A/N: And of course, the surprisingly overwhelming response pushes me onward to continue this story. What I love about this fandom is that the fans here are hardly flamers, but are simply interested to see what the product of different people's imaginations is. I won't be too surprised if this idea has already been taken or if it will be taken in the future; the curiosity is still there and I intend to pursue it at full force. Thank you for your kind words, story alert, and favourites. In fact, I am grateful that you at least took the time to read through the first chapter~
But thirteen reviews and about fifty story alerts on the first chapter...? I'm not sure about you, but to me, that's pretty impressive! I was going to put this up next week, but such a mind-blowing response has pushed this forward quickly.
And so as a result, this new chapter comes sooner!
Read and enjoy!
There was a tremendous catalyst in Zero's personality as he stepped out of the door leading into Nunnally's room and headed down the ship.
Lelouch's smile was so bright that it could almost be seen through the malicious mask of the terrorist. It only took a few minutes to get from the room he planned on keeping the Viceroy to his own and in that time, he managed to light up the mood of many of those whom he had passed by.
The other Black Knights wondered why Zero had gone through quite the change. His steps were larger and much more jubilant and his stride, though already commanding, seemed to demand even more attention than usual. It was a sight to see him cloak-less even then and a few recruits even joked about having to go on another mission to retrieve the "lucky" item from the ocean and burning wreckage (though they had to keep their voices down to prevent Zero from taking them literally). Even though the masked leader said nothing throughout the short walk, they knew that they would soon be hearing a moving speech from him.
Zero still had that big smile on his face when he walked into his own private room aboard the cargo ship containing much of their crew and a submarine. The room itself was the largest space aside from the storage units for any weaponry, the deck, and the command room. Its dimensions were nothing special and resembled a small classroom; in place of the desks were scattered wooden crates and boxes. A few were labelled "Britannia" in bold red paint for they used to contain several sakuradite supplies and energy fillers which were headed to the homeland had it not been for a successful Black Knights raid on this very ship. Now these crates were used as tools for sitting, its contents off to provide for the greater good.
There was also a small closet which held Lelouch's neatly folded Ashford Academy uniform, a few spare clothes for C2, and an extra Zero cloak in case something happened to the original. The closet was the only piece of real furniture in this room; the only form of luxury Zero possessed over the other Black Knights. It sat in the middle of the wall to the side and stuck out like a sore thumb against the crates and the otherwise empty space in the room. The only thing that trumped the closet's individuality was the green-haired girl with a white Pizza Hut box filled with pizza on her lap. A few crumbs were around her feet and a smudge of red tomato sauce remained on her pale cheek.
"C2, it's good to see you here!" Zero exclaimed happily as he walked over to the closet which held his spare cape. He whipped it over his shoulders and clipped the pin firmly in order to secure it. It was a strange sensation to lose the weight of the cloak, but it felt almost like returning home after a long time once he placed it back on. He turned to face the green-haired, immortal witch with a dramatic whirl of his cape and saw that she was only lounging on one of the brown make-shift box-chairs while eating pizza. She had a look of curiosity on her face as she watched Zero remove his mask and roll down the black veil, revealing the face of Lelouch Lamperouge. He placed the purple contact over the Geass insignia once more to complete the set of dark purple orbs.
"I knew you would be happy to be reunited with your sister." C2 pointed out after she finished chewing on the soft cheese-filled crust of her second slice of pizza. She took a sip of the Coke bottle that sat on the ground just by her feet. "But it's like you're a completely different person now. When you walked in here, I almost thought that you were an imposter." She picked up a third slice from the cardboard box, but reluctantly set it aside and looked to the wall beside her. There was nothing on the flat wall, but she gazed at the blank, grey surface as though there were a mirror there. "Are you sure it was alright to grant your sister her sight and to be aware of your alter ego?"
"Of course it was right." Lelouch responded without hesitation. "At first, I was against the idea, but after today, I realized that the war we, the Black Knights, are fighting is not just for Nunnally's sake but for that of the whole world. From the start, I could never find it in my heart of use Geass on the one person that made up my reason for living, but when I..." He sighed outwardly. "It's a rather difficult feeling to describe in words, but I couldn't bear to see her so... oblivious to the truth anymore. She has grown up without me and has chosen her own path; it isn't wrong for me to give her back her sight. However, revealing my identity was impulsive and I may have to think on the consequences a bit more."
