AU: Hello. I've republished this story, the first two chapters are exactly the same. Chapter 3 is completely new, and chapter 4 is radically different, so if you are familiar with chapter 1 and 2, start at chapter 3. I've changed my outline for this story which is why I deleted the story and started from scratch. I hope you all enjoy!
The tale of Suzaku Kururugi and Lelouch vi Britannia caught the world's attention: the two young boys survived for three years in the divided Japan, until each son returned to their respective family.
Famed geopolitical expert Frederick Vance claims the emergence of their story helped cool the relationship between the State of Japan and the newly established Area 11.
"The story of their friendship captured the world's imagination," Vance wrote, "but sadly, all things must come to an end."
-Excerpt from the "The Great Pacific War".
The soft sound of cars and their horns was what woke the prince.
Yet another morning in his endless nightmare.
When he looked out the window, he could see the divided city of Tokyo; ten million people lived in the city, all waking up at once, going to school, going to work, living the best days of their lives, and the worst days of their lives. For when you woke up, who could truly be certain of what was to come?
Perhaps it would be an uneventful, dull day. Or perhaps it would be the last day you walked on Earth.
"Are you leaving already?" a soft voice whispered in his ear. He could feel the tip of her fingers sliding down his back as he sat on the edge of the bed.
"I fear I must, my half-brother wishes for me to join his whistle-stop tour."
"Oh yes, what a dreadful experience, being on a luxury train, dining on fine food, being the target of affection of every woman in Area 11, I truly pity you, prince."
Lelouch vi Britannia smiled at her remark.
"Jealousy suits you."
Leila puffed her cheeks, unamused by his remark. The girl with lilac colored eyes slid off the bed; she always looked elegant, even in her nightgowns, even when she had just woken up and when her hair was a mess.
I look like a dog that just dried itself after a bath, is what she would often say, but for whatever reason Lelouch found the look appealing.
The young pair dressed themselves to start their late morning. The 11th prince of Britannia wore a black military uniform with four distinct badges, all given to him to commemorate his accomplishments on the battlefield: but there was only one medal he was truly proud of, a black medal with the insignia of a wolf, to celebrate his defense of Alaska against a European army that had outnumbered him five-to-one.
Leila would usually wear a military uniform akin to Lelouch's, but today she spotted a blue dress with a pair of white shoes, and much to Lelouch's pleasure she let her hair down.
"Off to your parents today?" he asked, but he knew the answer.
"I have to see them eventually, I've been putting it off for too long," she said as she grabbed her purse and looked for her phone. "Do you not want to see your old man anymore?" she said in a deep, gruff voice that imitated her father's.
"But do you want to?" Lelouch repeated the question. She rolled her eyes.
"Of course I do, but in my spare time I'm -" Leila looked at Lelouch.
"Can't stay away from your prince?" he finished her thoughts coyly with a smirk. Leila's face flushed red with annoyance but mostly embarrassment, her lips opened as to deny his claim, her lilac eyes stared at him with resistance - but her lips closed. Her eyes avoided his, as she looked away in defeat.
The two headed to the door, entering the living room. In it, they found Lelouch's premiere knight: Jeremiah Gottwalt.
"Good morning, your highness." he greeted Lelouch. His sharp eyes darted towards his companion, and any fondness faded away as he stared at Leila.
"Good morning to you too, Jeremiah," Leila said in a kind voice.
She is trying her best, Lelouch thought.
Jeremiah looked away and did not answer.
And you are not, Jeremiah.
Maybe one day they would get along.
"Jeremiah, please take Leila home." he said. "Discreetly."
"Always, your highness" his knight said with a face of stone.
Lelouch and Leila exchanged a warm farewell, and soon Lelouch was alone. He prepared for his afternoon by reading a dossier on Clovis's little whistle-stop tour; a train ride that would stop all around Tokyo. Clovis and other Japanese leaders would then be given the opportunity to talk of peace and unity and whatever other lies they wanted to spout.
But it gave Lelouch an opportunity to rub elbows with high and mighty figureheads of not just Britannia, but of the Chinese Federation and the European Union.
Japanese politics were a mess: but that was only natural considering Japan was not a unified entity, but rather an entity divided in three.
The invasion of Britannia a decade ago had been potent, strong, and quick as lightning. Many had pressed Prime Minister Genbu Kururugi to sue for peace, to surrender.
But Genbu, the Bull of Japan, refused. Thus Japan continued her fight.
