Disclaimer: I don't own code geass
AN. thank you for those who read and fav/alert/review. I really appreciate it!
Warning: OOC characters, grammar/ spelling mistakes
Chapter 4: Through the years
It's funny how things seem to fall into place quite easily. Fate seems to have finally taken a pity to the three newly christened Lamperouge siblings after a series of unfortunate events that has befallen upon them.
True to their plan, they found a quaint two-storey house near a river that is situated outside the city walls. The house they found seems to be the only one among all of the others in the area to remain untouched by the horrors of war.
They went inside with all the cautiousness they have which Rolo heavily protested, insisting that he should be the one to check the inside first, just to make sure.
But he finally relented when Lelouch told him that the outside is as dangerous as the inside. Besides that, it's better if they don't get separated, lest they'll have more problems at hand like finding each other in this war-torn place.
The truth is, Lelouch just doesn't want Rolo to act like he should be the one defending them! He is the oldest brother damn it! He should be the one doing the protecting! During their stay in Japan, he has this feeling that his siblings are somehow protecting him from something especially Rolo. He never wanted to feel like this! Like a useless, weak person that needs to be protected all the time!
"Onii-sama, are you feeling alright?" Nunnally's worriedly asked when she noticed that her beloved brother holding her hand tightly.
When Rolo heard Nunnally asking if Lelouch is fine, he immediately face his two siblings and put "his" gun's safety off in a heartbeat as if waiting for something in the shadows to attack them.
Rolo's sudden movement brought Lelouch back to reality. Looking up, he immediately saw Rolo holding a gun casually. His eyes widened and all he can ever think of is why is my little brother holding a gun?
A few moments of shocked silence from Lelouch and of Nunnaly's bated breath in hearing the sound of a gun, before Lelouch exploded.
"Rolo! What do you think you are holding?! Drop the gun this instant! Do you know how dangerous it is to be holding something like that? What if you get hurt? What if you hurt Nunnally with that thing? And where the hell on earth did you get it?" Lelouch angrily whispered to Rolo while staring at the gun in fear.
Seeing no immediate danger, Rolo immediately put back the safety and hid the gun somewhere in his body. Fortunately for all three of them, there was this moment of silence before Lelouch shouted or else Rolo might accidentally shoot one of his siblings.
With a start, he stumbled backwards when he heard his older brother's tone of voice.
And to his horror, he realized that he did a grave mistake in showing his beloved siblings his prowess in wielding a gun.
"Onii-sama, I can explain. The gun that I have in my possession is something that I picked from a dead guy somewhere. I only used it in defending us." Rolo explained in a placating manner, hoping that his brother would let this go.
"I-I didn't know that you know how to use that thing let alone know that you have used it before. I'm sorry Rolo. I am you're older brother and it is my duty to defend both you and our sister and I know that I have failed you. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. You were not even supposed to be able to do that!"
"No onii-sama. Don't say that you're sorry. You've done so much more to both Nunnally and I! You're not useless! Listen to me, without you here, both Nunnally and I won't even be here! We won't even survive with only the two of us! Please, onii-sama, don't beat yourself up. You have always been there for us. To us, you have and will always never be a failure in our eyes. In fact, you're the best onii-sama there is in the whole world, right Nunnally?"
"Brother Rolo is right onii-sama." Nunnally gently said while placing her small hand to Lelouch's shoulder.
"I-I don't know what to say-," Lelouch stammered but was cut off by Rolo saying, "You don't have to say anything onii-sama. Why don't we all go inside and check out our new home for the next years?"
After checking out their new home, Lelouch prayed a simple thank you to all the gods he worship for everything in the house seems to be in order. It seems that their newly christened home belonged to a Japanese family of four that consist of two children. Where the four members are will always remain a mystery to the three siblings for they don't have the time and the resources to find out what happened.
The only problem that presented itself to them are a few broken windows and the lack of food and money.
Well, that could easily be fixed if you look at the bright side of things. They still have two days worth of food. Three if they don't eat that much. They also have the river as their water supply after purifying it. Of course, Lelouch wouldn't want them to get cholera or something for drinking dirty water.