C2 watched as Lelouch placed the mask on a rack in the closet and closed the closet's door. He slumped onto another empty crate and pulled out a cell phone. He quickly dialled a number, but then closed it immediately as though he was pressing the numbers for fun and ended it as soon as he could to make sure the call didn't patch through. She raised an eyebrow quizzically. "So what's next for the Black Knights? Many of the soldiers here would be happy to kill an enemy princess as they assume Zero did to Clovis and Euphemia. Are you to keep Nunnally captive? I doubt that she will remain content with such circumstances, whether you are her beloved brother or not."
"The entire purpose of the formation of the Black Knights was for Nunnally's sake; I'm sure you can recall that." The raven-haired prince arrogantly flipped his hair with his hand and gazed at the ceiling dreamingly. "But that was a year ago. Now our purpose is to defeat Britannia and liberate the world. The purpose of retrieving Nunnally was so she will remain under the protection of the Black Knights as we tackle Britannia for that purpose, but once the public is aware of her status, I may have to use her as..." Zero flinched when he realized where his train of thought was leading.
There is no way he was going to use his sister as a pawn in his plan.
To have Nunnally be used as a political tool was what he was trying to avoid.
No matter what the cost, he was never going to allow this.
"And so you have weaved another tangle of conspiracy caused by the bond you hold for your sister." C2 sighed, a bit annoyed at how Lelouch was constantly trying to connect retrieving his sister to the purpose of the Black Knights almost as though he was still trying to grasp at an answer himself. "This is what you get for hastily setting up a mission to kidnap her in the first place; what was this supposed to accomplish? You cannot just keep her in your clutches like a caged bird; that would be inhumane."
She said that last word as though she were hinting at her own personal situation. Lelouch had kept her hidden from view so far despite her major part in the Order of the Black Knights. It had been three days since she had been out of this ship in general. It wasn't as though she enjoyed being caged in a giant metal ship, especially after she was so used to centuries of wandering around from place to place after leaving her own home country of France all those years ago.
Any remnants of Lelouch's happiness had dispersed and all that remained was a cold and calculating machine sitting upon a crate in a pose that signified thinking. His fist was to his chin as he looked to the ground, keeping his attention away from the pizza-addicted girl whose only purpose at the moment was to distract him. Wrinkles formed on his brow as he forced himself to search for an answer. "She did mention something about trying to reform the SAZ..." he muttered thoughtfully. "But no Japanese in their right mind would think of joining the Special Zone after Princess Massacre Euphemia came around."
For a moment, Lelouch paused, thoughts of his mistake overwhelming him for a moment before he managed to subdue them before shoving the memories back in the recesses of his subconscious mind. "How I can implement her into my plans, I..." He forced himself up and face-palmed himself with a dramatic flourish, his palm covering the ugly expression that formed. "Ugh, you're right, witch! This was all impulsive!" he growled. "Nevertheless, Nunnally will not remain in the clutches of the Emperor; anything but that! I'll contact Sayoko for her assistance once more in the matter, but for now..."
C2 smirked lightly as her accomplice paced back and forth around, his head simmering with anger. This is the first time she had seen him in a self-inflicted bind. It was quite the sight to see as he pondered with such a deep thought process; she had known him for a while now, but even she still didn't fully comprehend the mechanics of his mind. It's no wonder he made such a great strategist; if only the Japanese knew how lucky they had struck with this one particular teenager. If he had remained in the homeland as Lelouch vi Britannia, the Areas under Britannia's domain would have no chance of toppling over the Empire while he was alive. But Lelouch as the terrorist Zero fighting for the liberation of the Areas; Britannia was the one who lacked an opportunity to win.
"You know Lelouch, what if this time around; you let Fate decide what your next brilliant plan will be?" The green-haired immortal suggested while twirling her arm in the air. The large sleeve of her straitjacket attire flopped pointlessly and provided a form of flair in the action. After finally picking up that third slice of pizza and chewing on a bite, she looked to Lelouch who had remained quiet, even after she mentioned her idea. "What are you thinking now, boy?" she moaned, her voice slightly muffled by the pizza she was chewing in her mouth.
