I want to thank all my wonderful reviewers! You guys are awesome! I really appreciate it.
Leonyll: Yes, it is common knowledge that Lelouch was the first Zero, and that Suzaku took his place. All of that shall be explained later.
- - - - - - -
Lea and I were about to leave the archives when I saw someone move from the corner of my eye. They were wearing a long coat, which I found weird. It was sunny and warm today. I nudged Leandra.
"Lea, do you see that?", I whispered.
She tilted her head and saw them. "I wonder who they are? Maybe a business partner?"
"No, they're to suspcious for that."
"Alex, you're being paranoid. Who else could they possibly be?"
"I don't know, but still-"
"Let's just go to lunch", she cut me off.
"Fine."
Leandra and I caught another bus into the shopping district. My eyes wandered around the bus and I looked into the driver's mirror. I saw that same mysterious person! This was getting a little strange.
I decided not to tell Lea. She wouldn't believe me anyway. We got off at our stop and looked for somewhere to eat. We decided to go to a pizza place. My friend Cassandra gave me a sort of addiction to the stuff.
I was savoring the cheese when I noticed one again that strange person! They were near us, eating pizza as well. Except they had a full large size pizza. For one person?! I may love pizza, but still, that's just too much.
Strangely, the person didn't bother us. Even though I saw them again on the bus back to Ashford Academy. And I heard footsteps following us to Lea's dorm. And I saw their shadow as they followed me to mine.
But that's where they stopped. They didn't follow me in. I found Casper in the room taking a nap. I once mentioned he was like a brother to me, people even said we looked related. They mentioned we had the same brown hair, but Casper had light brown eyes.
"Gotta remember, I have to go with him somewhere tomorrow."
I had to meet with the chess team right now to finalize who would play which match. When I got there, they were all sitting and watching tv.
"What are you guys doing? We should be-"
"Alex! You've gotta see this!", one of them said.
I looked closer and saw something amazing. The news was showing clips from around the world. Some news reporter was trying to make sense of it.
"All around the world, natural disasters are hitting places. Most are uninhabited, but people living in surrounding areas report small tremors and minimal flooding."
"What's going on?", someone asked.
"Scientists explain these by just calling them normal occurences. But some people have another idea."
The feed changed to an old man.
"It's the end of the world. We have sinned and we are paying for it!"
Then it showed protestors in front of the gates of political official building. I recognized this. It was the building where the leaders of all the nations met. They were chanting something.
"All hail Lelouch! All hail Lelouch! All hail Lelouch!"
"Lelouch?", I questioned out loud.
A reporter came up and asked one of the protestors.
"What are you all here for?"
"The 99th Emperor would be rolling in his grave if he saw this! Britannia isn't meant to work alongside other countries. Lelouch saw that Britannia is meant to rule!"
"All hail Lelouch!", the chanters yelled in support.
The screen turned back to the news station.
"Well there you have it. Everyone has their own explanation for these things. Britannian officials have no intention of invading and taking land. So you other countries, can rest assured. I'm Amy Tate and this is Local News at 4."
"That was weird", someone said.
"Yeah, it sure was", I agreed.
No one could concentrate on finalizing the matches for tomorrow. We decided to just meet here early tomorrow morning. I went back to my room and found Casper still asleep. I tried to sleep that night, but I couldn't stop thinking.
All these things were happening, and people were supporting vi Britannia. And that strange person following me. Maybe I was just being paranoid. There was no way everything was connected.
Besides, what did it have to do with me? I'm just Alex, a normal Britannian student at Ashford Academy, Japan sector. I'm sure thing whole thing will blow over. People have always exagerrated things before.
I'm sure this time is no different.
- - -
"Where have you been?"
"Out."
"For pizza?"
"Among other things. He's very similar to you."
"He is?"
"Not on the surface, but I can see past that. Do you plan to do anything about all this?"
"It's not our problem anymore."
"-sigh- Whatever."
- - - (AN: I was gonna stop it here. But I thought that would be too short.)
I woke up the next morning feeling drained. I could hardly sleep last night. I dragged myself out of bed and to the chess club. Everyone else was already there. As tired as I was, there was no way I could help out like this.
The other guys suggested we just pick numbers from a hat to choose with match we go in. I picked my number and got seven. Hmm, doesn't feel so lucky today. Ashford Academy got us some transportation to the other school.
We were competing against Britannia Elite Academy. I'd make fun of their ego, but I'm too tired. As soon as we got there, I tried to wake myself up. I even repeatedly banged my head against a wall.
I got a few strange looks, but at least I was more alert now. My match finally came up and I tried to relax my mind. I always played better when I was calm. I just had to think about chess.
Think about chess.
Think about chess.
Think about chess.
What the?! I'm losing!? Okay, I'm convince something's wrong with me. Okay, time to clear my mind. Think of a different strategy. Turn this match around. My eyes caught someone familiar in the crowd.
Casper? What's he doing here? I tried to focus on my match. Focus.
Focus.
Focus.
Focus.
The hell? I lost! What's wrong with me? This is probably my longest match since I started going to Ashford. Something's going on with me. I got up to leave when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"Gah!"
"Calm down, it's only me."
"Casper seriously, announce yourself before doing that."
"Sorry. So, are you ready to go?"
"Huh? Oh, right. Where are we going?"
"You'll see", Casper said with a strange smile.
- - - - - - -
Up next: Casper takes Alex somewhere, and they experience something like no other.