This chapter is nothing more than a whole lot of nothing as far as I'm concerned. Filler, filler, filler; thats all this chapter and the next (which I initially planned to only be this chapter, but I soon realized this chapter was close to 20,000 words in length) are going to be. Reason being that I want to see if I've lost my touch at writing things that aren't the fast paced action we've had for god only knows how long, so we'll be finding that out this chapter. So either we can expect a very good chapter or an absolutely awful one – I really don't know to be honest, so I hope you all will help me out by letting me know. If it makes your feel better, after this chapter things are going to be going into an upward spiral – the story will be over within the next while, so I'll be calling this the halfway point or so. Maybe that will give you hope in case this chapter is as awful as I'm fearing it will be.
Infinite Freedom, you are sort of right in saying that the Percival isn't completely unreasonable as a Knightmare Frame (that is, of course, if we ignore the whole drill-arm like thing). And he will get a personal Knightmare Frame of some kind later on, but I can assure you that it won't be the Percival, or even a limited production Frame. Reason being that while it is not entirely unreasonable, it is still part of the R2 lot that is, as a whole, for the more part unreasonable – the Energy Wing Float System and the Excalibur come to mind. Technology went way too far from the relatively toned down firepower that was presented in season one, and I intend to keep it in the ballpark range of that.
And noian, you could technically say that Lelouch was a little OOC and weepy in the last chapter, and you wouldn't be wrong in saying so. But at the same time (as lacking as evidence supporting this has been recently), Lelouch has been OOC all along. Granted he has been drifting closer and closer to canon Lelouch as we go and he is now largely the same as canon Lelouch, but there will still be key differences. Furthermore, character development for the teen is far from done – there is just too much fun to be had with his fragile character to leave him alone, you know?
Lastly, I am so so sorry for the terribly long delay. As if school wasn't enough, the AC Adapter for my laptop (which had previously been my computer of choice when writing) decided to stop working, and the subsequent dying of my laptop's battery put a rather irreparable hamper on my work as I was left without an operating laptop. It was by a stroke of luck that I had printed off what I had done up until two days prior to said incident so I could work on my writing in my free time at school, but copying seven thousand or so words of writing from a sheet of paper has never been my thing, and so transferring all the writing over to this computer to a lengthy amount of time.
Update on the AC Adapter situation (as of the 21st) is that I have replaced it, meaning I have all my work back – coincidentally I had finished copying everything to my other computer the night before. Anyway, yeah, everything back to normal, meaning all the melodrama about my laptop being down and out was entirely pointless! Just felt I should point that out.
"The Fourth Division of the Second Panzer-Hummel Corps has been located two miles east of the city. Squad Two is moving to intercept as we speak," one of the many soldiers lingering around stated as calmly as he could manage. This soldier in particular was distinguishable only by the golden dragon in the background of the Britannian emblem on his uniform – a symbol of his loyalty to Prince Schneizel El Britannia.
The small and overly decorated G-1 mobile base was alive with activity as the battle progressed before them; soldiers coming and going as they pleased with an almost unnatural lack of respect for authority. There was no sense of order whatsoever, despite the strong hand their commander – who was to blame for the very dramatic nature of the base's decoration style – had over the situation. Perhaps it was because in all truth he technically wasn't a military commander at all – his authority came solely from what the Second Prince and Prime Minister, Schneizel El Britannia, granted him. Kanon Maldini, however, was exceeding all expectations dramatically in his effectiveness as a leader and military commander, and that did indeed earn him some level of respect in the chain of command.
Not a noticeable amount, of course.
"Squad Two is to change their target destination toward the west and proceed to head them off near the city perimeter. But they are not to break through and reach the city; this city has to be under our control before His Highness arrives," Kanon responded entirely in a single breath, his eyes not leaving the large table set out in front of him. He brought illustration to his words as he moved a small red cone to the right side of a large black square and moved two others into the black square, followed by moving a blue cone closer to the first red one. "Assess the strength of the enemy before engaging and give me the report as soon as it is available. I want to know everything up to the quality of the weaponry on their Knightmare Frames."
"The Third Division has snaked its way around the city! They are en route to the city from the northwest. If they arrive, they will be able to flank us!"
"Holding this position will lose its purpose if they flank us in such a manner." With a smirk and a small pause, Kanon said, "Prepare all reserves to merge with Squad Five and move to engage. The reserves and Squad Five will take up position on either side of the pass at point D-3. When they pass through that point the reserves will attack first, followed by Squad Five's main force." Again he moved cones on the table in front of him to reflect the orders he sent out; one small red cone was moved to the northwest side of the black square, to the left of it a blue cone that had been there all along. Another red cone was moved to a position a short distance from the blue cone on the opposite side, surrounding it. Lastly he moved two other blue cones to join the surrounded one, completing the rather accurate situation.
"The remnants of the First Division are crumbling under the attacks of Squad Three and Squad Four. With this, the city should be under our control shortly," another soldier stated, his voice more rough with the age and experience that was evident in his eyes. The eyes of someone that had seen far too much in warfare. The eyes of someone who had watched countless people die in front of him – as many Britannians had in its war torn history – and did nothing but bask in the afterglow of a successful battle. It was the way of a Britannian to act as such, of course. Killing without remorse, committing every act deemed acceptable by your superiors, it was all the way of the Britannian.
Because to a Britannian, you aren't strong if you aren't willing to do so. The Britannian mentality was a harsh one indeed.
"Change priority to defending the city. They will be trying to retake it," Kanon ordered swiftly.
Out on the battlefield, the battle was playing out exactly as Kanon had planned. Squad Two – consisting of thirty or so Sutherland and five Gloucester – immediately caught their targets and opened fire, raining anything from bullets to grenades to whatever destructive weaponry they had at their disposal upon the helplessly immobile Panzer-Hummel Knightmare Frames, suffering from a severe inequality in terms of mobility. Their superior numbers allowed something of an even score, but poor weaponry and block-like movements ultimately undid them before the superior mobility of the Sutherland and Britannia's superior pilots. What few shots they did get off – often little more than a few rounds or a single grenade – seldom hit its mark with their targets swerving to and fro in an almost spider web-like maze, and the battle subsequently went one-sidedly in the favor of Britannia.
Comparatively, the fight against the Third Division was a far more brutal affair. The two-pronged attack made for an interesting battle in which strategy and superior artillery did little more than even the odds against the very superior numbers the Panzer-Hummel boasted. At odds of fifty Sutherland and ten Gloucester against well over two hundred Panzer-Hummel, one couldn't help but anticipate a one-sided battle. But Britannia evened the odds rather quickly as they dispatched Panzer-Hummel with surprising efficiency, losing only one Sutherland for every five Panzer-Hummel, on average. This calculation was one Kanon had taken great delight in basing his decision around, and those risking their lives were equally delighted to see just how well thought out his plan was.
"The reserves and Squad Five are to finish pushing through, with orders to retreat toward the city before any decisive damage is taken. Squads Three and Four will finish up cleaning out the troops inside the city and then move to assist Squad Five. And how fares the battle against the Fourth Division?" As Kanon hastened to send orders out with almost frightening speed and effectiveness, many couldn't help but pause in their work to cast a wary glance in his direction. After all, in terms of rank he was no more than the Prime Minister's assistant – his lapdog of sorts. Nothing in his job description said the least bit about any leadership talent. Perhaps they would have to report this later...
"The Fourth Division has taken massive damage from Squad Two's assault. We can expect a conclusion to that conflict shortly." But first, the fulfillment of their duty.
"The remnants of the First Division are all in hiding now. Captains Burrow and Lind are requesting permission to proceed to phase two," another said almost in perfect flow with the end of the statement of the soldier before him.