"Don't talk with your mouth full." Lelouch quipped, not caring for what C2 had to say on the matter. A plan had finally formed in his mind that would lead to both the benefit of the Black Knights and Nunnally. "Yes... this plan is perfect." The smile that had formed after the reunion took its rightful place at the altar upon the Black Knights' leader's face, but it had become twisted and formed the sad irony of gloomy happiness instead. "First I will need to address those here; I'll set the plan in motion as soon as Sayoko arrives from the Chinese Federation." Lelouch stood up from his sitting position and retrieved the mask that he had placed in the closet mere moments ago. He donned it upon his face once more to form the complete outfit of Zero. "C2, you are to remain here until further notice."
Zero then walked toward the door before C2 could inquire, "What are you going to do now, Lelouch?" She finished the slice in her hand contently and made sure to swallow the food before speaking in order to avoid another warning from her raven-haired accomplice about rudely speaking with her mouth full. "Are you going to celebrate like the rumours claim?" She grinned at the thought of a celebration. There would be cheering terrorist, a drunken Tamaki to poke fun at, and plenty of pizza; courtesy of Pizza Hut, of course.
"I plan to commemorate the victory of capturing the Viceroy first." Lelouch explained just as his un-gloved hand wrapped itself around the stainless steel doorknob. For a split second, he questioned in his mind where he left his gloves, but he then remembered that he had left them on the bed back in Nunnally's room. "Then Nunnally and I will return to Area 11, specifically Ashford Academy, and await Sayoko's arrival from the Chinese Federation there. Perhaps Li Xinke, that Chinese Federation man you speak of as an ally, can assist with this matter. He still owes us after all." The masked terrorist turned around to face C2 definitely and placed a hand on his hip. "There are already rumours of a celebration?" Lelouch chuckled. "Hmm... I suppose Nunnally can use some cheering up as well. That's not a bad idea, witch."
With those words, Zero turned and strode out the door back towards Nunnally's room in order to retrieve his gloves and his sister. C2 sighed contently and leaned back on a stack of crates behind her that she was using as a back rest. She looked up at the ceiling as though there were someone watching over her there and murmured under her breath, "You have rather interesting children... Marianne."
Zero walked towards Nunnally's room, making sure to keep his bare hands hidden beneath the cover of his cloak along the way to avoid giving away any clues on his identity. He placed a hand on the door handle and turned it in order to open the bland metal door which had been kept unlocked; he knew that Nunnally would have lost the will to escape as soon as she discovered his identity as Lelouch and no Black Knight would have entered a room Zero specifically said was off limits.
Lelouch was glad to see that she had her eyes open and was currently taking in everything around her. The fact that she could see had kept her occupied from the mental torment that the princess would have suffered otherwise. She was looking at everything as though it were alien; vision was a new sensation to her. She looked down at the wheels of her old and rusted hospital wheelchair, thought of a word to describe it, and touched it as though she had never felt rust before.
"How goes it, Nunnally?" Zero asked calmly. He turned to the door once again and closed it softly before barring the door with the chair by the wall once again. He didn't want anyone walking in as they talked; Zero wanted to keep his personal conversations with the Britannian princess private and confidential.
Nunnally winced at the sound of the artificial voice. She never noticed the black-cloaked man enter the room after being so absorbed by the sensation of sight; this new feeling drowned out her other senses. Zero's presence reminded her of what happened a few hours ago on the Logres-class airship. She had been kidnapped by the Black Knights; specifically by their fearsome leader, the masked terrorist, Zero. But then, the princess learned of the truth behind the mask of Zero; the face underneath was her beloved brother Lelouch.
"Is it still you... brother?" Nunnally asked hesitantly. For all she knew, a switch may have taken place in the moments he had departed from this room to go elsewhere on this ship. She had been too occupied with the idea of finally being able to see to completely ascertain her situation, though she knew that her mind had blocked the conundrum of the truth out on purpose; it was simply too complicated for her to completely grasp and it would take time for her to absorb the facts.