First things first, the house should be cleaned and that is what they did for the past two days. After making the house more habitable and "Nunnally friendly" Lelouch decided it is now time to worry about their finances. As of now, they're good as broke and he needed to remedy that as soon as possible if he waned to give his two younger siblings a comfortable life.
'What can I sell here?' is all what Lelouch's thought while walking around the house.
A few trinkets here and there are collected by Lelouch and once he thought that it would suffice, he breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe it would be enough for the time being until he got a job? But what kind of person would hire a kid? Oh, who is he kidding? It won't be enough and he knows it! Maybe there would be something in the city that a kid like him can do for a living but that is just him thinking wistfully. Who would dare hire a skinny kid like him? The only available job for a kid that hasn't finished his studies would be manual labour. Would the problems end? Obviously it won't.
One way to find out if those trinkets would be enough; he needs to sell them to someone who would pay enough money. But before he did just that, Lelouch goes to their self-appointed room and checked on his siblings.
Seeing them asleep, he couldn't help but smile at how innocent they both look, especially Rolo. He couldn't help but blame the war not his father for destroying his siblings' innocence. They shouldn't think that they needed to take care of themselves! They are but children! With that he decided to carry the burden and go ahead with his plan. He is the older brother after all and it is his duty to take care of them. Let him worry about their financial problems and let them enjoy their childhood.
With that, he left the house after leaving a note telling them that he just went outside to get some money and food and not to worry.
Walking around the city, it seems that the war is truly over for everywhere Lelouch looked, the shops are open; the marketplace is full of people and everyone seems to be enjoying their day. The only noticeable difference is that everywhere he looked, the people doing their thing are Britannians and considering this is Japan well that is peculiar in itself.
Going around, he found a pawnshop. There he bargained with the man on the counter to increase the price for the few trinkets he has in his possession. Unfortunately, the man gave his final price even if Lelouch knows that the price given is lower than it should be. Lelouch would have argued more but the man told him if he won't accept it then go sell it somewhere and stop wasting his time. Knowing that this is the only pawnshop in the vicinity, he couldn't help but agree no matter how unfair it is.
With a frown, Lelouch sat on one of the benches in one of the parks there and started computing and planning on what he should do. While doing that, he couldn't help but notice a crowd forming in one of the bench on his right. Wondering what it could be, Lelouch decided to see what all this commotion is about.
To his surprise, he found himself staring at two people playing chess and someone in the audience betting in who would become the winner.
With a glance, he knew who will become the winner. Throwing caution to the wind, Lelouch uses all the money that he has in a gamble. He bet that the person in blue shirt would be the winner against all odds.
Most laughed at him for betting all of his money to someone by a glance is losing. By the time the game ends, most were surprised by the outcome of the game. The one with the blue shirt won and Lelouch's money quadrupled!
"Hey kid, how did you know that he'll win?" a curious bystander asked.
"I just know. It's obvious in the start that he was planning to trap the king." Lelouch replied aloofly.
"And what can a kid like you know about playing chess?" Someone in the audience arrogantly asked.
"More than you obviously know seeing as you lost the bet."
"Why you-," but he immediately changed his mind and instead continued with a smirk on his face, "How about this kid, if you win then I know you're not just sprouting nonesense trying to make us look stupid. If I win, I'll be bringing home the money you won. Is that a deal kid?"
"And if I win? What would I get in return?"
"Aren't you an arrogant piece of shit? Fine, if you win, I'll double the money that you have right now. Would that be enough, little boy?"
"You have yourself a deal." Lelouch replied while trying to hide the emerging giddy smile on his face. He knows that he is good in chess, second only to his brother Schneizel and usually, based on his experience, people like that man is all bark but no bite.
A few minutes later, silence reigned among the audience. It was a complete slaughter and Lelouch is the only one who came out unscathed.
There and then, Lelouch found out how he could support his precious siblings and that is by gambling.
A year later...
"That is final. You are going to Ashford Academy with Nunnally, Rolo!" Lelouch shouted.
