he grudgingly said. "I will beat you at this one day."
Adam smugly smirked. "You can try," he said as he and Lelouch headed to their room for breakfast.
When they arrived, they found Alice and C.C. waiting for them and eating a large Pizza Hut pizza on the bed. "Here," C.C. said holding out to Lelouch a very very small slice of cheese pizza.
"Any reason that I'm getting such a small slice?" he asked aggravated.
"Just be glad I feel like sharing boy," the witch answered which got a stunned look from the others in the room, even Adam.
"You..." Lelouch could not physically comprehend this, "...you have the ability to actually share your pizza with another person?"
"Who are you?" Adam questioned, glaring.
"What have you done with Pizza Women?" Alice questioned and glared as well.
The pizza loving witch just looked at them with her usual bored expression. "What? You really don't think I could give away a piece of my pizza in an act of good will?" Before anyone could answer, C.C. ate the small pizza in one bite. "You would be right," she said, amused at Lelouch's annoyed face.
"Witch," Lelouch called her.
"Well, she is C.C.," Adam shrugged. He and Lelouch took a seat at the table their chess board was on.
"Hey, are any of you going to the Halloween festival at Ashford?" Alice asked curiously.
Lelouch and Adam both eyed her. "You know we can't be seen still, right?" Lelouch questioned the thief.
Alice shook her head. "You do know that it is a Halloween festival right?" she countered, "You two just have to wear a costume. I'm going as a-"
"Thief," C.C. finished what she was going to say. Alice looked at the witch with a death glare. "It was kinda obvious."
"Oh, just like you decided to go as an escaped Britannian prisoner?" Alice shot back. "Your just reusing one of your regular outfits! And don't say it is still creative. You're just being lazy."
"Why do you get so worked up over something so trivial?" C.C. asked nonchalantly. "Besides, you have no room to criticize my creativity because you already are a thief."
The two women continued to bicker while Adam and Lelouch watched in annoyance. "Do you think you'll go?" Adam asked Lelouch. "I'm sure you would like to spend more time with Kallen and see your other friends."
Lelouch thought about it. "I might if I can think of a good costume," he said. "What about you? You going to go with Alice? I noticed that you two haven't talked to each other for awhile."
Adam sighed. "It think I will go with her," he answered. "Don't know what I'll go as though."
*****************
Roland hid somewhere new that Viletta wouldn't think of finding him, the auditorium. The Drama Club was there but didn't seem to mind him. He sat in the far back so as to not disrupt the amateurish performers.
"Peace at last," Roland mused as he relaxed in his seat. He closed his eyes for a nap.
"Enjoying yourself?" asked a familiar voice that the young Fragment had not heard in months.
Roland opened his eyes to see his Remnant friend sitting behind him with a smirk. "What are you doing here Naoto?" the younger boy asked.
The Remnant dropped his smirk for a moment. "My name is Ardor now," he explained, "Naoto was the person that lived before me...and I want to be me."
"Okay," Roland understood what Nao-no Ardor felt. Despite knowing what he was, Roland wanted to exist as a separate entity from Lelouch. "What are you doing here Ardor?" he asked again.
Ardor remained silent with a solemn expression on his face. "You and Kaylin have to come back," he finally said.
"No," the Fragment answered flatly with a stone face. "I have no desire to bring Kaylin and myself back...I refuse to fight your war."
"Roland," Ardor said pleadingly, "come back...You know what will happen! If you both don't come back, then I'll..." The Remnant stopped himself.
"You'll have to do to us like you did Nadie," Roland finished, surprising Ardor. "I've always known it was you that...killed Nadie," he explained, "But, know that I don't blame you."
Ardor averted his eyes from Roland's sky blue orbs. "I didn't ask for your forgiveness," he said.
"But you wanted it."
"I don't deserve it."
"You are not free."
"That's the price that was paid for my life."
Roland's stone face softened. "I've met Naoto's sister," he said changing the topic. Ardor didn't respond except turning his face away. "She is a lot like Nadie, but happier like Kaylin...I guess that's why they're her Fragments, huh?" Still no reply from Ardor. "She remembers Nadie too."
That got a reaction from Ardor. He turned back, wide-eyed in disbelief. "How? When a Fragment dies, all memories of them are erased except for those closest to them. How can Kallen remember about Nadie if they only met once?"
"Kaylin and I have thought about it," Roland said, "and we have a theory."
"What is it?" Ardor asked. Roland explained everything that he and Kaylin have thought of and about Roland's dream. After the younger of the two finished, Ardor blew a low whistle. "Wow. I never would've thought of that."
"I know," Roland agreed, nodding. "I never thought of it until I befriended Kallen." He paused for a second. "And now that I think about it, that makes her your sister."
Ardor pondered about it. "No," he rejected the thought, "Kaylin is my only sister now...Kallen never was my sibling."
Roland sighed. "You'll accept it someday," he said. They sat in silence for awhile before Ardor broke the silence once more.
"So...You won't come back?" he asked though he already was told the answer.
Roland shook his head. "No," he answered a last time, "I have something that I have to do. Besides, I can't agree with Marcus's goal. This is my life, and I will it my own way."
Ardor looked down to the floor. "If only I was as free as you...There's nothing I can do to escape."
"You're wrong," Roland told him. Ardor looked at his friend questioningly. "You need to make your own freedom. Find a way to go against Marcus." As he said this, Roland stared at Ardor with pure intent to make his words break through.