"Yes, it's me, Your Highness." The sound of the man's voice shifted throughout that sentence as Zero removed his mask and veil in order to reveal Lelouch's face once again, the bright smile still gracing his features. "I just came back because I needed to get my gloves." His eyes glanced over to the discarded leather gloves that were still on the bed to confirm his suspicions on their location. "And I need you to come with me."
Nunnally remained silent as she watched Lelouch walk slowly past her and slipped the gloves onto his pale hands. She was used to the touch of her big brother's hands; after all, it was those particular of his hands that helped her realize the identity of the enigmatic Zero. But, using her eyes, she noticed that his hands looked a lot stronger than she had realized. Nunnally was aware that he played piano and that may have been the cause of it, but perhaps he had developed more muscles from holding and firing firearms as an enemy of her country...
"Lelouch..." she whimpered softly, her eyes on the verge of tears. Just saying his name and knowing that it was associated with Zero's tyranny brought up several different thoughts, each an unanswered question relating to the Black Knights and their actions. One in particular stuck up like a sore thumb and was the prick in her side that caused the tears to cascade off her innocently young face. "This means you killed them, didn't you... Clovis and E-Euphy..." She took in a breath before saying, "I just touched the hands of a murderer..." sniffled mournfully, appalled at the revelation. Her brother tensed and froze on the spot, his left hand halfway in the black leather glove he had been putting on at the time while his eyes watched his sister carefully. "B-But why...?"
"Nunna..." Lelouch hissed, dragging out the 'a' sound until it became a part of his meagre breath. His hair covered part of his face. He looked down at Nunnally who gazed back at him in tears. She stared into the amethyst orbs that graced his face once before, but now were dimmed and glazed over. The shine that they had once possessed diminished and only left an empty shell of longing and distrust. His face was contorted; it formed a despicable scowl that she had never seen before. Being Zero has twisted him; he was no longer the Lelouch she had thought she was so familiar with. In fact, though he wore his face, this wasn't Lelouch anymore. The entire room seemed to darken with this revelation.
"...Will you kill me too, Zero?" she asked hesitantly, her voice shaky but forceful.
Lelouch flinched more noticeably as an audible noise of surprise escaped his lips. All remains of Zero dispersed as his form melted back into a more human one; that of Nunnally's older brother. His eyes returned to the loving, light-hearted state Nunnally remembered as his lip quivered with sorrow. Killing Nunnally... that was something he vowed never to do no matter what the circumstances were. He was Zero and Zero's purpose was to save Nunnally's future. If he killed her— just thinking about it from a hypothetical stance caused him to shed tears.
"Don't ever say that!" Lelouch exclaimed furiously as he whipped around and punched the metal wall to his side, hardly feeling any pain while doing so. It made a loud pang and left a visible dent after he dropped his fist to his side. His entire figure shook and clumps of tears fell to the ground. One landed on Nunnally's arm and the princess winced. Lelouch was just as confused about the situation as she was. The truth was a daunting character that inflicted pain on the two siblings alike. She had forgotten that Lelouch's love for her was real and Zero was the lie; shock jumbled her thoughts. "D-Don't ever even think that, Nunna..." the raven-haired teen whispered weakly. "I promise, because I... I'm your brother."
He threw himself onto the bed in defeat before rolling onto his side while tiredly facing his sister. His hand was throbbing, but it only left him feeling numb. Nunnally rolled over to the side of the bed and placed her arms over him in an attempt at an awkward half-hug. Lelouch moved in closer and wrapped his skinny arms around her waist. Nunnally stroked his hair, which was odd for her considering the peculiar reverse role situation that they were both in, but did so nonetheless. Lelouch quivered slightly, but gradually calmed down under her touch.
"You promised me that you would explain everything when you returned." Nunnally reminded him after a while. Lelouch finally calmed down and sat up on the bed, swinging his legs over the side and straightening Nunnally's wheelchair so she could sit side by side with him. Lelouch remained quiet as his sister continued. "I know it will take a while to do so all at once and we don't have the luxury of time, so at least tell me this; why did you k-kill them...? Did you kill them?"