At first, it seemed to be a bloodbath, but as the war dragged on, the Britannians found themselves stretched thin on men and supplies. So when Todoh of Miracles reproduced his miraculous victory not just once, not just twice, but thrice, the dreams of a quick Britannian victory vanished.
The Japanese held on fiercely, but even with four miraculous victories they could not claim victory, and it seemed defeat was their destiny: that was until the might of Europe and China intervened.
The Battle of Japan had been the clash of titans: Britannia, the European Union, and the Chinese Federation battled for control of Japan and her people.
And when the dust settled, no side could claim victory, and Japan had been split in three.
Japan is a powder keg - one that will engulf the world when it is lit.
He drank coffee when he was done. He had scarcely slept, plagued by nightmares of his day as a self-exile in war-torn Japan; how he had been forced to seek refuge with the very same Britannia he had proudly abandoned. It will be good to see Suzaku again, he thought to himself. He at least had that pleasure to look forward to. When had they spoken last? Six months ago?
As the clock struck noon, Lelouch was already being hugged by his half-brother.
"I am glad you came, brother." Clovis said happily.
"It was your wish, Viceroy, I simply complied." Lelouch replied with a cool tone as he gave a lazy hug in return. His half-brother turned to his entourage with a laugh, pointing at him.
"He always acts so cold, but I know that he cares for me deeply," he said with a pat on the back as the rest of his group laughed. Lelouch chuckled with them, but stayed observant.
Clovis is a fool, but when he talks, people listen. He had the it-factor, he was probably the most charismatic man he had ever met. If you needed a makeover in public relations, Clovis was the man. Now, when it came to military and politics…he was obviously lacking.
All of Schneizel's charm and more; yet none of his wit.
The train they boarded was the image of luxury - a fine, state-of-the-art vehicle that traveled all across Tokyo, with diners, bars, bedrooms, living rooms, a servant class to match the customers, and customers to match the luxurious machine. Businessmen, politicians, military men, royalty, all from different parts of the world all, mingling and exchanging notes.
Who knows how many secrets one could discover in such a crowd? How many favors one could curry? Britannian, Chinese, Europeans, and Japanese; secrets and lies; truths and scars.
Thus, the Wolf of Britannia got to work. Through compliments and charms he swerved his way through the crowd: he praised a businessman for his aggressive expansions, he discussed strategy and tactics with a Chinese official, and he talked with the wife of the EU's ambassador, he even put in a good word for Clovis.
"For advice on charming a lady, you want no other man but my brother." Lelouch said with a smile, "Now for managing an economy…"
The crowd around the two princes laughed. Area 11's economy had been suffering under Clovis's mismanagement, many people suffered because of it; yet they laughed at Lelouch's brainless joke. Even Clovis. The roars of the laughter was accented by their breaths which reeked of alcohol.
Lelouch gave a false smile and moved away after receiving a pat on the back from his half-brother.
"You're really killing it. Why waste such comedic talent, sub-viceroy?" a familiar voice asked jokingly. Lelouch smiled.
"I must admit, I thought about running off to join the circus when we parted ways, but there is no circus in the world that matches Britannian politics." Lelouch said, smiling.
While Lelouch looked for refuge in Britannian occupied Japan, Suzaku Kururugi stayed with his father in the south. The old prime minister still reigned in the south of Japan, where with the support of the Chinese Federation, he had remained in power for over a decade. Suzaku is almost a prince these days, Lelouch thought.
He moved in for a hug with his old friend - but Suzaku's guard suddenly stood between the two old companions.
"It's okay," Suzaku told her. "He's a friend."
The red-haired woman frowned. "Sir," she began protesting.
"Kallen, please." Suzaku said with a strained voice. "It's ok."
The two old friends hugged one another - but the red-haired woman named Kallen continued to glare at Lelouch. Her ice-blue eyes were sharp, looking at his every movement. Do something, her eyes almost seemed to dare him, and see what happens.
"It's been too long," Suzaku said. "How are you doing?"
"There have been better days," Lelouch admitted as the two sat down - with Kallen overlooking them. Suzaku offered a drink and Lelouch accepted it; iit was Suzaku's favorite, a mix of ginger ale and sake.
"Cheers," they both said in unison as they clinked their cups.
Other passengers cruised by them, observing the two of them in awe: the story of Lelouch and Suzaku was famous, after all. A self-exiled prince and the son of the Japanese prime minister surviving together on the streets, fighting to stay alive every day; a story that had caught the attention of much of the world when Lelouch returned to Britannia and when Suzaku returned to his father.
"We're proof we can live in peace," Suzaku said energetically. "Britannia and Japan."
