FATE'S DEBT
CHAPTER SEVEN: A STRANGE REACTION
Disclaimer: I don't own Code Geass but I own this fiction and any other OC's in this story
ITALIC: THOUGHS
Princess Euphemia personally led the retrieving of the hostages while her sister tried to pursue Zero and his crew but the disappearing act that they pulled left no trace of them in the yacht, it was like they appeared in a flash and disappeared in a flash. Of course, Cornelia will not accept that so she assembled a small force to assist her on tracking down Zero and those so called Black Knights. Normally, Euphemia would be against it, seeing that Zero technically saved the hostages, but allowed her sister when she remembered that her brother, that was technically and officially dead, requested her to keep the little fact that he is still alive a secret.
"Suzaku, have you seen him yet?" Euphemia asked hopefully as she escorted several civilians into a First Aid camp for some food and treatment, if necessary.
Suzaku shook his head as he helps several Britannians off the rescue raft. "My apologies, Milady, but there is no sign of him yet." Suzaku answered in a disheartened tone while he glanced at the remaining rafts, there were only three remaining and by the looks of things, Lelouch wasn't in any of them.
"Keep searching for him." Euphemia ordered with pleading eyes. "He can't die, not now, not when Nunnally needs him." Euphemia whispered to herself but Suzaku already knew what she said. As long as Nunnally needed Lelouch, he would live through absolutely anything.
Inside of one of the First Aid Camps, Nina was in a fetal position as she recounted and told her two friends how Lelouch saved her from the terrorist Elevens, excluding their conversation and the kiss, for she has a feeling that Shirley would kill her if she told her that, she was traumatized not suicidal. Both Milly and Shirley listened intently to Nina's story; they were both impressed on how brave and how resourceful Lelouch has been in the entire ordeal. Milly and Shirley were horrified when Nina told them that Lelouch killed seven different people during the ordeal but quickly understood his reasoning on why he killed those people, it was either he killed them or Nina wouldn't be in the realm of the living right now; though, both Milly and Shirley made a mental note to talk to Lelouch about that when they saw him. Milly nearly had a heart attack when Nina came to the part that when Lelouch saved two children and Princess Euphemia.
If her memories served her right, Euphemia was one of the few siblings the Lelouch had a good relationship with and if she recognized him, then Milly had a gut feeling that there will be Royal Guards roaming around her school in the near future.
Nina then came to the part when Lelouch made two pairs of parachute for their escape and how he talked her and the princess in jumping off a twelve stories high balcony. Shirley was outraged at that for, if things didn't go well, Nina would have died as well as the Princess but let Lelouch's stupidity slide because it technically worked and she and the princess were still alive after his plan.
When Nina finished her story and told them about the last call Lelouch to Suzaku, telling them about his weak voice and multiple gun fires in the background, both girls froze as they remember the words that came from the white robed man that was besides Zero.
"A person named Lelouch Lamperouge was able to save four individuals right before we arrived, two women and two unnamed children. He is currently with some of our members as they treat his shoulder wound. He is unconscious."
"Oh my god, that guy from before wasn't kidding." Shirley uttered in shock as Nina gave Shirley a confused look. "That white robed person said that they were treating Lulu's shoulder wound when they saved us." Shirley informed Nina, much to her discomfort.
"What do you think those Eleven will do to him?" Nina asked in fright, extremely worried about the man who saved her from those terrorist Elevens.
Milly took a second to think before smiling. "Don't worry guys, that Zero character won't be hurting Lulu. After the speech that he made, one wrong move and his reputation will be in shreds." Milly assured them from a political point of view.
Nina wasn't assured by that but didn't say a word about her discomfort, her thoughts kept on wondering to Lelouch, more specifically the kiss that he gave her when he saved her. The taste of Lelouch's lips still lingering in her mouth. She unconsciously touched her lips with her hands as she prayed for the safety of Lelouch.
Outside the tent, Suzaku swore silently as the last hostage was been taking care of. "Where the hell is Lelouch?" Suzaku asked no one as he sat on the edge of the lake, looking at the yacht that the Black Knights occupied during the rescue of the hostages.
'Using the wrong methods and he still managed to rescue everyone. Not just that, he and his group were able to bypass Princess Cornelia's security, how could a group that big move without being seen?' Suzaku wondered out loud as Euphemia walked towards him.
"Suzaku, please tell me that you found him." Euphemia all but begged as Suzaku looked at her before shaking his head.
"I'm sorry Princess but he isn't among the hostages." Suzaku mumbled loud enough for Euphemia to hear.
A terrified look graced Euphemia's face as she collapsed to her knees. "No," Euphemia mumbled as an audible rang of Suzaku's phone echoed in the horizon. Suzaku froze a bit as the number was not registered in his phone, so with great difficulty, he answered the phone.
"Hello,"
"[Suzaku, is that you?]" A familiar voiced asked as Suzaku spring to his feet.
"LELOUCH," Suzaku shouted, happy that his friend was still alive. Princess Euphemia also jumped on her feet as she heard the name of her brother. "Lelouch, where are you?"
"[I'm with the Black Knights.]" Lelouch answered and that instantly froze Suzaku to where he stood.
(Scene Change)
"I'm okay; I'm just a bit weak right now. I did lose a lot of blood." Lelouch informed his friend with a fake weary tone.
"[Lelouch, do they know…]" Suzaku trailed off and in that instantly, Lelouch made his move.
"No, they don't. I doubt if I'd still be living if they did." Lelouch answered with a weak tone before he made a fake sound of the phone being taken from him. "I suggest you hung up and let your friend rest, Warrant Officer Kururugi." Lelouch said, using the voice modulator for him to sound like Zero.
"[Zero, where is he, where's Lelouch?]" Lelouch shook his head from the other line, Suzaku was still easy to predict and manipulate outside the battlefield.
"Having been shot in the shoulder before we arrived to his rescue, Mister Lamperouge is being treated accordingly by my Black Knights. I shall return him to you in two days time." Lelouch informed him passively and before Suzaku could make a reply, he said something that ultimately, shut Suzaku up. "Don't worry, Warrant Officer, he is being treated accordingly to his rank, a treatment worthy of a fallen Prince." Lelouch hanged up when he heard the surplice gasped of shock that came from Suzaku. Kallen then shook her head, wondering how he convinced Zero to let him borrow that voice scrambler.