"I did."
He remained silent afterwards, allowing the two words to hang in the air as he recuperated his mindset and steeled himself up. Lelouch placed the mask over his head once more and stood up in order to straighten his new cape and pull down his gloves with a dramatic flair that acted as Zero's trademark. Without another word from the two siblings, Zero got behind the princess's wheelchair and moved it beside the door. He placed the chair to the side once again to unbar the door before turning his attention to his little sister once again.
Taking on the persona of Zero once again, he began, "Out there, the Black Knights are going to be resentful and merciless. You are the new Viceroy of Area 11 after all; you are a princess of the enemy nation. They have every right to be mad at you for simply being you, no matter your physical disabilities. I want you to stay with me and be brave, do not speak out of turn, and do not be afraid on any of them. You must retain your confidence as a princess of Britannia." Zero placed a gloved hand over Nunnally's eyelids and forced them down while ignoring her protest. "You must keep your eyes closed; we do not want the world to know of the miracle Zero has performed on you just yet."
Nunnally was still shaken up by Lelouch acknowledging the truth about being the murderer of her half-siblings and then shrugged it off as though it were nothing. The cold demeanour Zero possessed was nothing like what she saw with her brother back then; it was difficult to believe that the two are one and the same. Listening intently to the instructions the masked terrorist gave her and remembering a particular miracle he referred to, she gasped, "Just how did you do that anyway?"
"Do not speak out of turn." Zero simply stated.
Nunnally turned behind her as though to look up at his faceless mask, but kept her eyes closed. This was a test of her willpower; she would not fail. Her brother always kept his promises to her. Technically, he had never lied to her yet, or rather she was unaware of any lies he had directly told her about, and so even that promise was still intact. She could never find it within herself to trust her beloved Euphy's murderer, but Nunnally had to place her fate in the hands of the older brother she had always loved and respected. If he truly was doing this for the sake of Japan like she had heard so many times, she promised herself that she would at least see his goal through. The princess owed him that much for returning the gift of sight to her and remaining by her side all this time.
Seeing that his sister was ready, Zero opened the door and walked the princess out. His steps weren't as jubilant as they were the previous time he had walked down this hall; even with the mask, the Black Knights could feel the strict, determined look beneath it and murmured something about the rumours of the celebratory speech and party were wrong amongst themselves.
Many of those who passed Zero and his prisoner then moved to look at the brown-haired girl in the wheelchair with contemptuous glares. She was a princess from Britannia, still in her regal clothing which was still untouched aside from a few wrinkles. Many were surprised; most of the soldiers had assumed that the reason Zero had stayed in that makeshift prison cell with Nunnally for so long was not just because he was trying to force his ideals or interrogate her but rather because he was also apparently brutally beating her up and eventually killing her in cold blood. A few even heard the loud pang against metal a while back, which only added to such rumours. The fact that she was unscathed alone was shocking.
In the end, they all allowed the two to pass in an ominous silence; if they spoke anything against Zero or his actions, they would fall in risk of many other things they had heard of through copious rumours and innuendo that ran amuck in the Order. Rather remain quiet then become victim to the terrorist leader's wrath. Nunnally too.
Zero and Nunnally made it to the front of the ship where three officers possessing the some of the highest ranks in the Order were located. Kallen Kouzuki, Zero's ace, leader of the Zero Squad, and pilot of the Guren Flight-Enabled Version was lounging casually on chair with her feet up on the table examining her nails closely. That very same Knightmare pilot had defeated the Lancelot Conquista and ensured their escape using her Radiant Wave Surger. Kyoshiro Todoh was talking softly with Kaname Ohgi, discussing a matter that required not much attention.
The room consisted of a large window which viewed out to the open ocean. A single person was currently at the cockpit overhead, managing the instruments and making sure that the entire ship was headed in the correct direction.
All three stopped what they were doing and drew their attention to the masked terrorist as Zero stepped in, greeted them casually, and took a seat in one of the chairs by the front of the room. Ever since Zero's resurrection, even those of highest rank within the Order had their doubts that this was the same Zero as before. After all, the previous Zero had abandoned them at the Battle for Tokyo last year; whether this was the same person or not, even Todoh and Ohgi were afraid of being left alone in their most dire need. Zero provided no reason as to why he had left them back at the Tokyo Settlement a year ago, but continued to lead them; the Black Knights had to be content with that alone.