Ardor sighed. "Were it so easy," he said as he began to stand up.
Roland tried to reach out to Ardor but he moved away. "Ardor," Roland said sorrowfully.
"It's too late for me," Ardor said without looking toward Roland. "And you are foolish to fight for some silly dream...We'll meet again some other time." With that he walked off and disappeared by stepping into the shadows of the room.
When Ardor was gone the doors behind Roland opened. At first he thought it was Viletta who thought he might be hiding in there. But it turned out to be...
"I thought you might try hiding here," the teen with the beanie hat said distastefully. Schneider, Gino, and Kallen walked over and took a seat by Roland.
"You guys do know that you are skipping too right?" Roland asked.
"Hmph. Like I care," Schneider responded.
"We can't leave you alone with him," Kallen answered. She noticed a sad expression on Roland's face that somewhat reminded her of Lelouch. "Are you okay?" she asked absentmindedly.
Roland was quiet for a moment before he answered. "It's nothing."
"Are you sure?" Gino asked, "You look down."
"It's nothing really," Roland lied, putting up a smile.
Schneider was not fooled. "You are a terrible liar," he said.
"What does it matter to you?" Roland questioned, glaring at the student with the beanie hat. Kallen and Gino could feel the tension between the two and prepared themselves to stop them if a fight broke out between the two.
Schneider answered with a glare of his own. "Why is it that every time I see you, I get pissed off?" he asked.
Roland smirked. "Maybe fate wants us too."
Schneider stood up and turned his back to Roland. "I will never cooperate with fate."
"You don't cooperate with anyone," Roland accused.
"Hmph...You're right," Schneider admitted, "But I prefer to control my own life. Fate will not rule me." With that he walked out of the room, leaving behind the other three.
"I think I'll go too," Gino said, following after Schneider.
Kallen looked back to the Roland who had his back turned. "Roland-"
"He's right," Roland said unexpectedly. "I agree with Schneider that a person should not subjugate themselves to fate. It's my story and I'll write it any way I want," he proclaimed.
"Kallen...Where do you get your strength?" Roland asked, catching her off guard.
"W-What do you mean?" Kallen questioned.
"You fought for your brother's dream, for your mother's life after the war, and for Lelouch in the Black Knights. But you wavered when Lelouch left the Black Knights...Is your strength your own or do you only get strength from fighting for others?"
Kallen was surprised by the question, but thought she knew the answer. Then she realized she didn't. "Why do you ask?"
"You should find a reason to fight for yourself and no one else," Roland answered. "Otherwise...What future do have truly?" With that Roland got up and left Kallen alone to think about what he said.
'Why do I want more power?' Kallen pondered. 'It's to maintain Suzaku and Lelouch's peace, right? Is that not a good enough reason? What did he mean there will be no tomorrow for me?'
********************
The Wind blows free.
The King wishes for freedom that it already has.
The Wind gazes upon the King with his dream.
"You don't deserve this," the Wind claims.
"And you won't until you accept your sins."
*********************
Halloween, 5:30 P.M.
Kallen's room
"How do I look?" Kallen asked Kaylin after she got into her masquerade outfit.
"Beautiful," Kaylin answered. "The dress suits you."
Kallen gave a nostalgic smile. "Shirley made it..." she said, remembering the cheery red-head with a strong crush on Lelouch.
Kaylin share the memories even though she had never met the girl. "You should save it for the dance," she suggested. "Wear your Guardians outfit until then. We don't want to ruin it."
"Right," Kallen agreed and began stripping off the dress then changed into her Guardian's outfit. "I have to remember to thank Milly for holding onto the dress."
Kaylin nodded in agreement. "Can I use your Black Knights uniform?" she asked.
"You gonna save your masquerade outfit?" Kallen inquired as she searched for her uniform. She was answered by a slight nod.
"It's more of an evening gown anyways," Kaylin said.
"Here you go," Kallen said, handing her uniform to Kaylin.
"Thanks." Kaylin began changing into the Black Knights uniform. When she finished she and Kallen put on their masks. Kallen's masquerade mask was red with black trimmings, same colors as her headband, while Kaylin's mask was white with red trimmings.
"I don't look too bad in uniform," Kaylin commented.
"Are you two done yet?" Gerald called from the other side of the door. He began working for Kallen's mother after Benjamin Stadtfeld's funeral. "Master Roland is waiting downstairs."
"We'll be there in a second," Kallen answered as she picked up her and Kaylin's dresses. "Let's go."
They went down the stairs to meet up with Roland standing by the door dressed in his old Remnant overcoat and a Zero-like mask. He also had a large white feather tied to his belt. "Wow, is everyone lacking in the imagination department?" he asked with a smirk.
Kallen huffed. "And what exactly are you supposed to be?" she questioned.
"Nothing," Roland answered. "I am nothing."
"Nothing," Kaylin repeated the word and chuckle when she realized what he meant. "That is something."
"Let's go," Kallen said, not getting what they meant.
They went to Ashford and saw that the festival was pretty much all set up. The food stands were almost finished and they were already done with the games. The trio went over to Milly at the main building. She was dressed as her news reporter self since she could only use it as an excuse to come here during work.
"Hiya Kallen," she said to Kaylin, hugging her.
"I"m Kaylin," she said pointing at her bleach blonde hair that had the same spiky style as Kallen's.