"Permission granted. We will go and clean up," Kanon stated after a moment's thought.
"Us? But Sir..."
"The world has seen first hand just how effective having the King move as well can be. That being said, we will take to the occupation of Yaroslavl ourselves. The base's personal guard should suffice to finish the job," Kanon retorted swiftly. His eyes fell back to the table as he moved the two red cones within the black square toward the two red cones and three blue cones to the northwest. With one hand he tossed aside two of the blue cones while the other grabbed a large red cone, moving it into the black square. "Yes, the King shall lead his forces this time."
"Yes, Sir," the soldier drawled, bringing himself to a stiff salute. The sentiment was repeated moments later by the rest of the room, and Kanon couldn't help but laugh slightly.
"I could get used to hearing that."
o--o
The Warrick Palace had, until recently, been a vision of radiant beauty, given the standard lustre of the many palaces on Saint Darwin Street. Color of nearly obnoxious amounts made the palace unique, as did the many paintings the late prince Clovis had personally painted. Though his death had been reported just two days ago, all color had already been seemingly drained from the palace. Not in a literal sense in the least, but the dreadful feel the palace now held was a mood dampener that nobody could deny, and one that made the possibility of an eerie gray fog settling absolutely logical. Paintings still sat in their original places, untouched, but any that had included the Third Prince himself had been promptly removed. There was little surprise as to why, of course. This was after all the residence of one of the many women the Emperor had bedded over the years. Gabriella La Britannia, loving mother to Clovis La Britannia, in particular.
Cornelia decided rather quickly that she hated the palace now, as she trudged through the foyer with a rather unintentional slouch – a byproduct of the aforementioned dreadful feel. It wasn't so much the feel of the place that irked her as it was the prospect that this palace was once the place where her half-brother – one that, despite her usual indifference toward the matter, she truly had cared for – had grown up. The palace where he had grown up felt suddenly empty without any trace of him having ever lived there and that, more than anything else, was what truly bothered Cornelia. 'It almost seems as though he had never lived here,' she repeated to herself, this time taking a moment to allow the words to sink in. Had never lived there? That was just stupid. Of course he had lived there. Of course he had lived there and shared many great moments of his childhood with Cornelia, Schneizel, among others, and, dare she say it, Lelouch. But despite knowing that, Cornelia couldn't help but question the wisdom in advertising such a fact in the Warrick Palace.
And it was with that thought in mind that Cornelia decided that she hated herself as much as she hated the palace.
"Well, whatever the case..." Cornelia sighed and continued on, entering a large room – much like a ballroom, save for the fact that available space, or lack thereof, made it anything but. The large amounts of furniture all shared a common trait in their burgundy color, and were complimented by the color of the walls; a contrast of red, starting bright in the center and darkening as it inched toward the ceiling and floor, finally reaching a crimson as they reached the borderline of those two destinations. Each had many paintings, all with Clovis' signature. From simple drawings of scenery to complex, imaginary drawings of his many family members, Clovis was a master of it all. One thing clearly worth noting was the fact that many of them included Lelouch in them, whether they were him as the child that Cornelia could still vividly remember or pictures of Lelouch at various stages of his life – particularly in his teenage years. There was one, however, that stood out.
Along the far wall there was a particular picture, one that clearly took in far more detail than any other. The throne of Britannia at the Britannia Palace was the center of the portrait, with the royal flag of Britannia spread across the wall directly behind it. The many members of the royal court were seated before it seemingly in applause, but none of that was the truly exceptional part; the part that stood out from everything else. What stood out from everything else was who was seated on the throne – a Lelouch of seemingly no older than twenty, a wide smirk on his face and the crown that belonged to their father resting firmly atop his head. Cornelia had to admit, it did look almost too fitting atop Lelouch's head. Were things not as they were now, Cornelia presumed that seeing this would have convinced her that Lelouch was to be the next Emperor... Perhaps there was still hope for that?
Continuing on, Cornelia came to a room that was much smaller, more than likely just an office or something of the sort. A desk and a few chairs in front of it served as nearly its sole occupancy, with a door opposite the one Cornelia had entered from with a window next to it telling her that it led out into the flower beds behind the palace. That aside, it was very much like the room before it in that color was a thing one couldn't avoid noticing; this time it was varying grays from a blank white at the ceiling and floors to a pitch black in the center, with the only divergence to this being the far wall held a small screen jutting out from it. A live comm network that had been set up at all the major locations in not only the Britannian homeland but also all of its areas; a risky move that could spell disaster if the right conditions should be met.
The desk's top was far more occupied than the room as a whole – a monitor was set in the center of it with a keyboard in front of it, a lamp was settled in the far left corner of the desk, and a small jar holding various writing utensils in the opposite corner. A workaholic's haven, which was strange seeing as Gabriella hadn't worked a single hour since being made one of the many unofficial concubines of the Emperor. On closer inspection a small slip of paper – a letter of some kind – was placed atop the keyboard, neatly unfolded. Tear markings that didn't exactly look age old were splotched all over it. Taking a seat at the desk Cornelia slowly ran her finger along the tear stains; unsurprisingly they were dry, but the thing worth noting was the many smaller splotches of tears. These weren't small, silent tears – they were from weeping. Considering that for only the briefest of moments, Cornelia settled onto the letter itself, which hadn't yet occurred to her. Tightly gripping it in her hands, she slowly began to read:
October 14th, 2011 a.t.b.
Its been a while since I last wrote, hasn't it? I truly wish I could have gotten back to the Viceroy's Palace to make this call directly, but the outbreaks in Kyushu are growing stronger still. Eleven terrorists have gone so far as to arm themselves with Knightmare Frames they have somehow stolen from our warehouses, and the fights are becoming massacres down there. I had no option but to go and quell the uprisings myself. Another ten thousand lives were lost unfortunately – almost all of them Britannian lives, heartlessly captured and put to death by the Elevens. Civilian or soldier, it didn't matter to them... they just wanted to get back for all we have done to them.
But that is not the point for which I am writing this. And as much reason as we have to truly hate the Elevens, I can't help but ask myself: Why do we hate the Elevens? Are they terrorists with no seeming regard for life? Perhaps, yes, but I can agree that we were the same way when we invaded Japan. So have they really done anything wrong? Other than simply carrying the distinction of being an Eleven, have they done anything to be deserving of our hatred? I know I used Lelouch and Nunnally's losses to fuel my rage, to give myself meaning.
So imagine my surprise when Jorge comes to me from the vanguard of the returning unit today, carrying a raven haired boy with a scowl on his face and unmistakably reminiscent eyes who was spewing words of hate to any and all Britannians he saw? I was in disbelief at first as well, but there was no denying the simple fact. The hair, the piercing eyes... I was looking at my half-brother, Lelouch Vi Britannia. I honestly didn't know what to think. Should I be overjoyed to know my brother is alive? Should I feel bad, knowing that my only excuse for hating Elevens is gone? In the matter of a few seconds, the last year of my life was turned upside down.
When he realized who I was, his eyes looked so scornful... he ended up passing out trying to escape from Jorge's grip to attack me. He looked almost pathetic in his weakened state, but he is a prideful person – I would never tell him so. I did the only thing I reasonably could at that moment, though – I intervened when Jorge tried to have the boy arrested, with the promise that I would take care of him personally. After all, what else should I have done? Lelouch was alive, very much so, and I wasn't about to let him go again.