He rolled Nunnally gently beside him, which was completely out of his character, but still an action he chose to take. Perhaps he was bringing her around with him as if to show off his new prize to everyone. His plan had worked, after all. Despite the distinct lack of air mobility in their Knightmares, they still used the land-based units to tackle the Logres-class airship and capture the new Viceroy of Area 11. That deserved a bit of respect from everyone. They remained silent as Zero placed a leg over another and placed his hands on his lap as though there was nothing out of the ordinary.
"Nunnally, is that you?" Kallen finally asked, albeit reluctantly, slightly afraid that the Britannian princess may have changed over the year she spent back in the homeland before coming here. She took her feet off the table and leaned in closer to take a good look at the princess. Everyone watched as her face turned into a sad smile as their reunion took place. "Nunnally, it's me, Kallen, from the Student Council at Ashford."
"Kallen...?" Nunnally repeated, recognising the name and the voice. She turned her head to the sound of her voice, almost accidentally opening her eyes at the same time. For some reason, her eyelids had become more loose and eager to stay open unlike before where they seemed to be permanently glued shut and accidentally opening them wasn't a problem. "Kallen, it's good to see you again, though..." She stopped herself and gave it a bit of thought. "...You really are a Black Knight, aren't you? Just like..." Nunnally was about to turn to Zero, but then forced her head down. She was sure that Lelouch wouldn't appreciate it if she gave away his identity so quickly.
"Yeah, I'm afraid so, Nunna." Kallen got up and stroked her long chestnut hair. Zero watched her intently and Kallen turned to the face the mask as though they were now staring eye-to-eye. He made a small noise of approval before she continued what she was doing. "It's good to see you're alright too." Kallen placed a finger on her chin and looked up in thought. "I'm sure your onii-sama would be so happy to see you well. As soon as news is released about your kidnapping, I'm positive that wherever he is, he will only want the best for you. And because I'm a friend of your onii-sama, I vow to never hurt you or allow anyone else to." Kallen gave the princess a sentimental smile and Nunnally allowed the tips of her mouth to perk up slightly before dropping them.
"He'll... only want the best...?" The Britannian princess repeated in her mind. "Does Kallen not know who Zero really is...? But even so, she says that Lelouch would only want... then why? Why is he doing this?" She shook the concerns out of her mind; she remembered that, for Lelouch, she needed to remain calm and show the confidence that was trademark of Britannia.
"Thank you, Kallen." the princess whispered softly, a single tear trickling down her face. "Your words mean a lot to me." She reached behind her and grabbed Kallen's hand. Todoh and Ohgi tensed as though expecting the crippled girl to make a move on the Black Knights' ace but Zero turned to them and flashed a motion that told them to stand down. Their shoulders relaxed, but their eyes remained wary in case the princess decided to pull off anything cunning and could compromise the situation.
Ignoring the other two, Kallen walked in front of her and relaxed her hands as Nunnally examined them closely. Kallen's hands weren't as soft and innocent as they look; they were strong and powerful after years behind a Knightmare and other forms of artillery. But Nunnally could tell that even through the war and strife, the red-headed girl was still a kind and gentle person who was required to fight for what she believed in. "Please Kallen." Nunnally continued as she squeezed her Japanese friend's hands tightly as a sign of reassurance before releasing them. "Don't forget about those days at Ashford. If Zero allows me, I wish to talk more about those days with you."
Kallen's mood became brighter with that request. "You got it, Nunnally." she smirked. She then sat back down on her respective chair with a cheerier mood. It's been a while since she had a chance to reminisce on her days at Ashford; even if she had to pretend to be a sickly girl whenever she was there, those days were probably ones that she will never regret. Lelouch's sister knew how to bring a smile to the faces of everyone she came across, and if the red-headed teen weren't fighting on the resistance, Kallen was most likely to agree that Nunnally would have made a kind and gentle Viceroy; perhaps one that will not ruin the remnants of peace left in Area 11 but instead allow those pieces to flourish and spread. Nunnally had the capability to touch the hearts of all those she met; she carried around the same form of charisma her older brother had, though Lelouch used this talent for more extreme measures.