Milly blushed at her mistake, making Kallen laugh at the former Student Council President for the first time in her life. That earned her a mischeivious smile from Milly and Kallen instantly regretted her action.
"Kal~len," Milly called, releasing Kaylin. "Can you do me a favor?"
"Uhhh what is it Milly?" Kallen asked hesitantly.
An hour later
Kallen cursed under her breath as she stared at the tracker for the maze. "I can't believe I got pulled into this again," Kallen muttered as a drop of sweat fell on the screen she was staring at. "I'm going to get Milly back for this, but first..." she then remembered her first time in the haunted house. "I've gotta get Lelouch still."
*************
Back outside, a man in a blue desert outfit sneezed after he removed the cloth covering his mouth. "Cold?" asked the person in a torn hooded white cloak beside him.
"I think someone's talking about me," Lelouch answered as he quickly recovered his face.
Alice, in a leather and cloth outfit with a bandit mask was with them. "I wonder where Kallen is," she said.
"Perhaps she's looking for her prince," C.C. in her white prisoner jacket said.
"Hmph. I'm more worried about where Shinji and Gage went," Adam said, looking around through the eye holes of his wolf-like mask that covered his nose up.
"They have Hawk to watch them," Alice said, "I'm sure he won't let them get into too much trouble."
That did not put Adam at ease. "That doesn't help." He began to walk off.
"Where are you going?" Alice asked.
"I'm not interested in the festival," Adam answered. Alice sighed and followed after him.
"I wonder why he keeps distancing himself," C.C. wondered aloud as she and Lelouch went to the main building for the haunted house.
"What do you mean?" Lelouch asked.
"They love each other and even confessed it. Yet for some reason, Adam has been pushing Alice away along with everyone else."
Lelouch pondered on what she said. "Now that you mention it, he's been acting more distant after he defeated Archangel. I just never bothered to question it since he and I spend our time trying to beat each other rather than just hang out." They went inside the school building. "Then again, Adam has always been a loner ever since I met him."
"True," the witch agreed.
"If there is something wrong, Adam will sort it out."
The immortal witch sighed. "You're right. Besides, Noa is watching over him."
They turned a corner into the gym maze. "Why do you speak of Noa more kindly than others?" Lelouch questioned.
C.C. couldn't help but smile. "He was the one that made sure that I kept living through the ages before I met Marianne. Noa has always been kind and is so fascinated by humans that he lives to protect their future."
"Hints the Guardians creation," Lelouch said. "But why?"
The witch shrugged. "Perhaps he just loves life. That would explain why he always tried to convince me that my eternal life is not a hell...Like you do now." She looked at Lelouch with warm smile that he returned. "Thank you, Lelouch."
"Your welcome, C.C." They came up to a turn in the maze when a big wall-like monster sprung up from the floor.
"MOVE IT!!" the student inside screamed. Lelouch and C.C. just stared at the familiar red-headed person inside with amused looks as Lelouch removed his mask. "Fuck," Kallen cursed as Lelouch pulled out his cell phone and began taking pictures.
"You know," the prince mused, "I never thought you would be caught dead in this same exact predicament again, Kallen."
The said red-head just narrowed her eyes at the prince. "Don't push your luck Lelouch," Kallen warned. "I still have yet to get you back for the first time."
"I've been dreading your vengeance Kallen," Lelouch said sarcastically. "I'm sure Milly was the one who got you in there." Kallen's glare at the mention of the blonde's name confirmed his suspitions. "You could leave," the prince suggested, "I'm sure Milly won't mind."
"Now, now Lelouch," C.C. piped up, "Kallen has an obligation to fill. Besides, don't you see all the fun I-I mean she is having? Let's not spoil it for her."
"Shut it witch!" Kallen threatened, which had no effect since she was stuck in the wall costume. "What are you two doing here anyway? I'm pretty sure Lelouch is still hated by most of the world."
"And I'm pretty sure that this is a Halloween festival," Lelouch countered as he pointed at his mask. "I have a mask."
"You know how big of a risk you are taking?"
"I'm always cautious aren't I?" He stepped behind Kallen. "Now let me get you out of this costume." He began zipping down the back.
"Wait, Lelouch, don't!" Kallen yelled, but Lelouch had already unzipping the wall monster costume. The instant he did, Lelouch and Kallen's skin colors changed from pale peach to beet red. Inside the costume, Kallen was naked. C.C. could barely contain her laughter.
"Kallen, why are you...." Lelouch drifted off, trying to peel his eyes away from Kallen's full moon.
"It's really hot in this thing and that screen I stare at doesn't help," Kallen replied.
"Where are your-"
"End of the hall down there..."
Lelouch looked toward where Kallen described and saw a black bag. "I'll get it for you."
As he rushed to fetch Kallen's clothes, the green haired witch couldn't contain herself anymore and began her usual comments to the embarrassed young woman. "You just find every chance you can get to show off, don't you?"
"Shut up, witch."
"You need to work on your comebacks...On another note, I'm surprised you two still haven't-"
"That's none of your business C.C.!" Kallen yelled.
"What are you two talking about?" Lelouch asked when he returned with the bag.
"Nothing!" Kallen answered hastily.
"Why you two haven't bedded each other yet," C.C. said nonchalantly.
Lelouch blushed. "That's none of your business witch," he growled.
The witch in question ignored his response. "You should give her her clothes now, or do you want to search it for her underwear?" Lelouch blushed even more to match Kallen's hair. "Thought so, pervert."