"Was that necessary, Lelouch?" Kallen asked curiously as she pointed a weak caliber gun on his shoulder. "And more importantly, is this necessary?" Kallen inquired while looking at him like he was crazy.
"For your first question, yes that was necessary. Remember, Suzaku is an enemy, regardless of my past and friendship with him. I don't like tricking him or lying to him but for the world that I want to exist, I must." Lelouch explained as he held her hand and press the barrel of the gun to his shoulder. "As for you shooting me, it is required for my excused to be consistent." Lelouch stated as he looked at her right on the eye.
Kallen sighed dejectedly, wondering silently how Lelouch talk her into this. "Are you sure?" Kallen asked as her hands shiver a bit. She had shot and killed people before but she had never attacked a friend or an ally.
"Kallen, just do it. You're the only one who I could allow myself to get shot." Lelouch urged gently and truth be told, he thought that he deserved this after the crap that he put Kallen through in his last lifetime. That and this was way better than getting crushed by the Radiation Surge Claw of the Guren S.E.I.T.E.N Eight Elements.
Kallen struggled for a bit, why did Lelouch have to be so extreme just to achieve their goal. "Fine, but next time you want to get shot or to have an excuse, please just let the enemy shoot you." Kallen exclaimed exasperatedly.
"Duly noted," Lelouch answered as the sound of a gunshot echoed in the room. Lelouch let out a muffled scream as Kallen quickly tended to the gunshot wound.
"Don't worry; I didn't hit any important blood vessels." Kallen assured him as she removed the bullet from the wound. The gun was of a weak caliber so the bullet entry wasn't too deep, and that also made the bullet easy to remove.
"I know," Lelouch whispered as he winced a bit while Kallen patched the wound up. "I trust you, my Queen." Lelouch mumbled with a fond smile and with a voice of a Prince addressing his lover.
Kallen blushed furiously at that as the two remained silent while she remedied the gunshot wound on Lelouch's shoulder. It took her roughly thirty minutes for to Kallen finished bandaging Lelouch's shoulder wound. "All done."
Lelouch glanced at the bandaged wound over his shoulder before throwing his shirt back on. "Thank you, my Queen."
"Don't mention it and please, don't call me that." Kallen replied as she averted her gaze from Lelouch. He may not have a muscular built but he still has a nice body.
"Why not?" Lelouch questioned her with a sly smile.
"Because we're not in the battle field and I am not royal in blood." Kallen answered bluntly. She didn't have any problems being called Queen in the battle field, that is her codename after all, but outside the battlefield, she just wanted to be called Kallen. That, and because the way Lelouch called her queen made her heart skip a beat.
Lelouch smiled fondly at her, she was the same Kallen as he remembered before. In a move that was so unprecedented of him, he reached for her hand and put it over his cheeks, relishing the warmth that Kallen's hands provided him. "A real pity then, you'll make an excellent queen, I'm sure of it." Lelouch complimented with a gentle tone.
Kallen flushed bright crimson as he rubbed her hands over his cheeks. Why is she so affected by his soothing words and how does he affect her like that. "Your confidence in me will be the death of me." Kallen commented silently, and Lelouch could only shake his head at her modesty.
He removed her hand from his cheeks before kissing the back of her hand, startling her a bit. "Zero and I have been telling you this since we first saw you pilot a Knightmare, you are the strongest knight we have ever laid our eyes upon." Lelouch complimented as he began kissing each of the knuckles in her right hand. "You are the greatest warrior in this country and the greatest knight any Prince could ask for. With you by my side, my dreams could come true, my goals can be achieved, the RIGHT way this time around." Lelouch then lean towards her and kiss her forehead before leaving the room, leaving a startled and extremely blushing Kallen.
As Lelouch exited the room, he gazed to his side and sighed deeply. "Put the mask back on."
C.C. ignored his orders as she gave him an amused smile. "You truly intend to make her your Queen, don't you?" C.C. inquired amusement evident in her tone.
"She should have been my Queen in my past lifetime, but I let that opportunity evade me the first time." Lelouch exclaimed, clearly disappointed in himself. "The second time, I'll claim what's mine."
"Is she yours already?"
"Yes, she just doesn't know it yet."
(Scene Change)
"A toast," Zero exclaimed, the mask revolutionary holding up a glass of sparkling champagne as he lounged on the sofa on the Black Knights trailer. "To a successful mission and to the debut of the Black Knights."
"KAMPAI!" Tamaki cheered, the rebels mimicking him as they tapped glasses, chatting animatedly amongst themselves as they did so.
The newly formed Black Knights were still a bit high after leading Cornelia's entourage and the police on a merry chase. They did not expect them to have a submarine under the yacht nor did they expect them to sabotage the radar of the ships that surround the lake. Their escape was so easy that they've arrived back in the Black Knights factory in Tokyo bay without any hassle.
They were surprise when Lelouch and Zero welcomed them into a large lounge with several pizzas and bottle of champagnes and wines already prepare for celebration. They said that they were proud of them for succeeding in their first official mission and that a celebration is in order.
The rebels quickly hit the booze and the pizza as cheers erupted around Zero and Lelouch. Lelouch on the other shook his head. As much as this hurt his bank account and as much as he viewed this as waste of time, this is necessary to at least endear the rebels.
'Just as long as they continue to follow my orders as before, I don't mind doing this with each success.' Lelouch thought as he played with his glass of champagne, twirling it around in its glass.
"Try to enjoy the moment, will you." C.C., still wearing Lelouch's Zero costume, advised as she sneaked past the celebrating rebels, a pizza in hand.
"I'll bask in the glory once we liberate Japan and once I repent all of my sins." Lelouch said to her as he spared her a glance.
"You haven't technically committed them yet." C.C. commented airily.
"And that, Cera, is never good enough for me." Lelouch told her as the two stood back to back, their hands intertwining.
"What are you going to do in regards with Euphemia?" C.C. asked curiously as leaned her head on his shoulder, the Zero mask giving Lelouch a slight discomfort but did not say a word. "She knowing your existence this early on will hinder your plans."