"And let that peace linger, until the end of time," Lelouch said as they drank once more. "Is it true that your father tried to force Todoh to resign?"
Suzaku sighed. "He tried," his friend's voice was frustrated.
Todoh of Miracle had been a warrior his entire life. Lelouch could not imagine such a man living his days in retirement; his life would end when he found a warrior's death. Until that day arrived, Todoh of Miracle would serve Genbu Kururugi's Japan.
Is Genbu worried about Todoh for some reason? But why? Is the ever-loyal Todoh up to something? Is Genbu worried about his position? Lelouch never got along with Genbu Kururugi, and the distaste was mutual, but Lelouch could not deny he was a savy statesman. He must have a reason.
He had many thoughts on it, but instead he said:
"Todoh refused, I imagine?"
"I would rather suffer a thousand deaths," Suzaku said, imitating the legendary general's voice, which broke Lelouch into a crack of laughter. "Of course he refused. He's as stubborn as my father."
"I'm surprised he even has a choice," Lelouch said, "Your father has an iron grip in the south."
"Maybe he does - but not on Todoh. He's a national hero, and my father be damned if he tries to remove him from the army," Suzaku said with a defiant tone. "I'll be honest, father has been getting too paranoid recently - he sees daggers in every shadow. It's a bit worrying," Suzaku finished his drink.
"That's two of us dealing with frustrating senior figures," Lelouch replied as he looked around the train: the extravagance of it all. How much had Clovis wasted on this farce? "But that may come to an end, soon enough."
Suzaku raised his eyes curiously.
"Is it finally happening then?"
"Aye - and sooner rather than later," Lelouch said with a grin.
"Viceroy Lelouch…" Suzaku said with a half-congratulatory and half-teasing tone. "Will Clovis really step aside so easily?"
"He enjoys his luxury and title, but in the end, performance takes precedence, and his performance has been severely lacking. He will assume my position as sub-viceroy and continue to enjoy his luxury - but at a limited expense."
"Then your days living incognito in apartments is coming to an end, is it not? Time to pack your bags to the Viceroy's Palace, I reckon."
"Yes, sadly." Lelouch pensively said. Once he assumed the position of viceroy, his life would allow for little leisure. I wonder how much I'll be able to see Leila, he had been in a relationship with her for about three months now, maybe it would be wise to end things?
Suzaku sensed his troubles.
"Something wrong?"
"Nothing major," Lelouch said as he looked around for any would-be eavesdroppers. "I've been seeing a girl recently," he admitted to his friend, with an almost embarrassed tone, "but once I become viceroy it would be wise to put that to an end."
"Maybe." Suzaku said, "I'm not the smartest man, Lelouch, but let's get this straight: you're 11th in line for the Britannian throne; you probably shouldn't be seeing anyone. Plenty of noblemen would love to sell you their daughters and their riches just to get close to you and - "
Lelouch's mind wandered as his eyes came in contact with Suzaku's guard. The red-haired woman was dressed in a blue military uniform, her red hair was up sweep, with sides reaching to her chin. Her pale face and bright blue eyes made her seem more Britannian than Japanese - and the blue eyes were bright. They stared back at him with a certain sting, a sharpness that seemed to judge, analyze, and berate him all at once.
" - just be careful." Suzaku's words snapped Lelouch into reality.
"I will be," Lelouch said, not sure what he was supposed to be careful about.
"Do you want another drink?" Suzaku asked, "I'm about to get one for myself, so speak now or forever be silent."
"Please, if you would. I'll leave it up to you."
"Sir," his red-haired guard said, "Allow me."
"No thanks, I need to move my legs. And stay here, please, I'm tired of getting followed wherever I go." Suzaku excused himself as he strode off to the bar.
His role may be prince-like, but there is no princeliness in him.
Suzaku was stubborn, a man who always wanted to do things by his own hands. Lelouch remembered how the young Suzaku would ignore servants and housekeepers at the Kururugi Estate. And even now, he seemed awkward among the high class society that filled the train.
As Suzaku left, a group of European military officers entered, all conversing with a European woman - and when the military officers saw Lelouch they suddenly turned their back and walked away. This decorum did not go unnoticed by the woman.
"Pardon their manners, your highness," the European woman said apologetically.
Lelouch had led many battles - and all his famous ones saw the European Army defeated, broken, and scattered. It was no surprise they held their animosity against him - even now.
"It is fine, madam," Lelouch said with a smile. "It is not the first time I have seen their backs."
When she left, Lelouch was alone with Suzaku's red-haired guard. Once more, he looked at her, and once more her blue eyes stared back.