Lelouch quickly laid the bag behind Kallen then turned back to arguing with C.C. "I'm not a pervert!"
"Hmm. Perhaps...Kallen is the pervert then?"
Kallen, who was putting on her underwear behind the wall monster costume, tripped and fell at the comment. "I-I'm not a pervert!"
"We can see you...again," C.C. commented and again the teens turned red. 'This is just too easy,' the witch thought.
Kallen quickly put on her Guardian clothes and mask before C.C. could comment again. She still felt warm from the costume so she zipped down her turtle neck vest to just above her chest. And C.C. just had to make a joke on that.
"Are you thinking of stripping later?"
Lelouch had to hold Kallen back so she wouldn't try to rip the green haired witch apart.
****************
Shinjuku
"That festival is taking away all my costumers," Tamaki sighed, looking at his empty bistro which is usually packed at this time.
"Calm down Tamaki," Minami comforted, "I'm sure someone will show up."
"Yeah, I'm here aren't I?" Ohgi said. "Do I not count as a costumer?"
"No, you count as one costumer, Ohgi," Sugiyama countered. "Besides, you are probably going there too."
"True," Ohgi nodded. "But I'm sure there will be more people."
As if on cue, four black cloaked men stepped inside. The four Japanese stared at them as they sat themselves at a far corner of the shop. Three of them just sat quietly while one pulled out a book and started reading. Minami walked over to the hooded strangers.
"Do you want anything?" he asked.
The one that answered had a voice that was so familiar, but Minami couldn't put his finger on it. "Just some water.
"Okay," said Minami as he walked back to Tamaki and the others at the counter. "I've got a bad feeling about those guys."
"How come?" Ohgi asked.
"One of them sounded just like someone I knew," Minami informed, "but I can't think who. And the one with the book...He just scares me."
Tamaki shook his head. "Dude, you have to chill out. I'm sure they're a bunch of decent guys just passing through."
"It's rude to be talking about someone behind their backs," the one with the book called out, not looking away from the story.
"Here's your order," Tamaki said as he brought the water to the table. "Will that be all?"
"Yes," answered the one that ordered, "but we will be here awhile if you don't mind."
Tamaki shrugged. "It's not like there's anyone else coming," he muttered to himself as he rejoined his former resistance buddies. "I have no idea why you are scared of them Minami."
***************
Back at the academy, Roland and Kaylin were in the ball room of the clubhouse, waiting for the dance to begin. They were looking out the window watching a full moon slowly rise higher and higher into a starry sky. They just watched the celestial giant in silence, thinking of what the future held. Kaylin decided to break the silence.
"Any regrets?" she asked.
"No," Roland replied quietly, "I've enjoyed my time here, I've been happy with the short life I had...You?"
"I feel the same," Kaylin answered undoubtedly, "I'm not sad...Even if no one will remember us."
"We won't be fully forgotten."
"You're right. We've made our mark on other peoples' lives. They may not remember who we were or if we existed...."
"They will know they are missing something. They will wonder why they cry, because we are not disappearing..." Roland took a brief pause before he finished. "...we are returning...This is our requiem."
***************
Lelouch took caution as he navigated through the crowd, making sure as not to bump into someone. Kallen led them through to a stand with an oh-so-familiar vendor.
"Jeremiah!" Kallen called out when he was in earshot.
The cyborg and the pink cat girl running the stand turned to see who called. "Kallen," Jeremiah greeted, then he noticed the two that were with her. "C.C.!...If you are here then..."
"Hello, Jeremiah," Lelouch said, "Removing his mask for a mere second for his loyal servant know it was him."
The ex-soldier was distressed with his master's appearance. "My Lord," he spoke in a low whisper, "it's dangerous for you to be here! What if someone recognizes you? Your much too smart to do something as stupid as this."
Lelouch felt somewhat offended by the last comment but understood his former subordinate's concern. "Jeremiah, I refuse to just sit around in hiding and do nothing. I'm tired of just doing that."
Jeremiah sighed, defeated at seeing the defiance Lelouch's eyes gave him. "Quitter," Anya commented.
Kallen and C.C. nodded in agreement. "When it comes to Lelouch," C.C. spoke, "Orange Boy just can't say no." Jeremiah shot the immortal a glare while everyone else snickered.
"May I purchase some oranges?" Lelouch asked when he regained his usual composure.
*************
"So," Tamaki began to make conversation with the costumers when they made the impression of not leaving, "what are you guys here for?"
Instead of answering, one of the hooded people pointed at a certain picture he noticed on the wall. "Who is that?" he asked.
The former resistance members looked to the picture the man was pointing. It was the one with Kallen, Ohgi, and... "That's Naoto," Ohgi answered, "our leader before Zero...He died in a fire during a raid."
The one that asked chuckled. "Heheheh. I wonder how much of a fool he was to lead you guys."
Tamaki was enraged by the insult of his dead friend. "Don't you dare insult Naoto's memory like that! He was a good man that died for his-"
"His dream of a free Japan..." the cloaked one cut off, surprising everyone except for the other hooded people.
"Y-Yeah," Sugiyama confirmed, "Did you know Naoto?"
The cloaked speaker now stood up. "I've never met him," he answered, "but I know more of what he thinks than any one of you."
"What do you mean by that?" Minami questioned.
The man chuckled. "I wonder if the Japan he dreamed of...was one obtained betraying the one who strived to help you...