"Not exactly," Lelouch replied with a devious smirk. "Euphy gave me her word that she won't tell anyone about my existence and she keeps her promises, but I know she'll visit Ashford if given the chance." Lelouch grunted but his smile did not falter.
"And Suzaku can't resist a request coming from her so I suggest you and Nunnally prepare for a reunion." C.C. stated as Lelouch chuckled bitterly.
"I already have something planned for that." Lelouch commented as he grabbed her hand and gently led her to a narrow and more importantly, abandon hallway. "Seeing that you're here, I need to show you something." Lelouch said as the walk into the hangar of the factory.
(Scene Change)
It was dawn in Lake Kawaguchi, and Nina was frantically searching for Lelouch. After what transpired last night, she was so exhausted that after recounting the events she experience during the Hostage Taking Incident to her two friends, she instantly drifted to a blissful sleep. When she woke up, her eyes widened when the memories of last night flooded her mind and the fact that she did not see Lelouch last night bothered and worried her a lot.
She was now running around the military camp that most of the hostages spent the night on, desperately trying to find her savior. She had not yet properly thanked him. 'Lelouch, where are you?' Nina desperately wondered as she searched for him.
She was so distracted on her search that she did not notice two figures exiting a Medical Tent until she crash into someone before falling to the ground.
Nina began muttering her apologies as she looks up. Instantly, all the color was drain from her face when she saw the pink haired princess from yesterday together with Lelouch's 'Eleven' friend. "You're majesty, I apologized for my clumsiness." Nina exclaimed as kneel before a member of the royal family of Britannia.
Euphemia's eyes widened a bit as she glanced down on the girl that was with her brother on the hostage incident yesterday. "Your name is Nina, right?"
"Yes, your majesty, my name is Nina Einstein." Nina answered with a respectful tone before remembering the reason why she was running around the camp. "Your majesty, if I may ask, have you seen a boy name Lelouch Lamperouge. He was the one who saved us from those terrorist just yesterday. He has ebony hair, violet eyes, a bit scrawny but tall?" Nina asked with a rather hoping tone.
A grim expression cross the face of both Suzaku and Euphemia, the memory of last night's phone call suddenly coming back to them. Euphemia did not know how to answer the question of the girl before her; she seems to be one of her long lost brother's friends. Suzaku on the other hand was a different story.
"Now that you mention Lelouch, he is in a…" Suzaku pause, trying to formulate a convincing lie to soothe the xenophobic girl,"…Medical facility… That's right… Lelouch was transferred last night to a medical facility in Tokyo Settlement. He needed immediate treatment for the injuries he sustained yesterday during the incident." Suzaku lied as he spared the princess beside him a pleading look.
Euphemia, seeing that expression on Suzaku's face, sighed deeply. She did not want to lie but to assure this girl, she must. "Yes, Lelouch was sent last night to a Medical Facility in order for his injuries to be properly treated." Euphemia lied as well, hoping that it would calm the bespectacled girl before her.
To their relief, it did as Nina took a breath of relief. "Thank God," Nina mumbled under her breath as she lowered her head a bit more. "Thank for your kindness to my friend, your highness. That means a lot." Nina praised her as Euphemia chuckled with an uncomfortable way before a thought cross her mind.
"You're a friend of his, right?" Euphemia asked, using the regal tone her sister taught her.
"Yes, my Lady." Nina answered as a she shiver run up her spine. Royalty was actually talking to her.
Euphemia smiled brightly at that. "Very well then, Miss Nina, join me and Warrant Officer Suzaku for breakfast." Euphemia ordered as Nina looked at her in shock. A member of the royal family just invited her for breakfast. "I was well acquainted with the Lamperouge family when they were still living in Pendragon. I want to know what happen to him and his sister after the death of his mother and their exile to this country." Euphemia stated with a kind tone and instantly, Suzaku groaned in despair. Lelouch would kill him for this.
(Thirty minutes later and inside the G1 base)
Both Suzaku and Nina fidgeted uncomfortably inside of the Dining hall in the G1 vehicular base. They were both feeling unnerved for different reasons, Suzaku for this was the first time he stepped inside of a G1 base and he was with a princess no less while Nina was a bit terrified of having an Eleven near her but reminded herself that he was technically Lelouch's friend. Euphemia, on the other hand, was a bit excited, finally a lead to the whereabouts of her brother.
"So tell me Suzaku, how do you know my bro…" A sharp look from Suzaku instantly made Euphemia rearranged her sentence. "How do you know Lelouch?" Euphemia asked, correcting herself in the process.
Suzaku sighed dejectedly; he can't lie, not to her. "Like you may already know, Lelouch stayed with my family several months before the invasion. My relationship with Lelouch (that sounded creepy) started rocky but we ended up being friends after his first month in staying with my family." A small smiled then grace Suzaku's face, "He was always the brains and I, the brawns. I fend off the bullies that were bothering Nunnally and him, and he does my assignments. He even thought me those complicated hand signals that he created." Suzaku exclaimed with a fond chuckle.
Euphemia smile widely at the mention of her favorite, half-sister. "Now that you mention Nunnally, how is she?"
"She's still blind and disabled but otherwise, she's alright and happy." Suzaku answered with a bitter smile.
"Oh, I see," Euphemia mumbled, a bit depressed at her sister's predicament. "So what happened to them after the invasion?"
"Truth be told, I don't know." Suzaku admitted with a frown. "Me and my sensei dropped them off in Tokyo Settlement, thinking that they'll go to the Britannian Forces so that they could return to Britannia, but it seems Lelouch had other plans." Euphemia hung her head at that. It seems that Lelouch still hates their family for what happened to them.
"I saw them again when I attended Ashford Academy, but we had not yet have a decent conversation." That was not the whole truth but he cannot tell the princess that he met her brother during a major terrorist attack. That would worry her to death.
Euphemia nodded before looking at Nina whom was trying to make herself invincible. "Do you know anything about Lelouch?" Euphemia asked with a rather hoping tone.
Nina looked at the princess before shaking her head. "Lelouch and I are only acquaintances." Nina admitted but nevertheless, she smiled at the thought of him. "We never really did have a normal conversation and our past talks involved debates about politics or philosophy but still, he was so kind to me." Nina then remembered how he acts around school.