"Zero-sama, is it really alright to keep the girl free like that?" Ohgi asked hesitantly, still questioning the Viceroy's privilege to freedom. He even used Japanese to ask the question in order for Nunnally to not understand what they were discussing. "I mean, given the opportunity, she may be able to escape and potentially harm a few of our soldiers while doing so. And for her to remain unharmed..."
Because Ohgi insisted on using Japanese, Zero responded in the same dialect. Besides, it was his capability of speaking both English and Japanese so vehemently that motivated the crew. Even if the rumours of his non-Asian background were true, Zero truly was dedicated to win as was shown with him taking the time to learn the language of the people he was trying to save. "Ohgi, she is only a girl." he lamented. "And even then Nature has already bound her permanently." Ohgi looked back at Nunnally and a look of pity swept across his face when he realized that Zero was referring to her disabilities. Suddenly the idea of chaining her up even more seemed that much more inhumane. "There is no reason to add more discomfort to Nunnally-hime." Zero finished.
Ohgi was going to inquire more on Zero's reasoning, but he stood down with an impressed look on his face; quite the opposite of the defeated feel most people receive when losing an argument. Even to his prisoners, Zero acts like a gentleman. For an enigmatic terrorist leader, this proclamation showed a bit of his true nature beneath the costume. The way he insisted on referring to Nunnally so majestically, almost as though the girl was something completely unrelated to the despicable nation they were trying to topple, was questioning too, but mysteries were what Zero was full of and Ohgi had learned to become used to these.
The other two remained quiet; Zero was completely right.
"Are you finished, Ohgi?" Zero asked. Ohgi nodded stiffly before Zero went on. "Because of the princess's disabilities, she will most likely remain with me 24/7 until I find a suitable caretaker that I can trust. No one is to come near her, no one is to touch her, and no one is to harm her. Before you ask why I am providing a Britannian princess the luxury of my company and freedom, it is not because I pity her, but rather because she is just an innocent girl that never should have become tangled up in our violent fray. Many of the Black Knights' tempers are wild and, given the opportunity, wish to try and live up to the deaths I had inflicted on two of their other royals, namely Clovis and Euphemia."
Instinctively, Zero placed a gloved hand on Nunnally's to reassure her that he did not mean to disgrace their names so bluntly, but then his fingers shot up to her chin and he slipped his fingers around the base of the neck up to her cheeks before flicking his digits up in the air. Underneath the mask, Zero smiled maliciously before turning his attention to Ohgi once more. "I will readdress this matter during the celebration at the Tokyo settlement."
"A celebration?" Todoh questioned critically. He knew Zero wasn't the type of man to simply call about a party after every victory; in fact, the masked leader seemed to prefer solitude and gloom against the apparent glamour and joy that comes about during a party. Also, Todoh himself wasn't the exactly the partying type; festivals were events that only served to cast doubt upon his reputation.
"Yes, that is correct." Zero replied. "A celebration for the capture of Princess Nunnally vi Britannia; Viceroy of Area 11 and eventual enemy to Japan; I'm sure even Tamaki will be satisfied with these plans." The black-cloaked man chuckled beneath his mask. "It will take place in the Tokyo settlement. I will arrange the date and location. For now, I will ask that you three spread the news through the ranks." Not waiting for any more commentary, Zero stood up and got behind Nunnally's wheelchair.
Just before he was about to cart her off, Kallen stood up and placed her hand onto the handle of Nunnally's old and rusty hospital wheelchair. "Please Zero, may you entrust the princess in my care for a bit?" Kallen asked. "You see... I-I..." She paused a bit, letting go of the wheelchair as though it had suddenly caught fire. "B-But of course, that's your decision—"
"—No, Kallen. I can trust you." Zero let go of the handles and turned it gently as though giving Nunnally herself to Kallen. The chestnut haired cripple smiled gratefully and Kallen's eyes lit up with joy. "I have other important matters to deal with concerning Sayoko, Deithard, and the terms between us and the Chinese Federation. I am grateful." He turned, his cape following right behind him. "I'll be checking up on the both of you on a regular basis; I better not see the two of you under dire circumstances. I do not wish to lose my trust in one who is so competent."