*********************
It was coming to the ball that would last to midnight and all of the student body was in or outside the Student Council clubhouse already beginning to dance. Kallen, Lelouch, and C.C. were still just walking around the stands before they closed, Adam and Alice were on the roof of the main building, Hawk and others....who knows? Roland and Kaylin were in the council room.
"Are you going to talk to Lelouch, before it begins?" Kaylin asked as she changed in an adjacent room.
"I don't know," Roland answered. "Hopefully there won't be conflict between us."
"Do you think Nao-I mean, Ardor, will help?"
Roland took awhile to answer. "He will try to stop us and bring us back by force."
"He'll be sad, won't he?"
"More than that."
"How do you think Kallen will feel towards him?"
"Kallen won't beat him if she still relies on others for strength. You and Nadie will have to help her."
"What will you do for Lelouch?"
Roland took a moment to think of an answer. He smirked to himself as he looked at the black and white feather he held in his hand. "I'll give him a future that he is apart of."
***************
"How did you-?" Tamaki gasped at the man's accusation.
"We know a lot of things," the man answered. "We knew that Lelouch vi Britannia was the true Zero and that you still brand him as a Demon Emperor...But I know, personally, that Naoto would spit on this country like I do if he were here, knowing of what the Japanese did."
"Lelouch used the Japanese for his own gain!" Minami shouted angrily.
"Yeah, how are we supposed to follow someone who only sees us as pawns!" Sugiyama added.
"Lelouch is nothing more than a manipulative con man," Ohgi put in. "Who are you to judge us for what we had to do?!"
The hooded man shook his head in disappointment. "So you betrayed Lelouch, betrayed Zero, at the drop of a hat...For what?" he questioned. "Pride? Hatred?...Fear?" The last statement made the former Black Knights soldiers confused.
"We weren't afraid of Lelouch," Tamaki claimed halfheartedly.
"Oh? But Ardor is right, you were afraid," said the cloaked one with the book. He pocketed his book and stood up. "You were afraid that he had used his Geass to control you."
The true statement stunned the Japanese men. "H-How did you-?" Ohgi's question was cut short by the original speaker.
"Like I said," the one called Ardor spoke, "we know a lot of things...More so than you dare to learn."
The other spoke again. "Too bad your fear and mistrust was misplaced," he said coolly. "For Lelouch casted no Geass on any Black Knight...Except one, but that was more of a mistake."
"What about the Massacre?!" Ohgi shouted. "How could he have ordered the death of so many Japanese?" He absently wiped off a bead of sweat that started sliding down the side of his face.
The book reader answered once more. "He just made eye contact and said 'Kill all Japanese,'" he answered calmly. "In truth, it was a tragic accident that Lelouch never meant to make happen." The man released a cold chuckle. "You...should really learn more about Geass, because there are worse things."
"Why are you telling us this?" Ohgi asked, wondering if what they were saying was true.
"Hmph. Does it matter?" Ardor questioned. "After all, why aren't you in the Chinese Federation searching for Lelouch and Adam? Prime Minister Kaname Ohgi. Are you here not because you believe Noa is still keeping Lelouch in hiding on the Ark? And if he is there, what do you plan to do? Imprison him or kill him in front of the world so they may all cheer for the death of one man?" Ohgi gritted his teeth but made no retort. "Hmph. It seems Naoto's weak sister has the only true sense of loyalty," Ardor turned to his comrades. "Lets go."
With that the cloaked men left the bistro. The former resistance members stood in silence, processing the information they just learned.
'We were in the right...Weren't we?' Ohgi questioned himself in his head.
He was shook from his thoughts when Tamaki asked something he didn't think of. "What do you think that other guy meant by there are worse things than Geass?"
**************
Alice listened to the music as the ball went on. She wished to go join everyone but she wanted to stay with Adam more. The teen in question had removed his wolf mask and just stood with his arms crossed gazing into the night sky.
"How come you don't want to go down there?" Alice asked as she leaned down over the edge of the roof, watching the people who danced outside the Student Council clubhouse.
"I'm not interested in parties," Adam answered without turning to her.
"You need to enjoy yourself more often," the thief advised. When she realized that she would receive no reply from the Silver Guard, Alice walked over behind him. She wrapped her arms around him in a warm embrace. "You've been more distant than usual. You haven't talked to Noa or me, so what is it that's bothering you?"
Adam dropped his arms to his waist and Alice ended her hug. Adam turned to face her blue-green eyes with his red eyes, looking at Alice, who gave him a worried look. He opened his mouth to answer but someone else with a calm, smooth voice spoke instead.
"It's because he is afraid..."
****************
Kallen finally convinced Lelouch to come with her to the dance an hour before it finished at midnight and they were now walking through the crowded ball room to get to the council room so Kallen could change into her dress. When they came to the top of the stairs, they were greeted by the other Student Council members, Shinji, Hawk, and Gage.
"Hiya!" Gage said energetically to the couple.
"Hey," Kallen said.
"No dance partner?" Gino, in his old Knight of Rounds uniform, asked.
Kallen didn't understand until she looked behind her and saw that Lelouch had vanished. She was angry for a brief moment but that didn't last long. "Him not seeing the other council members is probably for the best," she muttered to herself before turning back to the others. "Nope, no partner," Kallen answered, making Gino smile widely.