"He's extremely smart but he acts like he doesn't care about anything and doesn't put much effort to his school works, he usually has this regal and cold expression on his face often making him unapproachable, he talks in a way that will either draw you or annoy you to him, he gambles a lot with the nobility in Tokyo and he always wins, half of the girls in our school admired him but he never really notices or cares, the only girl that he has ever taken notice of is that new girl, Constantine." Nina then pause at that, feeling a bit irritated at the thought of that beautiful green haired woman who had Lelouch wrapped around her finger. "And he cherishes his younger sister like she is, no, as far as I can tell, she is the most important person in his life. He always has this kind and gentle and warm expression on his face when Nunnally is near him, he always goes out of his way just to spend time with, and the last person who tried harassed her ended up getting run over by a car, we didn't know what exactly happened but we all know Lelouch had something to do with it." Nina mused at the thought.
Both Euphemia and Suzaku sweat dropped at that last part, it was such typical of him to do that. Euphemia was a bit giddy at what the girl said, even though Lelouch wasn't close with Nina, she was still able to give her some information about her brother. "So where do they live?" Euphemia asked, wanting to have a reunion with her supposed to be dead siblings.
"As far as I know him, they've been living in Ashford Academy." Nina answered and Euphemia's smiled broaden at that.
She should have known, the Ashford Family was a great supporter of their mother when she was still alive. It was only natural that they would approach them.
(Scene Change)
Lelouch and Kallen were currently walking around the darkest area of Tokyo. "Your contacts sure know how to set up a venue for meetings." Kallen commented sarcastically as she frowned at the sight of multiple Japanese suffering in poverty. It was such a disturbing sight.
"Don't worry, we will save each and every one of them in due time." Lelouch assured her in a knowing tone. He succeeded before and he will succeed again.
"Of course we will," Kallen replied as she followed Lelouch to God knows where. "Where the hell is that contact of yours?" Kallen asked, her patience running thin. They've been walking around the area for about thirty minutes or so.
"Be patient, that guy is risking a lot just for meeting us." Lelouch told her as they went into another alley. "He is, after all, a high ranking official and once they find out that he is a Black Knight, he is dead." Lelouch exclaimed as Kallen gave him an exasperated look.
"You have a rat planted inside the government." Kallen inquired in amazement and in awe
"Intel is the most important weapon in any war. If we know what our enemies are thinking, it'll be easier for us to formulate strategies and tactics to our advantage, thus making victory more attainable." Lelouch explained to her, remembering how the war in his last lifetime turn to his or to his enemies' side by the Intel they've gathered.
"I'll take that as a yes." Kallen grumbled, every time she talks to him, he either made her feels like a love struck princess or a naïve kid. "By the way, is it wise for you to be absent today, I mean those three may already be in Ashford and wondering where you are?" Kallen asked, remembering Lelouch's report in his last mission.
"If you're worried about my cover being blown, don't worry. I made sure that those three won't be home by at least a day and Cecelia has me covered in school." Lelouch said with a nervous tone. "I just hope that Cecelia doesn't come up with a crazy alibi for me." Lelouch hoped but knowing her, he will need to prepare for the absolute worst.
(Scene Change)
In Ashford, C.C. was half-heartedly listening to her classmates' random conversation and ramblings about yesterday's event that involves some of their schoolmates. Truthfully, she didn't give a damn about anything they're saying, but she promised Lelouch that she will arrange an alibi for him.
"Have you seen the news last night?"
"Yeah, poor Shirley, suffering through something like that."
"Even the President seems shaken by the ordeal, and that is saying something."
"I wonder how Nina is dealing with this. She wasn't with those two when those Black Knights and Zero save them."
"Now that you mention it, those three were absent today, including the Vice President."
"Don't worry about him; Lelouch didn't join the President and the others in this trip." Rivalz assured one of Lelouch's fangirls after remembering the excuse he had for declining the President's offer.
"Actually, Lelouch was in Lake Kawaguchi when the hostage taking took place. He was supposed to meet my brother." C.C. said airily as the attention of the whole class was shifted to her.
A cruel smile suddenly crawled C.C.'s lips, it's time for her to have fun.
(Scene Change)
"Okay, we're here." Lelouch said as he felt a cold shiver running up his spine, for some reason, he feels so violated.
"A bar, your contact wants us to meet in a bar." Kallen exclaimed as she glanced at the bar in front of her.
"We need to meet discretely and this place, as nice as it seems, is the farthest away from the Government Complex." Lelouch told her as the two entered an expensive looking bar. "But I got to give it to him, this place is nice." Lelouch commented silently as Britannian Bar tender approach the two.
"Can I have the name of the lovely couple?" The Bar tender asked as Kallen blush a bit.
"Kira Clyne and Lunamaria Dawell, we are here to meet a person by the name of Jeremiah Gottwald." Lelouch exclaimed and at that, Kallen had to muffle a gasped of shock. There was only one Jeremiah Gottwald in Area 11, and that was the guy whom they embarrass in their first official mission.
The Bar tender look at the notepad in his hands and nodded as he detected the two names that the boy just uttered. "Ah yes, Mr. Clyne, Ms. Dawell, please follow me. Lord Gottwald has been waiting for the two of you." The Bar tender said as he led the two to a private booth. Kallen took this chance to talk with Lelouch.
"Gottwald, that Jeremiah Gottwald is our spy in the government." Kallen whispered in outraged.
"Yeah and don't worry, Orange is the most loyal soldier in the world and he is loyal to me alone." Lelouch assured him but Kallen merely glared at him.
"So you're telling me that the person who has been the personification of Britannian bigotry and discrimination is on our side." Kallen mumbled in outrage. "How can you expect me to believe that?"
"I don't," Lelouch then looked at her directly in the eyes. "I expect you to trust me, even if you don't believe in me, I want you at least trust me and my decisions. Jeremiah might be a bit insane but he is deadly loyal to me and Nunnally, why, I cannot tell you yet but he will not betray us, and if he did, you can freely kill him and me." Lelouch stated firmly as the Bar Tender open the curtain, revealing Jeremiah who was drinking a glass of champagne.