"Can I help you?" she asked, her tone filled with bitterness.
"It is customary to say your highness," Lelouch said. This one is a wild one. Why would someone like this be in charge of Suzaku's safety?
"Everyone else might worship you, Wolf, but you'll get no such honor from me," she said with the same bitterness, her blue eyes locked with his, unflinching, with a stare that could last for a thousand years.
Wolf, the Black Wolf, Britannia's Wolf - regardless of the subtitle, the title of Wolf had stuck to Lelouch's persona over the last two years.
"Worship me? I don't want that from you," when he stood up, he quickly realized how much smaller the red-haired girl was. With bravado, he stood in front of her, and this is when her blue eyes finally looked away. Surprised by his approach, she squirmed back until she hit the wall.
"Then what do you want?" she asked, even against the wall, her tone was filled with poison, but her body language betrayed her as she looked at the clock in the room anxiously.
"It is succor that I desire from you." Lelouch said plainly.
"Succor?" Kallen asked, stuttering in surprise. He looked at her from head to toe, this very observation seemed to distress and embarrass her. Her red-hair soon matched her red-face, her blue eyes were no longer sharp, but simply confused by the situation as they darted from the clock to Lelouch.
It is far too easy and fun to tease this girl, it was time to end the charade.
He offered his hand.
"You may dislike me, you may distrust me, but Suzaku Kururgi is my best friend. If you are entrusted with his care, then I ask you do your best. He is a good man, but a foolish one who will put himself in danger at a moment's whim."
She blinked once, she blinked twice, her face reddened even more, so red that Lelouch thought even one of her eyes turned red. Kallen looked at the clock and found her lips.
"I always do my best, but this is just a one time-"
All Lelouch heard was the sound of an explosion, before it all went black.
And suddenly his eyes were open - with the smell of fire, iron, and blood all around him. Sounds that were familiar to the Black Wolf, smells that that were part of the proudest moments of his life, but also his darkest.
He could still hear her screams, her cries of anguish, cries that suddenly fell into a deathly silence.
"Nunnally," he groaned.
"Wake up, Wolf," Kallen said with a quiet tone, shaking his shoulders. Lelouch's eyes opened wide in shock as the sizzling of the fire ringed in his ear - he tried to stand up in adrenaline, but he was forced to lay down by Kallen.
"Lay, lay, lay," she repeated, "you're in shock, take some deep breaths."
"What happened?" his vision cleared, but in the darkness he could not make out where they were, aside from a small light that Kallen carried.
"An explosion. Don't know where or who, if it was an accident or not, I didn't -" she hesitated and looked away. "I'm not sure where we are, I think we ended up beneath the debris of the crash. We're lucky to be alive."
Lelouch could hear the sizzling of fire, but aside from the light that Kallen carried he could see nothing else - the windows and the doors were gone, replaced by a heap of metal, rubber, and more metal. He coughed, once, and then twice as he looked around for a way out.
Was it a terrorist attack? Lelouch could not believe it. I would have known about this.
"We need to get out of here, there may be no fire with us, but the fumes will kill us." he said.
"I already tried. There's no way out." Kallen said with a shrug.
"Have you tried contacting for help?"
She showed her phone: "No signal."
The next twenty minutes were those of frustration as he tried to move anything he could, shout as loud as he could, and soon that frustration turned to anger. For he realized, there truly was no way out. To make it worse, the red-headed girl made the prince uncomfortable.
At times, when he glanced at her, she would look nonchalant.
That is a mask, nothing more.
But other times he caught her unmasked: and her eyes were filled with rage, anger, frustration, and a willingness to kill.
But right now Kallen stared at him with her mask, a cool look:
"You said a name when you were unconscious. Somebody special?" Kallen asked.
Nunnally.
"That's none of your concern," he said angrily. Lelouch he sat down to compose himself, and to think. There were far too many uncanny things about this girl: her brashness, her look of hatred and anger; and there was something else, before the explosion.
She was far too keen on the wall clock…but he dismissed the idea. We are lucky to be alive, she could not have been part of such a ploy. And surely Suzaku's guards would be thoroughly background checked.
With his eyes closed in mediation, he could still feel Kallen's blue eyes stare at him with daggers: and when he opened them, they were unsurprisingly nonchalant.
She hides it well.
"There is a way out of here, Wolf." Kallen said.
"Is there now?" he said curiously. Is this some poor attempt at a joke? "And how long have you known about this?" the prince asked.
"Since the start. I was just hoping someone would find us first."