The blonde stretched out his hand to the red-headed woman. "Will you honor me with the fir-" Gino stopped his question short.
'No,' Kallen thought, 'It's more like he just...stopped.' It was true, his smiling mouth was still open as if he was talking. The Guren pilot looked around and saw that everyone had stopped moving, as if they were frozen in place. Everything was dead silent except for the ball room music that was still playing. Looking back into Gino's blue eyes, Kallen noticed a faint orange-red glow ring around his irises. The answer was clear...
"Geass," Kallen gasped.
***************
Lelouch glared angrily into the eyes of all the people, seeing the glow that Geass gave when it affected someone. Then he noticed three people in black hooded coats moving through the crowd of unmoving people walking to the stairs. He would follow them and find out who they are and what they are after. C.C., who was with him, followed.
The hooded people stopped moving. The prince grimaced, thinking they had noticed him. Looking up the top of the stairs, though, Lelouch paled when he noticed Kallen, still moving, in the way of the three men.
One of the three, most likely the leader continued to move up the stairs. He didn't go toward Kallen, instead he turned and went down the hall to the council room. The other two approached Kallen when she made it apparent of wanting to chase after the leader.
From behind, C.C. noticed a glowing blue mark, a feather with the Geass sigil over it, begin to etch itself on the back of Lelouch's left hand. "Go get Jeremiah," he ordered to the witch. A second after that he vanished with a gust of wind to take his place.
***************
"Who are you?" Adam asked as he stepped between Alice and the man in the hooded black coat.
The man chuckled. "Oh, we'll be reacquainted sometime soon," the man answered.
'Reacquainted?' Adam wondered, but shook away the thought when the stranger spoke again.
"You are afraid," he said in a more chilling voice. Adam made no response so he continued. "You are afraid that humanity will turn on you if they realize your full power. Am I wrong?"
Alice looked up to Adam when he didn't answer. "Adam?" she whispered, he made no reply.
"That girl is no different," the stranger in black said to the teen in white. "Someday, she too will turn on you. She, like everyone else, will fear your abilities and that fear will turn to hate."
"Shut up!" Adam yelled, uncharacteristic rage dripping in his voice. He held out his right hand and gripped a falchion that appeared in out of thin air. "What are you here for?"
"I'm here to speak with and distract you from what's happening to in that clubhouse," the man answered smoothly.
Alice and Adam looked out to the clubhouse. At first they thought nothing was wrong, but then they noticed that there was no motion whatsoever. They turned back to the man and both sensed an amused grin on his face.
"You can go if you want," he said, "I won't stop you...Heheheh." Adam gave the man one last glare before grabbing Alice vanishing in a flash of red light. "The Silver Guard," the man mused to himself as he quoted the book, "Protector...and enemy of all. Tries to outshine the darkness in his heart."
***************
Kallen was astonished as Lelouch appeared right in front of her, standing in the way of the men she assumed were Remnants. If they had powers like Kaylin and Roland described, she had no chance against two of them unarmed since she still had yet to master her Advent. But, can Lelouch even the odds with his Advent? He never was that great with physical situations.
"Kallen," Lelouch called with his Zero voice, "I'm assuming you have an Advent since you can still move...I want you to go after the one that ran away."
"Hai," the ace replied. "Be careful, Lelouch."
"You too, Q-1."
With that Kallen ran after the other Remnant while Lelouch deals with those other two.
****************
Roland glared at the hooded figure he knew to be Ardor. He stood between Kaylin, now in her plain white dress, and the Remnant who guarded the door.
"This is your last chance," Ardor warned. Kaylin could sense the pleading sadness that emanated from him. "Come back to us."
Roland and Kaylin looked at their friend apologetically. "No," Roland answered.
"Please come back!" Ardor begged.
Kaylin shook her head. "We're sorry Ardor," she said. "This is just something that we have to do."
"I won't accept that!" he shouted. "I don't want my friends to disappear from the face of the earth," he reached out his hand and soot-colored flamberge appeared out of fire in his hand, "I'll drag you both back if I have too!"
Roland did the same as Ardor and blue handled broadsword materialized out of a gust of wind. "As long as I have Durendal in my hand...There's no way we will go back."
"I'll bring you back..." Ardor claimed as fire began to cover , "...because we're all friends. Right?" He gripped Drynwyn tightly with his right hand.
"Yeah," Roland agreed apologetically, grasping Durendal firmly with both his hands, "friends..."
It pained Kaylin to see them fight but there was nothing they could do. But before they clashed, the door burst open, distracting Ardor. Roland grabbed Kaylin's wrist and jumped with her out the window.
Ardor cursed, noticing Roland and Kaylin escaped. He shot a death glare from under his hood to the intruder with red hair styled like Kaylin's.
Kallen Kozuki shot her own death glare back at the hooded Remnant. "I won't let you go after them," she proclaimed.
*************
"Alice?" Adam looked at his companion and saw the red rims around her eyes. "Geass huh? Alice...I've got to get moving." He ran through the motionless crowd toward the clubhouse.
When he entered, he noticed Lelouch fighting upstairs with a man in a hooded black coat with a staff that seemed to be made of ice while Lelouch himself was unarmed. They fought in a clear spot away from any of the immobile people.
Adam formed two swords out of the air. "Lelouch!" he called, making the ex-prince look down at him. Adam threw one of the swords at Lelouch who caught it.