Jeremiah glanced at the two before giving the Bar Tender a hefty tip. "Leave us," Jeremiah ordered as the two high-ranking members of the Black Knights entered the booth before closing the curtains. Jeremiah, to the surprised of Kallen, bowed at Lelouch. "My Lord, how are you doing?" Jeremiah asked with a respectful tone.
"I'm fine Orange," Lelouch answered with a curt nod before glancing at Kallen. "Orange, I would like you to meet Kallen Kozuki, the Knight of Zero."Lelouch introduced and Kallen felt a bit off at her new nickname. Knight of Zero, what the hell does that mean?
Jeremiah smiled at the sight of the familiar red haired girl. Sure, she was the reason why his eye was gauged out from his eye socket, but it was to protect his lord so he had forgiven her for that. "Lady Kallen, it is truly a pleasure to finally meet the Knight that my Lord has spoken so highly about." Jeremiah said with a tone filled with admiration.
Kallen narrowed her eyes a bit, not being endeared by Jeremiah's compliment but regardless, decided to be at least civil with the man. "I trust Lelouch and Zero but I don't trust you. Betray us, and I'm going to personally ripped you apart, starting with the thing that defines you as a man." Kallen threatened with a very demented voice.
Both Lelouch and Jeremiah cringed at that threat, she means every word of it, they were sure of it. "Do not fret, Lady Kallen, I may have been and still am the leader of the Purist Faction, but I am more loyal to my lord than the empire." Jeremiah assured her as Lelouch tried to calm her down. "With that said, shall we get to the matters at hand?" Jeremiah offered as Lelouch nodded in agreement.
"Why of course," Lelouch said as Jeremiah brought out a laptop.
"The list of every Britannian Syndicate in Area… Japan is all here." Jeremiah corrected himself as Kallen glared at him for even trying to call her country Area 11.
Lelouch took the laptop and read the file. Every Syndicates and Gangs that he and his Black Knights hit in his past lifetime was all listed and then some. "Very good Orange, and what about the design that I send to you, is it practical and producible?" Lelouch asked as he scanned the list to find a more sufficient and profitable target.
"I made a couple of changes but we could produce it." Jeremiah said with a smile. "If I may, my Lord, the weapon that you design is quite a masterpiece. It is more advance that the MVS." Jeremiah commented.
"MVS, what kind of weapon is that?" Kallen asked, finally joining the conversation.
"Remember the White Knightmare that wiped out seventeen Sutherlands?" Lelouch inquired as Kallen nodded. "The name of that Knightmare is Lancelot, the first Seventh Generation Knightmare Frame produce by Britannia. The Lancelot outperforms most other models thanks to the heavy amount of Sakuradite scattered throughout its frame as well as in its Yggdrasil Drive, the Core Luminous. Our one saving grace is the fact that the Lancelot is still in development." Lelouch explained to her as he showed her, through the laptop, the video of the debut of the White Knightmare and how it dismantled seventeen Knightmares like they were nothing.
Kallen studied the performance of the Knightmare and she was impressed. "That thing is agile, fast, and the weaponry is out of the ordinary." Kallen commented as she watched the video with a calculating look. She was trying to find a weakness or a weak spot but she found none.
"The special feature of the Lancelot is the Blaze Luminous, a system the projects energy in the form of a shield. The shield is all but impenetrable. Lancelot's main weapon is MSV Sword; Maser Vibration Sword is a type of weapon that uses the combination of extremely high oscillation rates and temperatures in order to increase the cutting effectiveness of the weapon. The MSV weapon could cut through ordinary Knightmare armor like a hot knife through butter." Lelouch informed her before smiling. "I haven't formulated a counter for the Blaze Luminous but we have a countermeasure for the MSV. I haven't created a prototype yet but once I do, we can finally shut that White Knightmare down. "Lelouch said with confidence as he showed the designs of the weapon to Kallen.
Kallen instantly look and analyze the weapon and even if she didn't understand some of the words in the design, she still could tell that the weapon is quite powerful. "I have first dibs when you produced this, okay?"
"Of course, my Queen." Lelouch answered as he gave Jeremiah a smile. "Good work Jeremiah; I will call you when I need you. Remember, keep your head down and when you have the chance, take it, we need that device." Lelouch exclaimed as Jeremiah nodded in understanding.
"I live to please my lord." Lelouch smiled at the loyalty of the man before glancing at Kallen.
"Kallen, we have one more stopped before we could go home." Lelouch informed her as a smile slowly adorned his face. Kallen felt that this day may get a bit more interesting.
(Scene Change)
"FINALLY, HOME SWEET HOME!" Milly shouted in enthusiasm as she and her friends entered Ashford Academy late in the night.
"This place is a sight for sore eyes." Shirley commented as she smiled at the school that she grown accustom to. "Still, it was strange. Every train station in Kawaguchi had to reboot their systems at the same day." Shirley mused, remembering the reason on why they were all late in returning to Tokyo.
"It has to be done. I mean terrorist were able to sneak past their security, they truly do need to reboot or upgrade their system." Milly commented as the three entered campus. Seeing that it was late in the evening, they were the only once that was in the campus. "Hey guys, seeing that it's already nighttime, let's spend the night in my apartment. We can stay up all night." Milly offered as she eyed Shirley with a spine shivering look.
Shirley shuddered at those mischievous eyes as she slowly back away from the President, in her fright, she bump into Nina. "Sorry Nina," Shirley quickly apologized but didn't bother replying as she walked pass her.
"President, I'll be visiting Lelouch." Nina exclaimed as she walked pass Milly and quickly made her way to Lelouch's house.
"That's a wonderful idea, Nina." Milly exclaimed with a small, worried smile. They had not seen Lelouch after that Hostage Taking incident and from what Nina said, its either he is in Pendragon already or in a hospital somewhere in Tokyo Settlement, and truth be told, she was praying that it was latter than the former. "Come on now Shirley, let's go visit Lulu. I bet he needs a warm body after being the Knight and Shining Armor of Nina."Milly said as she began pushing Shirley to the direction of Lelouch's house.
"But, but, but, Lulu may still be nursing his injuries." Shirley reasoned, not looking forwards to see her crush so hurt.