At this time Lelouch and Nunnally are here in the Viceroy's Palace with me, enjoying a night of entertainment that Jorge so kindly arranged. I know you never liked their mother, or them for that matter, but I felt I should tell you this. In a few days they will be departing – Lelouch has yet to tell me where or why, and I doubt he will tell me – but I still felt it was my obligation to tell you that they were alive. All Lelouch has said is that nobody can know he and Nunnally are alive. And so, I am kindly requesting that you keep this information to yourself. I cannot in good conscience hide this from you, but I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I were to fail to uphold Lelouch's request. I can't lose him again.
Hopefully we will see a swift end to the terrorism here in Area 11 and I will find time to contact you at such a point in time, but you know that I can make no promises, mother. Truly I would like nothing more than to drop everything and return home, to be greeted warmly by you and all my other siblings that I have left behind. But as things stand, we both know I cannot do that.
With love,
Your son, Clovis
As her own tears fell upon the small letter, realization of why there had been tears on it in the first place dawned on Cornelia. She hadn't even realized she was crying until she finished the letter, and by that point only her hardened will kept her from entirely breaking down. To any onlooker – not that there were any – she looked completely pathetic, she figured. After all, she prided herself on being a strong woman all her life. In her current state, unable to do little more than cry and glare daggers at the letter for having made her cry, she was anything but the strong woman she had been made out to be over the years. The strong Cornelia faded away entirely for the briefest of moments, replaced instead with the soft side that any and all women had, no matter how strong they were.
'Reading a letter written by your dead half-brother is rather hard,' Cornelia confessed, in the hopes of reasoning with herself that it was perfectly okay to be emotional in such a situation. And even though she had only herself to convince, she found herself failing in that area too. It didn't help matters that the letter in question was about Lelouch who, no matter how Cornelia looked at it, was to be blamed for Clovis' death. One could dare say Lelouch was innocent in the matter, however. After all, it was no secret that the Knight of Ten accidentally – although it being an accident was something that Cornelia questioned – struck the ship Clovis had been placed on after being captured by Lelouch. But Lelouch had started the conflict, which was what had lead to their half-brother's death in the first place.
An automated voice saying, "Incoming call," from seemingly all direction brought Cornelia back to reality. She looked over at the screen, now white with a faded emblem of Britannia in the background. In the corner a small icon very similar to the Order of the Black Knights emblem was flashing, and Cornelia recognized it immediately as one meaning the call was being made from the Viceroy's Palace. Euphemia? No, she would have simply called Cornelia's phone directly. But then, who else would have known Cornelia was visiting the Warrick Palace? She hadn't told anyone else, which meant that the only one possible would have been someone who could predict her movements... "Lelouch?" It was the only possible answer in Cornelia's eyes. She crossed from her seat over to the screen and pressed a button on the small keypad beneath the screen, and sure enough it was Lelouch's face that was revealed a moment later, in all of his piercing violet-eyed glory.
"Lelouch," Cornelia greeted, as coldly as she could manage at that moment.
"I knew you would be at the Warrick Palace," Lelouch responded, skipping any formality in returning her greeting. 'He's just as good at reading people as ever; he must know exactly how I feel.' Cornelia considered that for a brief moment, though the thought was kicked aside in order to make way for a more pressing issue.
"How did you know I would be here?"
"You would want to try to console Gabriella. Not that there is any point in trying."
Cornelia's muscles reflexively tensed as she narrowed her eyes, "And why is that?"
Lelouch frowned; frowned in a way that both annoyed Cornelia outright and confused her beyond all belief, "I have her here with me right now. She is being treated as any assassin would be, although I am trying to be lenient."
"Assassin?!" Cornelia gasped out harshly, disbelieving.
Sadness was apparent on Lelouch's face as he said, "She came running at me earlier this morning, a gun in hand, saying she would have revenge for Clovis' death. She never did like my mother, Nunnally or I, and Clovs said she never took his reacquainting with me well." He idly ran a hand through his hair and sighed, clearly uncomfortable with current progression of topic. "She isn't fully sane. Though she is in captivity, I have allowed for her to be imprisoned here at the Viceroy's Palace and for Euphemia to go see her. Not that anything can come of it."
"She always liked Euphemia!" Cornelia vehemently protested, slamming a fisted hand against the wall next to the screen. "If anyone can right her, it is Euphemia."
"My methods of dealing with her left whether or not she likes Euphemia a distant issue." Killing two birds with one stone was a useful action to take at some moments, like this one, for example. With that thought in mind Lelouch went on, "All she cares about is making sure nobody harms me."
Cornelia raised an eyebrow – an overly skeptical, perhaps disbelieving, eyebrow. "... What?"
It was then that Lelouch swept his hand across his eyes, revealing that in the place of piercing violet eyes were deep eyes of mixed violet and crimson, the bird-shaped sigil of Geass flaring deep within. The eyes had their desired effect on Cornelia as they had on all others, leaving Cornelia unable to do anything but gape helplessly at Lelouch's eyes as he stated, "I ordered her to never allow harm to come to me."
"Ordered her to..." And like all others before her, Cornelia found coherent speech as she tried to register this clearly impossible, clearly surreal scenario into her mind nigh impossible.
Lelouch nodded. His eyes were unreadable, as if veiled by the crimson laced within their original violet hues. That wasn't a complete farce, really. "That is the power of Geass," he said at last, lifting a hand and pointing toward his eyes. "The power of Absolute Obedience. You can put two and two together." His tone was sardonic, a rare occurrence for the either very arrogant, delicately snide, or entirely indifferent Lelouch. Were he any less any of those three things, he probably would have been smirking at that moment.
Cornelia's mind was swirling far too much for her to comprehend any such things, and so instead she simply forced out, "An absolute order?" rather angrilly. At Lelouch's nod, nonchallant in manner and quite carefree, she tried to go on, "Then..."
"People have no memory of what takes place when my Geass' order is active. If anyone has any such blanks in their memory, they have been effected. As for the order itself, it is, well, absolute. No matter what the consequences, this order will take priority so long as it is within the person's ability to carry it out. This order takes priority over everything, including self preservation and other such necessities. That is the extent of my power."
Anger was an evident factor still in Cornelia's softening features as she replied quietly, "And Clovis, was he..."
And to her overwhelming relief, Lelouch shook his head. He took a very moment to sweep his hand across his eyes and replace the crimson mess that was bit by bit chipping away at Cornelia's nerves with the piercing violet eyes that were capable of much the same thing, although Cornelia was able to avoid any such reaction to the normal violet hues of his eyes. That being done he said, "He did fall victim to Geass, although it wasn't my own."
Relief and worry were one and the same for the briefest of moments until Cornelia stuttered out, "W-what?"
"He has Geass too." When Cornelia raised an eyebrow Lelouch clarified, "Charles has Geass. That was what caused the sudden change in Clovis. I haven't figured out how just yet."
"Father did that to Clovis?!" Lelouch simply nodded. "But father, he..."
"It isn't a surprise that he doesn't care about us, Cornelia," Lelouch noted, too bluntly for Cornelia's tastes. Sure, she knew as well as any that the children were no higher up in their father's eyes than any other living, breathing human being. All were treated with the same level of indifference to him, which could either be seen as a very noble thing or a horribly disheartening thing. For the children who were treated as no better than acquaintances to him, it was the latter. "I tried to save him, Cornelia, I really did. But Clovis was, to the end, a tool to get to me."
"That is like father, indeed," Cornelia replied without really thinking about it. But as she looked back on what she had just said, she found that she couldn't really deny the truth in her own words.
"Given that, I would like to propose a ceasefire. Both sides are tired and, in your case, broken apart. Continued fighting will turn this conflict into another variation of the Second Pacific War, and even I wouldn't be able to stop Area 11 from becoming a three-way battleground." It was a simply genuine gesture on Lelouch's part, really. But deep down Cornelia knew that there were machinations at work to use this development to his advantage. What did Lelouch – chaotic, destructive Lelouch – have to gain from peace? He had long since proved he was a man who thrived in wartime, although Lelouch hadn't been given a chance to play his hand at peace.