"Th-thank you, Zero!"
"Hmm?" The masked terrorist looked over his shoulder, surprised that Nunnally had spoken up instead of Kallen. She was smiling so brightly even if she was in the hands of the Black Knights and was in danger of being killed at any moment. A touch of the past was probably something she needed before her mind could even begin to comprehend what she had just learned after being kidnapped. Even he had to admit that all this was overwhelming; her sister was taking this slowly but surely. She wasn't going through any breakdowns nor showing any signs of panic; she was managing herself.
Nunnally truly was his sister.
"Very well." Zero nodded to her even though Nunnally couldn't see it. He then turned to Ohgi and Todoh, telling them to come with him and leave the two girls alone. The two quickly followed him out of the door. Kallen and Nunnally remained in the room as a wave crashed onto the side of the ship. Only then could they show their true feelings on the scenario.
"Are you okay, Nunna...?" Kallen whispered gently. She leaned in closer and held onto the princess's arms, smoothing out the wrinkles in her silk sleeves before clasping Nunnally's hands with her own. "You were brave just there. I'm sure your onii-sama would have been as impressed as I am..."
"Kallen, do you know where my brother, Lelouch, is?"
Kallen pulled back slightly before sighing outwardly, looking at Nunnally's strict expression, knowing that she wanted a straight answer. Nunnally finally was showing her true feelings instead of the mask of calmness she donned throughout the meeting. Kallen had been expecting this question from the young princess if Zero allowed them to talk one-on-one. After all, the red-headed Guren pilot was aware of the powerful bond the two siblings shared from back in Ashford before Lelouch lost his memories. Nunnally probably longed to be in Lelouch's presence as Lelouch doted on Nunnally as his purpose in life.
Even so, she couldn't tell the princess that Lelouch was Zero; she could already see that traumatizing her. Nunnally had just been kidnapped by the terrorists trying to tackle down her homeland. Because she was a princess and was off the become Viceroy if the Black Knights hadn't stopped her from reaching the Tokyo settlement, there was potential that she would be assassinated as a result. Fear of death was most likely on Nunnally's mind.
Nunnally longed for Lelouch and desperately wanted to know where her beloved brother was but at the same time, she couldn't reveal that her brother was the terrorist that may kill her. Kallen clenched her fist and glanced back at Nunnally, surprised that she hadn't protested to the Japanese teen's silence yet. Only one word could escape her mouth.
"...Yes."
Nunnally nodded, acknowledging her answer. Kallen shut her eyes fiercely, completely discontent with her answer. The Guren pilot waited and listened carefully to Nunnally's next question, half-hoping that they could finally get on the topic of Ashford and their wonderful past. However, this question had nothing to do with that or Lelouch's whereabouts. Kallen's mouth hung open in a gaping silence, her inability to answer the princess' question causing her to sweat in fear.
"If that's so, then tell me, Kallen." Nunnally looked up, still fighting the urge to open her eyes and see what Kallen really looks like. She was surprised that tears began once more; Nunnally was almost sure that she had run out. "Did you mean what you said there? That my brother only wanted what's best for me? If that's right, then why? Why did he kill Clovis and Euphy?
"—Why did he... why is he Zero?"
A/N: *chuckles* This chapter ended up being pretty long too. =) I'm content with most of it, though trying to depict the feelings going through Nunnally while keeping them IC was difficult. So I would like to say that I want to see a response of about the same magnitude as the previous chapter, but that's still too much to hope for right now; after all, I've hardly touched the tip of the iceberg.
At the same time, I still look forward to seeing your reactions and comments; if you wish to review, I guarantee that you will have made my day even if it is just to say "Great chapter! Update soon!" It serves a great motivation to update faster. Once again, comments, questions, critiques, ideas, and volunteers for BRs are welcome; flames are not.
Nevertheless, I look forward to seeing you all in the next chapter!