Before Milly could say anything, Nina responded. "If he is, then I'll take care of him personally." Nina said mirthfully and that instantly stopped both Milly and Shirley from their tracks. Did they just hear that right?
"Would you please repeat that, Nina?" Shirley asked in a slow tone as she eyed her with a startled look.
"I'll take care of him." A dreamy expression then adorned Nina's lips as she remembered how gallant Lelouch was during the Hostage incident. "He saved me from getting killed; he dirtied his hands for me. He was like a Prince protecting a Princess back then, it was such a wonderful sight seeing him like that and a wonderful feeling be the one he was the one protecting." Nina muttered to herself, not noticing that Milly and Shirley heard everything she said. Shirley was a bit creped out at hearing Nina say that while Milly was torn from being bewildered or being giddy with excitement.
"Lulu wasn't that cool, was he?" Shirley asked as she felt a bit off at Nina's dreamy expression.
Nina shook her head as she look over her head to look at Shirley with a big smile plastered on her face. "You should have been there to see how magnificent he is." Nina stated with a smile that the two of them have not yet seen graced her features.
Before Shirley could say anything else, Milly grabbed her from behind and put her to a headlock. "Hey Shirley, guess what?" Milly whispered with a playful grin plastered on her face. "You now have two green haired rivals, one of them is the very lecherous and sly witch Cecelia and the other green haired is a shy yet fine genius Nina. You better pick up your game or else Kallen may enter the game." Milly then began shaking uncontrollably much to the disturbance of Shirley.
"PRESIDENT, NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR THAT."
"You are wrong my deary." Milly whispered with a snake crawling smile. "We got Cecelia who has no problem kissing and flirting with Lelouch, we got Nina who now idolizes him for saving her, and we have Kallen who Lelouch has been constantly flirting with. I'm so excited." Milly mumbled as the three now arrived in Lelouch's front door. Milly instantly let go of a stuttering Shirley and was about to open the door but a soft, melodic humming stopped her and her friends from their tracks.
Inside the house, C.C. was humming one of the few lullabies that she had bothered to learn in her extremely long life. The lullaby was not special but it was one of the few lullabies that she had heard to be sung with every ounce of singer's heart. Besides her and lying on the couch was Nunnally, who has been worried sick about her brother after his two days absent. Sure, Lelouch told her that it would only be a two day trip to Lake Kawaguchi but she had almost gone into shock when the news of the hostage taking reached her if it weren't for C.C. assuring her that Lelouch was okay.
C.C. stopped humming as she caressed Nunnally's hair. "You should sleep child, Lelouch will be back soon." C.C. said with an assuring tone. She was both fond with Lelouch and Nunnally, Lelouch because, they share such a unique relationship that surpasses their old one, he was the only who she made a contract with that actually travelled back in time. She was also quite fond of Nunnally because she possessed one of the purest souls that she had ever seen in an individual, and considering how long she lived, that is saying something.
"Big brother hasn't called yet." Nunnally mumbled as she held C.C.'s hand tightly.
"He just doesn't want to worry you, child. He could really be a royal prat sometimes." C.C. told her with a gentle smile. "Be at ease, he will return soon, I assure you that. That boy is quite resilient." C.C. stated knowingly. After all, he did conquer the world in his last lifetime.
"I now but my brother could be reckless sometimes." C.C. nodded at that. That was true; Lelouch always took risks for the sake of the success of his plans, risks that would have killed him when back fire or if she or Kallen were not present.
"True but your brother will note perish as long as you need him." C.C. stated, a bit jealous that even though she and Lelouch share an intimate relationship, Nunnally will always be the reason that he draws breath. "Now child, sleep, I do not want your brother depriving me of my benefits when he finds out that you have been neglecting your needs." C.C. said as she pulled a blanket over her. Lelouch would probably blow a gasket at her for allowing her sister to sleep in a sofa but she doesn't really care, he wouldn't hurt her anyway.
"C.C., could you sing me lullaby." Nunnally requested with a small voice. "I haven't heard a lullaby since my mother passed away and my brother doesn't have a decent singing voice." Both she and C.C. laughed at that.
"Of course," C.C. then tried to remember one of the songs that she had bothered to learn before selecting the song that had touch(touched) her before, a song that could feet in the current time. "This will do." C.C. mumbled as she began to sing
(A/N: I know C.C. doesn't sing but in this fic, she does. Probably in this chapter only)
(A/N: I don't know Gundam Seed, even thought I'll give my life to own it that certain franchise)
Beneath a veil so cold
You deeply sleep all alone
The melody of prayer, on the lonely fields
A little light shined
Refrain 1:
I watched as you dreamed
You laugh like a child
So dear and yet so far
That is the promise of our future
Chorus 1:
That one day, on a green morning
One day, we will make it there
Because in this wintered sky
We still believe
Fields of hope
On the day we were born, we were embraced
And now we search for those gentle hands again
The melody of prayer; one vanishes,
And all begins again; a powerless, a painful continuation
Refrain 2:
One day, to that green morning
We'll cross through all these nights
Because that is the place each one of us search
Chorus 2:
Now within my own heart
I want to keep you warm
So dear, and yet so far
In the name of peace
Fields of hope
Bridge:
So dear and yet so far
The fields of promise
Fields of hope
Fields of hope
As C.C. finished her song, Nunnally had fallen into a deep sleep, the lyrics of the song echoing in her head. C.C. smile at the girl that was the world for Lelouch. "Sleep tight, my dear," C.C. mumbled a good night before walking towards the door and absurdly opening it, causing the three eavesdropping teens to fell face first on the ground. "You three should learn manners." C.C. exclaimed as she passively look at the three with a blank expression.
The three chuckled uneasily before Milly jumped on her feet and clasped C.C.'S hand tightly, her eyes glimmering. "You have such wonderful voice, Cecelia." Milly commented as a coy smile graced C.C.'s lips.
"Why, thank you Miss President but it's a requirement." C.C. then gazed at Shirley sharply. "Having a guy like Lelouch wrapped around my finger requires some serious talents and skills." C.C. said, giving Shirley, whom was already giving C.C. a glare, a coy smirk.