"But why? Why do we need to go to school? We're happy here! We live a comfortable life! Why onii-sama?"
"Because Rolo, I wanted you and your sister to be and do whatever you both want in the future. Don't you want to have a job someday? Money to buy whatever you want?"
"Say that I would like that to happen someday. I can accept going to school but why for the love of god does it have to be in Ashford Academy?"
"Because it is one of the best schools and I want to give you and Nunnally the best."
"I understand onii-sama but what about you? You're a kid too! And you need to go to school too." Rolo asked trying to manipulate the situation.
"Rolo, I would love to go to school with the both of you but I need to work and besides I know I would be helping the both you with your studies so it also means that I would also be learning with you but not at school."
"But why can't I be the one doing the work and you and Nunnally go to school?"
"Rolo, my decision is final. You and Nunnally are going to Ashford Academy."
"But-."
"Rolo, look at it this way, if I enrolled myself too, our identities would be discovered because of Milly. She's about my age and obviously, sooner or later, I would encounter her as a classmate in middle school. On the other hand, I enrolled you and Nunnally in primary-."
"Wait you already enrolled us?!" Rolo interrupted.
"Yes that is why my decision is final. I have already paid both of your tuition. Tomorrow, both of your uniform and books will be delivered. My only wish is for you and Nunnally going to school. Didn't you just say earlier that you wanted me to be happy? Doing this would make me the happiest person alive."
"I understand onii-sama." Rolo replied with a sigh knowing that he lost the battle in convincing his beloved brother to change his decision.
Four years later... On Lelouch...
At 16, Lelouch met Rivalz Cardomende and they became close friends.
They both know how it felt to be poor, desperate to find a job and that is how they bonded. One day when Lelouch is asking what jobs can a 16 year-old can get, Rivalz responded by giving a good recommendation for Lelouch to be able to get a job at the restaurant-bar Rivalz worked.
Lelouch couldn't just let gambling be his main supply for money. What if he loses? No matter how impossible it may be, he needed to be careful especially now that there is a price hike in the tuition of both Rolo and Nunnally. That is why another job is needed.
On Nunnally and Rolo...
At 13, both Nunnally and Rolo found a way for Nunnally to be able to walk. They decided to go on with the procedure without their precious older brother's permission.
It's not that they wanted to hide this to Lelouch but the procedure that Nunnally took is in the experimental stage that is why they needn't have to pay but knowing their older brother, he would vehemently refuse to go on with the procedure. No matter how "safe" it would be.
A year later...
At 17, Lelouch is known as a good player in chess that many would want to try playing him to prove them wrong and that is indeed very profitable for many would want to show that Lelouch can be defeated.
On this wonderful day, our story starts, Lelouch has a match in Shinjuku ghetto.
On Nunnally and Rolo...
"Clovis is sending his army to Shinjuku ghetto." Rolo nonchalantly stated after looking at the hacked information from his laptop.
"Why?" Nunnally asked curiously
"Something about his poison gas being stolen or whatever. If you ask me, he's being an idiot and trying to cover something up."
"Ha ha very funny. Are we going to do something?"
"Nothing, we're not ready yet for our reveng- oh shit!"
"Why, what is it?" Nunnally asked worriedly.
"The tracker we put on onii-sama is going to the direction of Shinjuku ghetto!"
"Fu-."
"Language, Nunnally."
"Like you're the one to talk."
"Whatever. I need to stop onii-sama."
"Wait, you're leaving me here?"
"No offence but you'll be on the way, Nunnally."
"I can walk Rolo! I may be blind but I have a good sense of hearing! I can detect people faster than you can! I am not the same Nunnally seven years ago! I am not the helpless Nunnally, you knew before!"
With a sigh, Rolo let Nunnally come for he knew she could defend herself far better than your ordinary citizen. And besides, even if he leaves her behind, she would definitely follow him.
"Thanks Rolo-kun."
A.N.2 I hope you enjoy! Next chapter is where the fun starts... chapter 5: geass happens
Self-edit: 05-05-15