"What does this ceasefire have for me to gain?" Cornelia asked carefully.
"Mt. Fuji and with it the Sakuradite mines within are under the authority of the Empire of China, and with that we have power over its distribution. Seeing as Britannia is our enemy, it would be a shame if Britannia were charged far higher rates or, worse yet, were simply cut out from said distribution," Lelouch smirked as shock settled onto Cornelia's face, and his eyes told all too vividly that Lelouch was loving the situation at hand.
"You would bribe me with a natural resource? Are you aware of the consequences of such an action? Even nations on extremities with Britannia would oppose the Empire of China for something like that!" Cornelia shot back hotly. Unsurprisingly, Lelouch's expression didn't change.
"All of our Britannian prisoners, among them one Villeta Nu, will be released without consequence. How does that sound?"
"That is a standard obligation in peace talks, Lelouch. You cannot honestly expect me to agree to terms including such obligations."
"I have no obligation to return a potential weapon," Lelouch responded calmly, though he was suppressing a laugh at Cornelia's discomfort.
"A weapon? Villeta Nu is a human being! She is a soldier! She --"
"-- Villeta Nu possesses a Geass. As such, she can be considered a weapon to a nation in which knowledge of Geass is widespread."
Cornelia's eyes showed a shock rarely seen as she tried to will her nerves to a calm, saying slowly, "Very well. Then if you will return Mt. Fuji as well, I will accept."
"And I refuse to do any such thing," Lelouch stated quickly, shaking his head and tutting in an almost scolding manner. "Mt. Fuji is an important resource. Though I have been granted authority in affairs pertaining to Area 11, the Mt. Fuji matter is one to be settled with the Empress. Furthermore, I require Mt. Fuji to move this world toward the next stage."
"It is nothing more than a Sakuradite resource! Surely even Sakuradite cannot do such a thing," Cornelia scoffed, appalled by the very notion.
"I can create miracles, Cornelia. Now sit still, gather whatever answers about the Geass you wish – I assure you that you will find none that will matter to me – and wait for me to change this world."
o--o
Ashford Academy had been put into an indefinite lockdown with the sudden and inexplicable disappearance of its superintendent's granddaughter, graduated or not. She still considered the academy her home after all, and the academy still considered her its oh so revered resident. With that fact common knowledge, it wasn't questioned why her disappearance warranted the shutdown of the entire academy. The Ashford family had busied themselves with using every bit of their influence to reach out in search of their last hope for their return to nobility and, with it, the other such trivial things that came with it. They didn't so much care about Milly herself as they cared about the impact her loss would have on their plans, really.
Not that these plans truly were trivial, or anything of the sort. Indeed they were noble in their own selfish way, and surely idealistic. But to a group of students who had just recently been released from captivity aboard an airship that had prided itself in the fear it struck into Britannians, well... needless to say, such things as nobility were hardly at the forefront of their minds. What was wealth and nobility to death and conquest, anyway? While the Ashford family was trying for nobility, that was exactly what Lelouch was doing. He was leading an army in a war of questionable morals while Milly was being forced into engagement talks in the hopes of being placed in the noble ranks and, with her, her entire family would follow. This had never sat well with her of course, but she had come to accept it as an inevitability that she would never escape the reality of it all until the welcomed it with open arms.
But now, she really wasn't sure. Was it fair of her to be thinking of such things when Lelouch was sacrificing everything – and everyone – to change the world? Was it fair to be trying for something as petty as nobility when Lelouch – a noble, even without his princehood – was casting aside such trivial things for what should really matter? What bothered Milly the most was that, unlike her usual confident self, she was hardly sure at that moment. She wasn't sure which was more important – her own selfish needs, or Lelouch's self-sacrifice. It both made her feel disgusted and relieved at the same time – after all, thinking that Lelouch killing countless people was a matter of dire importance was simply wrong. But then, so was ignoring your friend's plight for your own needs or, worse yet, your family's overly selfish needs.
The school was abuzz with activity as the transport vehicle driven by none other than Tamaki Shinichiro pulled up by the school's large front entrance, the disgruntled driver mumbling something under his breath in an irritated manner as he pressed the unlock button on the panel on his door, giving a thumbs up over his shoulder to signal that it was okay for the passengers to step out. One by one the students filed out of the vehicle – Rivalz, looking almost too happy to be back, then Shirley, looking overly distant and depressed, and the Milly and Nina, both engaged in something of a conversation of their own. As a large group of students rushed over to greet them Tamaki stepped out as well, pulling a dark viser over his face to keep it hidden from view, lest he be recognized for who he was. He handed off a large bag to Milly who took it gratefully, and then disappeared into the vehicle and took off before he could be likewise assailed by students.
"President!" It seemed as though every single student chimed that one word in perfect unison, but there were simply so many of them that nobody could really be sure. It took a rather interesting maneuver of using Rivalz as a bulldozer slash baseball bat to get through the masses, finding arms clinging to them in various places along the way, but Milly and the rest managed to break through and make for the entranceway in little over three minutes – not bad for a trip that should have taken a matter of a minute at most. Unfortunately the hallways of the academy weren't much better, although the lack of free space spared them from having any hitchhikers hanging onto their limbs as they went. The superintendent's temporary office was reached only a few minutes later, a declared safe zone from the ecstatic students.
But a mousetrap of doom was sprung as Milly was swiftly pulled into the embrace of her grandfather, Ruben Ashford.
"Milly! I... you...!" Attempt number one at coherent speech: failed.
"Good to see you too," Milly wrenched herself almost forcefully out of his grasp and stared at her grandfather for a long moment, reading his expressions. 'As I thought,' it took her only a moment to see what she had so desperately hoped not to see in his eyes, but upon seeing it she knew she was no different than she had been upon her disappearance. She was still the same Milly Ashford, last hope for the Ashford family's return to fame and nobility. "I am going to go lay down." Deflated, she set the large bag on the ground and pushed her way by Ruben, crossing into the adjoined room with two beds and an otherwise bland appearance, where she collapsed onto one of the small beds, groaning loudly. "Why can't he... ugh."
"... Ugh?"
Milly looked up, seeing the timid glasses-wearing girl that was Nina standing in the doorway. She was idly fidgeting with her sleeves as she approached the bed in more of a skip than an actual walk. She looked down hesitantly at Milly and said, "I... I wanted to talk to you." She glanced back at the doorway, "... In private."
"Talk to me?" Milly raised an eyebrow, not entirely comprehending the necessity of such a thing. Especially when this was clearly a private matter and their current situation was hardly one that warranted private conversations.
As Milly slowly sat up Nina nodded, hopping from foot to foot and rubbing her hands together as she said shyly, "You're strong. You know what you want, but I..." She ultimately trailed off, and she had to calm her nerves with a deep breath before continuing, "I don't want to sit around and do nothing. We saw what is happening outside of Ashford and I... I want to help."
"You want to help? Help who?" Milly didn't want to admit it, but she was well aware that she was holding her breath, waiting for Nina to answer. She was almost afraid of what the answer would be.
Nina's expression read fear and anxiety as she dug into her pocket, pulling out a small folded piece of paper that she thrust at Milly, urging her to read it. Milly slowly did so, taking great amount of shock in the schematics – effective ones at that. From plans to use Uranium-235 – as rare as it was – as a fuel to plans to use Sakuradite as a possible means to make a new kind of grenade with a far larger blast radius, she had thought of unimaginable lengths in technological developments that left Milly stunned.