Milly chuckled evilly at that. "So Lelouch likes a girl that could sing?" Milly inquired as she peered close to C.C., their breast touching already.
C.C. chuckled as she smiled lecherously. "Why yes, it helps reduced his stress." C.C. answered as the girls behind Milly made a mental note to take singing lessons in the near future. As much as they don't want to admit it, she has an amazing singing voice and in addition with her looks, they don't have a chance against her.
(Scene Change)
"It has been decided, Kyoto had made a decision regarding the Guren." Todoh said with a weary tone.
"Kusakabe, that fool. Because of his foolish actions, Kyoto now has doubts with JLF." Urabe muttered in annoyance.
"But does Kyoto intend to trust those Robin Hood rip offs." Senba spat.
"I agree with Senba, those people are just one hit wonders, if their lucky." Chiba said, agreeing with the oldest holly sword.
The conversation was cut short when Asahina burst into the room. "Todoh-sama, we just have a delivery."
"A delivery, is it from the NAC?" Todoh asked. The Six Houses of Kyoto were the only ones who knew where their bases were hidden. Asahina then led his fellow Holy Swords to where the package was. Todoh raised an eyebrow at the sight of a large crate.
"Why in the hell would Tokyo send us a crate?" Urabe muttered as Senba and Asahina opened the crate. To their surprised, the crate contained a coffin with the Japanese flag draped over it. The five of them look at each other before Urabe took the initiative and remove the cover of the coffin; the sight of Kusakabe's dead body clutching his sword met their eyes. The younger members of the Four Holy Swords grasped while Todoh and Senba merely shook their head.
"What's the meaning of this?" Senba asked clearly upset by the sight of it.
"Look there's a note with it." Chiba pointed out.
Todoh picked it up the note and unfolded the paper. There were only a few statements that were clearly written in hand.
Even though the fool was stupid enough to put innocent people in harm's way, I felt it necessary to give him a proper burial, as a sign of respect to a man that had fought for his country.
-Zero
Urabe was pissed. "I'll kill that man for these."
"Don't jump the gun, Urabe." Todoh said as he closed the coffin. "Let's get Kusakabe a proper burial, like what Zero said, he may be an imbecile but he deserves a proper burial."
"This is a secret base. How did he manage to deliver the body here?" Chiba mused aloud. The room went suddenly quiet with the implications of the new terrorist group knowing where one of their bases is.
"Oh fuck." Senba muttered, secretly impressed at the Intel of Zero.
"I see… This Zero character is extremely dangerous after all." Todoh muttered to himself.
(Scene Change)
Shirley and Nina were uncomfortable and worried, uncomfortable because their peers and classmates had instantly surrounded them at the sight of them and worried because Lelouch was a no show. Nina was trying to hide behind Shirley as questions were thrown at them from left to right.
"Are you guys okay?"
"What did those terrorist did to you guys?"
"What were those Black Knights like?"
"Have you guys seen Zero?"
"Forget that, have you guys seen that girl with a sword, she was hot?" Kallen had the decency to cough uncomfortably after hearing that.
"And what about that White Robed dude, what's the deal with him?"
Shirley didn't want to answer those questions for several reasons, the most prominent being that she had witness that sword wielding woman slaughtered those men with ease. Though one question was answered by Nina.
"Hey, was Lelouch really with you?"
"Yes, he was." Nina answered instantly as the girls around them suddenly went quiet, something that the two of them notice.
"Where was he then? You and the Vice President weren't even shown when the broadcasters were showing the rescued hostages?" One of their classmates asked.
Nina look thoughtful for a moment, she was still a bit uncomfortable talking about the whole ordeal. "The Vice President and I were lucky enough to avoid being captured and I was rescued thanks to his fast thinking." Nina answered with sullen tone. She didn't want random people to know about the traumatizing event that she had endured together with Lelouch.
"Where is the Vice President then?" A random girl asked as Shirley's expression turned into sadness.
"We don't know actually, last we heard, he was shot on the shoulder." Shirley answered with a disturbed tone as she shudders at the thought of what Lelouch's current state of health is.
The students around them began muttering at that, a fact that both Shirley and Nina found strange.
"That's just like what Cecelia said." One of the students mumbled.
"You don't think that they would seriously…" One the females trialed off while a small blush adorned her face.
"That's impossible." One of the students told her with a dismissive tone.
"No it's not, I mean, look at the Vice Prez, he is rather hot." A female student commented.
"And his tall too, I mean tall people do tend to have a tall you know what." A girl said while the rest, including the two girls's in the spotlight blush at that implication.
"What are you guys talking about?" Shirley asked as her blush subsided.
The female students all diverted their gazed at the two as they told them what Cecelia said to them yesterday during class.
(Scene Change)
C.C. and Milly were currently drinking tea. C.C didn't want to attend her class for a simple reason that she is extremely bored without her personal plaything while Milly practically owns the school so she could afford to not attend her classes and still have a high chance of graduating with awards.
"Peace and quiet, this is quite rare." C.C. commented with a blank expression.
"Yes it is." Milly agreed as the two shared a drink of tea before the door across them was kick opened and three members, with Rivalz being dragged by Shirley, burst into the office.
C.C. didn't pay them any mind as she ate the pizza provided for her by the President. "There are less violent ways in opening a meager door." Of course, she cannot resist an opportunity in antagonizing them.
"YOU," Shirley hissed as she sighted C.C. and even Nina had the energy to glare at her while Kallen was on the verge of ripping their leader's sister apart.
"Good morning," C.C. greeted as the three girls approached her with a demented Aura looming above them while Rivalz was haphazardly thrown to a couch, and decided to hide behind the said couch until the storm has pass.
"What seems to be the problem, ladies?" Milly asked, quite amused at the sight of three fuming girls.
"PROBLEM," Shirley yelled in outraged as she pointed at C.C. accusingly. "THIS TART OVER HERE HAS BEEN SPREADING A SICK RUMOR ABOUT LULU." Shirley shouted while C.C. seems to not take interest in the yelling of the orange hair woman.
"You better be specific girl, I've spread a lot of rumors before about our little Black Prince." C.C said calmly, her face remaining.