"Brother, is none of your concern," said the voice of a young man from behind the white haired teen. Adam turned around and saw another, shorter, hooded person with his hands behind his back. Judging from his build, this one seemed around fifteen or sixteen.
"Brother?" Adam questioned as he readied himself for whatever the kid had.
"Are you sure you want to fight with so many helpless people crowding you?" the boy questioned unemotionally. Adam cursed to himself, the kid was right so he lowered his weapon and watched the fight Lelouch was obviously forced to have. Adam will just have to wait for his chance.
***************
Ardor stared, unfazed by the glare Kallen was giving him. The fire around his sword went out. "Beat it kid," he advised stabbing the blade into the floor. "You can't take me on." He turned away toward the broken window. "Go home little girl."
Kallen's rage intensified from the insult. "Don't you dare walk away from me!" she yelled. "Just who are you to insult me like that?!"
"The name's Ardor," the Remnant answered without facing her. "I am someone who is not pleased with this country obtaining it's freedom the way it did." Kallen gritted her teeth, knowing what he meant. "You agree don't you? Can you honestly believe a country deserves freedom for betraying someone who helped you so much, sacrificed much more than the country itself?"
"No," Kallen answered truthfully, "I don't believe a country should get freedom for that, but I won't let the peace we have now be broken!"
"Because your brother would want this peace to stay?" The question caught Kallen off guard. To Ardor, she seemed to have no answer. "I for one am fed up with a false peace...That's why I forsake this country and everyone that believes it's real."
"Are you...Japanese?" Kallen asked.
"Heh...Yes and no," Ardor answered. He began to walk off, reminding Kallen what she was here for.
"Hold it!" she lunged.
Ardor stopped and sighed. "I gave you a chance kid," he quickly turned and dodged her attack by merely shifting his torso. He countered with a devastating punch to Kallen's abdomen. The force knocked all the air out of the ace and sent her flying back, slamming into the wall. "You should have taken it," Ardor told the Guren pilot. He began to walk off again.
"Wait," Kallen called out in a hoarse voice. Ardor turned to see her struggling to get up.
He shook his head. "I'm holding back," Ardor told her. He charged and kneed her in the same spot, forcing Kallen to double over coughing on her hands and knees. He jerked her up by the collar of her vest and glared at her through the shade of his hood. Ardor then released Kallen, letting her slump against the wall.
"I don't have time for a weakling like you," he said before walking off for a third time.
"I'm...not...weak," Kallen told him as she struggled to take a step forward.
Ardor sighed and turned back to her. "You are," he said. In less than an second, Ardor retrieved his sword and pierced Kallen's shoulder, pinning her to the wall.
"Naoto!" Kallen gasped absentmindedly at the pain.
"You still cling to your brother even though he's dead," Ardor explained. "It was him that gave you strength and a dream during the war. Your mother had to become a Refrain addict before you had a dream. And Zero...Lelouch was the one that gave you hope and a future!
"Some ace you are! Kallen Kozuki has no real strength of her own! You need others to give you strength. You never provided yourself for strength. And whenever you lose one of those people...Well, what happened to your hope when Zero was betrayed?"
Kallen's eyes widened and she completely forgot the pain in her shoulder. She knew that she was crying, but it wasn't Ardor's sword, it was what he said. But the proud warrior she was did not want to accept them.
"It's not true," Kallen told herself weakly choking on her tears that she could not hold back for some reason.
"Hmph. Look! You're crying again! You always cry! How did a crybaby like you get the title of Ace?" the Remnant questioned. "Tch. What kind of ace are you?
"Shut up!" the Guren pilot cried, swinging her free arm to back hand Ardor's face. Kallen's hand missed but knocked off the Remnant's hood.
He had brown hair, styled like Kallen's when it was straight. The bangs went over a red cloth headband that covered his entire forehead and was pulled just over his left eye. His face made Kallen pale.
"Nao...to?" she breathed.
"No...I may be your brother, but I will live my life as a separate entity from Naoto," Ardor answered, closing his eyes. "Kallen...A cry baby like you..." He pulled out his sword and lifted her by the collar with his free hand, turning to the windows. "...Will never surpass me."
****************
Lelouch stopped fighting when he and his opponent heard an explosion come from the direction of the council room. Worried about Kallen, left his opponent and ran to where the explosion came from.
"Seems like it's time for us to go," the kid behind Adam said calmly.
Adam ran off after Lelouch but the one with the ice staff blocked his path halfway down the hall. The white haired Guardian began to trade blows with the one in his way. But they were stopped but a loud gunshot.
Looking toward the source, Adam saw a man with blue hair and wearing red circular sunglasses followed by Jeremiah and C.C. "Noa?" the white haired teen questioned.
******************
Lelouch came to the council room to find the interior in flames and the windowed wall was just gone. He looked over the edge and saw the hooded man standing on the grounds over an unconscious Kallen.
"Kallen!" Lelouch cried in anger as his body forced him to jump down to the grounds. He rushed the hooded man but something hit him from behind. Lelouch fell to the ground, knocked out, but not before hearing a voice.
"It's not your fight," it said, "I'll take care of the rest."
*********************
"I have a gift for you," the Wind said to the sleeping prince.
"But I want to make sure you will use it...
I have one wish that I want you to fulfill."
****************
Roland gazed toward Ardor with no expression at all. "Where were we?" he asked getting into a fighting stance.
"Hmph. I thought you ran," Ardor said resting the sword on his shoulder.