"At first, I wanted to use those to... well, to help Britannia. To fight Zero, to fight terrorists. But..."
"You don't want to hurt Lelouch, is that it?"
"It isn't that – well I don't but..." Nina cleared her throat and tried again, "I saw... We saw what Lelouch is trying to do. Even if he's doing it the wrong way, he's doing the right thing. And besides, Britannia is..."
"They certainly aren't as noble as we have been led to believe," Milly agreed with a nod of her head.
"Yes." Nina took a seat beside Milly, taking back the paper she'd handed over and giving the 81/2 by 11 a once over. While the sheer complexity of it all was otherworldly and absolutely incomprehensible to Milly, Nina seemed to be making perfect sense of it all. Her face wrinkled as she went over a certain part, a telltale sign that she wasn't entirely certain about some aspect of something. With a sigh she looked up, going on, "Lelouch has turned the world upside down with his rebellion. As it is now, the only means that will solve anything is more fighting, and peaceful means are hopeless endeavors. But if I can help Lelouch, then maybe..."
"We can stop the fighting," Milly finished the statement for her. She had to admit, the plan – flawed though it was – had its merits. With such a move, they could help Lelouch as Milly felt they should, and at the same time do so without acknowledging or accepting his means. It was, in essence, a heaven sent opportunity that had Milly's insides bubbling with joy. As much joy as could be had, anyway. With that thought in mind she nodded eagerly, stating, "Whatever help you need, I'm here. I want to do something too."
Rivalz's prompt arrival with Shirley trailing behind, still lost in her own rather depressing thoughts ruined the moment at hand as he stepped into the room, oblivious to the rather serious air as he asked casually, "What are you two talking about?" Nina and Milly shared a brief look and Nina nodded, giving the okay for Milly to explain. Noticing her reluctance to speak however led Rivalz to add, "Your grandfather took off. Told us to tell you he's sorry, for whatever he did wrong."
Milly gave a brief nod as she said, quite calmly, "We were talking about Lelouch," without really thinking about it.
Rivalz raised his eyebrows as he replied, "What about him?"
"Nina wants to help him. And I want to help her," Milly stated with a shrug of her shoulders, suddenly acting as though the decision made perfect sense. Which to her, it did. Such was the natural confidence she typically displayed.
Rivalz raised eyebrows weren't lowered as he asked carefully, "Help him?" At Nina's shy nod, Rivalz began contemplating the matter for himself. Sure, his relationship with Lelouch nowadays was rocky at best, but they had sword to continue being friends. Should he be willing to help Lelouch, then? A part of him was screaming to say no, to crawl back into his small hole of normality that was his Ashford school life and forget everything that had happened. But a larger part of him, the part of him that was actually maturing and the part of him that knew better than to follow Britannia's example and kick his problems under a rug cried out to help Lelouch. With a newfound Milly-like confidence he said, "I'm in."
Nina's expression was shocked to say the least, and she waved her hands frantically in front of her, the paper in her hand flying free and settling on the ground. "I can't let you do that, Rivalz! I..."
"You are probably the only one that can do anything, yes," Shirley agreed, coming out of her hollow shell to join the conversation at last. "But we all saw what was out there. None of us can sit still anymore. We all need to do something."
"She's right," Rivalz went on, reaching back and patting Shirley on the back, grinning his usual goofy grin that had been missed dearly due to recent events. "This isn't something just one of us can do. Its all of us or none of us – that sounded really corny, didn't it?"
Milly grinned, "It did."
Rivalz chuckled sheepishly, "Yeah, well..." Shirley coughed slightly and he stopped abruptly, scratching his cheek absently as he said, "Anyway, we are going to help you Nina, whether you like it or not!"
Nina smiled slightly, though it was obvious she was straining herself to manage even that. "I... Thank you, everyone."
o--o
"I, Lelouch Lamperouge, order you... to die!" The commanding voice of Lelouch resonated through the foyer of the Viceroy's Palace, calm and collected even in the moment it delivered such a command as that. The soldiers before him, their guns raised and eyes narrowed, immediately calmed upon hearing that order. One by one they nodded and they turned on eachother and opened fire, sending blood streaming out in all directions. Beside Lelouch stood Rolo, panting heavily as he fell forward, pressing one hand to his knee and the other to his heart.
"L-lelouch... I..." Rolo stuttered, trying to gather his breath.
"I know," Lelouch replied warmly, turning to Rolo as he replaced the contacts in his eyes. "I've seen what your Geass does to you. Take care when using it."
"For you, I don't care what it does to me."
"No," Suzaku stated coldly, joining the two with a rifle slung over his shoulder, blood covering his combat suit. C.C. stood beside him, covered in a similar manner, although her weapon of choice was simply a handgun. "You are no good to us dead. As useful as you are, it isn't worth dying for."
Lelouch nodded, "It is as Suzaku said. You are worth nothing dead, Rolo. We – no, I – need you alive."
Rolo nodded eagerly, "Yes, Lelouch."
With the small matter of Rolo's willingness to die settled Lelouch turned to C.C., asking, "Has Xingke cleared out the west wing?"
"He finished just before we got here. There weren't more than two squads' worth over there."
Lelouch fell into deep thought for a flickering moment, "Then Schneizel is anticipating us breaking through the men he has stationed here. There are more waiting in the city." He pulled out his phone and raced through his speed dials before pressing it to his ear, "Ogi, proceed with Plan B. ... Yes, Schneizel was counting on this, and no I don't know why he's attacking. ... Yes, you are right. We will have to keep an eye on him."
"Well?" Suzaku pressed.
"Ogi will be making his way toward sector C-5. We have to meet him there. Until then, its only us."
Any further comments were cut off with the sudden shout of, "There they are! Don't let the Traitor Prince escape!"
"Lelouch, go. I --"
"-- I will be right here. C.C., take everyone and make your way to sector C-5. Suzaku, Karen, I trust you to clean up out there. Rolo, don't overwork yourself."
"Don't keep us waiting, Lelouch."
As the rest ran off, leaving Lelouch to stand face to face with a squad of fifteen soldiers alone, all he could do was laugh. It was all too reminiscent of the day he had first been blessed – or cursed – with Geass. It was the day his life had changed, and it was the spark that began the spiral of change now engulfing the entire world. His laugh was bitter as all these thoughts came to mind but Lelouch paid that no heed, advancing casually toward the soldiers.
"Y-you! You are a cocky one, Lelouch Vi Britannia! Die!" the squad captain cried, bringing his rifle to a ready position. The other fourteen soldiers followed suit quickly.
"Tell me," Lelouch drawled, smirking. "I was born Lelouch Vi Britannia, though I have lived as Lelouch Lamperouge. Who am I?"
The captain laughed as he pointed at Lelouch with his free hand, saying, "You are playing games and telling us riddles? Zero is nothing more than a trickster!"
"Is that so? Then let me show you..." Lelouch swept his hand across his eyes and removed the contacts. "The true extent of Zero's miracles. Die!"
The captain froze for a moment before nodding, pointing his rifle to his chest and stating calmly, "As you wish." And with that, all the soldiers opened fire, taking themselves out in a manner as reminiscent of the beginning of his rebellion as the occurrence as a whole had been. In their wake Lelouch laughed loudly, watching the soldiers crumple to the ground in a pool of their own blood. In a strange way it was fulfilling, watching the people that had taken Clovis from him pay in such a manner.
"This blood is on your hands, Britannia."