"What? Why wait?" Lelouch leered.
Kallen smiled.
"I'll get us out, Wolf. But I have two condition."
We might die here, and she's playing with me, he thought amused.
"Fine, I'll play your game. What do you want?"
"Firstly, you can't tell anyone about this. Not your girlfriend, not your bastard father-emperor, not Suzaku." she said as she approached him. The limited space forced her face close to his, and even with limited light, her blue eyes shined brightly. In her eyes there was no hint of delusion, not a hint of insanity; they were filled with confidence and swagger if anything.
"That can be done. It will be our little secret. And the second condition?"
Kallen's grin grew.
"You have to beg for my help."
Lelouch laughed as he pulled away.
"I'd rather die."
Kallen looked at him with a perplexed frown. "Even in the face of death, you have no humility, Wolf?"
"I'm the humblest man alive," Lelouch joked. "But I don't beg," he said as his eyes matched Kallen's with an intense stare. At first, Kallen glared in defiance with equal intensity. But her defiance slowly wilted away under his stare, and she retreated to the other side of their little room.
"Keep your arrogance, then," she said unhappily; her right eye flashed red as she walked toward the debris.
Lelouch's senses screamed urgency.
What was it? Her confidence? The way she so easily walked away?
Lelouch leapt forward and grabbed her wrist.
"What are you planning?" he demanded.
"Let go!" she said, trying to pull away, Lelouch tightened his grip.
"No, I don't think I will," his eyes narrowed.
Her face was angry, frustrated - and she was panicking. Why?
"You really do know a way out, don't you? And you were about to leave me for dead."
It was a conclusion with no logic - there was no way out.
Lelouch had tried to find an escape from the rubble, and he had found nothing. But then why was this girl so confident? So calm? So composed? And why was she panicking now? Lelouch tightened his grip even further, Kallen flinched.
Maybe it was the desperation of it all that made him jump to such hasty conclusions; or was it the look of panic in Kallen's face that made him think he was on the right track?
"Fine, fine. Just let me go," Kallen muttered angrily.
"And you won't run off?"
It was a ridiculous question, there is nowhere to run to, a logical voice in his head whispered. In the small room, under all the debris, the two of them were alone, in the dark, and trapped.
Yet, Kallen nodded.
Lelouch reluctantly let go of her wrist, and then Kallen offered her hand.
"Well then, Wolf, let us get out of this mess." she said.
She offered her hand, her blue eyes shined brightly once more, her red hair contrasted in such a way that it gave her a blazing, intense look. For a moment she looked unnatural; like a faded, yet beautiful painting, and as Lelouch took her hand, he saw her right eye turn red.
The darkness faded, and the light came.
When he opened his eyes, the brightness of the sun forced him to draw his face away.
He was outside, next to the railway and all the debris of the attack.
"Your highness!" a voice called out to him, a voice that belonged to Jeremiah, his knight.
It was as if all his senses were being attacked - one second he had been stuck in the debris, and the next he was outside - a witness to the carnage and chaos caused by the explosion.
"What happened?" he muttered in disbelief to himself.
"A bomb, your highness." Jeremiah said as he reached him. "Your brother is furious - it seems the terrorist have stolen something, and- "
He did not listen to Jeremiah as he turned around. In his mind, he still remembered taking Kallen's hand under the debris. Of how her bright eyes looked at him, of her soft grasp upon his hand -
Where is she?
Lelouch turned around, his eyes scanned around the wreckage of the railway and the debris of the train; seeing police officers, curious bystanders -
But he did not see Kallen.
From the: Atlas 2017
The Three States of Japan
1.) Name: Area 11, The Britannian Empire
Capital: Eastern Tokyo
System: Viceroyship, Monarchy.
Population: 25,393,391
Leader: Prince Clovis la Britannia
2.) The State of Japan*
Capital: Osaka
System: **Democratic.
Population: 18,903,918
Leader: Prime Minister Genbu Kururugi
Note: Referred to as "Genbu's Japan".
*Most international observers consider the State of Japan to be an extension of the Chinese Federation.
**The European Union believes that the three reeleciton of Genbu Kururugi were rampant with electoral fraud.
3. The Republic of Japan*
Capital: Western Tokyo**
System: Democratic
Population: 28,192,769
System: Democratic
Leader: Tatewaki Katase
Note: Colloquially referred to as "the Republic".
*The Chinese Confederation and the Britannian Empire consider the Republic of Japan to be a European Union pupper state.
**While Western Tokyo is the official capital of the republic, the seat of government is in Saporro.