"I just needed to find Kaylin a good spot to hide until I beat you," Roland explained. "Other than that, I'm through with running away."
"I won't let you disappear," Ardor told his friend sadly.
Roland sighed, taking a quick glance toward Lelouch. "I told you before..." He moved in a way like he was sheathing the Durendal in an invisible scabbard, same with his empty right hand. "...I'm not disappearing..." Ardor felt a gust of wind and knew what was happening. "...I am returning."
A second sword, one with a silver blade that gleamed in the moonlight and a silver wing cross guard, appeared in Roland's right hand as he readied a duel sword stance. The blade itself was a sight to behold as it glimmered under the light of the moon.
"Heh...You are serious if you're going to use both Durendal and Fragarach," Ardor sighed. "Well...let's get this over with." Drynwyn ignited it's fire across the blade.
Roland took no time in attacking, he hacked, slashed, and twirled his blades at Ardor who blocked and parried each strike. Roland struck furiously with swift strikes with his duel swords and Ardor knew he wouldn't be able to keep up forever.
Ardor jumped away from Roland shot fire from his hand. In retaliation, Roland threw Fragarach at the fireball with a spin. The blade generated a slashing wind as it spun toward the fire.
Ardor saw the sword cleave through the fireball and continue toward him. He used his own sword to deflect Roland's as he drifted toward the ground. Once he landed Roland moved at high-speeds to close in on Ardor, the short distance made it appear he vanished. Ardor looked down when he felt a palm on his chest, then he was thrown far back by a blast of wind that shot out from Roland's hand.
Fragarach flew back to Roland's hand as Ardor pushed himself off the ground. His hood was off so Roland could see his blank face that had a tear stream down his cheek. Ardor surrounded his body in a flaming aura for a final desperation attack. Roland readied himself as a blue aura outlined his form.
They charged each other and in an instant, the fight was over. Ardor fell to one knee and used his sword for support, his flame was out and there was an X shaped cut across his chest. Roland stood unscathed in front of an X shaped gash carved into the ground.
The wind user didn't hit Ardor directly with the blades, but used air to cut him deep enough that the fire user wouldn't be able to stand up anytime soon.
"I'll wait for you," Roland said apologetically to Ardor, "in C's World."
Ardor chuckled. "You could learn a thing or two about lying from Lelouch...Nice try though." With that, Ardor faded into darkness, returning to base.
Roland let out a high pitched whistle, signaling Kaylin to come out of hiding. She went over to Kallen while he returned his swords to the wind and walk over to Lelouch.
"Hey idiot," Roland said to his sleeping counterpart. "You know, I never really thought what I would do if I ever met you but...I have to say, you are an idiot. You don't just throw your life away! Even if it's for a good cause, it was selfish! You know there could have been another way to bring peace without you dieing, but you just half-assed it through. It might have not been as quick a peace as the Zero Requiem, but at least the ones that cared most about you wouldn't fake a smile for the ones that loved them..."
Roland looked over to Kallen and saw that Kaylin was gone. "I wish we could have had a real conversation but, it seems that we won't be able too...Lelouch...I want you to do me a favor, it's not just for me though, it's also for you. I want you to make everyone to look up into the sky and smile all at once, and that includes you too...That is the dream I'm giving you..." Roland took his black and white feather off his belt and attached it to Lelouch's. "You can keep that as a lucky charm...The world needs you, but this time, make a future that you are apart of too. Okay? The world stretches out before you, full of possibilities. So persist in the present and believe in the future." Roland turned to face the midnight full moon in all it's glory.
"I've enjoyed my life, however short it was," he said to himself. Roland felt something wet on his face. He wiped off the tear with one of his gloved hands. When he did, Roland noticed that he no longer felt his hand as if it gone numb. He could also see through it like a ghost. With that thought, Roland chuckled a smile as he resumed gazing into the moon.
"Time sure files," the Fragment mused to himself, reminiscing all of his experiences in his few months of life, "When you're having so much fun."
With a genuine smile, the Fragment faded away from the world with no trace of his existence left behind...Only Roland's dream was left behind.
************
Kallen awoke in the medical bay of the Ark with Lelouch sleeping by her side. She remembered last night and what Naoto said...She still saw him as her dead brother...
Kallen still looked to her brother for hope and that's when she knew that the Remnant was right. She could not provide herself a reason to fight for her own reasons, instead she fought for someone else...Because it was easier that way.
Kallen looked over to Lelouch with a depressed look. "Could I still be your ace Lelouch?" she asked more to herself.
Kallen then saw something in Lelouch's hand, a black and white feather that reminded her of...someone...But she couldn't think of a name or a face. It was as if that person just vanished from memory. But how would you be reminded of someone you never met?
**************
In Gino's apartment, Schneider woke up early to look to the rising morning sun. He couldn't help but feel like something was missing. "No," he said to himself, "Somebody is missing...But who?...Hmph. I shouldn't think of things that don't matter." He began to pack up for home.
Thank you for reading, please leave a review and tell me what you think.
(A/N: The title of this chapter is meant to represent just what part of Lelouch that Roland is...Fragarach means the Truth or Answerer and in legend could control the wind and cut through any defense. Durendal is the sword of the Roland from The Song of Roland.)
At least I sent Roland and Kaylin off with a smile, right?
On another note, the poll is over because next chapter is the duel. The winner is...Ta Daaaa! Lelouch!