The battle beyond the Viceroy's Palace, in the streets of the Tokyo Settlement was just as bloody, although it was far more difficult. Lelouch's orders that Rolo be careful when using his Geass held true, and the battle came down to Suzaku and Karen's overwhelming prowess that kept them going. Every now and then Rolo would use his Geass to stall a couple soldiers, but the squads flooding in from all sides – first numbering fifteen, then forty, and then count was lost entirely – made the effectiveness of his assistance limited. As Suzaku took cover behind a large business office, he waved a hand to call C.C. over, who strolled over nonchallantly, taking the couple bullets that hit her in stride and without so much as a brief pause. "What?" she asked impatiently, twirling her handgun in her left hand and tapping her foot.
"Did Lelouch do anything about the civilians in the area?" Suzaku asked, worry etched into his troubled features.
"He used his Geass to get them out of the way. People are in the top floors of the buildings here," as she said that, C.C. waved her free hand above her, gesturing to the buildings around them.
Suzaku raised an eyebrow quizzically as he asked incredulously, "Was that necessary?"
"They are Britannian," C.C. stated, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Besides, the order allows them to come down when there is no danger."
Suzaku peered around the corner and opened fire as he shouted over the booming sound of gunfire, "Lelouch really has changed, hasn't he?"
"He is doing what is necessary."
"But this much bloodshed..." More rounds were fired off and more soldiers fell, the subsequent pools of blood augmenting Suzaku's sour mood. "It seems excessive."
"I thought you had accepted these things. Lelouch needs you," C.C. shot back, taking down a couple stragglers that were beyond the extent of Suzaku's range.
"Just as the world needs Lelouch. I betrayed my convictions, and I have forsaken the memory of those I hold dear. My bond with Lelouch is all I have left." With that Suzaku charged forward, careless of the sheer overwhelming odds he faced. C.C. was close behind, her handgun hardly a useful substitute for Suzaku's rifle and shocking reflexes. "Why do you fight?" Suzaku asked randomly as he slid to a halt where the wall of a building pushed out further, acting as a shield of sorts.
"Just as he needs me, I need Lelouch," C.C. replied bluntly, blindly firing around the barricade they had taken up. The surprised cries of people being hit by bullets answered the unasked question of whether or not there was any merit in such a stunt.
Suzaku's interest was piqued as the cries seemed to suddenly worsen and, braving all, he peered his head around the barricade to look. To his disgust and confusion some of the soldiers had opened fire on the rest, turning the situation into a mess that left Suzaku, C.C. and the rest completely forgotten. And in the midst of the confusion was the reason for the confusion in its entirety. There stood Ogi, Minami and the rest, smirking. And at their head was Lelouch, his Geass blazing as he laughed, waving a hand to usher everyone over.
"If anyone could do something like this in good conscience, it is him," Suzaku sighed as he stepped out from his hiding place, traversing the maze of soldiers fighting amongst themselves until he had reached Lelouch who, without a single word, replaced his contacts and turned on his heel, talking to Ogi briefly before they took off. Suzaku followed close behind, silent as Lelouch and Ogi talked about the situation at hand, listening intently. It was a despairing situation to be in, that much was sure. All major roads were blocked off by Britannian soldiers, and the only path back was the one Ogi had already cleared, and even then they were sure to be attacked – perhaps from all sides – by the Britannian soldiers at some point in time.
And yet, Lelouch was perfectly calm. With a Geass like his, it was hard not to be, Suzaku mused.
"How many do we have on hand?" he heard Lelouch ask.
"Less than one hundred. Todo is still busy invading the Mt. Fuji mines, and we needed to maintain a defensive presence in the Kyoto and Gifu areas. This is all we could manage," Ogi replied, absently giving his rifle a once over as they walked.
"No, that is fine," Lelouch replied, digging his hands into his pockets casually. "If we had any more than that we would draw attention."
"With this many, we can hardly defend ourselves. We will be relying too heavily on your's and Rolo's Geasses, and we you said yourself that we shouldn't use them in the open more than necessary," Ogi replied, unexpectedly insightful into the situation. A small crack of something beneath their feet served as a brief pause before he went on, "We should at least call in enough to defend ourselves with weapons alone."
Lelouch shook his head, "I would rather us take the risk than us call in more men and give Britannia a reason to back out of the ceasefire. Solidifying our control over Mt. Fuji is a matter of too great importance to allow us to be distracted by Britannia's advances."
"And what of Xingke's squad?"
"They were on their way to sector A-4 where Hong Gu was waiting for them. Unless they ran into an unexpected delay, they have already escaped," Suzaku put in. To say he was annoyed with being left out of the conversation was an understatement.
"Didn't you have contact with him, C.C.?" Ogi asked, looking back at the witch with an imperceptible look.
"He was fine when I talked to him," was all C.C. was willing to say in reply, her riddling nature making a surprise comeback. Suzaku raised an eyebrow in her direction but said nothing – his raised eyebrow spoke volumes of his irritation.
"Xingke is fine," Lelouch stated with no small measure of certainty, his voice carrying a definitive authority that brought undeniable truth to his words. Even though he had no idea whether or not Xingke truly was fine, and they all knew it.
A few moments later, their attention was drawn away from the subject at hand and rather to the barricade of armed Britannian soldiers waiting for them at the far end of the side street upon which they had been walking.
"Lelouch, should you..."
"This far out," Lelouch started, fingering his eye lightly. "I am certain there are going to be others hiding around, waiting for me to slip up so they can explain to Schneizel what it is I have. We need to break through here using force."
"What do you suggest we do then?"
"Suzaku, Ogi, you two take cover behind the Biglobe Offices. C.C., Kallen, you two provide cover for them. Rolo, you come with me. The rest is up to us," Lelouch waved his hands in the direction of two different ideal points – one behind a large building surrounded by much foliage that had managed to survive by way of proper sunlight, and another further back where a mixture of foliage and stone extending from the adjacent wall in small points that provided cover for all but one's lower body.
"Hey, Lelouch?" Suzaku started hesitantly. "We finally have a moment's peace. We should... return to Ashford."
o--o
"The Avalon approaches from the east! Three miles off!"
Kanon jumped to his feet, dropping the papers in his hand as he whirled around in an about-face, his hair flying every which way and settling in an untidy mess framing his face. The soldier in front of him raised an eyebrow questioningly though he said nothing, simply saluting before taking off. Kanon took a moment to pat down the hair to either side of his head, a makeshift job at tidying the unsalvageable mess. The sun's glare upon him was fierce at that particular moment despite the harsh cold of the air, and a reflexive response was to draw down the zipper on the wool coat he wore. The brisk air assailed him seemingly from all sides, chilling him to the bone nearly immediately, and he pulled the zipper back up again, shrugging off the slight warming sensation the sunlight provided.
"Shall we prepare for His Highness' arrival, Sir?" another soldier – Private Lekain, if Kanon's memory served – asked. He was built like the average bodybuilder, muscular to the point where it may not be an exaggeration to say he could crush you in the palm of his hand. His green eyes held a world weary look and his short brown hair was wild and messy, much like the long beard upon his chin. He'd been praised on several occasions for his valor in battle and his natural skill with a Knightmare Frame, and it was a wonder to Kanon that he hadn't yet been promoted. After all, he had been on the battlefield fighting the E.U. since the conflict began a year past.
"Make sure the flags are in order and that the prisoners have all been transferred. I will greet His Highness personally," Kanon replied, giving Lekain a small smile and a glance from the corner of his eye. Lekain swiftly saluted and took his wordless departure, leaving Kanon alone with the high pitched whistling of the wind. High above the Avalon fast approached, slowly descending toward the empty roadstrip that Kanon had ensured would be provided for its landing, parting the clouds to either side of it as it went. The thought briefly crossed Kanon's mind that the temperature must have been unbearable so high up, but he didn't allow it to linger.