Nina fumed at her as she resisted the urged to choke the life out of her or the urged to get the Ganymede and run her over with it. The only thing holding back Kallen from murdering was the fact that she knew that what she said was a lie and the fact that she was quite close with Lelouch and the little sister of Zero was also helping her limited time in the living realm.
"What rumor, Cecelia?" Milly asked curiously, wanting to know what kind of rumor that would stir up her fellow female, student council like this.
C.C. look thought for a moment before grabbing the phone on the table and pressing the rewind button. "It's just a speculation, nothing concrete. I just said something that would explain Lelouch's absent to his adoring public. After all, having to explain why Lelouch needed to take medical attention from the Black Knights ain't an easy job." C.C. explained bluntly as Shirley and Milly pale at that news. Nina on the other hand merely darkens her glare on her.
"What are you talking about; Princess Euphemia personally told me that Lelouch was transferred into a Medical facility in Tokyo Settlement." Nina stated but C.C. merely shook her head.
"And Lelouch told me this." C.C. exclaimed as she played the fake recording of her and Lelouch's phone call. She had experience in wiretapping so this was an easy fix.
'Hello,'
'Cecelia, I need a favor.' Shirley flinched at the sound of Lelouch's weak voice.
'Did my brother do something stupid again?' Cecelia sounds a bit irritated.
'No, I just need you to do something for me.' A shiver suddenly crawled on Nina's spine. Lelouch sounded hurt in this call. Kallen on the other was impressed; he was a better actor than she thought, though the alibi that Cecelia made to explained Lelouch's absent was still sick.
'Where are you anyway?' The group was quite offended at how indifferent Cecelia's voice was even thought it was evident that Lelouch was hurt or something.
'I was shot by some JLF soldier and I'm with the Black Knights getting my wound treated.' That instantly causes everyone in the room to gasp in shock.
'I see, fine, I'll take care of Nunnally until you return and by the way, what the hell is that moaning?' True to what she said, the other's heard some load moaning in the background. Kallen blush a bit, Lelouch did tell her that Cecelia will provide some proof but she didn't know that it'll be this graphic. Thought, she knows one thing, Lelouch has some serious explaining to do when he arrives.
'I have no idea.' Was his simple answer as the call was cut short. C.C. smiled at their stun faces before reverting back to her passive expression. "I think it's logical to assume that my theory of those Knights, or female knights for that matter had been using Lelouch to relieve their stress for two days, if you get my drift."
That snapped their imaginary heads as Kallen was the first to speak. "That is sick, you sick, sick woman."
"Sick, maybe, possible, probably." C.C. commented with a coy smile. "Though, I'll admit. If Lelouch is truly in that predicament, then he is probably living a captured prisoner's heaven." C.C. stated as the three girls blush furiously while Kallen decided to cover her ears so not to get tempted on killing the sister of their group's leader. Rivalz had already passed out do to a nose bleed at what those Black Knights were doing with his friend.
"You… you…you… don't think they've been taking advantage of Lulu like that?" Shirley managed to stutter, slowly believing the rumor that Cecelia made.
Before anyone could assure that her imagination was getting out of hand, C.C. answered for the simple reason of wanting to see her squirm. "Well, can you imagine him pinned on a table while those female knights ride his dick over and over, and over, making him suffers waves of orgasm after orgasm?" C.C. then smiled mischievously as another thought cross his mind. "Or what about Lelouch blind folded with a leather collar, chain leash, and a gag ball stuffed in his mouth while those female dominatrix spank him in the ass with a paddle, or maybe they've been passing him down from each member to another, torturing him with sex, making him submit to their sexually twisted desires." C.C. implied with so emotionless that it could send shivers down anyone's spine. Luckily, they didn't listen to her as the image of Lelouch naked while surrounded with dominatrix women, whipping him with whips and riding his privates flooded their minds.
Milly had to wipe the trail of blood running down her nose, finding that image quite hot. Nina had steam coming out from her ears as she was so close to fainting. Shirley was drooling at that thought while all the blood was rushing through her head so fast that it could beat a Ferrari. Rivalz, well thank the Gods that he had already fainted.
"You have one delusional brain." Kallen commented as her face matches her hair. An image of Lelouch pinned while she stood over him graced her mind, finding the sight a bit endearing. 'Oh great, that image won't leave my head.' Kallen groaned as she tried to regain her composure.
"Of course I do, considering who my brother is." C.C. said before another thought run through his mind. "That blade wielding woman seems to be quite sadistic. I wonder what she'll do to Lelouch when she has her turn." A cruel smirked adorned her face when she saw the three girls pale, especially Shirley who still remembers who that woman killed their captors with ease, and the sight of Kallen blushing for all her worth was quite a sight to be seen. "I've found her to be quite a Kama Sutra kind of woman or maybe BDSM type." C.C. smiled wildly at the sight of Kallen stuttering as her entire body blush.
"I can only imagine what she'll do to Lelouch with those toys or she may be using aphrodisiac on him just to see him squirm." C.C. then chuckled lightly as Shirley fainted with a ruby pink face, steam coming out of her head, she was imaginative. "Or maybe, she's using whip cream…" That was the last straw as Kallen lunged towards her while Nina, in a head of steam, stumbled back.
"STOP SAYING LEWD THINGS, YOU BITCH." Kallen shouted as she tackled C. the ground while Milly's mind was running several ideas and images so fast that she had to use the nearest napkin to control the blood gushing out of her nose.
"As much as I would like to watch two extremely beautiful girls tear each other apart, I would suggest you guys help me pick up Shirley." The familiar voice of Lelouch exclaimed as the three conscious women look at him, only to see Nina leaning her head on his chest while Lelouch firmly hold her shoulder. "Hey Nina, how have you been?" Lelouch asked with his gentle smile as Nina's was now completely red as her hands unconsciously clutches his shoulders firmly.
Lelouch chuckle a bit as he turned his attention back to the two girls on the ground. "Kallen, suggestion from the wise, get off Cecelia before her hands… never mind." Lelouch didn't finish his statement as C.C. hands landed on Kallen's shapely ass, firmly pinching it causing Kallen to yelp as she jumped to her feet.
"You have such a firm ass, Queenny." C.C. commented snidely as Kallen's flushed in anger.