It was only moments later that Kanon was forced to step aside to make way for the Avalon – the massive airship nearly striking buildings with its wings as it settled onto the ground. The stairs leading from the airship's doorway was lowered and out stepped Schneizel, Lloyd standing closely behind him with a goofy grin on his face. The two made their way down the stairs and Kanon locked eyes with Schneizel, who gave a devious smile and a nod in Kanon's direction. "Kanon," he greeted neutrally, making his way over to his assistant with a purposeful stride. The look on his face told Kanon the answers to all the questions he had wanted to ask, however.
"I trust your own battle went well, Your Highness?" Kanon saluted, rather embarrassed to have forgotten the formality initially.
"Indeed. And I see your's went without incident," Schneizel sighed wistfully, piquing Kanon's interest. "Father is too opinionated for his own good. He really is missing out."
"Your Highness?"
"People like you, Kanon," Schneizel stated, laughing slightly. "Very talented people right under the Emperor's nose, and yet he misses them because of the smallest things."
The wind grew harsher still, bringing the conversation to a momentary standstill as everyone fought to keep themselves warm. The papers Kanon had previously dropped – casualty listings and the like – lay scattered all around, some missing entirely as they got carried away with the wind. It was lucky on Kanon's part that the reports had also been placed on a spare disk as well, else there would have been many a man or woman who's family never knew they died.
"And what of the E.U.?" Kanon asked as soon as the sudden gust had exhausted itself.
"They have retreated from the area entirely. Their only defensive position left is the one at El Alamein, and they will bolster all of their forces there. With the exception of parts of Africa, my ancestors' homeland is all they have left, and El Alamein is their only hope. If we can defeat their forces there, we can move onto the next stage." Schneizel turned on his heel to walk away and Kanon hastily fell into step with him, side by side with Lloyd. "Did the Panzer-Hummel corps here provide you with any trouble?"
"None moreso than could be expected, given the resources and troops with which I was supplied. I was unable to avoid an onslaught, however."
"That is unfortunate, but it is a part of war. We will have time later to make amends for it."
"And what of the attempt to capture Lelouch?"
"Thwarted, as could be expected. But he did slip up."
"Oh?"
"Whatever he has, it can twist the minds of people." Schneizel gave Kanon a stern look, one that belied the inner fear he truly had for this mysterious otherworldly power. A power they couldn't begin to fathom the depths of. "Elbert Colsair, one of the most dedicated soldiers I've ever seen, dead by his own hand."
"Are you saying that he escaped by making our soldiers kill themselves?"
"Exactly that."
Kanon chuckled, disturbingly unaffected by the possible truth to those words, "Then it would do us well to discover this power, would it not?"
Schneizel likewise chuckled, "Our plans are priority, however. The E.U. is not an ideal place to carry out our plans, but I shall allow Lelouch to have the ideal one. Such things are insignificant."
Lloyd piped in, "Lelouch is far stronger than we anticipated."
Kanon nodded in agreement, "It is important that we not allow him to have too many advantages."
With a shake of his head Schneizel calmly stated, "We must allow him to have whatever he wishes. That way when we defeat him, he will realize his folly. This is not just for Nunnally, but for all the world. Lelouch will destroy this world if left alone, but will simply arise again unless he is crushed when he has done everything he could."
A small building stood before them as they came to a sudden halt. No more than two stories high, it appeared to be a home for little more than a family of four or five. The interior showed a truth that was far from it. Already many computers had been set up and many a Britannian soldier was working furiously on the work they had been assigned, every now and then looking away from the computer screens and at a piece of paper to the side of said screen. The room was provided with no light except for the small amount of sunlight coming in from the doorway and the glare provided by the computer screens.
"What is the progress at, Lloyd?" Schneizel asked, peering over his shoulder at his scientist.
"The schematics will be done before the day is up!" Lloyd replied cheerily. Then, raising a finger he went on, "The technology has been much harder to deal with though. No matter what we do, it just isn't suitable for just anyone. Only an ace level pilot would be able to make use of it."
"That is most unfortunate," Schneizel sighed. "Time is of the essence, so see to it that if you find a solution it is tested soon."
Lloyd nodded and took off, stealing a glance at each of the computer screens before turning a corner and leaving Schneizel's view, presumably to check on whatever he had ordered be set up in the basement. Kanon made to follow but Schneizel held out a hand to stop him, shaking his head.
"Your Highness?" Kanon questioned softly, an eyebrow arching.
"You and I will return to the Avalon. Leave Lloyd to his work." Then, in a far more sly tone, almost cinical, he added, "We need to finish preparations for our own move."
o--o
"Today we will be studying the Oriental Incident... Can anyone tell me what sparked this development?"
'Another day, another lesson,' was all Rivalz had to comment on the subject. To say he was bored would be far from the truth. In actuality, he had been paying more attention in class on this particular day than on any since the year began. But as always, his mind still found a way to be elsewhere – today, his mind was busy wondering what Nina would be doing. She had not come to class that day, after all. Perhaps she had wanted to get a head start on her research? Rivalz, for one, didn't understand why. They had only returned yesterday! As serious as the situation in the world was, they would be betraying their obligation as teenagers if all they cared about was work!
And it was with that similar thought that he took to the day's lesson with a detached attitude. He listened intently, though he made no astounding effort to commit any of what he heard to memory, nor did he try to write anything down. He had never been a writer anyway, often looking to his classmates for what he may have missed during a long winded speech the teacher had delivered. More often than not he found himself with more homework involving simply copying what others had written than actually completing work assigned at the end of any given class. He wasn't an underachiever by any means. Rather, he was left with such little time after copying everything else that completing assigned work was a distant dream.
Now, had this been any day prior to being aboard the Hogosha, he surely would not have been paying as much attention as he was. He would not be listening so intently that, had he wanted to, he would have been perfectly capable of writing everything he heard without any trouble whatsoever. And he certainly wouldn't have noticed the class debate about the Oriental Incident come to a sudden halt. He actually took the time to lift his eyes when this happened, and was shocked to see the teacher gesturing toward the door as he said, "We will be having a few students returning to our class today. I sorely wish they would have been on time, however."
'No... No. Way.'
The door opened then, and in strode Lelouch, with Suzaku and Karen in tow. Lastly was C.C., dressed in a black uniform oddly reminiscent of a Black Knight's uniform, but at the same time entirely different. A small black cap with golden trimmings kept much of her long hair at bay, and the black uniform on her body was outfitted with thick padding and much in the way of lavish golden trimmings, gold buttons very similar to the ones in the corners of the chest on the Ashford school uniforms lining the center much as well as sporting many red designs up and down the arms. Lastly, strapped to her side was a longsword, and on the side opposite was a handgun. Only then did Rivalz realize that she was dressed the part of Lelouch's bodyguard, a fact which almost brought a chuckle from Rivalz.
Similarly, Lelouch was dressed differently than the other Ashford students. While his school uniform appeared to be the same, there were several differences. Rather than being buttoned in the corners of the chest like the normal uniforms, buttons ran down the center. At the hem along the back it extended an additional few inches, creating a small cape that reached the back of his knees. The shoulders were broader, and golden embroidery lined the arms as well as the front of the pants of his uniform. It was a far more regal take on the school uniform, one all too fitting of someone of his standing, he reasoned.
"Please welcome Kallen Stadtfeld, Suzaku Kururugi and Lelouch Lamperouge as well as their bodyguard and Lelouch's cousin, Miriam Lamperouge. I'm sure you are all aware of why they were away, but at any rate they have returned," the teacher drawled. The look on his face betrayed his seeming indifference, and he too was fighting with himself to avoid asking the question everyone surely wanted to ask. "They will be attending here for a short while under the approval of the superintendent himself, who has demanded that they be treated as normal students. Understood?"
A female student further to the back swiftly rose his hand, as everyone expected someone to, and asked innocently, "Are terrorists aloud to attend school?"
It was a simple enough question, and it was asked seriously, but all the same it took only a few moments for the room to burst out in uncontrollable laughter. The only people not laughing were the three students and bodyguard in question and the teacher himself, who seemed rather embarrassed by it all. Leaning over from behind the desk he stood behind he murmured, "Don't pay them any heed. We're glad to have you here."
"You mean you're glad to have my financial support in expanding the Academy," Lelouch whispered back knowingly. The teacher stiffened and straightened immediately, slamming a hand down on his desk to silence the room.
"Let us try questions that aren't both moronic and incorrect, shall we?" he demanded harshly.
"No," another student stood up – a male, with long auburn hair and dull grey eyes and no striking features whatsoever save for a bit of acne splotching his cheeks. "I believe that is a very good question. Be they terrorists soldiers of the Empire of China, they are Britannia's most wanted enemies. Answer the question, please."
Suzaku nodded, "Very well --"
Lelouch interjected with a smug smile, "It is just like a Britannian to shun away his enemies."
The student in question lost his cool rather quickly, much to Lelouch's amusement. "Why you...!"
"Your Governor, Cornelia Li Britannia, and I have declared a ceasefire. One of the terms we agreed upon would be that we would not be restricted to the parts of Area 11 that each side controls," Lelouch explained. With a defeated nod the student took his seat and a few chuckles followed, at his expense. "Next?" Lelouch pressed.
"You are," a heated glare from Lelouch got the student in question to reword himself, "You were a Britannian prince, correct? Why then did you..."
Lelouch obliged him, though only because he was reasonably surprised that he hadn't yet been jumped. The students were way more calm than he had anticipated they would be, he had to admit. "There are several reasons I won't explain, but the simple answer is that I was not pleased with Britannia."
"Why is that?"
"Britannia is wrong. It is as simple as that," Lelouch declared. To emphasize the fact that he would answer no more questions he made for the stairs ascending through the rows and rows of seats, finally taking a seat near the top with Karen and Suzaku to his right and C.C. to his left. Throughout the class many people stole glances in his direction, but he pretended to not notice and directed his attention instead to the teacher, who likewise kept his eye on Lelouch throughout the lesson. Never had he felt so objectified than on that day, with everyone looking at him as though he were a caged animal that, given incentive, would stop at nothing to harm them.
When class was over students were swarming around Lelouch, eagerly asking him questions as though he were their long lost best friend. As irony had it Suzaku played his bodyguard as they fought their way through the masses, kicking and swatting every step of the way. Eventually students realized the futility in trying to break through the impregnable wall that was Suzaku and gave up, giving the foursome a rather safe trip to their next class. Karen parted ways after Advanced Mathematics, but luckily for Lelouch Suzaku had rather forcefully ensured his schedule mirrored Lelouch's. C.C. watched all this with nearly too much amusement, and by the time the four of them had reached the building Lelouch had rented out for them in the depths of the Tokyo Settlement after school, a well timed order of pizza – courtesy of Lelouch – was the only thing that kept her from breaking down in a fit of laughter.
The three-story house was a rather impressive one. The ground floor consisted of a rather large kitchen – complete with just about all the essentials any cook could need, bought with the promise that Lelouch would be the one to use them – with an adjoined dining room and a spacious seating area with a large TV screen embedded in the far wall. This room was by far the largest on the ground floor, covering over half of the entire floor. Doorways at either end led to the dining room or the kitchen, connected by small hallways.
The second floor held all of the bedrooms – six in all. The master bedroom had been promised to Lelouch for obvious reasons, and for equally obvious reasons C.C. had rather obstinately stated that she would be staying with him. The other five rooms had gone to Rolo, Nunnally, Jeremiah and Sayoko, Suzaku, and Karen respectively. There was a spare room next to the master bedroom with a small TV and a couch that could be pulled out, in case there should ever come a time when they'd have another person lodging with them. It wasn't the best of living conditions for any guest, but Lelouch had pointed out that any guest would be staying for convenience's sake and not for any demanding reason and that such formalities would hardly be necessary in such an instance.
The third floor was by far the most important. It was Lelouch's personal study, a room more than big enough for all of the residents to fit in comfortably. Lelouch's laptop had been relocated to this room, as had any other such electrical equipment that any of them possessed. Lelouch had gotten two additional laptops – much to Xingke's chagrin – for others to use, although both carried only whatever Lelouch authorized, as they fed directly from his own. A near-argument on the ride to the academy had forced Lelouch to authorize the viewing of all Knightmare Frame specs, as both Suzaku and Karen were rather protective of what was done to their Knightmare Frames, and Jeremiah had been promised an upgrade to include a Float System once time would allow, although Rakshata's time had been occupied trying to find a way to make their Float Systems applicable with mass production Knightmare Frames. So far, it seemed the only option was to improve upon the Burai and Gekka and to discard the Sutherland and Gloucester entirely.
Lelouch was not liking that one bit.
"How was your first day back at school, brother?" Nunnally asked as she entered the room, Jeremiah handling the wheelchair from behind her. Lelouch and Jeremiah shared a nod as Lelouch set to removing the top to his school uniform, replacing it with a tight fitting sleeveless black shirt. During the time in which he was shirtless, Suzaku laughed rather loudly at the sight of the normally strong and proud Karen reduced to a blushing schoolgirl as she looked away from Lelouch's undressed upper body, and upon noticing what happened Lelouch joined him in a slight laugh. It was a light hearted moment that was hard to come by for the small group, so they enjoyed every moment of it.
"It was... interesting, Nunnally." The sofa made a soft squishing sound as Lelouch settled into it, throwing his head back and shutting his eyes tightly, "Suzaku, where did you find my contacts during lunch anyway?"
"You left them out by the cherry tree when I had you remove them during the art lesson Milly had everyone do this afternoon," Suzaku replied, taking a seat next to Lelouch and laughing.
From behind a slice of pizza, C.C. laughed as well, "I still can't believe Lelouch agreed to it."
Reaching over to grab a slice of pizza Karen joined them both in laughter, "And Lelouch had to go through PE with his eyes closed!"
Lelouch huffed indignantly but said nothing, sparking laughter from everyone else in the room. Rolo walked in a few moments later laughing softly, obviously having heard the conversation as he was making a sandwich – that he now held in his hand – in the kitchen. He sat down on the opposite side of Suzaku, his laugh dying down to a low chuckle, "I had to spend the day following Nunnally from class to class."
Lelouch raised an eyebrow, "... Thats why you weren't there this morning?"
"They mistook me for someone a year younger!"
And again the laughter resumed. For through all the hardships they had faced as of late, Suzaku's decision had turned out to be a wisely made one. They found themselves in a situation that was oddly desirable after having been on a battlefield for months. While Lelouch had initially had several objections to the idea, he found himself laughing along with the rest, sharing in the lighthearted moments that would never exist beyond the walls of that small home. And so long as it was within those walls, Lelouch didn't mind one bit. Only one thing did worry him, and that was that all this was only the beginning.
And that is the end of Blissful Normality: Part One. It took some work to decide where to cut this chapter off, but I felt this worked as a good cut off point. Unfortunately we ended up with this chapter being over 14,000 words in length anyway, but whatever. I don't mind too much, so long as it is unbearably long. So yeah, review and tell me what you think.
As for next chapter, expect more meaningful filler. LelouchxC.C. fluff abound, and more Schneizel/Kanon ownage (to a lesser extent). Expect that one to be done within the next week, with any luck.
